How to Win the Culture War?

[mkqest]

I play at regent or monarch level and usually dominate the power score but always lag in the culture score when compared to AI civs around the same tech / score level.

What does the AI do for some civs that allow this huge culture score? I build the libraries and other city improvements but do not build a lot of wonders past the 1st two ages.

How can a player win the culture war?

[Kloreep]

The reason the AI "wins" the culture war is that it likes to build improvements. But don't worry, that makes it easier to conquer them.

I wouldn't worry too much about lagging in culture compared to the AIs. You don't want to fall too far behind or culture flipping can become a pain, but it isn't vital to stay ahead.

If you really want to stay ahead, like for an empire-wide culture win, I'm not the best person to be talking to. I don't worry about empire-wide culture much and have never bothered trying to raise it much.

[mkqest]

I'm not worried about it but the flipping makes me flip out!

I am tempted to try a non-agressive cultural approach to victory but its more fun to war!

Would like some advice on achieving a cultural victory.

[Kloreep]

If you want a cultural victory, one-city is probably going to be easier. Just set aside a city early to build lots of culture in; preferably one with good production. Try to build its temple, lib, etc. a little earlier than you otherwise would, and make it your prime wonder producer. If you build all the cultural improvements there while building some of the high-culture wonders, you should be able to get a culture victory unless the city is sacked or something.

[Ecthy]

never ever lagged behind in culture

first reply has a point though, my military is usually more like a local militia...

[vmxa1]

No reason to be behind in culture at Regent or Monarch.

At Monarch, the AI does get a production boost and hence can make things including wonders a bit cheaper than you..

If one AI gets a jump on all others civs and makes many ancient wonders, they will pile up culture. If you do not get early temples, then they will have the double culture sooner and add more culture.

As long as you are making most of the middle age and later wonders, they will not be able to hold the culture lead, unless they can grow much larger than you.

There are a few culture civs that have traits that help them with cheap temples and libs.

[mkqest]

So temples are an early start on the culture points. I usually build barracks or granaries before temples because I usually don't need the happy face boost. Thanks for the tip. I am going to start a game strictly centering around culture and it appears temples will be the first build.

Religious civ will give boost to the effort but I haven't chosen the other trait. No military....boy is that a tough addiction to break!!!

Is there not an AI production boost at Regent? Darn, I was patting myself on the back for mastering Regent.

Great advice as always! I luv this forum!!!

[Kloreep]

Nope, Regent is where the ground is level. The AI only starts getting bonuses at Monarch.

[Whoha]

Bomb them into submission,conquer them, and use tanks to take back any cities that flip to them.

Eventually, you'll take more terrain, more cities,etc and will have more culture, but it will take a while.

[Robert]

I start building temples very early in the game.
That helps a lot. But I play on deity level, and I'm still always behind on culture

But somewhere during the 3rd ere I start catching up.
I always build improvements as soon as they're available. But indeed, I'm not the biggest warmonger (ok, I'm no warmonger at all)

[vmxa1]

Yes, but you probably do not have many flips either. Getting those temples and libs going early makes it easier to prevent flips.

My goal on sid is not to catch up in culture, but just get to within half of theirs to prevent a culture loss.

[Aqualung71]

Play as Babylon

[Dominae]

On most starts, you can "afford" to build a Temple early on in your first couple of cities. I say "afford" because I'm not entirely convinced it's a top play (there are better things to do, like build units).

A couple of Temples so early keeps you in a position of cultural supremacy until the Medieval era, taking advantage of the fact that the AI rarely builds Temples until it has expanded to a critical mass.

I did this in a Demigod Japan game a while back (a report is on these boards somewhere), and it worked great. That is, until Sumeria started snagging 75% of all the Wonders...

[Vince278]

No matter the game I'm always ahead in culture. I build temples and libraries at the earliest opportunity. I usually ignore the ancient wonders unless I have nothing else to do. My capital is usually the wonder city unless another really stands out before the end of the ancient era.

[Robert]

Originally posted by vmxa1
Yes, but you probably do not have many flips either. Getting those temples and libs going early makes it easier to prevent flips.

My goal on sid is not to catch up in culture, but just get to within half of theirs to prevent a culture loss.

That's true.
It's hard to prevent your border cities not to flip in any level above demi-god.
Besides that do you need temples soon anyway in any level above emperor since you only get 1 content citizen.