Favorite Game So Far?

[Tilarium]

Mine has to be the current one I'm playing. I started as russia (their bonus has to be one of the best in the early stages of the game!) and quickly discovered while exploring, that I'm on an island. I'm mostly alone on this island, mostly because it has two city states (for now, they will soon feel the bow of Mother Russia!). I'm not talking a small island either, I've got 8 cities founded (plus there's the two city-states) and only taking up about half the island (I'm not counting the area covered in snow and mostly inhabitable). It's around 1060 and finally decided to get my sailing skills built up so I can see if there's more land close by. There isn't. I guess I need navigation now to enter the ocean and find new lands to take.

So that's my current game. My favorite game so far. And My least favorite game so far. What's yours?

 

[ptossia]

The one I am currently playing. It is also the 1st game I've played.

My Chinese Empire started off alone on a large continent, but not many game years later, met the Aztecs. I then proceeded to found 3 cities, ally with Edinburgh city, Copenhagen, and some other random city I haven't had the time to remember the name of. Anyways, the Aztecs were unfortunately placed above my half of the continent, where they got stuck with nowhere to expand, no cities to ally, and no resources to supply armies with. Some turns later, my empire had spread to the edge of theirs through intense land buying, culture spreading, and 1 culture bomb. My army itself wasn't so impressive, and bing, my ally state provided me with a military axeman or something.

When I had amassed legions of Cho-Ko-Nus, warriors, and axeman/pikeman alongside the Aztec's border, I declared war. The Aztec's armies and cities fell one bye one until only half of them remained, at which point their leader proposed for peace, and being the gentleman that I am, accepted. Ten turns later, I still annexed all of the Aztec civilization anyway, out of immense boredom. Oh, and then I waged war on that State-city which was providing me units not so long ago. It fell too to my Cho-Ko-Nus and Longswordsmen. Now I seek the oil fields to the far north, where only mentally ******ed barbarians dare to set up encampments, in order to further implement my machines of war, until only China, the greatest empire on all of Earth, covets all the cities and lands...

 

[Taiyama]

I would have to say my third one, which I just finished. It's on a Large Map, Continents, Prince difficulty, and playing as the Japanese. I got a Domination Victory.

Basically I started out smack in the middle of a continent, surrounded by the Chinese to the north, the French to the west, the Germans to the southwest, and the Babylonians to the southeast. I had just managed to destroy them all when my first caravel found the next continent. On the other continent were the Arabs, Persians, English, and Romans. The first three were pretty "meh" but the Romans had conquered the entire eastern half of that continent (they had taken out the Aztecs right before I went exploring). Not only that, the Romans were pretty much on the exact level I was technologically, had more cities, had a larger military, and had a stronger economy than I did. I decided they were the first to be dealt with.

So I set sail for the new world with three frigates, four riflemen, two cannon, a single lancer, and my Great General who had lead my troops through all the battles up to this point, Timur. I was going to fight a foe that had far more troops than I did (including my troops back on the other continent), the same military technology as I did, and the only city I had on that continent was a city-state I took on a peninsula. He had 3000 gold in his treasury to buy units with and a huge number of cities to create more with.

Seems like a fool's errand, eh? That's why I targeted him first: I wanted that challenge. Despite seemingly all the odds being against me, I had some things going my way. First, my riflemen were all descended from the swordsmen and samurai who had conquered my own continent. Most were around level 3-5. Second, I had total naval supremacy. I'm not sure if the Romans were behind me in naval technology (I never saw so much as a caravel) but my three frigates were completely uncontested in the seas. This would prove to be a decisive advantage. Third, (and I only found this out in the middle of the war) the Roman populace was extremely unhappy from Rome's rapid expansion and conquest of the Aztecs. This gave his units a -33% penalty. Fourth, I had my own brain and novice knowledge of military tactics and strategy.

Now, I attacked from the southeast of the continent, which was very heavily wooded. As I moved my units in mostly by sea but also sending one rifleman and one cannon through the chokepoint, I took the first few cities relatively easily. I also befriended two city-states right on the Roman flanks: Budapest in the very southern regions of his empire and Kuala Limpur in the east. They were all on the coast so I sent my frigates--two to Budapest and one to Limpur--to support them in the fight.

This proved to be my master stroke. While Kuala Limpur fell relatively easily (Rome had a huge force of riflemen and cannons literally IN Limpur's borders when I allied with them), Budapest was a very tough nut for the Romans to crack. Budapest's strong defences combined with my frigate support meant that around 15 Roman riflemen and around two-three Roman cannons died in Budapestian soil. I bled their army out on that front while my troops conquered from the southeast moving up. Even while committing many troops to those two city-states, they still had many for me to fight.

