How does combat work?

[Sergeant Poultry]

I'm thinking f buying this game, and I want to know how combat works (as it was always the civ series weak point in my opinion). Does it continue the RNG madness from Civ 3, or does it move into more static damage output like in Civ 5/6? How does city defense work, because I don't wanna play $7.5 for a game where I have to re-enact the siege of Stalingrad for all enemy citites yet have the enemy casaully walk through mine. Some pointers to how the combat works and overall feelings regarding the game would be great, thank you

[Nathan Algren]

[CHE]

Originally posted by Sergeant Poultry:

I'm thinking f buying this game, and I want to know how combat works (as it was always the civ series weak point in my opinion). Does it continue the RNG madness from Civ 3, or does it move into more static damage output like in Civ 5/6? How does city defense work, because I don't wanna play $7.5 for a game where I have to re-enact the siege of Stalingrad for all enemy citites yet have the enemy casaully walk through mine. Some pointers to how the combat works and overall feelings regarding the game would be great, thank you

The CivFanatics forums have many more Civ 4 players and past threads on many issues, perhaps including answers to what you ask:

https://forums.civfanatics.com/categories/civilization-iv.143/

[bandolerofuzz]

I would say it goes more towards the 5/6 side. Like, you have different types of units, with different advantages over others.

[Dinger]

i can not count how many times my unit was 85% favored .

and l o s t

[SexIsBadToTheBone]

basicaly its luck. its possible to loseaxe vs warrior or worse archer to scout on flat.
to calculate odds u can use zulans combat simulator. he is hosting the civ 4 commznity multiplayer server. hes a nice guy. look here: https://civ.zulan.net/

[Sergeant Poultry]

Originally posted by SexIsBadToTheBone:

basicaly its luck. its possible to loseaxe vs warrior or worse archer to scout on flat.
to calculate odds u can use zulans combat simulator. he is hosting the civ 4 commznity multiplayer server. hes a nice guy. look here: https://civ.zulan.net/

But can I lose a tank to an ancient era spearman?

[SexIsBadToTheBone]

that i lost archer to scout on flaT happened from 2006 till 2020 one time, just to give u an idea how rare ir is. i guess with some mod thats possinble to fit ur mentioned condition. Sergent Poultry

[OH LAWD HE COMIN]

For city defense:

- Cities do not play like they do in 5/6. They are not a "unit" to be attacked. They can only be defended by placing units in them.

- You can build "walls" which provide a 50% defensive bonus (except against gunpowder units).
- You can "fortify" units in cities, which provide a maximum of 25% defensive bonus for the unit.

When attacking:
- Siege weapons can bombard city defenses, eventually reducing bonuses from walls to 0%.
- Cities cannot "attack" units like they can in 5/6. They can only be defended by units.
- When the attacker destroys the last unit, they automatically move to occupy the city. They are provided a gold bonus, and the option to keep/raze the city.

Hope this helps! I love CIV 4.

[Sergeant Poultry]

Originally posted by OH LAWD HE COMIN:

For city defense:

- Cities do not play like they do in 5/6. They are not a "unit" to be attacked. They can only be defended by placing units in them.

- You can build "walls" which provide a 50% defensive bonus (except against gunpowder units).
- You can "fortify" units in cities, which provide a maximum of 25% defensive bonus for the unit.

When attacking:
- Siege weapons can bombard city defenses, eventually reducing bonuses from walls to 0%.
- Cities cannot "attack" units like they can in 5/6. They can only be defended by units.
- When the attacker destroys the last unit, they automatically move to occupy the city. They are provided a gold bonus, and the option to keep/raze the city.

Hope this helps! I love CIV 4.

Excellent! This removes the fort like element of cities in Civ 5/6 where unless you have artillery you are not capturing that city, whilst still letting you directly bombard the defences, a much needed thing from Civ 3.

[Megarbow]

thanks