Difficulty finishing games

[Ex.plode]

Not sure if this is normal, but I can go 200 turns full-tilt and have a blast, but then if I have to go somewhere or want to do something else I come back and usually want to play as a different CIV or just start over completley

Is it because I set every game to full out domination only victory types? I'm not really sure if I like the culture and science conditions, since I don't have much experience using them.

I'm hesitant to set it to Cultural but I don't know how quickly and abruptly a Culture win can happen.

I was considering running a Domination and Diplomatic VC game, but the games will still be longer, but will possibly have more 'flavor' ie: having to maintain a good image as much as possible, or kill off the opposition?


Long story short, I don't usually finish my games and I would love to run a really long game and get to some of the bigger and badder toys

 

[Teutorian]

It's normal. I did it a lot too. The only time I felt compelled to finish a game was if I was in danger until the end or if a serious rival was still in play (like continents when one Civ wipes out the other continent and gets really strong).

The best part about Civ V is exploring, locating the challenges, planning, seeing your plan come to fruition, and after you've pretty much locked up a victory that you just need to "End Turn" for a few hundred times it gets really stale and the urge is there to start again.

I just started playing Civ IV this week. You should check it out if you didn't play it. It's great.

 

[Teutorian]

Another element of it, IMO, is sometimes late game there's just so many units in play that each turn just starts to feel like a giant chore if you're going for domination victory.

On the other hand, cultural victories and diplomatic victories feel so anti climatic. It's like the game just.... ends.

At least with a science victory you take off in a space ship.

 

[Ex.plode]

Good to know I am not alone, since I have a long weekend coming up I am going to see if I can buckle down and finish a game as un-interrupted as possible


About how long does it take to get a culture victory? Assuming I am using someone like Monty or Napoleon and rushing Culture as much as I can? Not that I would do that, but I don't want to be surprised if someone beats me quickly

 

[snarzberry]

I think this is a pretty common feeling with civ games, it's a part of their nature. It's a long slow process of strategy vindication and yes, there comes a point in the game where the outcome is no longer in doubt. I'm with you, generally when that point is reached there would need to be something special or interesting happening to make me continue playing.

It's a different kind of pay off, winning a civ game, compared to for instance the climactic battle against the final boss where it's all on the line, live or die. It doesn't build to a crescendo like a lot of video games but it's satisfying in it's own different way.

 

[Tokira]

Personally I've finished almost every game that I've started. I might not finish about one in ten games or so.

Is it because I set every game to full out domination only victory types? I'm not really sure if I like the culture and science conditions, since I don't have much experience using them.

I'm hesitant to set it to Cultural but I don't know how quickly and abruptly a Culture win can happen.

From your post I get the picture that you might not know that you can enable multiple victory conditions at once. Even if you did, I would recommend you to enable them all (with maybe the exception of the awful diplo victory) since some of the AIs don't aim to compete in a domination victory at all. For example Gandhi and Ramessess both usually go for a cultural victory. If you give them a chance to win, possibly the games will be more interesting. Also, at least for me, difficulty makes the game more interesting so I recommend you to test some higher difficulty levels.

Cultural victory isn't a quick one. Usually you can't win culturally before industrial or modern eras since getting 25 SPs takes quite a long time.

I was considering running a Domination and Diplomatic VC game, but the games will still be longer, but will possibly have more 'flavor' ie: having to maintain a good image as much as possible, or kill off the opposition?

Diplomatic victory has nothing to do with maintaining good image. All you need to win is a lot of gold so you can buy off the city states. Maybe liberating some conquered civs would be a good idea too. Overall I think that the diplomatic victory is quite boring since you can have all the AI civs hate you and even then all the city states could love you if you pay them enough. To me it seems more like capitalism than diplomacy. I would rather call it an economical victory than a diplomatic one.

 

[Teutorian]

Good to know I am not alone, since I have a long weekend coming up I am going to see if I can buckle down and finish a game as un-interrupted as possible


About how long does it take to get a culture victory? Assuming I am using someone like Monty or Napoleon and rushing Culture as much as I can? Not that I would do that, but I don't want to be surprised if someone beats me quickly

Cultural victories are probably the fastest victory type IMO because you just set your game to "auto end turn", get a comfy chair, and build cultural buildings. You fly through the centuries in no time to a win.

 

[gozpel]

The other day I played continents on emperor, I meet Hiawatha and he's already guarded. Bugger you I though and wen't for iron right away, stuff writing or happiness, he's an awesome foe IF he gets to iron before me. So 6 swords take him out.

The frigging Nappy denounces me and send a settler into my territory. China was in the game and declared with a few warriors and archers, dealt with that and crushed France. Which was my strategy. 12 swords and I like the game.

I went for Steel at best possible pace and sent 12 LS down to China who had only ONE CITY, when I started the walk. I get there, they have 3 cities and in 3 turns their uu crossbows destroyed my force. Did I continue?....nope.

Best loss ever! And I'm angry at myself, why didn't I take out China earlier...maybe because France would've taken me out when I was way down south. Sometimes the roll isn't in your favour.