From ekenworthy@cix.compulink.co.uk Thu Apr 25 11:12:35 1996
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic
Subject: Unoffical Civ2 Strategy FAQ v2.0 (TEXT) part 1 of 2
From: ekenworthy@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Edward Kenworthy")
Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 10:12:35 GMT
The Unofficial
.o88b. d888888b db db d888888b d888888b
d8P Y8 `~~88~~' `8b d8 `~~88~~' `~~88~~'
8P 88 `8b d8 88 88
8b 88 8b d8 88 88
Y8b d8 88 `8bd8' 88 88
`Y88P' d888888b bd d888888b d888888b
.d8888. d888888b d8888b. .d8b. d888888b d88888b d888b db db
88' YP `~~88~~' 88 `8D d8' `8b `~~88~~' 88' 88' Y8b `8b d8'
`8bo. 88 88oobY' 88ooo88 88 88ooooo 88
`Y8b. 88 88`8b 88~~~88 88 88~~~~~ 88 ooo 88
db 8D 88 88 `88. 88 88 88 88. 88. ~8~ 88
`8888Y' YP 88 YD YP YP YP Y88888P Y888P YP
d88888b .d8b. .d88b.
88' d8' `8b .8P Y8.
88ooo 88ooo88 88 88
88~~~ 88~~~88 88 88
88 db 88 88 db `8P d8' db
YP VP YP YP VP `Y88'Y8 VP
Release v2.0
Last Updated: April 24, 1996 15:44 GMT
Written by: Edward Kenworthy (ekenworthy@cix.compulink.co.uk)
DISCLAIMER
The purpose of this FAQ is to aid the public regarding strategies
and tactics to use in the game Civilization II, by Micrprose. In no
way should this promote your killing yourself, killing others, or killing
in any other fashion.
Edward Kenworthy claims NO responsibility regarding any illegal
activity concerning this FAQ, or indirectly related to this FAQ.
TRADEMARK INFORMATION
Civilization 2 is a trademark, and is so acknowledged. Any
trademarks not mentioned here are still acknowledged.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
This article is Copyright 1996 by Edward Kenworthy. All rights
reserved. You are granted the following rights:
I. To make copies of this work in original form, so long as
(a) the copies are exact and complete;
(b) the copies include the copyright notice and these paragraphs
in their entirety;
(c) the copies give obvious credit to the author, Edward Kenworthy;
(d) the copies are in electronic form.
II. To distribute this work, or copies made under the provisions
above, so long as
(a) this is the original work and not a derivative form;
(b) you do not charge a fee for copying or for distribution;
(c) you ensure that the distributed form includes the copyright
notice, this paragraph, the disclaimer of warranty in
their entirety and credit to the author;
(d) the distributed form is not in an electronic magazine or
within computer software (prior explicit permission may be
obtained from Edward Kenworthy);
(e) the distributed form is the NEWEST version of the article to
the best of the knowledge of the distributor;
(f) the distributed form is electronic.
You may not distribute this work by any non-electronic media,
including but not limited to books, newsletters, magazines, manuals,
catalogs, and speech. You may not distribute this work in electronic
magazines or within computer software without prior written explicit
permission. These rights are temporary and revocable upon written, oral,
or other notice by Edward Kenworthy. This copyright notice shall be
governed by international copyright law.
If you would like additional rights beyond those granted above,
write to the author at "ekenworthy@cix.compulink.co.uk" on the Internet.
CONTENTS:
[1] Introduction
[1-1] Foreword
[1-2] About the unofficial Civilization II Strategy FAQ
[1-3] Getting the unofficial Civilization II Strategy FAQ
[1-4] Adding to the FAQ
[1-5] Acknowledgments
[1-6] Accurate Information
[1-7] The format of this FAQ
-Section One- GAME ELEMENTS
[2] The Tools Of The Trade
[2-1] Infantry
[2-2] Mounted
[2-3] Vehicles
[2-4] Big Guns
[2-5] Naval Units
[2-6] Aircraft
[2-7] Trade Units
[2-8] Buildings
[2-9] Terrain Improvements
[2-10] Governments
[2-11] Wonders of The World
[3] Important information not in the manual
[3-1] [blank]
-Section Two- STRATEGIES
[5] The Early Game
[6] The Mid Game
[7] The Late Game
[8] Player tips
[9] War Stories
-Section Four- MISCELLANEOUS
[10] Internet resources
[10-1] Third party programs
[10-2] World Wide Web sites
[10-4] Other FAQs and texts
[11] Bugs, updates, future games
[11-1] The wishlist
[11-2] Questions regarding Civ2 present and future
[11-3] Update patches
[11-4] Errors in the Civ2 manual
[12] Conclusion
[13] Revision History
-------------------------
CHAPTER [1]: Introduction
-------------------------
[1-1]: Foreword
==================
I was rather disappointed at the lack of any sort of strategy guide
or faq for Civ2 - so rather whine about it I decided to write my own.
