Doc Tsiolkovski
Deity
I really wondered if there’s a way to somewhat objectively rank the c3c Civs; when I read the usual rankings here, I always wondered why some Civs nearly almost rank horribly, while SGs with them, or my single games, do quite well…
So I looked for ways to measure the ‘power’ of a Civ, aside from personal preferences.
Note this ranking focuses on the Mid to Higher levels; starting with Alphabet for example is not something worth considering for a Warlord game where you have the tech lead anyway.
Traits:
Face it, the usefulness of a given trait depends too much on personal playing style. Oh, and map settings; but let’s simply assume we only look at maps somehow suited for a Civ; no 80% Water Archipelagos with no Barbarians for Mongols etc.
One’s favourite trait is another’s least preferred. For example, many players rate IND among the best traits, while for me it’s definitely the least useful.
So, instead of considering single traits, this ranking considers Trait Synergy.
SCI and IND may both be good traits, but there’s not much you gain from having both together. But England (COM/SEA) clearly gets an outstanding commercial benefit with those two traits.
Synergistic Traits: (+2)
Commerce/ Research: COM/SEA, SCI/SEA, COM/SCI
Builder: COM/IND, COM/SCI
Conquest: COM/MIL, IND/MIL
Fast Expansion: EXP/IND, AGR/EXP, AGR/REL
Fast Development: AGR/IND, AGR/COM, COM/EXP
No Synergy: (+1)
REL/MIL, SCI/MIL, AGR/SEA, AGR/SCI, REL/SEA, IND/REL, COM/REL, AGR/MIL, IND/SCI, EXP/REL, EXP/SCI, REL/SCI, IND/SEA
And if there’s synergy, there also is
Antagonism: (+0)
MIL/SEA, EXP/SEA, EXP/MIL
Why that?
MIL/SEA means you’d get a discount for one of the most important city improvement from both traits (Harbor), effectively wasting part of a trait.
EXP/SEA: On any given map, one trait is near useless.
EXP/MIL: With a MIL Civ, you should start aggressively with military, not with peaceful exploration.
Since traits have the most impact on how a Civ feels, this was weighted twice.
Unique Units:
My personal ranking of UUs is pretty much identical with what’s around on the forum. However, I think two UUs are so outstandingly horrible, that I decided to rank those as 4th tiers.
1st Tier: (+2)
Enkidu Warrior, Hoplite, Rider, Mounted Warrior, Sipahi, Berserk, Ansar Warrior, Immortal, Gallic Swordsman, Panzer
2nd Tier: (+1)
Dromon, War Elephant, Samurai, Swiss Mercenary, Numidian Mercenary, Musketeer, Jaguar Warrior, Legionary, Cossack
3rd Tier: (0)
Conquistador, 3-Man-Chariot, Carrack, Bowman, Impi, Javelin Thrower, H'wacha, Keshik, Man-o-War, War Chariot
4th Tier: (-1)
F-15 (ever used it?), Chasqui Scout (wouldn’t we all prefer the standard Scout?)
UU/ Trait synergy:
The Berserk is the prime example for a perfect synergy between UU and Civ traits: A powerful, amphibious attacker for a MIL/SEA Civ. The Sipahi or Ansar OTOH gain nothing from the respective traits.
Synergy: (+2)
Netherlands, France, Greece (builder Civ and cheap, strong defender); Rome, Japan, Mongols, Chinese, Scandinavians, Aztecs (MIL and attacker); Sumeria (rapid early expansion and cheap escort), Byzantium and England (SEA and powerful ships)
+/-: (+1)
India, Hittites, Arabs, Ottomans, Zulu, Aztecs, Spain, Carthage, Egypt, America, Inca, Iroquois, Russia, Babylon, Persia, Celts
Antagonism: (0)
Germans (What’s the benefit from more frequent promotions when the UU has move 4 and Blitz? And, at that time half-priced Barracks are pointless); Portugal (A Caravel would have move 4, and a lowered risk of sinking anyway); Javelin Thrower (Slow Slaves don’t really help an IND Civ that much); Korea (A unit best used in big stacks to attack cities and a Builder Civ)
Bonus Points:
Before someone comes up with mentioning Babylon is an outstanding Civ for culture, or Carthage rules in MP, I added a couple more categories:
Agricultural: (+1)
Sumeria, Inca, Maya, Netherlands, Celts, Aztecs, Iroquois
(Hard to agree on the runner-ups, but AGR is hands down the strongest trait)
Starts with Alphabet: (+1)
Hittites, Netherlands, Spain, Rome, Greece, Korea, Iroquois, Portugal, France, India, Byzantium, England, Scandinavians, Carthage
Best choices for 100k Cultural Victory: (+1)
Babylon, Celts, Egypt
Best choices for 20k Cultural Victory: (+1)
Babylon, Spain, Arabs
Best choices for MP: (+1)
Sumeria, Carthage, Zulu, Aztecs, Greece
So I looked for ways to measure the ‘power’ of a Civ, aside from personal preferences.
