any tips for a newb?

[reds4ever]

I'm about to start to play (MP) Civ again, for the first time since CivII. Are there any patches I need to D/L (for PTW) before I start?

any other advice on the Gamespy lobby/ettiquitte (sp)? For instance why can't I see who else is in the looby until they type a line?

Also are there any good MP strat guides, because if Civ3 is anything like Civ II, being good at SP means nothing when it comes to MP

[notyoueither]

The last patch for PtW was 1.27.

If you use the GameSpy application, you can see a lot more in the lobby; like who is there and what their pings are.

Getting going via GS can be a problem for some configurations. If that does not work, you can try Direct IP if you have an opponent lined up.

I am not aware of any good MP strat guides, but I am sure one of the ladder regulars (different site) will be along shortly.

[Fried-Psitalon]

Heh. At the risk of sounding like I'm tooting my own horn, I'd guess I'm *the* source for MP strategy guides.... or at the very least I've written more than others. Here's a few good ones - my favorites at any rate - which should be a pretty good primer:

(Many of these were on the old PTW forum but I can't find them since that forum went defunct. I would repost them here on my favorite home, Apolyton, but honestly, the Conquests forum is too SP-centric, and they aren't really appropo for the Strategy folks.)

I don't know if I'm allowed to post links off-site? If not, I'll definitely repost them in this forum - not trying to slight Apolyton, as it's definitely my favorite site.

Conquering The New World of Civ 3, or, An Examination of the Civilizations At The Time Of Conquests For Multiplayer

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1070338821

Don't Blink, and other tips for MP Elimination Games

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1052683902

SIEGE! The Art of Taking and Defending Cities

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1052682107

Pointy End in the Other Fellow - Warmonger in MP

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1052682335

Beating the No-Iron Blues and other MP Problems

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1052683530

Thwarting the Pillagers (By Sperricles)

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1052682828

...and my newest article that I'm rather proud of:

Playing the Metagame - Overarching Civ3 Strategies

http://civ3players.proboards2.com/index.cgi?board=STRATEGY&action=display&num=1074303641

That's a pretty wide-ranging set of articles that should help you make the difficult transition from SP to MP.

[Snotty]

Those threads do have gold in them. I remember reading some of them when I first started MP in PTW and that stuff helped make me the player I am today.

Reds, if you are playing with just ptw you might have some trouble finding players in the lobby. I don't remember any ptw games, but I'm not really looking for them.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Snotty
Reds, if you are playing with just ptw you might have some trouble finding players in the lobby. I don't remember any ptw games, but I'm not really looking for them.

is there another way? direct IP or something like that?

thanks all for the advice, I'm resigned to getting my arse kicked for a month or two, but hopefully Frieds tips will flatten out the learning curve a bit!!

[Snotty]

Direct ip is for if you are having trouble getting your ports configured, or if you want to invite someone in without reloading the whole room.

If you know someone to play who also has ptw then you should be ok to play against them.

The problem is that if you were planning on playing random people you meet in the lobby. You would probably have to buy conquests as that is what the vast majority of people play now. PTW can't play against C3C.