And here it is. What are my credentials ? Well I've been playing Civ
since 4000BC (or does it just seem that way) and Civ2 ever since it was
published (about five minutes ago). I've never scored over 200%
(basically because I declined to use the various "cheats" in Civ (goody
two shoes!) but did regularly score over 100% on Emperor. I seem to be
managing similar scores in Civ 2.
If you have any new tips, comments or questions please email them to
ekenworthy@cix.compulink.co.uk. Good ones will be included in the next
version of this document - with a credit of course.
[1-2]: About the unofficial Civilization 2 Strategy FAQ
===============================================
Welcome to v2.0 of the Unofficial Civilization 2 Strategy FAQ.
Version 2.0 is a major re-write and re-structuring of the original
strategy
guide.
'Unofficial' means that this FAQ is not supported by Microprose.
Civilization II is the name of the game. FAQs are (F)requently (A)sked
(Q)uestions.
Revision classification works something like the following. If a new
version of the FAQ has only a small amount of information changed or
added, the version number is increased by 0.1, and is called a 'minor
revision.' If a new version of the FAQ has a substantial amount of new
information changed or added, the version number is increased by 0.5, and
is called a 'standard revision.' If a new version of the FAQ has a huge
amount of added or changed information, major parts of the FAQ are
rearranged, or major parts of the FAQ are rewritten, the version number
is increased by 1.0, and it is called a
'major revision.'
You may be wondering why chapter numbers are enclosed in either []'s
or
**'s. The definition of these is as follows:
[]: Chapters enclosed in square brackets mean that the information
contained in the chapter has not been updated since the
previous FAQ.
**: Chapters enclosed in asterisks mean that the information
contained in the chapter is new or has been updated for the
current version of the FAQ you are reading.
[1-2-1]: Is the FAQ related to the Official Guide to Civilisation II?
============================================================
No, the Unofficial Civilization II Strategy FAQ is not related in
any way with the Official Guide to Civilization 2 other than in topic.
Nor is the Unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ meant to be competition to
the Official Guide.
[1-3]: Getting the unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ
=================================================
[1-3-2]: via Usenet
----------------------
The unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ is posted on the first of every
month (or earlier if a new version is released) on the following Usenet
groups.
(1) comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic
The 'Subject:' line of the post will be 'Unofficial Civ2 Strategy
FAQ v??.??' where '??.??' is the version number of the FAQ.
[1-3-3]: via Internet FTP
----------------------------
New releases of the Unofficial Civ II Strategy FAQ can be found at
the following Internet FTP sites:
[well actually nowhere yet. But if someone would care to carry it and let
me know I'll note it here.]
The file name of the upload will be 'civ2s??.faq' where '??' is the
version number of the FAQ. This filename is for FTP sites only. BBS
filenames are outlined in [1-3-5]
[1-3-4]: via WWW
-------------------
New releases of the Unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ will be found on
the following World-wide Web sites:
[None yet, but I'm working on it]
HTML versions of the Unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ can be found on
the following World-wide Web sites:
[None yet, but I'm working on it]
[1-3-5]: via BBS
-------------------
New releases of the Unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ will be uploaded to
other BBSes as the opportunity arises. They will be under the file name
'civ2sfaq??' where '??' is the version number of the FAQ.
ATTENTION: ALL BBSes, CompuServe, America On-line, and all other
information services. PLEASE conform to the naming standard of the
Unofficial Civ2 Strategy FAQ when placing this file on your system. The
file name should be 'civ2s??.zip' where the '??' is the version number of
the FAQ or 'civ2sfaq??.txt' if the FAQ is a text file instead of PKZIPped.
