Stay hidden in the fog of war.

[Killer Moogle]

Has anyone else noticed that the fewer cultures that know about you, the better? My strategy is to avoid contact with too many nations in the beginning of the game. I've played a lot of SP games on deity, and the one thing that has helped me win is that I have NOT been in contact with more than two AI opponents for as long as possible.

I just feel that once you have an idea about your surrounding terrain etc, just work with what you have until you are better prepared to deal with four AI's trying to destroy you.

I know this sounds crazy as I should be searching for artifacts and barbarian camps, but as soon as I know about more than 2 AI opponents (or they know about me) I keep getting threatened and asked to give up techs.

The two deity games I did win I never ventured too far from my capital. One game I won a domination victory and I never found ANY artifacts at all.

I realize a lot of this depends on luck of the draw with the random maps, but it definitely saves a headache or two to only be in contact with a couple civs early on.

 

[Reed]

I agree. Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is starting on an island and meeting your neighbors in, oh, around 1500 AD. Of course, islands are always great as I have yet to see the AI mount an overwhelming invasion force with their navy.
Maybe because I sink them before they land.

 

[patrickkrebs]

I totally agree. If I make contact with people on higher difficulty levels I'm constantly at war. If I avoid them they leave me alone and I'm awesome.

 

[Chinese American]

thats true. it's easier to OCC when you don't explore. eg in one of the scenarios where the barbarian rate is extremely high. i just let the barbarians attack me and my riflemen wins like 100 times in a row. I didn't encounter any other units until i built bombers to feel out the surroundings. then it was constant whining from the other civs.