Civilisation IV is really, really good

[Lord Ernie]

LOL. A pacifist fighting for peace, eh? Or breaking the peace... Actually, I've only had a single AI player declare war on me yet. 20 turns later, when his first units started to arrive at my borders, he offered cease-fire.

[Bri]

LOL. A pacifist fighting for peace, eh? Or breaking the peace... Actually, I've only had a single AI player declare war on me yet. 20 turns later, when his first units started to arrive at my borders, he offered cease-fire.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't really explain it, but I'm being honest. I've played every version of Civilization and each game that has Gandhi in it, he always breaks faith with me. Some games, I admit I play very murderously...most of the time I keep my word. At least until Indian deathsquads are on my doorstep.

[Alarielle]

Civ IV = <3

[Guest Guest_neriana_*]

Civ IV = <3

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Civ 4 > 3. I do miss the throne room (that was 2), and the council (also 2) and the leaders changing clothing through eras (3). But in every other way I can think of right now, I find 4 much better than the others. Even than Civ 2, which has eaten more of my life than I care to admit.

 

I'm on campus and too lazy to log in .

[Andyr]

I think she was saying <3 (as in "heart"), not that 3 was better.

 

Anyone got any tips on cultural victories? If I am playing on Noble or higher and go for one, my opponents tend to get a Space Race victory a few turns before I'm due for Culture. I've used lots of Artists etc in cities to speed myself up, but it's hard to slow them down (war's not really an option since my economy's focussed on Culture).

[INS-Hyacinth]

I think she was saying <3 (as in "heart"), not that 3 was better.

 

Anyone got any tips on cultural victories? If I am playing on Noble or higher and go for one, my opponents tend to get a Space Race victory a few turns before I'm due for Culture. I've used lots of Artists etc in cities to speed myself up, but it's hard to slow them down (war's not really an option since my economy's focussed on Culture).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I'm assuming you're concentrating on three cities, and that you're adding artists to the city as specialists only when the 5000 culture isn't more beneficial. Simply put, you need to identify the civilisation that's closest to completing a space-race victory and send a group of spies into a city where one of the larger components is being completed, then have them carry out a sabotage mission. Groups of spies are more likely to succeed than single ones, so that's the way to try it.

 

Or as I did a few days ago when I realised an opponent was one turn closer to a Space Race victory than I was, you can break out the ICBMs

[Andyr]

I normally found 3-4 cities, then if there's any spare land grab a couple more if there's space. Any others come from culture-flipping an opponent's.

 

I'm not sure I see what you're saying about artists--you wouldn't use them until after 5000 culture, or something?

 

The other thing I notice you have to be careful of is your religion, since if you're concentrating on culture it is likely your borders will extend to match a rival's, and if you're a different religion then the combination of close borders and religious tension is often enough to make more aggressive AI leaders declare war. :/ Which they often do with overwhelming force, since I am focussed on culture and not military progress.

[Alarielle]

Yeah, <3 as in heart, not Civ IV isn't as good as III.

[Guest Guest]

Yeah, <3 as in heart, not Civ IV isn't as good as III.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You kids and yer new-fangled intraweb techowhatsit language.

 

I haven't gotten a cultural victory yet, but I have read that Great Artists are key. Save them up and use them to culture bomb only after you're completely sure which are going to be your second and third cultural centers -- the capital's always the first, of course. I'd probably start really early, and have the three cities concentrate on culture above all else, and get other cities to produce other things. Elizabeth would probably be really good, with Financial and extra Great Person points. Good luck.

[Guest Guest_neriana_*]

Above was me too lazy to register again, and now I have to go to class so no time to register.

[INS-Hyacinth]

I normally found 3-4 cities, then if there's any spare land grab a couple more if there's space. Any others come from culture-flipping an opponent's.

 

I'm not sure I see what you're saying about artists--you wouldn't use them until after 5000 culture, or something?

 

There's two ways you can use your Great Artists - you can expend them to create a great masterpiece, which gives the city you do it in an immediate 4000 culture; or you can add them to the city as a super-specialist, which gives a bonus to wealth and culture production greater than that from a normal specialist. I'd have to check the manual, but I think they grant +12 culture per turn, and some wonders give a bonus to that. If you get one early enough in the game, it's far more valuable in the long term to add them as a super specialist than it is to make the masterpiece. However, sometimes that masterpiece is the one piece of culture that will tip the balance and make an opponents city come over. Late in the game the 4000 culture is much more important, as even with some of the wonders that add bonuses to culture production and a city that emphasises culture you need at least 200 turns and probably more for the specialist to be more valuable.

 

The other thing I notice you have to be careful of is your religion, since if you're concentrating on culture it is likely your borders will extend to match a rival's, and if you're a different religion then the combination of close borders and religious tension is often enough to make more aggressive AI leaders declare war. :/ Which they often do with overwhelming force, since I am focussed on culture and not military progress.

 

Trade, giving them what they ask for in negotiations, and spreading your religion with missionaries all help reduce the tension. If you open your borders as soon as possible, accept any trade deals they offer, and give them technology or free resources when they make demands, and don't sign treaties with the people they hate, and you neighbour won't start a war under almost any circunstances. Of course, having two neighbours, of differing religions and who hate each other, makes this a really difficult juggling act.

[Andyr]

^I do this already but it's not always enough with an Aggressive AI.

 

I did manage a Culture victory the other day (yay!). I played as Gandhi and made good use of his traits to switch religions/civics where appropriate, and get wonders. Starting with Mysticism really helped since it meant I managed to found 6 out of the 7 religions, meaning I could switch to pretty much whatever.

[cirerrek]

I actually don't like opening my borders until I have a religion and some missionaries produced and ready to spread the word to my neighbors. Gives you a little time to consolidate your borders and fill in some of the blank spots before your neighbors decide to do it for you and lets you have the equivalent of a spy in their city. It also means they will very likely not have maps of your entire territory, which helps in defense.

 

Plus if IIRC there is a civic or a wonder that gives you bonus $$ for every city that is converted to your state? religion. Nice way to make some extra cash before your villages start expanding.