[1-4]: Adding to the FAQ
===========================
Where you see the words [blank] or [incomplete] in this FAQ is a
section that needs filling in. I depend heavily on contributions from
people like yourself to make this FAQ whole. Please, don't make me beg.
Help me fill in the blanks.
If you have something to add to the FAQ, please send E-mail to
'ekenworthy@cix.compulink.co.uk' (no quotes), with the subject 'Civ2
Strategy Guide' explaining what your addition is. It will be reviewed,
and if accepted, added to the next FAQ version. In the E-mail, please
supply your name and E-mail address.
Please note that all submissions to the FAQ become property of the
author (Edward Kenworthy) and that they may or may not be acknowledged.
By submitting to the FAQ, you grant permission for use of your submission
in any future publications of the FAQ in any media. The author reserves
the right to omit information from a submission or delete the submission
entirely.
[1-5]: Acknowledgments
==========================
Microprose Studios for making this great game.
My wife. (Hi Angela!)
And big thanks to everyone else who sent something my way, or posted
answers to questions in comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic. You are all
listed next to your contributions in this FAQ!
Forgive me if I miss anyone. If for some reason I HAVE missed you,
PLEASE send me E-mail so I can give credit where credit is due.
[1-6]: Accurate Information
==============================
An attempt has been made to make the information in this FAQ as
accurate as possible.
Harder still is verifying the correctness of every hint and tip. I
do try hard to make sure there are no bogus entries in this FAQ, but,
undoubtedly, one or two will probably slip by. Please let me know
immediately if there is any information in this FAQ that you know is
incorrect.
Also, because the game was recently released, future updates and
add-ons may render parts of this FAQ obsolete.
[1-7]: The format of this FAQ
================================
I have been copying the format and style of the granddaddy of all
FAQ keepers, Hank Leukart (ap641@cleveland.freenet.edu) of the 'Official'
DOOM FAQ.
==============================
-SECTION ONE- GENERAL OVERVIEW
==============================
-------------------------------------------
CHAPTER[2]: The Tools Of The Trade
-------------------------------------------
This chapter contains information on the various units, buildings,
wonders etc available for use in Civ2.
[2-1]: Foot Troops
==================
[2-1-1]: Settlers
--------------------
Settlers are replaced by Engineers with the discovery of
Explosives.
[incomplete]
[2-1-2]: Engineers
----------------------
Engineers work at twice the speed of settlers - so for
example
a road across a plain is completed in 1 turn rather than
two.
They also move at a speed of 2 and can actually radically
change terrain - for example mountains to hills and
desert to
plains !
[incomplete]
[2-1-3]: Warrior
---------------------
These are the worst combat unit in the game. Only build
them if
you’re desperate and have no better technology.
Warriors are never upgraded by Leonardo's Workshop. They
also never become obsolete !
[2-1-4]: Phalanx
---------------------
Phalanxes are upgraded to Pikemen.
[incomplete]
[2-1-5]: Legion
---------------------
Legions are upgraded to Musketeers.
[incomplete]
[2-1-6]: Explorer
---------------------
Explorers are never upgraded by Leonardo's Workshop. They
also never become obsolete !
[incomplete]
[2-1-7]: Pikemen
---------------------
Pikemen have their defensive strength doubled if they're
attacked by mounted troops. Legions still walk all over
them
however. (Perhaps this should have been modified so that
they
receive the same bonus against to non-gun powder infantry.
Remember the Swiss ?)
Phalanxes are upgraded to this unit. Pikemen are upgraded
to
Musketeers.
[2-1-8]: Musketeer
---------------------
Both Pikemen and Legions are upgraded to this unit.
[incomplete]
[2-1-9]: Rifleman
---------------------
On a cost/strength ratio these are probably the best
defensive
unit.
These are the final troop type that infantry are
automatically
upgraded to by Leonardo's Workshop.
[2-1-10]: Alpine Ski Troops
---------------------
The major ability of Alpine Ski Troops is that they can
travel
three squares regardless of the terrain type. They do
still
take advantage of Railroads, but Roads have no effect.
These troops are never upgraded by Leonardo's Workshop -
nor is any other infantry type upgraded to it.
