Best naval civ?

[Philosophia]

I meant mining luxuries because it's that path anyway. If you were to have something like calendar luxuries then you would be going the opposite way at the start of the game. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

 

[Buccaneer]

Any civ with submarines. Just tried them out against an invasion of wooden ships and they're devastating.

 

[Brugarin]

Other very good counter against portuguese Naus are Battleships...!

 

[Knut_Are_M]

I would say Babylon. chances are you reach frigates 15-25 turns earlier and just win from there.

Other then that England is awesome at midevil and renesainse era naval warfare. Longbowmen are brutal as well.
Zulus have the best late game naval/air units.

Also colossus>Lighthouse. you really will feel that exstra 7-10 food early on.

 

[wigwam]

England. The ability to explore 50% faster in the early eras is huge—that means getting bigger city-state tributes, finding more natural wonders, meeting other civilizations faster, and generally putting yourself in an advantageous position. Throughout the game, you can outrun any enemy you can't fight, and the Ship of the Line has probably the longest window of usefulness of any UU apart from the Keshik and Camel Archer. As a bonus, you get one of the best land-based UUs too.

 

[Wuddel]

"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

The Ship of the Line is probably the most insane UU in the game, with a 40% combat strength buff eek:, only Stampy can compete here), while being much faster and cheaper to produce.

Indonesia, Venice, Portugal and Carthage are set up to be massive trade empires for a diplomatic victory.

Polynesia for a Culture victory.

 

[digrosz]

Its a pretty awesome replacement for the caravel. You basically get to pick up a free promotion if you find a city state far away enough (this is based on tile distance from portugals capital. I found on a standard sized map with default civ/CS amounts the highest i could get my one time bonus to was 30XP + 300 gold. Im sure it would go much higher on a larger map.) Also can more units now receive the logistics promotion than in G&K? I can not ever remember getting a caravel the attack twice promotion and in my portugal game ALL of my naus had it, while they are quickly outclassed by the larger ships portugal can actually contend with england in exploration terms if they beat them to the lighthouse.

Sea Beggars + Armory = instant Logistics. Dominating.

 

[regeneration64]

"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves."

The Ship of the Line is probably the most insane UU in the game, with a 40% combat strength buff eek:, only Stampy can compete here), while being much faster and cheaper to produce.

Indonesia, Venice and Carthage are set up to be massive trade empires for a diplomatic victory.

Polynesia for a Culture victory.

To be fair, it is an insane ship and can outclass anything on the water for a long time. It's odd, I actually prefer their other UU, the Longbowman, though because when it comes into play those pesky AI neighbours are usually ready to invade my territory (or I'm ready to raze the city they have placed 4 hexes from London) and they are the perfect unit for attack and defense. Although the SoTL is an insane unit during the Renaissance, I find that Gatling Guns, Machine Guns - and now Bazookas! - with the Range promotion are stupidly powerful units.

One caveat to using England is that - I find - they are a jack of all trades and don't lend themselves to one particular VC. This is great for keeping an open mind and the early to mid game when desired VC doesn't matter as much but in the late game other civs can beat you to a VC if you are not focused enough. Of course, if a civ is getting out of hand you can set sail and sort them out pretty quickly...

I meant mining luxuries because it's that path anyway. If you were to have something like calendar luxuries then you would be going the opposite way at the start of the game. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

I see what you mean, both wonders are at opposite ends of the tech tree. I guess that simply comes down to luck and your starting position. Tbh, both are good wonders but I feel GL has the edge.

So, has a decision been made on which naval-based civ you are going to try out in your next game? I for one would like to have an update on how your are getting on with them once you get started!

 

[Philosophia]

I think I'm going to play my next game as England. I really love everything about that civ and from reading everyone's posts it really seems like England is far superior in most cases. It's just such a hard choice because all of the civilizations are really interesting and unique in their own ways.

 

[DeutschDachs]

Ottomans are incredibly fun but England's movement takes the cake imo. They can always catch you, always get away, and then sot is amazing at taking down other ships and cities. My friends will actively avoid building coastal cities if I'm playing england

 

[Iry]

Carthage feels like the best. The free Harbor at the beginning of the game earns you several gold at a time when gold is scarce (no maintenance, instant city connection, bonus gold when trading with other civs). It also gives you bonus production from sea tiles, which means all your other buildings are being produced faster. This just snowballs into having a much more solid start than almost every other sea based civilization.

