Civilization III

Started playing this one a few days back. Never played a Turn Based Strategy game like this before, and I'm having a lot of problems with some things.

Case in point:

I'm America, have more Small Wonders than anyone else, piles of gold, lots of territory and friendly with everyone. Then 960 A.D hits and it all goes to shit.

England demands my territory map and some money. I tell them to go fuck themselves. They declare war. Fine, they are nowhere near me, whatever.

Over the next 3 turns:
France signs a treaty with England, Declares war on me.
Germany signs a treaty with England, Declares war on me.
Russia signs a treaty with England, Declares war on me.
Rome signs a treaty with England, Declares war on me.
Aztecs sign a treaty with England, Declares war on me.
Iriquoi signs a treaty with England, Declares war on me.

By 1600, I've got 10 dudes dug in something fierce in my capital just waiting to die.

Anyone got any tips on things to do to avoid the above or just generally suggestions to bring up the skill level?

If my "up the skill level", you mean "make it harder", just set a higher difficulty level in the game creation wizard.

MVS, make friends early on. Don't cave in to every request, but making a friend or two early on will help prevent every single country coming after you later on.

Also, technology is important. You can trade your knowledge for resources and treaties. Explore around, meet the other countries and try to establish friendly terms. I think it's easier to win the technology race than overpowering through war.

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Originally Posted by diffusionx

If my "up the skill level", you mean "make it harder", just set a higher difficulty level in the game creation wizard.

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No, by up the skill level I mean get better.

I think I understand the concept that moving the difficutly up will move the difficulty up.

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Originally Posted by Nomi

MVS, make friends early on. Don't cave in to every request, but making a friend or two early on will help prevent every single country coming after you later on.

Also, technology is important. You can trade your knowledge for resources and treaties. Explore around, meet the other countries and try to establish friendly terms. I think it's easier to win the technology race than overpowering through war.

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That's what I try to do, but they won't do a straight up Territory Map trade, they always want some gold or Tech for it as well.

I continued the game from an earlier save, around 1700 now, have made and had treaties broken on me by England/France/Germany 2x each now.

What is the specific thing I need to have the ability to make 'Mutual Defense Treaties'?

I don't know (I wasn't fantastic at the game, to say the least) about the mutual treaties. But I'd trade some gold and technology just to appease them early on, and it usually prevented war from being declared on me. Don't be a pushover, or else they'll have the tech and an army and decide to screw you. But you need some friends, for sure.

I can't help much, eh. It's been a long while since I've played.

That's help enough, thanks.

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Originally Posted by MVS

That's what I try to do, but they won't do a straight up Territory Map trade, they always want some gold or Tech for it as well.

I continued the game from an earlier save, around 1700 now, have made and had treaties broken on me by England/France/Germany 2x each now.

What is the specific thing I need to have the ability to make 'Mutual Defense Treaties'?

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I started playing again about two weeks ago and played daily until school started again.

Check the Civlopedia in game for everything required for anything - it's the best resource for basic stuff.

Make sure you realize you can use your advisors to modify policy - specifically domestic policy regarding Science and Entertainment spending.

Technology is your best friend. Never trade tech for anything less than it's worth - an equal tech and/or payments of gold per turn. Simply trading with someone over time seems to keep them on your good side. The key is to maximize spending on Science while keeping the populace happy with Wonders, city improvements, entertainers in cities and imports. Check the Civlopedia for what improvements/wonders do what. In an ideal scenario you can get tech first, sell it for a high price to every nation in one turn (to prevent others from selling it next turn) and/or trade it for other tech that you can sell you other nations etc. You'll be rich and they'll be poor.

If you play your cards right and have enough mutual protection treaties you can sign the papers and invade a neighbor, refuse to leave their territory forcing them to declare war, and watch the fireworks as your buddies all help you increase the size of your nation.

My strategy is to always take out my closest neighbor early in the game, before they have a chance to make a large army and force a costly conflict.

Make sure your first cities are well placed near resources and shields. Having a good start contributes alot towards success.

What difficulty level are you on?

Anything about Monarch is just ridiculous if you haven't played the game a LOT. I believe for Mutual Defence you need to research whatever you need to build the United Nations - diplomacy, is it? I haven't played it for a couple of months.

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Originally Posted by Six

My strategy is to always take out my closest neighbor early in the game, before they have a chance to make a large army and force a costly conflict.

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I tried taking out close neighbors early on, but it always crippled me so much that it wasn't worth it. I just trade with them right-off to get on good terms.

I try trading a lower tech for resources or other things I need badly, and do it to keep the others happy. So long as your science funding is your focus, things work out that way.

I suck with managing the people, though. Guess I'm not worrying enough about entertainment and all that.


ps- I've never 'won' by war or diplomatic power. It's always by technology.