[2-1-11]: Marines
---------------------
The major ability of Marines is that they can directly
attack
a city from a transport ship (what Civ2 calls an
Amphibious
assault).
These troops are never upgraded by Leonardo's Workshop -
nor is any other infantry type upgraded to it.
[2-1-12]: Paratroopers
---------------------
The computer makes extensive use of these. If you leave a
city
undefended (or all the defenders are killed) you can be
sure there'll
be one of these around ready to drop in for a cup of tea
and a bite
to eat.
These troops are never upgraded by Leonardo's Workshop -
nor is any other infantry type upgraded to it.
[2-2]: Mounted
===================
[2-2-1]: Horsemen
---------------------
[blank]
[2-2-2]: Chariots
---------------------
Chariots were significantly down graded from Civ. If you
want
to go an early crusade - choose Elephants.
[2-2-3]: Elephants
---------------------
[blank]
[2-2-4]: Knights
---------------------
[blank]
[2-2-5]: Crusaders
---------------------
[blank]
[2-2-6]: Dragoons
---------------------
[blank]
[2-2-7]: Cavalry
---------------------
The best of the mounted troops.
[incomplete]
[2-3]: Vehicles
===================
[blank]
[2-4]: Big Guns
===================
[blank]
[2-5]: Naval Units
===================
[blank]
[2-6]: Aircraft
===================
[2-6-1]: Fighter
---------------------
Fighters are only really useful for a couple of jobs:
taking out bombers that are hanging around and for
attacking that spy or diplomat that's just out of reach.
Forget trying to escort bomber groups - it just don't
work.
[2-6-2]: Bomber
---------------------
Useful for taking out marauding stacks of enemy units.
[incomplete]
[2-6-3]: Stealth Fighter
---------------------
Calling this unit a Stealth fighter is a bit of a
misnomer. A
better name would have been Jet Fighter.
There is a rules.txt and unit.gif file that adds Jet
Fighters
Bombers between Fighter/Bomber and their Stealth versions.
[2-6-4]: Stealth Bomber
---------------------
Useful for taking out marauding stacks of enemy units.
See comments about Stealth Fighter.
[incomplete]
[2-6-5]: Cruise Missile
---------------------
An expensive unit to use - it dies regardless of whether
it
wins. As with all air units it causes unrest in a
Republican or
Democratic city. (Remember Greenham common ?)
Useful for a quick surgical strike against a stack of
naval
units. But not if there's an AEGIS Cruiser present (and
you're
player a version after 1.07).
[incomplete]
[2-6-6]: Nuclear Missile
---------------------
Expensive and as with all aircraft causes unrest. Besides
who
wants a nuclear arsenal planted in their driveway ?
Here's a tip:
"I have noticed that if you build an airbase 2 hexes from
your
city and station nukes there, the Ai does not seem to be
able
to detect them. Wala! Missile silos."
[jeferi@inlink.com (JefEri)]
[incomplete]
[2-7]: Trade Units
===================
[2-7-1]: General Comments
---------------------
[blank]
[2-7-2]: Caravan
---------------------
[blank]
[2-7-3]: Freight
---------------------
[blank]
[2-8]: Buildings
===================
[2-8-1]: Palace
---------------------
Important for corruption calculation. The further a city
from
the one with your Palace in - the greater the corruption
(except at Democracy of course).
Without a capital EVERY city is treated as being the
maximum
range away !!
[2-8-1]: Temple
---------------------
Reduces the number of unhappy citizens by 2. Increased
effect
with Mysitcism and double effect if you control the
Oracle.
[2-8-1]: Granary
---------------------
Allows you to create a food stockpile. This is important
for
two reasons a) it gives you a buffer zone in case of
famine and
b) it halves the amount of stored food you need to build
up to
create a new citizen.
The Pyramid gives a granary in each of your cities.
Perhaps
something to with the story of Joseph and his Coat of
Many
Colours ?
[2-8-1]: Barracks
---------------------
Barracks have two effects. Firstly all new land units
(except settlers, engineers, explorers, diplomats and
spies)
are built as veteran units.
Second, and the thing that makes Sun Tzu's Academy less
valuable IMHO (because you have to build the barracks
anyway to
get this benefit) is that each turn all land units in a
city
with a barracks are healed back to full strength.
