HELP on difficulty PLZ!!!

xXx · December 16, 2002, 23:28

I need to know how most people get so good at this game. I play on warlord and its difficult. I saw over at CFC on a thread discusing difficulty levels most people play on Monarch and Emperior. Could some of you good players tell me how to do well on those levels, like keep up in science, military and expansion?

Thanks

alva · December 16, 2002, 23:33

Stay around for awhile, and read alot of threads, you'll get there

Jawa Jocky · December 17, 2002, 00:03

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=40525

This thread has links to a lot of good strategy threads

Brizey · December 17, 2002, 00:44

TripleX-

Spend more time on the Strategy forum. The other forums are OK, but if you want to learn to play the game, lurk over there and ask some questions. It is by far the most mature forum--people will be happy to help.

Here is my "take it for what you paid for it" newby advice:

Be more aggressive. (Learn to attack.)

Micro-manage. (Make every action count.)

Learn the math. (Learn all the mathematical models behind the scenes.)

Ask questions.

Theseus · December 17, 2002, 01:51

Focus on the early game. Don;t try to play through to the modern age, instead get really good at everything pre-1AD.

Try the Strategy forum.

Post a SAV around 1000BC or 1AD... a bunch of us will comment and give suggestions.

There are about 25 basic things to know (thread idea for someone!), and then you'll feel in control.

Start here, and start with the "Winning Early" thread:

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=59216

Welcome aboard!

Carver · December 17, 2002, 01:51

xXx, I second what Brizey says. The big thing I had to get used to was being more agressive. You have to go out and put people under your boot in this game. peaceful builder just doesn't crack it.

Tiberius · December 17, 2002, 02:36

I have not once won as a peaceful builder, so it is possible, but I have to admit it is the harder way

I've won even a OCC game once. However I achieved my highest score being a warmongerer. It is good to be powerful

Anyway, there are a lot of things/strategies to focus on. Try Theseus' link. There is a lot of interesting reading there (be sure you have a free week to read it all

)

bongo · December 17, 2002, 03:39

Just work your way up through the levels. Take a break once in a while and think through your game, why am I doing good now, how did I put myself in this awful situation, learn from the answers and try again.

swagled · December 17, 2002, 14:15

I've won with the UN on Regent, and by domination on the weaker levels.

I have yet to win on Monarch... but I have learned to survive right up to the edge of Industrialization. (Damn those Zulu Infantry!! )

Here's a question for those more experienced, though: Does the AI actually "think" or "plan" differently on the higher levels? The attributes exposed in the Civ Editor make me think not... but of course, Firaxis could simply have chosen not to disclose any difference....

Kingof the Apes · December 17, 2002, 14:38

Swagled, on higher difficulty levels the AI cheats more, with extra units at the start, less expensive research, and stuff like that. Regent is the level playing field, where no one has advantages. Lower difficulty levels ether cheat for you or the AI is handicapped.

swagled · December 17, 2002, 14:52

I'm aware of the production bonuses and trade bonuses (And I'm willing to concede these aren't "cheats" by the AI, since they're exposed for us to tweak in the editor).

But what I want to know is if the AI actually "plans" better or uses more involved strategy. Does it "search farther down the decision tree", in geek-speak.

Jaybe · December 17, 2002, 15:28

Quote:

Originally posted by swagled
...
But what I want to know is if the AI actually "plans" better or uses more involved strategy. Does it "search farther down the decision tree", in geek-speak.

No. The AI programming is the same, throughout difficulty levels.

CerberusIV · December 17, 2002, 15:59

I would say that the hardest thing to learn is timing. When to build and develop and when to attack. The only way to get that experience is to play and every game unfolds slightly differently.

What I have read in the various forums has been extremely helpful in getting my basic gameplay up to a point where I don't get humiliated by the AI too often.

Theseus · December 18, 2002, 01:23

Quote:

Originally posted by CerberusIV
I would say that the hardest thing to learn is timing. When to build and develop and when to attack. The only way to get that experience is to play and every game unfolds slightly differently.

What I have read in the various forums has been extremely helpful in getting my basic gameplay up to a point where I don't get humiliated by the AI too often.

GREAT observation... one that I think has not really been addressed much in previous discussions.

All the strat stuff we talk about... I can see a newer player questioning "OK, so when do I go for some pruning? When do I stop? Vel and Theseus RAGE about getting Marketplaces built, but when? And what's the risk-reward for trying to build a GW?"

Again, for the original thread question, there are a lot of good threads, especially in the Strategy forum, that will get you going. But I have to admit, after the basics of the early game, I can;t really remember a thread that lays out some meta-timing thoughts.

[On the other hand, I'm just back from a Christmas party and could therefore be out of my mind]

Dis · December 18, 2002, 03:05

build lots of cities and miltary units

TheStinger · December 18, 2002, 07:44

Timming is crucial, on lower levels you can attack, **** it up completley and get away with it, on higher levels if you do it wrong you get your arse kicked.

You need to know when exactly to attack and when you ahve the right number of units

campmajor! · December 18, 2002, 08:24

I must admit that only recently I let go of my civ2 habit not to mine grassland. Only recently I discovered the advantages of doing that. It is amazing how your production gets a boost at that early level. And later on it is easy to change it to irrigation, because by then you have a lot of workers doing not to much until pollution comes into sight....

In my games I allways try to get the Great Library first. By building it, because you don't always get a Great Leader at that stage....

It is easier when you start with a civ that already has alphabet. And discovering writing early gives you a tech that not very much AI civs have, so you can trade for the other techs!

[edit: spelling]

alva · December 18, 2002, 10:44

I stopped chasing after the GL alltogether, on higher levels, I find it too much of a gamble. Except when I'm presented with a GL of course.

Don't you just love all these abbreviations

1.GL=Great Library
2.GL=Great Leader

vulture · December 18, 2002, 11:19

Let's not forget:

3. GL=Great Lighthouse

lateralis · December 18, 2002, 15:45

Quote:

Originally posted by alva
Stay around for awhile, and read alot of threads, you'll get there

I totally agree with this statement. I've been slowly rising in difficulty (still can't quite master emporor) and I owe it all to 'poly

keep reading, especially in the strategy forum, this game is so complex with so many nuances, it takes a while to get it. before civ, I played almost only FPS games with the ocaisoinal RTS. WAY DIFFERENT!!!! something that also worked well for me was this:

each time I wanted to jump difficulty, I played about 10 games through only the ancient/early middle ageson the new level. Just to get a feel for how the AI plays on that level. different ressearch rates, production. expansion. just observing while continuously reading up on strat.

keep pluggin away, civ is so addicting, especially when you start to get better at it!!

lateralis