Which Civ are you playing right now?

Zero · May 16, 2003, 10:28

After playing China/Iroquois/Aztecs to death, Ive been trying all sorts of civs lately. I was surprised to find that I really liked civs such as Russia, America and other civs that arent wuite as popular. I've also noticed they have their own unique advantages that I havent noticed before.

My recent games have all been arabs. They are extremly fun to play as after you get over the fact that they are iroquois with weaker riders. In fact theyre actually more than that. I found that I have been underestimating the -10 cost all this time. Upgrade to a horsemen to ansar is 20 gold cheaper than to knights in Regent, and building an ansar in 3 turns as opposed to 4 turns during your GA is pretty neat.

I found that the low defense isnt really a downside cause your ansars dont get attacked much due to increased manuverbility. Most likely you would counter attack most of the units before they even have a chance of approaching you and return right back into the stack of doom anyway. And I find that for once elite knight defending over veteran pikemen fiasco being resolved as a little postive side to actually lowering the defense.

Nor Me · May 16, 2003, 11:35

Zulus. They're not the best civ but if you can use them to get a good enough start, you should be able to win easily. Two early traits and an early decent UU with a potential early GA sometimes work together. You can be too weighted for an early advantage but if you can manage not to waste it then you're fine.
In this game, I've managed to avoid the early GA. Taking an enemy capital with just two archers helped.

OTOH no-one should underestimate the Arabs. The Americans are definately in the top 4 civs possibly in the top 1.

vulture · May 16, 2003, 11:48

I'm trying my first game as the Americans at the moment, and as others have noticed, they are a much stronger civ than you might expect, simply because they can lay claim to a lot of land very quickly. On Emperor I've managed to stay #1 in both territory and population for the whole ancient era (normally I manage #1 in territory, but much lower in population).

Having happy, peaceful civs like India, Greece and the Ottomans as neighbours helps of course.

Arrian · May 16, 2003, 12:02

Currently playing Germany. I finished a game as Babylon and decided to stick with the Scientific trait, since it's been so long since I've used it*. Plus, I've never gotten to use Panzers. And hey, I'm supposedly this big warmonger, but I've never really played Germany (with the ignoble exception of any early minitourney on Emperor in which I was soundly trounced).

They aren't going to become one of my favorites, but I'm doing well. Early warfare (archers) netted me tons of slaves (5 settler teams whacked, 1 worker stolen, 2 more taken for peace) and 2 GLs (Pyramids, Great Library) and later (late ancient/early medieval) warfare netted me 4 more (Palace move, Army, Leos, Heroic Epic). Though I'm in a dominant position, making contact with the other continent has shown me that I do have actual competition over there (Egypt is pretty badass), which is good, since I actually want to use my Panzers. First, however, I have to wipe out Joany with my Cavalry (shouldn't be an issue, since she has pikes to try to stop them with) before she can make contact and tell the other civs what a jerk I've been.

-Arrian

* - It is still my opinion that Scientific isn't all that powerful, but it's really nice if you already have a lead... it extends that lead. I'm still using 1.14, btw.

Dominae · May 16, 2003, 12:16

The Zulus rock until they get humiliated by the Americans (see Strat 4 PBEM, thread 2)...

Dominae

Dominae · May 16, 2003, 12:20

Quote:

Originally posted by vulture
I'm trying my first game as the Americans at the moment, and as others have noticed...

Blatant self-reference:

Civ-Specific Strategy: Americans

Dominae

Yahweh Sabaoth · May 16, 2003, 12:49

I'm playing as the Arabs right now. A great civ! Good for REXing, expanding culture, and making war... good traits and UU for triggering a GA at a number of different times. I'm not sure how they'd fare at a higher level, but on regent they give you a lot of choices.

My only regret is that they're not commercial. I'd like to put those Ansars to real use but I started way up north and the rest of the continent seems so far away. Corruption will be an issue...

Arrian · May 16, 2003, 12:54

Wow, Dominae, I forgot what a good thread that was (yeah, I just re-read the whole thing

). Even the two different threadjacks - both of which were my fault

-Arrian

Dominae · May 16, 2003, 13:00

Quote:

Originally posted by Arrian
Wow, Dominae, I forgot what a good thread that was (yeah, I just re-read the whole thing

). Even the two different threadjacks - both of which were my fault

Because of you and some PBEM games, I have a greater respect for Culture now...still not that great, but you did have an effect. And all this because of an Americans thread!

