Okay, I haven't played for like years and I just got BTS. Where should I start(difficulty) and who are some good beginning leaders(very balanced). I never really knew how to play games focusing on things, and BTS makes it more complicated.

Try Gandhi. You can build wonders and your fast woeker UU is a great help getting off to a productive start.

I find Catherine to be the easiest of the bunch for some reason. Her UU hits just as I'm revving up for a big war, and I have a tendency to pop a lot of extra settlers from goody huts with her.

I must admit though I thought this thread would be about playing the game without any arms or something. After reading I realized it was noobiness :) .

Huana Capac of the Incas. Good traits, Financial and Industrial, starts with Mysticism and the UB, Terrace, is like getting a third trait, Creative. You can play all sorts of different ways with this leader. However, he is probably best for those who have more of a builder approach. Start at Noble. If the game beats up on you more than you like, go down a level. If it seems too easy, go up a level. Be careful going up, the level adjustments are more serious than they seem at first.

I must admit though I thought this thread would be about playing the game without any arms or something. After reading I realized it was noobiness :) .

That's funny. :lol:

Pick the Dutch.

Financial plus Creative. Taking money and culture out of your worries. They also have a strong UU and UB.

Just set everything random at settler level..too early to start talking about traits and leaders, they all have pluses and minuses....read a few guides at the strategy articles section to understand the basics and ...play.

I looked at your posts and I think I'll start with the incas or the dutch. Ty for the replies!

P.S. LOL @ Magichj

Creative is a good trait to start with, and so is Expansive. The Khmer are pretty balanced, but you need Ivory to build their special unit though.

Creative is a good trait to start with, and so is Expansive. The Khmer are pretty balanced, but you need Ivory to build their special unit though.

Yeah, but what a nasty unit! :eek: It will pick your mounted units out of your stack and destroy them. Forget about protecting your Knights with Pikemen. :(

I like playing mali with huyana capac. mali UU is great for defense for a very long time. UB is great, too and is buildt more quickly because hyana is industrious.

When you get comfortable with the above choices, try random leader and play to civ/leader strenght it expose you to different scenario, strategies and victories I learned a lot, yes you may get creamed by Barbs or backstabbed from a friend....but when you start whining most of your game move up a difficulty. I would try Noble and see where you are at if to easy move up if not move down if challenging stay there and learned. There is noting like baptism by fire and learning from your mistake. Also consult BTS forum there are a few strategies (thinking about Sushi Corp) for BTS new game mechanisms.

I was a long time lurker of this site since CIV 3, but only joint up with CIV 4, learned a lot from members. BTS is more challenging, at Vanilla I use to play Emperor and a few Deity games too…Since I got BTS I went down to Monarch again will play a few games to try my luck at Emperor.

Just a thought, but if you haven't played in a while and aren't sure, why not just start on the easiest level and set your leader/civ as random? Than just work your way up from there.