What is your favorite winning strategy?

[The Mighty Asterix]

Some of us like to be peaceful and grow, while others like to rape and pillage.
I like to grow and concentrate on science as much as I can and try to stay away from wars, but I NEVER give tribute! I stay out of alliances and employ anti-espionage tactics to avoid having my techs stolen from me. I rarely use force to take over an enemy city, instead prefering to bribe enemy cities.
The best is when I have the UN so I can provoke my enemy into war with out my rep going down.
Which method do you prefer?

[Blaupanzer]

Two for peaceful expansion using espionage as a principle city-acquisition method. The game has way too much other design and programming to turn it into a wargame, IMHO. Can win by conquering, but have to fall way behind or get seriously encroached on to start that method.

[DrFell]

Although I prefer to peacefully expand, since I play 1vs1 against humans mostly nowadays, rape and pillage is the only option

[The Mighty Asterix]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
...get seriously encroached on to start that method.

Yes, I tend to lose patience if a neighbouring civ get s too unruly. Thats when I bring out the high-tech weaponry and blow them to kingdom come!

[War4ever]

Originally posted by The Mighty Asterix


Yes, I tend to lose patience if a neighbouring civ get s too unruly. Thats when I bring out the high-tech weaponry and blow them to kingdom come!

would that include horses and catapults

[Jaguar]

Its hard to say for me. I peacefully expand until my border meets an enemy's, and then...

[Scouse Gits]

I think that I peacefully expand across all available real estate ...
They seem to think that they have some rights to said real estate and might believe that they have been somewhat violated ...

As was remarked on another thread - I guess I'm a Rabid Aggressive Rodent ...

[drake]

How about neither of the above

I'm peaceful and diplomatic for the most part but I thoroughly enjoy a good battle now and then...........I definetly wouldn't claim to be of either extreme..........

[Bohlen]

A little of both for me. More like a "Expansionist Pillager." Not peaceful though.

[Six Thousand Year Old Man]

Well, I usually play on a large or giga map (ToT) these days, so I can get away with being fairly peaceful for a while. Ideally, I build up to about 30-40 cities, and then when aircraft and howitzers become available, pacifism goes out the window.

If I do happen to get stuck on a small continent with a neighbor, though, I always feel the need to take him/her out. I need my space.

I guess that makes me an evil militarist It has to happen, the only question is, when.

STYOM

[Everyman]

In the early to middle game, I tend to expand by establishing new cities until I get close to enemy territory, then expand further by peacefully bribing selected cities. Once I get cavalry, I become more militaristic and complete my world conquest by force.