With all the threads about whether CiV is finished, or too simplified or what have you, I thought I'd share a recent game I played with the smart AI mod (v.2). I was somewhat curious as to how the game would be different, and you know what... some really unique game features developed.
I played on Immortal with a Pangea-plus map (CS on the coasts and long island chains). I was China and had a strong coastal capital location but was wedged in between Japan on my right (thankfully just a one tile land bridge between us, so when the Medieval war came Japan didn't know what to do), French on my left, and an Island Sea a bit to the North which ended up being up for grabs.
Some fun nuances with the smart Ai mod:
1) Barbarians that move and shoot are a real pain in the ass, as hand axes and archrs are quite difficult to escape from with scouts. I play with raging barbs, and they definitely were a fun flavor.
2) The AI combat was somewhat better (certainly with boats and ranged units that move and shoot), but have the same issue of not really knowing how to coordinate large attacks in tricky terrain.
3) The AI all chose Rationalism (and usually Rationalism 3), which made the tech game actually interesting. Rome was the runaway AI in the game an I didn't get the tech lead off of him until around 65%, which was no mean shakes. I won Space at turn 300, and could have done a 285 if I stopped role playing and went early Apollo build. At one point in the Modern era, Capital city Rome, was pop 40 and had 300 science. I'm not sure I've ever seen that, even on Diety. (having Rationalism specialist bonus is a must).
4) The best part of this mod, though, in my opinion: It made a Piety game worthwhile.
I never take Piety because it's a waste on upper level CiV difficulty. Multiple AI take it, not just the AI with faith bonuses, and you're flooded with AI religion. Often it's a good religion anyway, so you simply absorb it and then plant a few Great Prophets to generate faith and use the religion.
In this game, I managed to do a fast 2-pop settler and plant on Mt. Kalish in between France and myself (narrowly beating him by 2 turns) and used that start to build up a fantastic Piety game. Went full Tradition (helped by Oracle), set up a Pantheon of NW faith (which was handy because I actually also settled Lake Victoria as my 3rd city a Loooong way from my capital but in a closed off section of jungle), 2-city NC, grow my capital with a cargo ship, and built Borobadur as well. My religion was Pagodas, Tithe, 15% Production, and 25% boast to spread speed. I covered my western front of France and CS with my religion, and half of Japan.
Further more, after a medieval war with France (He DOW on me; cho-ku nu justice ensued with a counter-strike) I had 3 juicy French cities (good wonders) and I was able to buy 7 Pagodas. I was then able to get in to Industrial era via Industrialization and stockpile faith to make Jesuit Education a real asset. I never 'waste' 4 policies to get to Jesuit before, but with a wide empire, it was pretty awesome to buy 7 Public Schools in just a few turns, and later a few research labs. I think I took Piety opener then Rationalism opener, then filled up to Reformation. And since I was only opening Piety so early, I build Great Mosque of Djinn as well.
In short, this mod makes faith a powerful branch, even with a civ without faith-based advantages. Although China has the war bonus to help get wide, which of course makes faith-strategy more effective.
Anyway, for those wondering how to spice up games, I think the smart Ai mod (v.2) is a nice mod to use.
I played on Immortal with a Pangea-plus map (CS on the coasts and long island chains). I was China and had a strong coastal capital location but was wedged in between Japan on my right (thankfully just a one tile land bridge between us, so when the Medieval war came Japan didn't know what to do), French on my left, and an Island Sea a bit to the North which ended up being up for grabs.
Some fun nuances with the smart Ai mod:
1) Barbarians that move and shoot are a real pain in the ass, as hand axes and archrs are quite difficult to escape from with scouts. I play with raging barbs, and they definitely were a fun flavor.
2) The AI combat was somewhat better (certainly with boats and ranged units that move and shoot), but have the same issue of not really knowing how to coordinate large attacks in tricky terrain.
3) The AI all chose Rationalism (and usually Rationalism 3), which made the tech game actually interesting. Rome was the runaway AI in the game an I didn't get the tech lead off of him until around 65%, which was no mean shakes. I won Space at turn 300, and could have done a 285 if I stopped role playing and went early Apollo build. At one point in the Modern era, Capital city Rome, was pop 40 and had 300 science. I'm not sure I've ever seen that, even on Diety. (having Rationalism specialist bonus is a must).
4) The best part of this mod, though, in my opinion: It made a Piety game worthwhile.
I never take Piety because it's a waste on upper level CiV difficulty. Multiple AI take it, not just the AI with faith bonuses, and you're flooded with AI religion. Often it's a good religion anyway, so you simply absorb it and then plant a few Great Prophets to generate faith and use the religion.
In this game, I managed to do a fast 2-pop settler and plant on Mt. Kalish in between France and myself (narrowly beating him by 2 turns) and used that start to build up a fantastic Piety game. Went full Tradition (helped by Oracle), set up a Pantheon of NW faith (which was handy because I actually also settled Lake Victoria as my 3rd city a Loooong way from my capital but in a closed off section of jungle), 2-city NC, grow my capital with a cargo ship, and built Borobadur as well. My religion was Pagodas, Tithe, 15% Production, and 25% boast to spread speed. I covered my western front of France and CS with my religion, and half of Japan.
Further more, after a medieval war with France (He DOW on me; cho-ku nu justice ensued with a counter-strike) I had 3 juicy French cities (good wonders) and I was able to buy 7 Pagodas. I was then able to get in to Industrial era via Industrialization and stockpile faith to make Jesuit Education a real asset. I never 'waste' 4 policies to get to Jesuit before, but with a wide empire, it was pretty awesome to buy 7 Public Schools in just a few turns, and later a few research labs. I think I took Piety opener then Rationalism opener, then filled up to Reformation. And since I was only opening Piety so early, I build Great Mosque of Djinn as well.
In short, this mod makes faith a powerful branch, even with a civ without faith-based advantages. Although China has the war bonus to help get wide, which of course makes faith-strategy more effective.
Anyway, for those wondering how to spice up games, I think the smart Ai mod (v.2) is a nice mod to use.
