Picking the right Civ!

[Harovan]

I brought the idea about the regained possibility to research early in the 1.21-changes thread; but my game was at Monarch. I had to research, because I just blew the Americans and Aztecs from my continent and was alone till Navigation. I outresearched the whole rest of the AI's, although they beat me with all wonders except Bachs.

Early research is viable up to Monarch, if not playing expansionist. On Emperor, it's better to buy tech and meanwhile explore and build up a good commerce. While it may be possible for a while to broke tech, at the end of the ancient age the AI will instantly have Construction and Currency and you won't have the money to buy it.

[DogCiv]

Favorite Civ = Egyptians

I find Egyptians to be quite playable on Regent (v1.21f) 16 players, huge world. Things I like include:

Religious = early Cultural advantage from fast temples. Cheap Medieval Cathedrals give another boost. Mid-game advantage from 1-period of Anarchy. Late game advantage to switch to Communism to fight big mechanized wars.

Industious = huge early game advantage to fast improvements, fewer workers needed.

War Chariot UU = much disparaged, but I like it for its cheap cost and early availability. Allows you to build a quick and cheap deterrent force if you want to play Builder.

I tend to play Builder type style and focus on research, culture, and save wars for the Middle Ages and later. I have very little problem in becoming the strongest civ (military, culture, production, population, land size) by Middle Ages in my Regent games without fighting any major wars.

[Tim_Hobbit]

Very interesting thread. I am an old Civer & SMACer, but only recently started Civ3. Several of you have said that you like the Egyptians and also that you like to time your G-Ages. Now every time I have built the Pyramids as the Egyptians, I have triggered a GA. Is there a way to avoid this? I am a builder by inclination and would like to wait until the late MA or IA for the GA.

[Arrian]

Tim,

No way to avoid that, except not building the Pyramids (which is what I'd suggest, frankly).

I prefer the middle ages for a GA. I used to be a builder, and have become what I like to refer to as a "warmongering builder." Basically, this involves full-on raging warmongering bastardness in ancient times, and then a golden-age boosted building phase in medieval times.

If you're gonna build, play Egypt, avoid the Pyramids (if you're gonna invest that many shields in something early on, go with the Great Library), and hang on to a couple of war chariots. Then use one in a medieval war (the AI will probably pick a fight, if not, you may have to).

If you are curious about the power of the dark side, try out the Japanese. Their UU is perfectly timed, as are most of the wonder combos which will trigger a GA (Sun Tzu/Sistine, for instance).

-Arrian

[Tim_Hobbit]

Arrian -

Thanks for the reply! But, &^%, as a builder I really like the Great Pyramid!

Well, maybe the new expansion will have another Ind/Rel civ that it won't effect.

[Trevman]

For building up cities, nothing beats the Babylonians.
So many great early building are dirt cheap - giving you a huge advantage in the early game and ultimately throughout the rest of the game. I think that Babs are the way to go for the peaceful builder who likes smaller but better developed empires.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

I always REX at the beginning of all my huge map games. Gets my more resources, I can deny some to my enemys, and inbetween settlers, build chea p archers to go conquer a civ with a weak early UU (aka not greeks, or Aztecs, or Zulus) I heard that on any map, a civ starts with about 4 of the same luxery/resource nearby. If I can conquer that civ, or just cripple it, I will have a two big piles of resources.
All expansionist civs are good. Send out your scouts to get lots of free huts
Also Aztecs are good, because their JW doubles as a scout, although you will never get as much good stuff as if you were expansionst.

[Karl]

1. Expansionist is the way to go . England kicks as and has the coolest leader!
why is exp so good??
1.Taking control of as much terrain as possible is of vital importance,and the early stage of the game decides mostly everything. U see where to place your cities and how to limit other civs expansion.
2.Swapping maps u say! I wouldnt do it for 2 free techs and the other civs map! -Ull end up having other civs taking control of (your) territory end will have to build soldiers to take them out, ull make enemies at a stage when u should build settlers.
3.those huts even contain settlers sometimes....

U say that exp doesnt allow you to buld new cities faster... well where would u build them without seeing the map?? U would build fast ..but would u build with a plan??

[Karl]

My trait list .
1 Exp
2.Militaristic
3.Religious
4.Industrious
5.Commerce

I think we all know in heart that this is the true ranking. The start is so crucial that exp and military wins.

[alexman]

Say that again after playing an archipelago map with max water.

In that case your rankings would be basically turned upside-down.

[Arrian]

Alexman, I love the sig. "NO SHIELDS FOR YOU! You come back, 3 weeks, bring a courthouse!"

-Arrian

[alexman]

Arrian,
Gotta stop those corruption whiners!

[V.O.C.'02]

plain and simple: persians

industrious: speaks almost for itself (BIG fan of railroads (defence and offence can switch in one turn)

scientific is good too, On large/ huge maps with reasonable growth, I pop-rush a spear, then a library and the land is yours, and the free tech off cours (better then nothing)

[Dis]

hey this thread is still around. I found my post on page 3, and my answer is nearly the same. I haven't played the game in 10 months until last week. I'm really getting into it again.

So far both of my games have been Aztecs. I don't know what it is about the, I love them. Some say military isn't all that great though, but don't think I can go without religious. I love religious.

I really should try the other civs though. The only other ones I have tried were the romans and I think babylonians. I never finished those games though.

[Chemical Ollie]

I think all CIVs are "right" if you just learn to use their special abilites and units to your advantage. I've had great games with most of them. Some I have yet not played much are India, France, England and Aztecs, but that's mostly because the random generator has not given them to me.

Currently I'm playing a game as Egypt and have finally discovered the power of war chariots. Just avoid to attack the Greeks or Romans, and you will do well. Those hoplites are just impossible to beat in the early game. I used 25 KNIGHTS to attack a Greek size 12 city, and lost half of them, while the rest retreated. The defenders just got some bruises, brushed the dust off their shields and awaited the next attack.