[2-8-1]: City Walls
---------------------
City Walls have two effects. Firstly the defensive
strenght of
any unit attacked in the city is doubled. Bombers,
Stealth
Bombers, Howitzers and naval units ignore this effect.
City Walls also prevent the loss of population should one
of
your units inside the city be destroyed.
[2-9]: Terrain Improvements
===================
[2-9-1]: Irrigation
---------------------
[blank]
[2-9-2]: Roads
---------------------
[blank]
[2-9-3]: Mines
---------------------
[blank]
[2-9-4]: Railroads
---------------------
[2-9-5]: Farmland
---------------------
[2-10]: Governments
===================
by [ctown@en.com (William R. Brickles III)]
[2-10-1]: Republic
---------------------
This is the most versatile and usually the one I stick
with.
Can punish weak civilizations while still keeping up in
science.
[2-10-2]: Democracy
---------------------
This is purely a mind-your-own-business government. The
best
economically, but I'd rather go to war in Anarchy.
[2-10-3]: Fundamentalism
---------------------
Sure science is low but you can put Luxury at 0% and
Science at max (I think 70%) and still grow a huge bank
account. War is the focus here. I still remember the
time I
sent 20 tanks to crush the Chinese and backed them up
with 20
more in very few turns... Or how about that Celtic town
I
attacked with 4 nuclear warheads just for kicks?
[2-10-4]: Communism
---------------------
Not good for much actually, but better than primitive
governments.
[2-10-5]: Monarchy
---------------------
I usually skip right to Republic.
[2-10-6]: Despotism
---------------------
Better than Anarchy !
[2-10-1]: Anarchy
---------------------
It's better to hear your advisors argue than listen to
the
terrible Elvis impersonator.
[2-11]: Wonders of The World
===========================
[2-11-1]: Must Haves
---------------------
Pyramids, Great Library, Leonardo's Workshop,
Michaelangelo's
Chapel, Women's Suffrage, Hoover Dam, Great Wall.
[2-11-2]: Nice To Haves
---------------------
King Richard's Crusade, Oracle, Copernicus's Observatory,
Magellan's Voyage, SETI project, Eiffel Tower, Statue of
Liberty, Cure for Cancer, United Nations.
[2-11-3]: Not Really Bothered
---------------------
Hanging Gardens, Lighthouse, Shakespeare's
Theatre, Marco Polo's Expedition, Apollo Project,
Manhattan
Project, Sun Tzu's Academy.
[2-11-4]: Exceptions
---------------------
This may alter slightly depending on the environment. For
example if you have lots of small continents in your
world the
Magellan's Voyage and Lighthouse become more important.
[2-11-5]: Wonder Denial
---------------------
Of course by having a Wonder yourself you deny anyone
else from
having its benefits. This is particularly important for
certain
Wonders, like United Nations. It's incredibly frustrating
to
have to stop fighting because the other side has this
Wonder !
(Or to struggle to research a technology only to have your
enemy acquire it from his Great Library!)
[2-11-6]: Obsolete Wonders
---------------------
Be careful about the technology you choose in order to
avoid
accidentally making one of your critical Wonders obsolete
too
early. Metallurgy for Great Wall and Mobile Warfare for
Leonardo's Workshop are the critical ones.
[2-11-7]: Specific Wonders
---------------------
[2-11-7-1]: The Great Wall
---------------------
If you have the Great Wall - remember to prepare
for
it's obsolescence. There's nothing quite so
unpleasant
as being attacked by another civilisation only to
have
all your cities lose their walls because some SOB
discovers metallurgy !
[2-11-7-2]: Leonardo’s Workshop
---------------------
A note on Leonardo's workshop. It does not
immediately
upgrade all your troops - that only happens when
you
gain a technology. So when you build Leonardo's
workshop
all your units get upgraded. And when you gain a
new
technology Civ2 checks to see if your units
should be
upgraded. But if you gain control of other units
(except
by building them) - for example through bribery -
these
are not upgraded until the next time you gain a
technology advance. Another effect of being
upgraded by
Leonardo's Workshop is that any veteran units
lose their
veteran status - even if they're in the city with
a
barracks.
Continued in Part 2
Edward
(
geocities.com/timessquare/lair) (
geocities.com/timessquare)