Starting a game in a later era

[happyturtle]

My husband kept telling me that going to war with bombers was fun, but I was generally finishing the game before getting them. So I started a new game in the Industrial Era so I could be sure I wouldn't get bored and go for a victory before I could try it out.

It was SO much fun! Usually, by the time I get to that point in the game, I'm so far ahead that I don't really have much of a challenge. But in this game, me and the AIs were really competing. I wasn't the first one to choose an ideology, and I enjoyed the alliances that built up amongst the like-minded civs. Montezuma was actually a late game challenge, instead of being an early bloomer who falls behind by mid-game.

New cities start with a pop of 3 and most of your basic buildings already in place - I wish this was implemented in the standard game, making settlers more expensive, but the new cities stronger, as you move through the eras.

I had started the game planning on a conquest win, but after being "friends" with my fellow Freedom civs all game, I just couldn't bring myself to backstab them. I had a lot of fun stomping on Montezuma in several wars (mostly I was leaving him alive to be my punching bag ) and eventually got a space win.

This was so much fun, I think I'll start my next game in the Modern era. I really enjoyed it.

Anyone else tried this? What did you think of the later era starts?

 

[DWilson]

I've done this once, as China, and really enjoyed myself for the difference in play.

The reason I'm posting is I wonder if anyone has created a mod that uses settlers like this, changing as each era change would.

 

[Silverman6083]

I've been starting in Modern+ and is a BLAST it's so much more interesting than starting I the Ancient Era, & more fun IMO

 

[Gamewizard]

Industrial era starts as America are fun as well. You start with a bunch of minutemen and don't have to wait too long for your B-52s. Especially fun if you don't start with any coal or oil nearby and you have to go find it and take it by force...in the name of Freedom of course.

 

[Akhevan]

Honestly most players are used to their perfected routines in early game, that lead to easy snowballing and thus reduce the overall difficulty. Thus they actively avoid the situations that would render their only preferred strategy inefficient. For the more open-minded players, late era starts are a refreshing experience that also leads to shorter game lengths, something many players have troubles with, especially in MP.

 

[Mustakrakish]

I would like a mod that adds all technologies when I pick information era start, instead of all previous era techs :/ also I'd like to instead have one settler, one unit, one pop city without the buildings. :/ is there a mod?

 

[Calouste]

I've played the odd late game start, but I didn't really like it. I also don't think they are balanced as well because civs with early benefits won't be able to use them.

 

[happyturtle]

True, Civs like the Aztecs won't get to use their early Unique Units. But often those Civs that are very strong in the early game end up falling behind once the rest of the world has teched past their UU. A late game start means everyone is at the same starting line at the Age of choice.

I started at Renaissance with Maria I of Portugal - one tech away from Nau, and two techs from Feitoria. Much fun! But even with that artificial advantage, I'm far from rolling over the AIs. I've only succeeded in getting one Wonder - Alhambra - whilst getting beat to Sistine Chapel and Chichen Itza. And even starting with a spy in the capital, I've been getting robbed blind. It's great fun. So much nicer a challenge than the typical 'first 100 turns' progression.