I've read a couple of threads on the expansionist trait here at CFC that explained why it was such a great bonus. I'd never used an expansionist civ because I viewed it as a piece of crap trait (only good for exploring the map). Damn, I was wrong.

I got a little story of my first experiment with the trait. Right now, playing as Shaka, who usually blows as the AI, in the year of 2030 BC, I am kickin' the sh** out of the four other known civs on my continent. This is due to all the great things my little scout buddies have picked up at goodie huts, like 50 total gold, a settler, Alphabet, The Wheel, Ceremonial Burial, Mysticism, Mathematics, Horseback Riding, and Polytheism.

Now without the expansionist trait, I'd only have Pottery, Warrior Code, Bronze Working, and Iron Working by now. And I'd have 2 cities instead of 3 (apporaching 5). And I might've not even been as advanced as Iron Working without the extra 50 gold that I put into research.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I got all those goodie huts using only 2 other scouts besides the one given to you at the start of the game.

There's really no great point to this thread except to let people know about the greatness of expansionist civs if they've never tried them.

Just want to chime in with some wholehearted agreement. I too recently tried some expansionist civs after reading about the advantages of the trait on the forums. I've had the similar success to yours.

The trick, of course, is to make that early advantage stick.

An expansionist CIV can give you a healthy head start.

Now all you have to do is to try and keep that head start....;)

Well, in a poll a half year ago I voted expansionist as the worst trait. Just after that I decided to really try it, and the result was a post that looked very similar to Subsidere's.

Expansionist is a lot more random than other traits though. In some game it gives you close to nothing, while in other games it gaives you a decisive edge that no other trait comes close to.

The word expansionist can mislead a little. I can easily keep up with any expansionist civ with any other civ.

If you choose expansionist for the scouts then try out the Aztecs. Their warriors matches scouts and they will get two other abilitys :D

I have to agree with [GoD]Toxic on this one, the Aztec Jaguar Warrior costs the same amount of shields (10), it also has the movement of two and is also available from the very beginning.

There are however some consequences to playing the Aztecs, you get your GA very early and not being expansionist doesn't always provide you with 'goody' huts.

Defense Aztecs vs expansionist:
- bad goody huts, JW can attack, defend AND retreat
- early GA: Zulu and Iroquois also very early
-> other are Russia, America and England
- when in tight locations, chariot rush with your JW (downside, don't upgrade to horsemen)

On the other hand, the choice of your civilization depends a great deal on the map. Expansionist doesn't always pay off, best map types IMHO Pangaea, continents (to some extent)

Greetings Jurimax

Expansionist is a great trait, but only on a Pangaea/Large Continents type map. On Archipelago, it's pretty useless.

Originally posted by Darkness
Now all you have to do is to try and keep that head start....;)

Thats the fun part of the game no?:worshp: :worshp:

As stated expansionist is a great trait. Only industrious and militaristic are better.

my only prob with scouts is that i loose them cause i usually play with raging barbs and i will get a little use, i still would rather use a warior or horseman (play carthagans). I use to use the Americans but now for me Cartagans rule.