From: mperry@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.games
Subject: Re: Civilization HELP!
Date: 2 Oct 92 11:47:50 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

In article <1992Oct01.125500.25748@bnr.uk>, bedford@bnr.ca (Richard Bedford) writes:

Further help for newwbie. (from an almost newbie)
0.  Read the official guidelines book which was in the box.

As stated, population is influenced by food.
Some further starting tips.
[ Spoiler?? ]

1.  First, set your tax to 0% and science to 100% - Do this before anything
else. 100% science is better than 1 in revenue.
Don't spend many turns finding an ideal starting place for your initial
city, it doesn't matter - build the first city as fast as possible - anywhere.

2.  Build 2 militia units to map the island. Don't worry about defending your
city yet. Build a third militia unit and fortify it to protect your city.

3.  Build a settler unit (if you have the food and resources, otherwise, build
barracks or granary). Move this civilian unit a minimum of 5 squares from your
city (that is, there are 4 squares between the two cities, with practise you
can stagger cities slightly closer) and build another city - don't waste your
time with building any roads - just move it.

4.  You should have chosen a desent site for the new city (which you mapped
with your militia), build one militia army and fortify it, then build granary
and barracks. Build one veteran phalanx unit next and fortify it.

5.  when you have food and resources to spare (and a reasonable population)
build more settlers and found more cities. Once you have about 3-5 cities, start
building improvements around each city, about 7 roads and 5 irrigated sectors
and a mine or two, making sure you connect your cities with roads. After this,
send the settler off to found a new city. Your malitia should have found metal
deposits, scrolls of wisdom, some mercanaries, and possibly some friendly
tribes. Remember, it takes 2 food resources to support one settler unit. When
you meet another tribe, trade tech (on the lower levels, reject peace and take
the money), always demand tribute for your patience - it often works. When you
meet another civilisation and you have the option of blocking it off, do so.
Blocking off another nation gives you time to develope - an edge in development.
As soon as you get monarchy (code of laws, alphabet give monarchy I think) 
have a revolution to monarchy - this increases food production (as does 
roads and irrigation). Expand, fortify, trade.

6.  Make peace with your neighbors, keep at least 2 units in a city (one should
be veteran at least).

7.  Build a boat of some sort in a port city and map around your island,
possibly discover neighboring islands, drop an army or two on it and map it.
follow up with settlers to build cities.

8.  Consolodate your cities. There are 20 squares around each city, each should
have a road, and something on it (except ice plains, and water) like a mine, or
irrigation. When you get railroad, build railroads on each square, and link
your cities by railroad. When moving armies along a railroad, never move them
through a city if you have a railroad around it - it cost movement out of a
city.  Irrigating sectors often produce more food, as does roads, and rail,
selecting despot reduces food, while republic and democracy increase food.
Link continents by rail (move a transporter (sail, frigate, transport) with a
settler "u" for unload, build a road, then build rail) so you can transfer
armies very quickly from one continant to another.

9.  Develop trade with other nations, the further away the better. If you can't
find any other nations, trade between your own distant cities. When You money
drops to about 80, drop your science rate till the money starts increasing.
If you are at war, and you have money, you can buy the enemies troops with a
diplomat, so produce a few diplomats and establish embassies (allows you to
find out about that nation) and use diplomats if you are short of troops. If at
war, set a high tax rate for a while. When other nations meet with you, ask for
tribute, this should keep your money above 200. 

10. Only attack with troops with a high attack strength, catapults are good
with 6 attack while phalanx only 1 attack strength. Knights are good with 4/2/2

11. Build wonders.
The great liabrary gives you tech regularly. when two other nations develop a
piece of tech you gain it automatically. The university cancels this.
The lighthouse and megellons expediction both give extra movement to boats.
many of the others make your population happier.