I really utilized my cannons well, though, and throughout the war I only lost two units: one of the riflemen that had been upgraded from my samurai and my lancer. The war started around 1735 and lasted over 100 years. By the end, though, I had completely destroyed his great army and was fighting with artillery and infantry (fun fact: he and I got artillery at about the same time, but I only saw one unit of his, which some reinforcement cavalry destroyed). I left him with four disjointed cities on the continent (a "Thank you" for such an entertaining and challenging war) and possessed the eastern half of the other continent. I'd go on to steamroll the Persians, English, and Arabians (in that order--I waited until I could use the Giant Death Robots for Arabia).

I must say, I've played other games with war in them (like Empire: Total War) and I've never had so much fun as with Civilization V. That war (that I christened "The Great War") was the most fun I've ever had conquering someone in any game in my life. Kudos to Firaxis for creating such a masterpiece.

 

[gunsnroses]

@Taiyama: great story!

 

[fr3nchy117]

Taiyama, i also loved your story as well! I swear with just a bit of imagination you could write fantasy type books with events out of games like these.

My favorite so far has been the second game I played (not quite finished, I took a break and started a different game lol)
I'm the English on a standard continents map. I start out on this narrow strip of land, which tapers off into the sea down south and fans into a larger continent up north. I meet cape town and Tyre (city states) on the southeast and east of that blob of continent respectively, and Arabia on the north part.

I gradually befriend and ally with cape town (maritime btw) and meet america, France and Greece along with other city states to my west and northwest. Later i figure this continent is vaguely shaped like a birds eye view of a grand piano with it's 3 legs on the bottom, (I'm on the easternmost leg).

I settle on the coast closer to the center of the continent (a fast navy + great lighthouse really allowed me to do this effectively). This upsets Napolean so he declares war.
After a brief power struggle we make peace; I'm not focusing on dominance right now.
Later we gang up on Arabia, and I conquer all their cities with knights and swordsman, more or less solidifying my hold on the eastern third of the continent.

Time goes by; America attacks cape town and takes it. I'm torn, but cape town was my buddy, i know I'm suffering from the lack of food from cape town. So I declare war. Washingtons stunned reaction has me nearly feeling sick to my stomach, (emotional reactions they incur is fantastic!) but I know what needs to be done. I liberate cape town and the war ends shortly after. Later to the east (once i have frigates, or rather ships of the line) I explore east and find another continent with Persia, Russia and Germany on it.
Russia has pretty much conquered Germany, and seems to have a huge area of land. This could be a problem.

I make buddies with some city states in that area and also settle s far flung island in the area win two city states on it. (again, faster sea movement is amazing for spreading overseas and later protecting said colonies)
Persia attacks my buddy Warsaw and takes it over. I send over newly upgraded infantry and artillery to liberate Warsaw. The Persians have a sizable fleet of frigates blockading the area, but by now I have a destroyer harassing them and a second destroyer on the way.

I'll also mention the first destroyer has been upgraded from my very first trireme, is now level 5 o so, and has been renamed HMS Ulysses.

I take liberate Warsaw almost too easily with superior navy support. As time progresses there are small wars here and there, I consolidate more territory on my continent, but the trouble begins when I decide to do something about Russia. I liberate a number of city states from them making even more allies. I also discover a water path leading to a huge bay inside Russia, so their territory isnt quite as gigantic as I originally thought, and it actually is shaped more like a giant donut.
My destroyers harass them from the outer sea and the inner bay as I hold off against the furious Russian hordes, barely. Once they peter out though, I take a few cities as well as some puppeted German cities. By now a battleship and carrier have joined the fray. Soon I make peace, so I then attack Washington. Persia takes the chance to overrun Russia with hordes even more numerous than catherine's. I take plenty of washingtons cities, (including new York) when Persia declares war. They quickly overrun my cities I took from Russia (they were getting a massive 58% combat boost for being in friendly territory. Which didn't make sense cuz they were fighting my territory. Must be a bug.)
Nevertheless my troops fight valiantly. In less than ten turns my cities on that continent are all fallen.
I should also mention at this point, both destroyers, the Ulysses and the HMS Tempest are still alive and kicking, and at level 7 or 8. While at this point the best I can hope for is a diomatic victory... Still good times.

 

[Taiyama]

Thank you very much for the compliment, my friends. And I quite enjoyed your story as well, fr3nchy.

I swear with just a bit of imagination you could write fantasy type books with events out of games like these.

