How often do people play on team games?
My friends and I usually get together a few times a week and play co-op against the AI (mainly because they don't want to take a chance of going up against me. heh). I've noticed that the team games seem to have some serious and far reaching effects to the play of the game, and it makes for some intresting variations to how effective some civs are to play.
For example, specilization is very easy when there are multiple people on the same team, working together to help each other. As such, a civilization like Babylon or Korea are incredibly good choices for one of the team members. Tech's seem to take longer to obtain (to make up for multiple people sharing techs) so having one person get all the science wonders while others concentrate on their own specialties, insures that the overall tech rating is high enough that the other two don't need to worry about anything but libraries and the occasional university until they get themselves set up.
Some civ's have some bonuses which - by themselves - are just minor effects, such as getting animal husbandry with the Huns. However, being a militaristic civilization is a valid speciality (you don't like me? say hello to my little friend and his ponies!), and getting a free tech right off of the bat FOR EVERY CIV ON THE TEAM, is quite a bit more useful then it is in single player.
A few civs, like Polynesia and Netherlands have some great synergy for team play. In Poly's case, being able to explore early helps reveal the map for not only you, but your team as well, while also letting your troops get to your allies on continent maps. Netherlands on the other hand, with it's ability to keep some happieness even when sharing luxuries, can freely share his spoils with his allies, letting them have free happiness while keeping himself at a high level. And BOTH of these allies have special tile improvements, improvements which do not have to be placed in only your territory. Have a Indian player going culture focus? Send one of your polynesian workers over to his coastline and make some maoi statues. Is Egypt situated on a desert river? Send in your Netherland workers to make him some polders.
Finally, some civ's have abilities that, at least partially, allow their entire team to benifit from their unique ability. Austrians can buy out city states rather then attacking them and taking them over. Found a city state with a conveniently located Natural Wonder nearby? Let Spain trade you some money, buy out the city state, and gift it to her for increased bonuses. Speaking of Spain, their ability to get money whenever you find a Natural wonder applies to EACH memeber of the team; If your Aztec scout finds the fountain of youth, EVERYONE shares the 500 gold bonus. Yes, sharing the cash means that Spain dosen't get 500 gold per NW, but 250, or even 166, is a lot better then 100 because you found it second. And if the Natural Wonder is too far away from Spain, (and if the ally is willing), they can build a city there and gift it to Spain who gets more use out of it. (This is especially useful with the faith wonders. Build a city, gather enough faith to get your religion, and then gift it to your Spanish ally who will get double the use out of it.).
Anyone else have some useful synergies for team play?
My friends and I usually get together a few times a week and play co-op against the AI (mainly because they don't want to take a chance of going up against me. heh). I've noticed that the team games seem to have some serious and far reaching effects to the play of the game, and it makes for some intresting variations to how effective some civs are to play.
For example, specilization is very easy when there are multiple people on the same team, working together to help each other. As such, a civilization like Babylon or Korea are incredibly good choices for one of the team members. Tech's seem to take longer to obtain (to make up for multiple people sharing techs) so having one person get all the science wonders while others concentrate on their own specialties, insures that the overall tech rating is high enough that the other two don't need to worry about anything but libraries and the occasional university until they get themselves set up.
Some civ's have some bonuses which - by themselves - are just minor effects, such as getting animal husbandry with the Huns. However, being a militaristic civilization is a valid speciality (you don't like me? say hello to my little friend and his ponies!), and getting a free tech right off of the bat FOR EVERY CIV ON THE TEAM, is quite a bit more useful then it is in single player.
A few civs, like Polynesia and Netherlands have some great synergy for team play. In Poly's case, being able to explore early helps reveal the map for not only you, but your team as well, while also letting your troops get to your allies on continent maps. Netherlands on the other hand, with it's ability to keep some happieness even when sharing luxuries, can freely share his spoils with his allies, letting them have free happiness while keeping himself at a high level. And BOTH of these allies have special tile improvements, improvements which do not have to be placed in only your territory. Have a Indian player going culture focus? Send one of your polynesian workers over to his coastline and make some maoi statues. Is Egypt situated on a desert river? Send in your Netherland workers to make him some polders.
Finally, some civ's have abilities that, at least partially, allow their entire team to benifit from their unique ability. Austrians can buy out city states rather then attacking them and taking them over. Found a city state with a conveniently located Natural Wonder nearby? Let Spain trade you some money, buy out the city state, and gift it to her for increased bonuses. Speaking of Spain, their ability to get money whenever you find a Natural wonder applies to EACH memeber of the team; If your Aztec scout finds the fountain of youth, EVERYONE shares the 500 gold bonus. Yes, sharing the cash means that Spain dosen't get 500 gold per NW, but 250, or even 166, is a lot better then 100 because you found it second. And if the Natural Wonder is too far away from Spain, (and if the ally is willing), they can build a city there and gift it to Spain who gets more use out of it. (This is especially useful with the faith wonders. Build a city, gather enough faith to get your religion, and then gift it to your Spanish ally who will get double the use out of it.).
Anyone else have some useful synergies for team play?