Hey Civ Fans!
Fastmoves has now been up for three months and we´re hitting 50 articles. I´d like to use the opportunity to provide anyone interested in in-depth analysis of all sorts of strategies, game mechanics and other civ related aspects with an overview of the work done so far.
Work on the site´s relaunch containing lots of new features is currently underway...
[SIZE="4"]Introductions into Civilization Multiplayer[/SIZE]
Introductionary articles for players that are new to Civilization Multiplayer. They contain information on concepts of civilization that are not used in singleplayer but in multiplayer and introduce the common game formats in the multiplayer community.
A summary of the ways civ4 is played in multiplayer
Civilization Multiplayer: city elimination, simultaneous turns and timer
Useful Tools: Civ4Fans, Teamspeak and Hamachi
[SIZE="4"]General Articles on Civilization Multiplayer[/SIZE]
The Art of Attacking in Civilization Multiplayer
Extensive Article on how to attack best in Civ Multiplayer explaining underlying principles, the effects of terrain and culture. Shows and explains several strong ways of attacking, like direct hit, fork and culture bomb.
Defending in Civ MP
Counterpart of the article on attacking. Explains the importance of sentry network and culture, gives advice on how to plant your cities to provide good defense, block enemy moves and how to best counter approaching stacks.
Anti-Choke: Dealing with Warriors and Archers in Ancient
Guide on how to defend against units attacking you early in game. Gives detailed information on how to anticipate units coming for you and how to best protect your buildup.
Vision range and its role for offense and defense in civilization multiplayer
Describes the rules of vision range for units, which is very important for building up a sentry network for defense on the one hand and plan sneaky attacks on the other hand.
How to read the Power Graph in Demographics
Lists of power values of important units, average unit values in each era and guide on how to device the amount of enemy army from the demography screen.
Tricks #1: The Culture Bug
Explains the use of the so called culture bug, that allows you to build culture and a unit/building in the same turn. This is a common (and important) part of later era games.
The Art of Boating
Article on efficieny and different ways of attacks via sea (commonly called boating). Gives advice on when boating makes sense and how to do so best.
Putting a Great General to good use
Explains the diffent ways a Great Geneal can be used.
*NEW*The Happiness Cap*NEW*
Explanations of the concept of the "happiness cap" and its impact on the game and possible strategy.
[SIZE="4"]Ironman/ffa/cton[/SIZE]
Traits in ffa and Ironman
About the individual usefulness of traits for ffa and Ironman type games and how you have to adopt your game style to those traits in order to put them to full use.
Maps, Difficulty, Settings – how to adapt
Description of what impact different maps and other options like difficulty have on the game, how you need to adopt your game style to that and what influence that has on how good the different traits and civs are, with a special focus on choice of civ.
Interaction of traits and choice of leader
Article explaining how the traits interact with each other, why certain combinations aren´t good and two good traits dont make a good leader and what combinations can be useful in which situation.
When to attack and NOT attack
Guidelines on what circumstances are necessary for a war to make sense in a Ironman/cton/ffa game with special distinction from duels and teamers.
[SIZE="4"]Introductions into later Eras (non ancient start)[/SIZE]
Most players only know Civilization games starting in ancient era. However in multiplayer every era is used as starting era, to enjoy all parts civ while keeping games within a reasonable timeframe.
The buildup principles and strategies for later era starts are obviously very different from ancient (especially Renaissance and later). The articles of this category explain the basic buildup principles for their specific era and give an overview of common strategies in order to introduce players into those eras, that are new to them.
Renaissance Start, especially in Multiplayer Teamer
Modern and Future Start, especially in Multiplayer Teamers
*NEW*Introduction into Industrial*NEW*
*NEW*Introduction into Medieval*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Other Strategy Articles[/SIZE]
About the Expansive Trait
Math behind and use of the strongest trait in ancient start, noble difficulty.
A Flop5 of Unique Units
A Top7 of Unique Units
[SIZE="4"]National Wonders[/SIZE]
National Wonders #1: Flop3
*NEW*National Wonders #2: Top3 *NEW*
*NEW*National Wonders #3: Good. Basic. Not Game Breaking.*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Series Civics in Focus[/SIZE]
Each part explains one branch of the Civics menu. The articles contain the effects and requirements of each Civic, explain in which game formats and in which situations they can be used and give short introductions into how they can be put to their best effect.
I. Government
II. Legal
III. Labor
*NEW*IV. Economy*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Series Good UB - Bad UB[/SIZE]
Series on Unique Buildings. Each Part evalutates two to 4 unique buildings, explaining in what situations they can be used and why they are useful there - or otherwise why they are not.