I'm not the only one here who self-narrates his Civ games in the form of a history book, right? Like in that above Japanese playthrough, I narrate to myself: "The Japanese government did not actually intend to conquer the Arabian lands upon declaring war. The quick and brutal conquest of the Arabians would come later, when the Mechs--what are colloquially termed today 'Giant Death Robots'--became part of the Japanese arsenal. Instead, the stated aim of the Japanese was simply punishment. The Arabians, according to the Japanese, had built up a massive--if technologically inferior--military and taken advantage of the Open Borders agreement to move that military throughout the vast Japanese Empire. Upon declaring war, the overwhelming force of stealth bombers, jet fighters, rocket artillery, and mechanized infantry obliterated the Arabian pikemen and musketmen. Not a single Japanese life was lost. Yet despite many troops being arrayed on the border between Mecca and Japan, no troops were actually moved INTO the Arabian border.

What can account for this strange behavior? I have studied this time period greatly and the only theory that makes any sense is this: a simple flair for the dramatic. The Japanese knew they were on the cusp of a breakthrough in nuclear fusion and had some top-secret prototypes of the mechs already under construction. They wanted their final great conquest to be as spectacular as possible, to say to the world that any who opposed Japan would be utterly devoid of any hope for survival. When the Arabian conquest finally came, the Japanese mechs brushed aside the rebuilt Arabian army of cannons and riflemen and conquered all of Arabia in the space of a few months."

Frankly, I blame Zoolooman's excellent Civ IV LP (which, coincidentally, is what got me into Civilization in the first place) for that tendency.

 

[fr3nchy117]

Love that story. Goes hand in hand with their special ability too!

Also I will mention... I managed a diplomatic victory on that aforementioned game/epic story. Freaking barely lol. Persia was all like "I saw what you did there" and starter invading city states. I got 10 out of 10 votes needed to win.
And Persia was one turn from overrunning at least one or two city states.

 

[Sable]

Mine would be the game I just finished. I've never played Civ until literally a week ago. Any Civ game, ever, or even anything close to Civ. Clearly, I've been a fool

I tried my hand with Elizabeth on Chieftain and Wu Zetian on Warlord to cut my teeth, and kicked ass with both handily. Then I fiddled around with a bunch of abortive Prince difficulty games before deciding I wanted to try for a cultural victory. So I went for the Bollywood achievement: cultural victory as Ghandi with three or fewer cities.

It started out pretty easy; I was on the same continent as the warlike Napoleon and Nobunaga, but I played defensively and had no trouble repelling them. Then I found the other continent...and Arabia. Arabia with its enormous population, tech that easily matched mine, frillions of troops, and upwards of FIVE HUNDRED gold per turn. At one point, that guy had over THREE THOUSAND gold in the bank >< I stayed on his good side as long as possible; thank god for the AI failing at naval, and him being distracted with domestic wars.

Meanwhile, back at home on my own continent, Napoleon took over two of the allied city-states I'd been using to get culture, and I didn't really want to go to war with him and waste my resources. So I just built up my defenses and culture and watched while France, Japan, and Arabia amassed huge armies against me.

I barely eked out the Utopia Project--I got it in 2027, literally a few turns before what would have been an invasion of massive proportions. But Bollywood's just too catchy. Better luck next time, guys! ^^

 

[MorbidFlorist]

My second game of Civ V, as my first went a bit awry.

Japan, Pangaea (the only way to play of course!) with 9 other Civs. Large map. I start off with glorious Kyoto and have plenty of mountains and hills around, along with a Fuji lookalike just nearby. By the time I'm founding Tokyo, I get to know my neighbors - USA to the east and Egypt north-east. Eventually France comes into the picture, though they are far enough to the west (and a desert between us) that territory issues won't a problem. Egypt is far enough away that I won't mind them expanding down towards me, as I'll have a 2 city buffer between them and my capital at least. SW of me is a natural wonder and some iron, which I quickly found a city near for. Budapest is to my direct NW, which I befriend and start running errands for. Singapore to my east, in a perfect coastal city spot, hates Budapest and wants me to kill them. I play neutral with Singapore and me and Budapest are soon allies.

Early game, I try to decide who's going to be my friend. People start asking for stuff, and I only give it to who I think will be my buddy. USA is out of the question, they are too close to me. France seems a good option, though Egypt and France seem to hate each other. Russia, England and Persia come into them mix, but they're all far enough away so seem like good options. I'm very picky with my open borders. I have to make a decision now between USA and Egypt, as they've both asked me to help in the war. I choose Egypt as my friend as they are far enough away, and with US's lands they should be satiated. That and the US was cheeky enough to found "New York" way too close to my land. I figure I'll help Egypt, get New York, and let Egypt get a few cities to the north.

