Am I the only one playing America?

[Matth3w]

I did a search for the word America in the thread titles in the Civ V forums and only two results, both suggestions, came up.

I guess I'm the only one playing America. My first language is English but my second is Persian-Farsi, so I plan on trying Persia next.

But for now, I enjoy seeing cities that I consider home.

 

[Ahriman]

I guess I'm the only one playing America.

On paper at least, they look pretty weak.

Spending gold on land-buying is rarely a good idea. The sight range is mildly useful for but not massively.

The one thing I want to know; does the minuteman bonus stick with all its upgraded versions? That might be the one saving grace.

 

[taltamir]

nobody is playing american because in CIV V their bonuses suck... Which is a real shame, I would have wanted to play as them.

 

[Matth3w]

Actually, I like buying land, if I'm near another civilization or something, I can quickly buy up a tile with something I need.

 

[taltamir]

Actually, I like buying land, if I'm near another civilization or something, I can quickly buy up a tile with something I need.

on occasion you do buy land... but land is cheap anyways, and you need to buy it rarely.
It isn't that buying land is BAD, its that other bonuses are just so so much better.

 

[Matth3w]

I'm thinking of re-starting AGAIN as persia.

 

[madscientist]

Um, you can try and checking my signature.

 

[Rathelon]

I'm playing my current game as America. Just got to Minutemen, and I'm laying out some new cities and building a line of forts because it's only a matter of time until me and Egypt go to war. He is spamming cities like no tomorrow. Not sure how he is tech-wise, but I have a line of forts with Minutemen and cannons behind it which is ready for him (in fact, I will probably make the first move instead of waiting for him to attack me).

I've purchased a lot of tiles - in the very beginning it's real cheap because of the discount. And, I'm pretty sure the movement bonus will stick with the Minutemen after you upgrade.

 

[Matth3w]

Maybe I will try to finish this game as America. I've got a ton of resources and good locations so far.

 

[taltamir]

I would also like to point out that 25% discount isn't all that big of a discount either. Now, if it was a 75% discount you might be able to make a strategy out of it...
Anyways, of course you can play it for role playing and still win...

 

[Draknith]

I actually started my first game as America, and they rocked! i have started a couple games since my first one, and noone thus far has been able to match up to my first game. Granted, the map makes a lot of difference, but I liked America as a starting nation.

 

[Matth3w]

I guess I will see how it pans out. I got lucky with a great location this time. I need to start beefing up my military though, and there is an iron node just out of reach of my largest city. Hopefully it expands into that area on the next growth because for whatever reason, even though the tile is bordered by a bunch of tiles I already own, I can't buy it (no option).

 

[Zhahz]

The tile bonus is utterly weak but the +1 to visibility isn't too awful. I still haven't tried them.

 

[Common Sensei]

The one thing I want to know; does the minuteman bonus stick with all its upgraded versions? That might be the one saving grace.

Tried this last night as a result of the UU thread, and yes, it does carry over. Modern units upgraded from Minutemen ignore terrain penalties.

Also, Cannons seem to get a -1 to sight range that the American ability would counteract. An American scout that gets a +1 to sight range promotion can see very, very far when perched on a hill.

 

[Matth3w]

I'm feeling pretty confident, but I've been out of the Civ world for long enough that I'm playing one of the easier settings. Like the fourth difficulty I think.

Maybe once I get better I'll up the difficulty, but I prefer to not kill myself the first go round.

 

[Sir Betti]

I have two American Games going at the same time. one at prince and the other at warlord. Both are huge - marathon. I am learning now that I can start up several cities before1 AD and just that gives me a commanding lead with military. I had 7 workers going on 7 cities at one point on prince until they improved pretty much everything, then I cut the force down to 4 and gained 13 gold per turn. I use the "buy tiles" function quite a bit. Have yet to buy units or buildings. I bought influence with Hanoi at one point but that deteriorated quickly. Its time to become forceful and take what America needs.

This version of the game makes me slow down a lot early on and think more. I seem to be able to focus more on what I want than before. America may not have all the "numbers" going for it, but I am at my most comfortable playing it.

And speaking of cities, just before I retired last nite, I noticed that as I had 7 cities growing, France popped about 6 herself in like 20 turns! All other nations are still at 3 or less.

 

[MaximumPain]

I found the American ability on huge maps (ok only did this once) with ruins on to be very good with the opening scout strategy. That also goes well with buying tiles in that you get more money early to do it. Also on huge maps there is a lot of open territory around and more barbarians (in my limited experience thus far) so the extra ability makes the Americans more effective barbarian hunters and fog busters (not sure that still works but it does help to see them earlier). Hunting down villages also adds gold to the coffers aiding the tile buying and helping to train up your army a bit. Buying tiles can give you access to those resources that are three away more quickly which in some situations can help you accelerate your plan be it domination or just getting that happy resource quicker or even preventing a nearby civ or city state from getting a certain tile.

Oh and I forgot that the first person to meet a city state get 30 gold instead of 15.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

I'm playing Mad's RPC and the +1 sight is a lot better than it sounds. It basically means that my scouts stay in the game much longer because they don't walk into nearly as many groups of enemies, and later, it allows me an extra turn or more of moving my reinforcements to counter a flanking maneuver.

With the importance of money, I rarely buy tiles discount or not. A discounted tile at 55 gold is almost 20 turns of support for my military units if I wind up in the red.

I'm not saying the ability is epic (it should probably be tweaked to allow for three immediate border expansions), but it isn't as hopeless as people make it out to be.

 

[Common Sensei]

I'm not saying the ability is epic (it should probably be tweaked to allow for three immediate border expansions), but it isn't as hopeless as people make it out to be.

Once the mod tools come out, I'm considering tweaking America to drop the unique bomber and have something that fits more with the Manifest Destiny theme, maybe either a Frontiersman (unique settler) or Hardy Pioneer (unique worker, Colonization referece).

 

[SuperJay]

Haven't played as America yet, but I played against em in my first game. Washclinton was amusing and fun, but he didn't last long enough to put up much of a fight. Still, the +1 sight bonus sounds valuable, especially on a large or archi map. The tile discount, not so much. (And I overbuy tiles, too. I think I have a problem and need a 12-step program.)