Most Important Unit

[Pallando]

To all of those civ2 experts, which would you say what is the most important unit in the game?

The way I play I would have to say the engineers. Being able to transform terrain in just plain awesome. Instead of using my money in buying buildings or wonders I always try to bribe foreign engineers, that way I have it with being supported by NON.

 

[Prof. Garfield]

That's an interesting question.

My gut instinct would be the caravan. If used properly, caravan deliveries allow you to speed through the tech tree and have tons of gold to buy things with. That said, you don't actually need caravans to win the game -- they just let you win much faster.

Settlers and engineers are needed to build cities. A more interesting question is whether I would forego all terrain improvements in order to have access to caravans. I think the answer is that I would, especially if I could still build harbours.

If I had to choose between not using freight and not using engineers (but being allowed to use settlers and caravans forever), I would find the decision a little tough but I'd probably keep the freight. An extra 50% on caravan deliveries is quite useful, but a player can make extra deliveries and a lot of deliveries are capped at 2/3 of the current science cost. Engineers are most useful for being able to build a road on flat terrain in one turn. Beyond that, doubling the cost of all late game terrain improvements could be somewhat significant.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

There's no way I'd give up my Engineers. They can make productive farmland out of desert, railroads all over the place, and clean up pollution much faster than Settlers.

The most appealing unit to me, though... is the Elephant, just 'cause they're so damn cute!

 

[Pallando]

My gut instinct would be the caravan. If used properly, caravan deliveries allow you to speed through the tech tree and have tons of gold to buy things with. That said, you don't actually need caravans to win the game -- they just let you win much faster.

Hmm. That's very interesting. I've used caravans but no to that extent. Probably for the completion of Wonders or Buildings. Never used it in the way that you explained.

Settlers and engineers are needed to build cities. A more interesting question is whether I would forego all terrain improvements in order to have access to caravans. I think the answer is that I would, especially if I could still build harbours.

But what about the cities with no water access?
Thanks to you, I think I will change the way I play.

 

[Prof. Garfield]

Hmm. That's very interesting. I've used caravans but no to that extent. Probably for the completion of Wonders or Buildings. Never used it in the way that you explained.

I strongly recommend that you take a look at this thread. Using caravans was a major part of this game (and it is in just about all succession games).

That said, there are a couple things to know about trading. The first is that it takes a little practice in order to know where to deliver caravans. The second is that trade gets better as difficulty levels increase because the AI has more developed cities and because science costs are higher (increasing the maximum payout from a caravan delivery).

But what about the cities with no water access?

I just wouldn't build cities inland under such a restriction.

 

[Theov]

Caravans and nukes.
There's nothing more satisfying than to settle a dispute over the smoking remains of a foreign capital.
Ok ok, and engineers. They are quite useful.

 

[BaronVonHungste]

I'd vote Engineers too. I love terraforming everything into grasslands and fielding size 40+ cities.

 

[Junuxx]

Spy!

 

[Comrade LoL]

The spy of course. It can sneak around enemies, bribe them, damage them, plant nukes or just open up a large briefcase with paper and say "take a hike. This city are now belong to us"

 

[Perfection]

Fanatics because that's what we are!