Everything goes well, and the US crumble against our armies. Not even in medieval times yet, so I have a few bands of swordsmen and axemen from Budapest along with quite a few Horsemen due to the Budapest horses I've been given. Egypt has them too as they seem to be allied with Budapest as well. US offers me New York, Atlanta (just east of NY on the coast, north of Singapore) , a ton of gold and resources. I accept, of course. US and Egypt make up nicely thereafter, though the US is now crippled with 4 cities and no where to expand.

One of the US cities that Egypt now has is close to my borders. I take alook around, and see there is plenty to expand for Egypt still, and Russia and France being east and southeast of Egypt lands, figure they would be ripe for the picking. I'll even join in and help them out, taking a few of Napolean's cities with me.

War is declared vs. France, and I join in. By the time I can get over there, though, Egypt and France make peace. What the hell is this, I think? Maybe just one city was enough. Napolean pays me a bit for peace, and I accept that. This conquest will have to wait.

Being busy with the war, Budapest isn't my ally any more. I'm down to about 5 horsemen and 5 swordsmen in my 'offensive task force', and as Egypt seems to have things secured on our borders, I start building culture and fun buildings. In conversation, everyone still talks of the "Might Japan Army" so I figure even my measly 10 units is more than their feeble armies combined. I relax and plan my peaceful conquering of the known world.

Egypt is pumping out wonders left and right, and it's getting annoying. I'm always 5 or so days behind. By the middle ages, I'm at 2 wonders and Egypt is at 6. England has 2 or 3, everyone else 0. Egypt has been very quiet lately...

That's because we're going to war. Looks like Russia and French lands weren't good enough for them, and I see about 40 units on the edge of my lands to the north. My outpost city near Budapest is pummeled instantly, though I note with pleasure that the 2 archers and swordsman there took out about 10 units before dying.

Egypt, the traitorous bastard. I had given him cotton when he 'needed' it. Anything he asked for, just because we were buddies. The world would have been ours, and I would have shared it with you, just for being loyal.

I'm not going out without a fight. Budapest, being Egypt's ally, is in the fight as well. I call up some old friends, mainly everyone else. I sign defensive pacts with Russia, US, France, Persia and England. Thankfully my past war efforts and open borders snubs have gone overlooked. Then I realize these defensive pacts don't retroactively count towards who you are at war with. Uh-oh, not looking good.

My outdated offensive force is moved into position near Tokyo and Kyoto. Out of curiosity, I built a Citadel earlier, in the harsh desert outside of Kyoto. Swordsmen learn the way of the Samurai, and then I'm broke. 5 Samurai, archers in every city, and a few feeble horsemen are now all that's left to defend my kingdom. With my remaining money, I purchase a lone catapult.

With my outpost settlement gone, I prepare for the worst. A direct attack of all of their forces to either Kyoto or Tokyo would be costly for them - after all, 10 units + the archer defenders and cities won't go down without a fight. But I know in this war of attrition, Egypt is more prepared. Their current army is about 15 knights, 15 or so crossbowmen, and 20 melee units. They have about 7 catapults to go along with this. I know more are being cooked up in the fiery depths of Heliopolis where the traitorous leader sits in his throne. He thinks he's won.

Egypt heads right for the Citadel. I have a faithful crossbowman there now (my only one) along with 3 samurai and my catapult in the nearby city of Kyoto. He brings his army in, and I play too aggressively. The units I injure with my city and ranged units are taken out easily by a samurai and horse, but I lose them both to knights. Similarly, a group of crossbowmen fire into one of my flanking samurai's and a knight gets him. I've traded victories here, but with the size of his army he's bringing in, I go into turtle mode. My horsemen hit and run, and my samurais take out any unit daring enough to come in close. They move their catapults into range, and I make the decision to sacrifice a samurai to get a few catapult kills. Meanwhile, every city is now working on military units. And at the border, I see another army. Another 5 knights, 5 or so crossbowmen and some pikemen. More catapults are seen off in the distance.

Japan has one last trick up their sleeve. Eventually, if I do nothing, I will lose about half of my cities. I'll be the lapping boy to Egypt, a cautionary tale amongst leaders at the local UN hangout. I need to do something. Something desperate.

Cape Town is the answer. Cape town is some northern city state I've only seen through the fog of war. I see they are allied with Egypt. But they're not at war with me. I check, and sure enough, Egypt agreed to protect them. Probably happened back with this France business as Egypt was plotting my demise.

