OP, you did not say what the problem is with the work-around I suggest: Build just one or two more scouts.
Where is this? I am familiar with the settings to put Steam off-line and let Civ5 play, but not what you describe.
I now understand that, before activating, Steam will update the installed version. OP, I think you could try:
There is a setting within Civ 5 Properties that allows you to set "Do not automatically update this game."
Where is this? I am familiar with the settings to put Steam off-line and let Civ5 play, but not what you describe.
There's no incremental patching possible. If you want to play the true, absolute vanilla game, then yes, that will work as long as you have the original disc, but there's no other way to do that via steam. There are other ways to do it, of course. Just not "supported" methods.
I now understand that, before activating, Steam will update the installed version. OP, I think you could try:
- Installing from disc using the reasonably current version I mentioned previously.
- Make a copy of the resulting directory.
- Activate (and patch) this version of Civ5 via Steam.
- Put Steam off-line and confirm that Civ5 is working as the developers think is ideal.
- Overwrite the Civ5 directory with the backup you made in step two.