Note this ranking focuses on the Mid to Higher levels; starting with Alphabet for example is not something worth considering for a Warlord game where you have the tech lead anyway.
Traits:
Face it, the usefulness of a given trait depends too much on personal playing style. Oh, and map settings; but let’s simply assume we only look at maps somehow suited for a Civ; no 80% Water Archipelagos with no Barbarians for Mongols etc.
One’s favourite trait is another’s least preferred. For example, many players rate IND among the best traits, while for me it’s definitely the least useful.
So, instead of considering single traits, this ranking considers Trait Synergy.
SCI and IND may both be good traits, but there’s not much you gain from having both together. But England (COM/SEA) clearly gets an outstanding commercial benefit with those two traits.
Synergistic Traits: (+2)
Commerce/ Research: COM/SEA, SCI/SEA, COM/SCI
Builder: COM/IND, COM/SCI
Conquest: COM/MIL, IND/MIL
Fast Expansion: EXP/IND, AGR/EXP, AGR/REL
Fast Development: AGR/IND, AGR/COM, COM/EXP
No Synergy: (+1)
REL/MIL, SCI/MIL, AGR/SEA, AGR/SCI, REL/SEA, IND/REL, COM/REL, AGR/MIL, IND/SCI, EXP/REL, EXP/SCI, REL/SCI, IND/SEA
And if there’s synergy, there also is
Antagonism: (+0)
MIL/SEA, EXP/SEA, EXP/MIL
Why that?
MIL/SEA means you’d get a discount for one of the most important city improvement from both traits (Harbor), effectively wasting part of a trait.
EXP/SEA: On any given map, one trait is near useless.
EXP/MIL: With a MIL Civ, you should start aggressively with military, not with peaceful exploration.
Since traits have the most impact on how a Civ feels, this was weighted twice.
Unique Units:
My personal ranking of UUs is pretty much identical with what’s around on the forum. However, I think two UUs are so outstandingly horrible, that I decided to rank those as 4th tiers.
1st Tier: (+2)
Enkidu Warrior, Hoplite, Rider, Mounted Warrior, Sipahi, Berserk, Ansar Warrior, Immortal, Gallic Swordsman, Panzer
2nd Tier: (+1)
Dromon, War Elephant, Samurai, Swiss Mercenary, Numidian Mercenary, Musketeer, Jaguar Warrior, Legionary, Cossack
3rd Tier: (0)
Conquistador, 3-Man-Chariot, Carrack, Bowman, Impi, Javelin Thrower, H'wacha, Keshik, Man-o-War, War Chariot
4th Tier: (-1)
F-15 (ever used it?), Chasqui Scout (wouldn’t we all prefer the standard Scout?)
UU/ Trait synergy:
The Berserk is the prime example for a perfect synergy between UU and Civ traits: A powerful, amphibious attacker for a MIL/SEA Civ. The Sipahi or Ansar OTOH gain nothing from the respective traits.
Synergy: (+2)
Netherlands, France, Greece (builder Civ and cheap, strong defender); Rome, Japan, Mongols, Chinese, Scandinavians, Aztecs (MIL and attacker); Sumeria (rapid early expansion and cheap escort), Byzantium and England (SEA and powerful ships)
+/-: (+1)
India, Hittites, Arabs, Ottomans, Zulu, Aztecs, Spain, Carthage, Egypt, America, Inca, Iroquois, Russia, Babylon, Persia, Celts
Antagonism: (0)
Germans (What’s the benefit from more frequent promotions when the UU has move 4 and Blitz? And, at that time half-priced Barracks are pointless); Portugal (A Caravel would have move 4, and a lowered risk of sinking anyway); Javelin Thrower (Slow Slaves don’t really help an IND Civ that much); Korea (A unit best used in big stacks to attack cities and a Builder Civ)
Bonus Points:
Before someone comes up with mentioning Babylon is an outstanding Civ for culture, or Carthage rules in MP, I added a couple more categories:
Agricultural: (+1)
Sumeria, Inca, Maya, Netherlands, Celts, Aztecs, Iroquois
(Hard to agree on the runner-ups, but AGR is hands down the strongest trait)
Starts with Alphabet: (+1)
Hittites, Netherlands, Spain, Rome, Greece, Korea, Iroquois, Portugal, France, India, Byzantium, England, Scandinavians, Carthage
Best choices for 100k Cultural Victory: (+1)
Babylon, Celts, Egypt
Best choices for 20k Cultural Victory: (+1)
Babylon, Spain, Arabs
Best choices for MP: (+1)
Sumeria, Carthage, Zulu, Aztecs, Greece