Cultural Victory

[ben_sphynx]

One thing I discovered about getting cities to expand their first cultural border is that if one is running Caste System (the civic that allows unlimited specialists), then one can just assign an artist to a new city for the 2-4 turns it takes to get their boarder grown.
It doesnt grow during this time, as its only citizen is being an artist, but sometimes it is worthwhile if there is a good food resource in the fat cross but not the square.

[kobo1d]

Religion is indeed the way to go.

Found 'em, spread 'em to all your cities, build the cathedrals, flip the switch.

I usually flip the switch (100% science to 100% culture) around 1600. I play on prince, so this is usually early enough to beat spaceship but late enough to have a decent defense system.

Important in having not only the 3 cultured cities but also 1-3 production cities. Then you can culture slider AND build culture in the cities, while one of your production cities makes a ****load of musketmen to fend of the inevitable player-is-winning-war, in which the AI will out-tech and out-number you.

Frantic last few moments of the game, but fun and doable. At least on Prince or lower, which is as far I have tried it.

Also, Elizabeth is a First class culture civ, don't be fooled. Financial + Philosophical? Sign me up!