User Guide

INTRODUCTION
This section of the manual provides an overview of Sid Meier’s
Civilization IV.This is all you need to get started; look this sec-
tion over and then start playing.Then check out the “Advanced
Rules” section if you’re seeking more in-depth info.
Don’t forget about the in-game online “Civilopedia,” either!
That is loaded with lots of very useful info. See page 6 for more
details on the Civilopedia.
TURN
STRUCTURE
OVERVIEW
Civilization IV can be played in several different turn formats.
The standard single-player game is “turn based” (see below),
while multiplayer games can be played in one of two ways.
TURN BASED GAMES
A solo game of Civilization IV is “turn based:” you take your
turn – move your units, conduct diplomacy, build and manage
your cities, and so forth – then each of your opponents take
their turns, then you take another turn, and so on until some-
body wins. (In other words, you play it just like chess or Risk.)
You can take as long as you want to complete your turn.
Multiplayer games can be played this way, as well. However in
a multiplayer game you can use a “Turn Timer” to limit the
amount of time each player has to make his move. (See the
advanced section on “Multiplayer Games,” page 172, for more
information.)
SIMULTANEOUS TURNS GAMES
During a simultaneous turn game (available only during mul-
tiplayer games), you and your opponents take your turns simul-
taneously. Everybody moves units, manipulates cities, conducts
diplomacy and so forth at the same time. When everybody’s
done everything they want to do, the turn ends and another
begins.You can use a “Turn Timer” when playing simultaneous
games, as well.
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THE INTERFACE
OVERVIEW
In Civilization IV, we have strived to create an interface that is
attractive and easy to use. We have followed standard gaming
conventions – right-click to move a unit, action icons for
active units, and so forth – where possible, hopefully making
the game easy for experienced gamers to pick up, but we have
also been willing to break conventions when necessary.
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List of
Discovered
Civs (click
name to enter
diplomacy)
Mini
Map
Your
Banner
End Turn
Button
Unit Action
Box
Details Box
Current
Score
List
Advisor
Buttons
Main Map
Research
Bar
Date
Change
Civics
Button
Civilopedia
Button
Tech
Investment
Percentage
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