Dominae

Arrian · May 16, 2003, 13:11

Sweet!

I don't build temples quite as aggressively as I used to, by the way. You made me stop and think about just automatically building them right away. Now, I think to myself "ok Rob, do you really need that temple now, or maybe a couple of extra warriors, then a settler, and THEN a temple?" Which way works best for the overall growth of my civ? The result has been that I still build the temples, and still build 'em early, but not quite as early as I once did.

-Arrian

Dominae · May 16, 2003, 13:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Arrian
I don't build temples quite as aggressively as I used to, by the way.

So we both "won" that argument. That is sweet.

Dominae

Purple · May 16, 2003, 13:45

I have made it a point to play each civ until I win at least once. So far I've met that goal, with one exception. I'm currently playing the Vikings, and it finally looks like I will achieve a victory. To get to this point I had to abandon many, many games, when I was getting ground into the dust.

Maybe it's my playstyle, maybe it's the beserk UU, or maybe it's just the luck of the draw in terms of starting positions. At any rate, for me, the Vikings are the toughest civ to play.

Arrian · May 16, 2003, 13:58

I still have never played as England, Russia, Zululand, Korea, Spain, Vikings, and the Arabs*

*I did have an abortive Arab game that was killed due to my comp crashing, and there was my (again, abortive) start go AU202.

Now that I'm on my way to a solid German win (UP, actually), I may actually go and play some of the civs I don't like, such as the English, just to do it. I did that with the Mongols, and things went pretty well (though I still don't like that trait combo, or the UU, to be honest).

-Arrian

inca911 · May 16, 2003, 14:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Arrian
I don't build temples quite as aggressively as I used to, by the way. You made me stop and think about just automatically building them right away. Now, I think to myself "ok Rob, do you really need that temple now, or maybe a couple of extra warriors, then a settler, and THEN a temple?" The result has been that I still build the temples, and still build 'em early, but not quite as early as I once did.

-Arrian

Same here. Except that I will first rush a temple in a city if it's a border city. I want as much culture as possible to encourage an AI city to flip.

Right now, I'm finishing an Emperor game and the random civ selection gave me the Japanese on a small land mass Pangea. It's been a while since I played the Japanese, and Samurai are now overrunning the world. The Zulu were stupid enough to declare war early on (the AI saw it had more troops and attacked, too bad much of my smaller army were Swordsmen!). The Persians are the only ones left and the end is near since a horse raid pillaged their only link to Saltpeter. Arrian the Warmonger would be proud of the destruction the Japanese have caused....

Jaybe · May 16, 2003, 14:11

I have been playing Random for several months, but have been playing Rome for the past couple games. I appreciate my Legions doing road projects, and keep a few even into modern times.

Legions (in my mod) can build roads & forts but the AI would probably not use those capabilities, so I might as well make use of them myself.

UnOrthOdOx · May 16, 2003, 14:13

Been working the Celts allot lately, personally. They are the first of the PTW civs I have really tried. Trying to find new ways to utilize their UU, and Golden Age...

Yahweh Sabaoth · May 16, 2003, 14:13

Quote:

Originally posted by Purple
I have made it a point to play each civ until I win at least once. So far I've met that goal, with one exception. I'm currently playing the Vikings, and it finally looks like I will achieve a victory. To get to this point I had to abandon many, many games, when I was getting ground into the dust.

This was my experience with the Vikings as well. After restarting 6 times, I achieved my #5 victory ever as them... but still, when I move to Monarch, I will be skipping this largely worthless civ with their seemingly overrated UU.

Nakar Gabab · May 16, 2003, 14:51

Quote:

Originally posted by UnOrthOdOx
Been working the Celts allot lately, personally. They are the first of the PTW civs I have really tried. Trying to find new ways to utilize their UU, and Golden Age...

New ways? What way do you need? Build GS's, overrun the world with GS's, enjoy.

Sheik · May 16, 2003, 15:10

Using Egypt. Egypt is such a powerful civ in the trait department even if the UU isn't anything to shout about. Though I also like the Chinese.

TheArsenal · May 16, 2003, 18:08

China, Japan and the Ottomans seems to be my "go to" civs because of their UUs. Meaning, if I have a poor game with another civ, you can be pretty certain my next one is going to be playing aggressively as one of those three. But I spread it out fairly evenly. My intent is to play them all. The civs I have not played at all are Zulu, Carthage, Mongols and Arabs. I have yet to complete a game as Korea after several starts.

