Civilization III research spending, governments and diplomacy
Choose a government for your empire instead of changing at random.
Edition covered
Civilization III fundamentals, using Complete as the pictured edition. Complete includes Play the World and Conquests; expansion civilizations, traits, units and scenarios differ from the 2001 base game. Scenario rules can override the standard epic-game rules.
Use the national budget deliberately
Commerce is divided among science, luxuries and treasury. The research time display and net income show the effect of a slider change; more science is not free if it leaves the state unable to pay upkeep.
| Government | Main attraction | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Despotism | Available at the start | Tile-yield penalty and weak efficiency |
| Monarchy | Useful support for sustained warfare | Different economic balance from Republic |
| Republic | Strong commerce | Unit costs and war weariness need attention |
| Democracy | Advanced economic efficiency | War weariness and transition cost |
| Communism | Alternative for a large war-oriented empire | Corruption and support use different rules |
Understand Despotisms early penalty
Despotism reduces a tiles yield when that yield exceeds two. This is why irrigating ordinary grassland may not create the extra food a new player expects until the government changes.
| Tool | Purpose | Check before using |
|---|---|---|
| Science slider | Faster research | Net treasury change |
| Luxury slider | More happiness | Reduced science or tax allocation |
| Tax allocation | Gold income | Delayed research |
| Technology trade | Acquire missing advances | What the other side receives |
| Resource trade | Obtain a strategic resource or luxury | Route availability and agreement duration |
Account for the transition
Changing government involves anarchy, with its duration affected by civilization traits and rules. Make the switch at a time when interrupted production will not leave an exposed frontier undefended.
Check the terms of a deal
Technologies, resources and gold-per-turn deals can support growth, but a broken route or war can end arrangements. Read the diplomatic agreement and avoid planning on a resource that may soon disappear.
Technologies, resources and gold-per-turn deals can support growth, but a broken route or war can end arrangements. Read the diplomatic agreement and avoid planning on a resource that may soon disappear.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Publisher manual | shared.fastly.steamstatic.com |