Favourite map/dif/leader for always war games?

[brucedecatz]

I have been benefiting a lot from reading the material from civfanatics, and thought I might as well join this community.

I am a heavy warmonger (though not necessarily a good one), and have been playing a lot of AW games. Usually pick small pan, prince, and random leader, though I think highland map is also interesting and AI handles that less well.

imo Shaka is a monster in AW games, provided he has copper/iron. half-priced UB that serves as a courthouse (btw how many civs get half-priced UBs?)--that's as good as being org in early games. culture will be a problem, but you can always wack the nearest holy city to get a religion with relative ease as long as it is not on a hill AND guarded with a million protective archers.

Interested to hear what others say.

 

[Supr49er]

Welcome to the Forums brucedecatz.

Shaka is one of the best warmongers.
Sitting Bull is tough early, with his Archers and Dog Soldiers.
Monty is just a lunatic, but can be stomped mid-game.
Boudica and the Caesars are also tough opponents.

Do you play with the 'Aggressive AI' and 'Raging Barbarian' custom game options?

 

[AbbieRevo]

I think he's playing with Always War, so I would think that Agg AI would make no difference in such a setting. Unless AggAI affects tactics as well.

 

[brucedecatz]

Aggressive AI makes some difference: I rather see a stack of 6 units every 5 turns than a stack of 20 every 20 turns. The former provides easy experience hence promotions; the latter headache.

Raging barbarians give the AI more trouble than the player IMO. Having it on means chopping all the trees near capital and having a few more archers than usual, and get horse early to deal with axeman (strangely, in all my games, copper is always illusive, but iron is quite reasonable to get). I have see the barbs took AI cities, but not mine.

Of course, when I have no resources and AI attacks me early, things can get really bad, I always have the option to restart but not before using WB to look at the 3 food + iron + gold capital to persuade myself it is bad luck!

Interesting facts:
1. I have been warrior-rushed by Asoka. 3 v.s 1, and the good guy fell.
2. More than 5 times have I walked into an undefended AI capital (scout-start AIs are dangerous choices for AW. suicidal on marathon)

 

[ShadyCharacter]

Both Caesars are very solid and straight forward throughout the entire game, especially during the classical and early medieval eras where their commonly ill-viewed imperialistic traits almost seem overpowered with the awesome juggernauts known as the Legions. Julius is more to-the-point and excels at developing newly conquered/settled lands as opposed to Augustus. Augustus, however, requires a little more strategy and finesse to use due to his Industrious trait, but he can sometimes be even more powerful than Julius if used properly and the situations are right.

The Greeks are one of my favorites, too, especially Pericles. I like to do this strategy with the Romans as well. What I like to do with the Greeks, and most often with Pericles, is do a Construction slingshot. I'll head for writing as soon as possible, get 2 scientists working for points while I work on building the Oracle. I bulb Mathematics with the great scientist and pop Construction with the Oracle. I've executed this strategy many times and sometimes I've accomplished it as early as 1800-1500 BC. Catapults that early combined with Phalanx is purely devastating, even in multiplayer. Having access to Odeons for happiness and culture that early is great, too, which also makes this strategy just as viable with Alexander so he can expand his borders. I just happen to prefer Pericles because I'm a sucker for the creative trait.

So yeah, you can tell I prefer early warmongers, mainly the Romans and Greeks. Monarch, standard or large size, marathon speed, and hemispheres with snaky continents and island (I like making colonies ). Always raging barbarians, new random seed is always on for those "WTH?" moments like barbarian uprisings at 3000BC.

 

[SharpMango]

i remember creating one islands game (with about 15 civs) which wasnt just Always war, it was always war for all civs...ie...every civ was at war with one another...
obviously quite a few civs got knocked out....suprisingly enough the two strongest AI civs who managed to expaned the most were Isabella (must have had a good start)
but more tellingly...tokugawa....sure i know a lot of people dont like his traits, but personally, when i see a musket getting drill I,combat I, and CG I just naturally without any promotions added on...it makes me drool...
how many civs do u have that play against u by the way?