Is the strongest civ to play the one with the earliest advantage?

[Ringo Kid]

I was wondering if after all the time spent playing by the better players there was any consensus on the strongest (easiest) civ to play.

For example are the Sumerians stronger because you can use their advantages from the first turn getting the multiplied effect of a stronger opening play?"

Or are the Persians better because they have a dominating Unique Unit, once you get to the tech and grow enough to pump them out?

What do people think?

Personally my instincts tell me to go with the strongest start, but I am just an occasional player.

So please share your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[garyg]

I think the strongest trait to begin with is agri. Any angri CIV has a big advantage of growth. Put down by a river and if you have a food bonus you should be able to rule. The second trait for the CIV is debatable. That depends on map type and win condition. Whenever I try to go up a level I always start with an Agri CIV. Right now I'm playing the Dutch because of their MA UU.

 

[Abegweit]

The strongest civ is the Iroquois.

Best traits. Best UU. Best starting techs.

What more could you want?

 

[Nitfan]

Completely agree.

I have to force myself to play other civs regardless of map type or desired win condition.

 

[metamike]

I tried C3C once on sid. Once. Iroquuois. This was when I had only 1, not my current 3 Deity vanilla victories.

And, on sid, with a Standard map, on Conquer victory.

I won.

Enough said.

 

[Abegweit]

Civ on vanilla with the best traits is France. UU is kinda sucky tho.

 

[metamike]

Abegweit, have you read Beyond Sid, the story?

If not, please do, and that last sentence of yours will be annihilated and edited by yourself INSTANTLY.

 

[Abegweit]

Fantastic story. Not to take anything away from his accomplishment, he gamed it a bit. And the musketeer is still sucky.

 

[Sashie VII]

Iroquois is the strongest civ IMO. MW rocks, Agri is superb and commercial is underrated.

 

[Unclescam777]

I find the best civs are the "native american" tribes, probably due to their agri traits. Incidentally, none of them seemed to do well in real life.

 

[drakdan]

I'll chime in for the Iroquois again. The Maya are nice too, despite a UU I'm not so crazy about. Sumeria has my favorite set of traits, and if you can avoid the Despotic Golden Age you're good.

 

[AutomatedTeller]

For an interesting read on why the native tribes of the america's didn't do well when the european's came in force, see "Guns, Germs and Steel" - don't remember the author - it won a pulitzer.

A way to think of it is that there were better food bonuses in Europe than the americas until wheat, etc was transplanted here. And Europe/Asia/Africa were connected, so the tech pace was higher.

 

[Abegweit]

Author's name is Jared Diamond. I like the way you describe the book in game terms. It sucks being an an isolated civ.

 

[Ringo Kid]

Yes, the Europeans rexed in to North America in overwhelming numbers,setting up settler factories everywhere; and picture Cavalry and Riflemen against Mounted warriors and archers.

 

[Ringo Kid]

Guns germs and steel was also a series on PBS by the same guy.

 

[Jazzmail]

Isolation may just have been the problem.
Look at it in civ terms. When you start the game on a pangea map, you may sometimes end up alone on a small continent. That's a huge disadvantage on any level above warlord. All the AI civs are on the pangea all tech trading like crazy and you fall behind.

 

[btfx]

Isolation may just have been the problem.
Look at it in civ terms. When you start the game on a pangea map, you may sometimes end up alone on a small continent. That's a huge disadvantage on any level above warlord. All the AI civs are on the pangea all tech trading like crazy and you fall behind.

I recall finding Persia all alone, and unprotected. I would have taken their cute little island but they were on the other side of the (huge) pangea.

 

[MadScotsMan]

I like commercial but it doesnt start kicking in until the middle ages, and for me a civ's traits have to make me stronger during the middle ages. By then I am still lagging a bit in techs and thats the only way to really catch up

 

[Empiremaker]

I love the Iroquois. The earliest advantages are small (Jags) or hard to use. Early MA UU's tend to be the best, but MW's and Immortals will beat anyone.

 

[Jazzmail]

I recall finding Persia all alone, and unprotected. I would have taken their cute little island but they were on the other side of the (huge) pangea.

Yeah ofcourse it can also happen the other way around. I love it when that happens, specially if I can find them early in the game before any other civ: sell techs.