Introductory post of each Part:
There are no just good or just bad buildings
Even though the title suggests different, there are basically no just good or just bad unique buildings (and units). Every UB and UU has to be evaluated in the context of the game settings and overall strategy it´s supposed to be used in. A (fictional) unique unit archer that gets +100% against melee units is useless in an game played on Islands, where you have no (military) contact with your opponents until Astronomy is researched and archers are long obsolete. A unique building is good if it significantly supports a (playable) strategy.
#1 Research Institute, Terrace
#2 Salon, Hippodrome
#3 Mint, Ger
#4 Forum, Baray
#5 Pavilion, Stele, Rathaus, Ikhanda
#6 Assembly Plant, Mausoleum, Hammam, Ball Court
#7 Obelisk, Odeon
#8 Dun, Citadel, Totem Pole
#9 Apothecary, Garden, Dike
*NEW*#10 Cothon, Trading Post, Feitoria [b]*NEW*
*NEW*#11 Madrassa, Sacrificial Altar, Stock Exchange, Seowon, Mall, Ziggurat[/b]*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]The Fastmoves Challenge[/SIZE]
Fastmoves multiplayer related edition of the game of the month, with video analysis on the best possible approach afterwards.
#1 Robinson Crusoe´s thirst for knowledge
[url="http://fastmoves.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/fastmoves-challenge-1-the-video-solution/">Video Solution[/url]
#2 Montezuma´s Revenge
*NEW*#3 Smart Ragnar*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Concept Ideas[/SIZE]
Articles on conceptional ideas for Civilization, like new functions for building or guidelines for mapskripting.
#1 Building: Assembly Line
#2 City Commerce and Specialization
#3 Mapdesign for Multiplayer Civ
[SIZE="4"]Fun and co[/SIZE]
Single Player Funkiness
4 city Ancient buildup with Shaka
*NEW*Report on CCC Playoff Match between clans [RUS] and [PPP]*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Not Gameplay related Stuff[/SIZE]
Civilization Network – a commentary
*NEW* New Mapscript: fm_Mirror_Inland_Sea1*NEW*
Inland_Sea version with mirrored resources and starting positions.
[SIZE="4"]Echoes from the Civ World[/SIZE]
Echos from the Civ World #1
*NEW* Announcement of Civilization 5*NEW*
*NEW* Civilization 5: First info and screenshots *NEW*
*NEW* Civilization 5: "1-unt-per-tile" concept *NEW
*NEW* Civilization 5: trailer by 2k.Games *NEW*
Fastmoves has now been up for three months and we´re hitting 50 articles. I´d like to use the opportunity to provide anyone interested in in-depth analysis of all sorts of strategies, game mechanics and other civ related aspects with an overview of the work done so far.
Work on the site´s relaunch containing lots of new features is currently underway...
[SIZE="4"]Introductions into Civilization Multiplayer[/SIZE]
Introductionary articles for players that are new to Civilization Multiplayer. They contain information on concepts of civilization that are not used in singleplayer but in multiplayer and introduce the common game formats in the multiplayer community.
A summary of the ways civ4 is played in multiplayer
Civilization Multiplayer: city elimination, simultaneous turns and timer
Useful Tools: Civ4Fans, Teamspeak and Hamachi
[SIZE="4"]General Articles on Civilization Multiplayer[/SIZE]
The Art of Attacking in Civilization Multiplayer
Extensive Article on how to attack best in Civ Multiplayer explaining underlying principles, the effects of terrain and culture. Shows and explains several strong ways of attacking, like direct hit, fork and culture bomb.
Defending in Civ MP
Counterpart of the article on attacking. Explains the importance of sentry network and culture, gives advice on how to plant your cities to provide good defense, block enemy moves and how to best counter approaching stacks.
Anti-Choke: Dealing with Warriors and Archers in Ancient
Guide on how to defend against units attacking you early in game. Gives detailed information on how to anticipate units coming for you and how to best protect your buildup.
Vision range and its role for offense and defense in civilization multiplayer
Describes the rules of vision range for units, which is very important for building up a sentry network for defense on the one hand and plan sneaky attacks on the other hand.
How to read the Power Graph in Demographics
Lists of power values of important units, average unit values in each era and guide on how to device the amount of enemy army from the demography screen.
Tricks #1: The Culture Bug
Explains the use of the so called culture bug, that allows you to build culture and a unit/building in the same turn. This is a common (and important) part of later era games.
The Art of Boating
Article on efficieny and different ways of attacks via sea (commonly called boating). Gives advice on when boating makes sense and how to do so best.
Putting a Great General to good use
Explains the diffent ways a Great Geneal can be used.
*NEW*The Happiness Cap*NEW*
Explanations of the concept of the "happiness cap" and its impact on the game and possible strategy.
[SIZE="4"]Ironman/ffa/cton[/SIZE]
Traits in ffa and Ironman
About the individual usefulness of traits for ffa and Ironman type games and how you have to adopt your game style to those traits in order to put them to full use.