I have a scout that barely escaped the armies of Egypt and was resting in some French village. He's a hop away from Cape Town. Will it work? Let's find out.

My scout informs the Cape Town leader that the distant empire of Japan will come to take it's daughters. Your Cape Town swine stock is hardly worth it, though, so we'll get to you when we have time. Be warned that Japan will crush you and your Egyptian loving people into the grund.

My scout is promptly executed, and war is declared. Having being suckered into a defensive pact with me, England, France, Russia and the US all declare war on the feeble Cape Town. Egypt, being a protector of Cape Town, automatically declares war on all of them.

The massive Egyptian army is cut in half instantly as Egypt rushes to defend its land. Halfheartedly, he presses the attack against Kyoto only to have my bolstered samurai's flank his crossbowmen into oblivion. It takes every offensive unit I have, but I rid the Japan lands of Egyptian filth.

Egypt's treachery will not go unpunished. I laugh as Egypt offers me a price for peace of 2 of my towns + a kings bounty in gold. Right, Egypt - just because I currently have no attacking force, I'm going to pay you off. I reject this offer and converse with my new war-allies, that being almost everyone else. Washington is confused, not sure if to love or hate me. France has forgiven my past and wants to share everything. England informs me it hates France, and wants to spy against them.

Now now, everyone. The time will come for diplomacy and politics. Right now, Japan has only one thing on it's mind. The eradication of Egypt.

My army grows, though my people aren't happy about it. They're not happy from the city size or apparently wrecking vengeance on those that betrayed us. They just want a damn theater. We'll get to that, people. For now, samurai's, knights and catapults all around.

Boston and Miami have been in Egyptian hands a while, so they make interesting first targets. Tempting. However, there is one eye sore that I just can't let go. Budapest is a glowing gem of economy to my north east, and it's traitorous leaders will soon pay for their transgressions. They have a sizable defense, but it's no match for my catapults and crossbowmen. As my samurai army goes in for the capture, I can almost hear their whimper. Not long ago they were allies with the two most powerful nations in the world, now they crumble at the feet of Japan. Next time, choose your side more wisely.

With Budapest gone, I now have a new ally in Singapore. I had forgotten about them completely, and they award my neutrality with a few pikemen to join the Egyptian stomping army. As my army nears Miami and Boston, Egypt comes back to me with yet another cheeky offer. 2 of my cities, gold and silver per turn. I see to the east Russia and France have both made headway and captured Egyptian cities as well. With Egypt not having to fight me, he could maybe hold them back and recapture. His insolence in demanding me to pay him for this, however, is too much. Rejected.

Miami and Boston fall. Being the nice guy I am, I give one back to the US for being a good lapdog. They're a bit too far out, but I keep Boston because it's quite big. I notice that my country's happiness is plummeting, even with making these cities puppets.

My armies rest and grow bigger. I can tell Egypt has its hands full to the east, and the US is even throwing a few units to the north. I eye my next target: Heliopolis. Touchdown time.

It's fiercly defending. Catapults everywhere, crossbowmen all over the land. This is going to hurt. Without warning, I see an unfortunate message: Egypt has declared Peace with everyone. Except me. He's down to about 6 cities now.

Begrudgingly, I open a discussion with them. What's the price for peace now, you King-Tut wannabe? You're singing a different song now it seems. A city to me, plenty of gold and resources per turn. Looks like Egypt just wants to lick it's wounds now. I accept.

Budapest is now part of my glorious kingdom, and Singapore is doing my bidding. I dispatch some of my army to Singapore - I'll not take the chance with a city state again. Ally or not, you're becoming part of my kingdom. The rest of my army I keep on the Egyptian borders, eying any activity for alarm. I sent a few down south towards France, trusting no one now.

Peace again. The price for these victories is one very unhappy nation. The new towns in my empire have taken me to about a -20 rating. Reluctantly, I change some of my military production to dance halls and theaters and such. Apparently being dead but having a theater to go to is preferable than military protection.

And that's where I stand now. Egypt will eventually fall for their treachery. And now I must choose between England and Russia and France. One of them will betray me. The Americans are no threat to the north, but I'll have to keep a close eye on them as well. I foresee two vassal states in the near future. Until then, my samurai and musketmen patrol the borders. I embark a few ships off to explore, knowing there are maybe even more future enemies or allies in the distant lands.

Hope everyone enjoyed!

 

[generalwar]

Great stories, really! I wish I had such fun games, but I can't play civ 5 well and I'm in deppression cause of that