Part 5

Learn how to establish profitable colonies, manage resources like Silver and Liberty Bells, build a strong navy, and prepare for independence in Civilization IV.

To establish profitable colonies in Civilization IV, focus on inland locations with mountains for Silver mining. Roads are crucial for faster unit travel and expansion, as Silver is not found near the coast.

Build up your colonies' economies first to fund production of improvements and military buildings. While Stockades offer early defense, a Drydock is essential for building a strong navy, which is vital for declaring independence and controlling seas to reduce the need for ground forces. Inland colonies serve as fallback points and production centers for military forces to repel invaders.

Crosses and Liberty Bells:

The Church produces Crosses, which help in getting new colonists without payment and offer a lucky pick from Europe's docks. However, this random generation becomes less useful in the late game when experts can be trained or hired.

The Town Hall and media buildings like the Printing Press generate Liberty Bells. These are the most important resource in the game. Liberty Bells are crucial for generating rebel sentiment, allowing you to declare independence when at least half your population supports it. They also generate Founding Father points, used to recruit special individuals with powerful colony-wide effects.

Liberty Bells also influence Rebel Sentiment, impacting production efficiency and cultural control over land. Higher rebel sentiment leads to more productive workers, and increased Liberty Bell generation expands cultural influence.

Natives and Other Nations:

Encountering natives can be beneficial; they trade and offer gifts early on. However, scout their burial grounds with a strong military to defend against potential issues. Natives offer trade goods and treasure, which can be transported back to Europe via galleons for profit. Be cautious of natives armed with horses and muskets, as they can become dangerous if they raid your encampments or trade for such items. Contain them and use Artillery to destroy their villages if necessary.

Other nations are similar to you but may lack early numbers. European wars can impact colonial conflicts, so maintain armed forces at all times. Your king can also be a significant challenge.