Konquest02 · May 16, 2003, 19:57

I'm playing Carthage right now. I like their traits, but not their UU. It's too expensive and I feel I don't have a real cheap defender (spearman)... Otherwise, I'm doing OK...

I like the Japs, pretty much all of the industrious civs and especially the English on a huge map; they can do wonders!

--Kon, 11 post before custom avatar--

UnOrthOdOx · May 16, 2003, 21:24

Quote:

Originally posted by Nakar Gabab
New ways? What way do you need? Build GS's, overrun the world with GS's, enjoy.

That's what I mean. Even with a GA and despotism, they are expensive as hell, and if I wait till Republic/Monarchy, GS lose their advantage to Pikes somewhat.

Recently I've been beelining to Monarchy, then switching and upgrading a few warriors, then bank most of the GA for a major mass upgrade of knights. (I play mostly on Emperor, btw)

ToeTruck · May 16, 2003, 21:47

My big kick lately has been the Carthaginians. Very flexible, very powerful and an excellent UU (even if it does cause early GA's).

Before Carthage came along, I played a bunch as France so I'm familiar with its dynamics. The UU stunk, but the Industrious-Commercial combination is especially powerful. IMHO

You can go for Writing and try the GL strategy which is very strong at Deity. I love this approach when the AI hems you in and you can only must 6-12 city sites.

Or you can do the Mathematics => Currency route if you are playing at lower levels and have the time to build the Pyramids. Your cultural is a bit delayed as opposed to playing a Religious civ, but the extra revenue and happiness from Marketplaces really pays off.

Next week it will probably be something else, though.

- TT

Aeson · May 17, 2003, 14:27

I'm playing the English on a huge map currently. Maybe English scouts just suck... but I opened 20+ huts and got a grand total of 0 techs! (the first and fifth ones gave Settlers though

)

Overall it's one of the weirdest maps I've ever seen. Huge/Pangaea with 8 civs. About 80-90% of the landmass is known, with 6 civs (myself included). Not sure where the other two are, but they must be bottled up together on a smallish island. Another weird thing is that 5 of the 6 civs are on half of the main continent, and the 6th civ (Spain) has the other half completely to themselves. There are 2 isthmus that connect the two halves, both pretty rough terrain.

Chemical Ollie · May 17, 2003, 15:05

I play anything expansionist right now. It really comes to it's right on large and huge maps. Recently Americans and Vikings, currently Zulu.

Agathon · May 17, 2003, 21:13

The Greeks. I'm trying to prove they are a viable civ.

Dominae · May 17, 2003, 22:37

I'm playing as China now. I've yet to use a Rider in battle (weird I know). I'm also trying to see how far you can go with pure Archer offensives. The answer is: pretty far.

As you can see from the screenshot below, I took care of France and am advancing on the Persians, all with Archers. I'll see if I can deal with the Celts (to the North) with Archers too. My starting spot was not that great, but it's amazing what two quick Archers and a Settler bop can do for you. If I get a Great Leader to rush the FP in Chengdu, this game will be "over" long before Riders. Sigh.

Dominae

Zero · May 18, 2003, 19:04

Quote:

Originally posted by UnOrthOdOx

That's what I mean. Even with a GA and despotism, they are expensive as hell, and if I wait till Republic/Monarchy, GS lose their advantage to Pikes somewhat.

Recently I've been beelining to Monarchy, then switching and upgrading a few warriors, then bank most of the GA for a major mass upgrade of knights. (I play mostly on Emperor, btw)

Why not play the iroquois then?

Seriously, I feel that there is nothing that Iroquois cant do that the celts can do. (well, only thing being that celts dont need horse) Your strategy would work much better with iroquois and the M.Ws.. (Use MWs and upgrade them to knights)

And expansionistic is better than militaristic in the ancient age IMO.

Also, Americans are really good. I can't wait to see if conquest comes with a new civ that has ind/exp. Lets pray they get some sort of ancient/middle age UU.

Nakar Gabab · May 18, 2003, 20:24

Quite to the contrary, I would like to see *any* civ with a modern-age UU. But I guess that wouldn't make much sense unless you were Russia, and Russia already has a UU... ah well.

Not to shoot down another Ind/Exp of course. But were there any? The Khmer perhaps? Seems more Ind/Com to me, but who knows.

Dominae · May 18, 2003, 21:02

The Incans could be Industrious/Expansionist.

Dominae