Maps, Difficulty, Settings – how to adapt
Description of what impact different maps and other options like difficulty have on the game, how you need to adopt your game style to that and what influence that has on how good the different traits and civs are, with a special focus on choice of civ.
Interaction of traits and choice of leader
Article explaining how the traits interact with each other, why certain combinations aren´t good and two good traits dont make a good leader and what combinations can be useful in which situation.
When to attack and NOT attack
Guidelines on what circumstances are necessary for a war to make sense in a Ironman/cton/ffa game with special distinction from duels and teamers.
[SIZE="4"]Introductions into later Eras (non ancient start)[/SIZE]
Most players only know Civilization games starting in ancient era. However in multiplayer every era is used as starting era, to enjoy all parts civ while keeping games within a reasonable timeframe.
The buildup principles and strategies for later era starts are obviously very different from ancient (especially Renaissance and later). The articles of this category explain the basic buildup principles for their specific era and give an overview of common strategies in order to introduce players into those eras, that are new to them.
Renaissance Start, especially in Multiplayer Teamer
Modern and Future Start, especially in Multiplayer Teamers
*NEW*Introduction into Industrial*NEW*
*NEW*Introduction into Medieval*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Other Strategy Articles[/SIZE]
About the Expansive Trait
Math behind and use of the strongest trait in ancient start, noble difficulty.
A Flop5 of Unique Units
A Top7 of Unique Units
[SIZE="4"]National Wonders[/SIZE]
National Wonders #1: Flop3
*NEW*National Wonders #2: Top3 *NEW*
*NEW*National Wonders #3: Good. Basic. Not Game Breaking.*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Series Civics in Focus[/SIZE]
Each part explains one branch of the Civics menu. The articles contain the effects and requirements of each Civic, explain in which game formats and in which situations they can be used and give short introductions into how they can be put to their best effect.
I. Government
II. Legal
III. Labor
*NEW*IV. Economy*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Series Good UB - Bad UB[/SIZE]
Series on Unique Buildings. Each Part evalutates two to 4 unique buildings, explaining in what situations they can be used and why they are useful there - or otherwise why they are not.
Introductory post of each Part:
There are no just good or just bad buildings
Even though the title suggests different, there are basically no just good or just bad unique buildings (and units). Every UB and UU has to be evaluated in the context of the game settings and overall strategy it´s supposed to be used in. A (fictional) unique unit archer that gets +100% against melee units is useless in an game played on Islands, where you have no (military) contact with your opponents until Astronomy is researched and archers are long obsolete. A unique building is good if it significantly supports a (playable) strategy.
#1 Research Institute, Terrace
#2 Salon, Hippodrome
#3 Mint, Ger
#4 Forum, Baray
#5 Pavilion, Stele, Rathaus, Ikhanda
#6 Assembly Plant, Mausoleum, Hammam, Ball Court
#7 Obelisk, Odeon
#8 Dun, Citadel, Totem Pole
#9 Apothecary, Garden, Dike
*NEW*#10 Cothon, Trading Post, Feitoria [b]*NEW*
*NEW*#11 Madrassa, Sacrificial Altar, Stock Exchange, Seowon, Mall, Ziggurat[/b]*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]The Fastmoves Challenge[/SIZE]
Fastmoves multiplayer related edition of the game of the month, with video analysis on the best possible approach afterwards.
#1 Robinson Crusoe´s thirst for knowledge
[url="http://fastmoves.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/fastmoves-challenge-1-the-video-solution/">Video Solution[/url]
#2 Montezuma´s Revenge
*NEW*#3 Smart Ragnar*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Concept Ideas[/SIZE]
Articles on conceptional ideas for Civilization, like new functions for building or guidelines for mapskripting.
#1 Building: Assembly Line
#2 City Commerce and Specialization
#3 Mapdesign for Multiplayer Civ
[SIZE="4"]Fun and co[/SIZE]
Single Player Funkiness
4 city Ancient buildup with Shaka
*NEW*Report on CCC Playoff Match between clans [RUS] and [PPP]*NEW*
[SIZE="4"]Not Gameplay related Stuff[/SIZE]
Civilization Network – a commentary
*NEW* New Mapscript: fm_Mirror_Inland_Sea1*NEW*
Inland_Sea version with mirrored resources and starting positions.
[SIZE="4"]Echoes from the Civ World[/SIZE]
Echos from the Civ World #1
*NEW* Announcement of Civilization 5*NEW*
*NEW* Civilization 5: First info and screenshots *NEW*
*NEW* Civilization 5: "1-unt-per-tile" concept *NEW
*NEW* Civilization 5: trailer by 2k.Games *NEW*
), introductions to medieval and industrial start are now available and more...
