Best Ancient Wonder

if you had to chose only one of the ancient wonders to build, which would it be and why?

 

pyramids are pretty sweet as is the oracle because of all the gov civics and free tech respectively

 

Pyramids. Long-term benefits are much greater than say with Stonehenge or the Oracle.

 

Pyramids, hands down. +3 happiness is huge at that stage in the game.

 

I concur. Pyramids. My favorite.

 

No contest.

 

Toss-up between Pyramids and Oracle.

Like everyone else said, getting representation that early is a big boost. But I just played a game where, for the first time, I use the "CS Slingshot" (build Oracle and research Code of Laws simultanously, have both completed in same turn, get Civil Service for your free tech). It made a HUGE difference--I leaped ahead of every other civ and stayed there the rest of the game. (Plus seeing "You have entered the Classical era!" and "You have entered the Medieval era!" within 30 seconds of one another is a hoot.)

Nice to get both if you can manage it, but at the higher levels, I'm usually lucky to get one.

 

Stonehenge, this is my favorite! I build it in all games.

 

Thats only easy to do on noble and lower though. I think once you get monarch and higher, it gets hard to do that and survive barbarians. Maybe on prince, but I've never tried it. If I ever go for an ancient wonder, its always the Pyramids, and a little later, maybe the Great Lighthouse.

 

Problem with "CS Slingshot" is that is not not garanty. Some one can snach it befor you and after that all your strategy come apart, or you forced to take Col or even just Monarchy or metallcasting from it.
It is not that bad, but still, Piramids are sure bet and there loss does not destroy othe rparts of your strategy.

 

Pyramids get my vote. Hard to argue with those Engineers. Spend that first one on the Great Library and get that research machine going.

 

I like playing as Catherine so Stonehenge is not needed as she starts with 2 culture points. Not being Industrial really hampers the Pyramids. My usual start for tech is;
Monotheism
Priesthood (Oracle)
Bronzeworking
Code of Laws

This start really only leaves me the Oracle for an early wonder. It also seems that I never start with Stone or Marble.

I forgot Pottery (after bronze, before code of Laws)

 

pyramids!!

 

pyramids is best, but GL is also very good and you have a much greater chance to get it.

 

Pyramids definitely. Stonehenge if you badly need culture for expanding initial city borders.

 

I prefer Pyramids for long-term benefits, but it's dependent upon who you're playing, I suppose, and the situation. All things being equal, though, I'd go with Pyramids for the civic flexibility and happiness.

 

The Question: If I had to choose only one ancient wonder, what would it be?

The Answer: A settler.

 

Pyramids are pretty sweet. Either that or the oracle.

 

Can't go wrong with the pyramids

 

With a Fin civ, the best ancient wonder is without a doubt Civil Service

With any other Civ, especially a Phi, Pyramids may be the way to go. But Liberalism -> Constitution is almost as good as the Pyramids... you can get there pretty fast with a Fin, completely ignoring lesser branches of the tech tree like Feudalism and Metal Casting...

Great Engineers are overrated; Great Prophets are much nicer to keep your research at 100% the whole game.