Venice is also very tempting if you are trying to go for Culture or Diplomatic victory. All those bonus trade routes add up to a mountain of money and growth.

 

[DeutschDachs]

Carthage feels like the best. The free Harbor at the beginning of the game earns you several gold at a time when gold is scarce (no maintenance, instant city connection, bonus gold when trading with other civs). It also gives you bonus production from sea tiles, which means all your other buildings are being produced faster. This just snowballs into having a much more solid start than almost every other sea based civilization.

Venice is also very tempting if you are trying to go for Culture or Diplomatic victory. All those bonus trade routes add up to a mountain of money and growth.

Best coastal maybe... Best naval, doubtful

 

[Wuddel]

Carthage feels like the best. The free Harbor at the beginning of the game earns you several gold at a time when gold is scarce (no maintenance, instant city connection, bonus gold when trading with other civs). It also gives you bonus production from sea tiles, which means all your other buildings are being produced faster.

No, the hammers from sea resources has been moved to the Lighthouse. But, you will have longer and better trade routes than anyone else from turn 1.

Haven't played Carthage since G&K, but I might try it for my first Deity game on BNW.

 

[Philosophia]

Best coastal maybe... Best naval, doubtful

The way I see Carthage's naval strength is that they have so much money from early trade routes that they're able to amass a large navy early on whereas someone like England might not be able to.

 

[DeutschDachs]

The way I see Carthage's naval strength is that they have so much money from early trade routes that they're able to amass a large navy early on whereas someone like England might not be able to.

Eh i feel like that would be more important if early ships really did anything important. I mean I love the ottomans because I can amass a huge naval force from barbs but they essentially just sit around until they can become caravels

 

[regeneration64]

I think I'm going to play my next game as England. I really love everything about that civ and from reading everyone's posts it really seems like England is far superior in most cases. It's just such a hard choice because all of the civilizations are really interesting and unique in their own ways.

For a true naval civ I don't think you can go far wrong. Playing on a water-based (even continents...) map with any other civ after you've played as England feels very odd. As for keeping your economy going and a desired VC; just keep it focused as you would in any other game and you can easily fund your navy and win at the same time.

Keep us posted.

 

[Philosophia]

For a true naval civ I don't think you can go far wrong. Playing on a water-based (even continents...) map with any other civ after you've played as England feels very odd. As for keeping your economy going and a desired VC; just keep it focused as you would in any other game and you can easily fund your navy and win at the same time.

Keep us posted.

I started a game as England on small continents hoping for a naval experience, but a large majority of the civs are on my continent (6/8) and 3 of them didn't settle on the coast. I got the Great Lighthouse this game, and everything is going well, but I think I might be restarting because I don't think I'll be able to maximize my navy on this map. Is large islands better for this?

 

[Muskie]

Polynesia, as the only side that can traverse the oceans until the renniasance, they can build the strength and prestige of thier navy long before any others, and can attack the enemies without retaliation for a VERY long time. Also 10% near friendly shores/ early oceanic trade routes.

Winner!!!

 

[Resipsa]

In terms of usefulness what do you guys think is better? Colossus or Great Lighthouse? I'm leaning towards the lighthouse because it's useful all game, but I could see colossus being decent if you have mining luxuries. Any opinions?

Whoever builds the Great Lighthouse is the first AI to get attacked. Its useful but you can never build it before the AI.

I don't build Colossus unless I'm playing as Venice and then I beeline it.

 

[regeneration64]

I started a game as England on small continents hoping for a naval experience, but a large majority of the civs are on my continent (6/8) and 3 of them didn't settle on the coast. I got the Great Lighthouse this game, and everything is going well, but I think I might be restarting because I don't think I'll be able to maximize my navy on this map. Is large islands better for this?

I've played decent Small Continents games as England but Large Islands, Tiny Islands or even Archipelago is the way to go if you want a pure naval game. Continents and Earth map work well too but do depend on your/AI starting location.

Don't worry too much if you don't get GL - just make sure you capture the city that built it if you miss out or go for something else.