Playing as Babylon

[GodofWine]

so I've been at this game for about a month and just moved to Emperor through domination play. I'm intrigued with Babylon as it looks like you may be able to pull a small tech advantage through the GS buff. I was thinking combined with the great library and their special unit bowman you could make a nice early game push. I was wondering if theres any good strategies in the early game with Babylon or if pretty much everybody just uses them for science victories?

 

[budweiser]

Babylon is a cruel joke because they force you to choose between war and science, 2 completely different paths. Naturally, you want the free scientists, but you also need to maximise your advantages which means a bowman rush, walls of babylon etc. And of course, who can play a game as babylon without building the Hanging Gardens? The choices are too many. Its like torture.

 

[snarzberry]

Babylon is probably the easiest civ to play because science is the backbone of the game. Being able to field advanced units well before the AI trumps everything else. They also have a great UU because archer rushing in civ 5 is very powerfull. They can also play the best turtling peaceful science victory game. They are so versatile because the UA is the strongest in the game by some margin. Take your pick really

 

[joncnunn]

Playing Babylon is like playing a full difficulty level easier.

Archers already work well for defense in cities, especially when walled: Bows with the Wall of Babylon are even better.
And science is wonderful for Babylon.

So the turtling while going after science victory goes extremely well for Babylon.

 

[The_Quasar]

Hmm... I've not played Babylon more than a couple of times, and they were a long time ago, because I usually play on random... and it doesn't seem to come up much.

If they are THAT easy, they are probably best avoided, in the interests of having a good game...

 

[larret]

Babylon is probably the easiest civ to play because science is the backbone of the game. Being able to field advanced units well before the AI trumps everything else.

True, but if it comes to a science I'd consider Korea even more overwhelming civ.

 

[budweiser]

Hmm... I've not played Babylon more than a couple of times, and they were a long time ago, because I usually play on random... and it doesn't seem to come up much.

If they are THAT easy, they are probably best avoided, in the interests of having a good game...

Not so much how easy they are, but just that they are a totally front loaded civ. All your best advantages are in the first half of the game, so you have to make a good opening and then hang on to the end.

 

[The_Quasar]

Not so much how easy they are, but just that they are a totally front loaded civ. All your best advantages are in the first half of the game, so you have to make a good opening and then hang on to the end.

Ah, but with a good opening, you shouldn't find things too difficult...

 

[DutchJob]

@OP: Welcome!