Strongest/most unbalanced civ in human hands?

[CivBrit]

We can all agree that the AI is much better at handling certain civs than others. But what about humans? Which civ do you guys think is strongest in the hands of an expert human player who specialises in that civ's style?

Personally I think the Dovellio, due to their early rush power, are one of the most advantaged civs in human hands. Also the Lanun on water heavy maps (especially those with a "New World" continent), and the Hippus under Tasunke.

What do you think? If you were playing a game against other expert human players with a lot of money at stake, which civ would you choose?

 

[schlalex]

Definetely the Infernal.
The uber-Civ!
Production and Commerce-monster, a superb military.
And pure fun, the most important thing!

 

[cyther]

The Lanun under just about anyone. You get giant cities and an amazing economy. Just switch to conquest during war and you can make a military with amazing speed too.

Extra points with OO. It will make your cities unattackable and allows you to completly rule the coast.

 

[readercolin]

how does OO make city's unattackable?

Personally, I'd say the bannor are probably the most OP compared to how the computer plays them (i've never seen the computer use crusade), and the hippus can also be very OP in human hands. The sidar are also played significantly better by humans than the computer.

That being said, few things can beat my Khazid (unless my start reaaaaly sucks)

-Colin

 

[Earthling]

Lanun are the best civ on the coast and at sea; OO is unbeatable if there's any significant water due to Tsunami, which kills everything except other Tsunami and Psychic Pokemon. FfH lacks the latter.

Edit: I should add more substance. The two civs I feel swing the most from AI to human hands are the Malakim and Luchuirp - the AI often absolutely fail with both, because of obvious reasons - Golems don't get free xp and AI doesn't know how to optimize them, Malakim AI can't manage desert (likewise doesn't know how to abuse Chalid). The one civ that's almost more powerful in AI hands is Basium, since he'll get cheaper production, free xp and virtually infinite upgrades to his highest level angel units.

 

[Lade]

(likewise doesn't know how to abuse Chalid).

No, they don't, but I don't see how thats related to Malakim (extra vote and palace mana? Even thats not really enough to justify CHalid being special for them)

I think a water asorb pokemon would have a better chance of surviving tsunami (Or get 25% hp back)

 

[slowcar]

if you compare AI and HI i would cast my vote with the luichirp. the computer is not remotely able to handle them while a human player can dominate with fireball golems if he plays them right.

if the infernal would start right out they would get my vote - but they don't.
depending on your playstyle i would say hippus/tasunke for the offensive player and ljosalfar/thessa for the defensive.
OO is not a civ, neither is chalid. empyrion is my favorite religion both offense- and defense wise though - at least until some patch where they change the AI being unable to move with a partially blinded stack.

 

[Gigaz]

Clan of Embers with Sheelba and the Balseraphs, because the HI can use Loki.

 

[WarKirby]

Infernals
Calabim
Khazad
Balseraphs (before the Summoner nerf)

 

[schlalex]

Ahh, got it ^^

 

[mahazel]

Kuriotates - in AI heands they can`t survive, in my hands they can dominate map before Divine Essence and Eurabatres

 

[PanzerWolf]

Kuriotates - in AI heands they can`t survive, in my hands they can dominate map before Divine Essence and Eurabatres

In my game, they are doing quite ok.

My vote goes to Lanun too. I've never seen the AI build pirate coves which is a great advantage they have.

 

[cabbagemeister]

Lanun obviously, and also Infernals. The AI doesn't even settle most of their manes. Yeeesh.

 

[Diamondeye]

Lanun and Infernal are already mentioned. I also agree on the points about Luchuirp...

I find that Hippus are also overpowered in human hands, but the AI plays okay with them aswell...

 

[Algeroth]

i would say Clowns...Human can use the many tricks they have.

 

[Azhral]

I'm gonna say Illians. The HI knowing when to build the projects and how to use the Priests, while continually hunting for Letum Frigis makes them much much stronger than the AI. In AI hands, even with the Ice bonuses, they always seem to be somewhere near the bottom.

As to the OP, no teams are overpowered in HI hands. The only reason certain AI teams do well is the teaching them of using their unique mechanics, or being able to take advantage of their bonuses just playing like a normal AI.

 

[Tasunke]

I would say all Lanun and Only Lanun. If for no other reason than Infernals aren't able to adopt OO, and that they don't start at turn 0

 

[ICanHasName?]

Lanun, either leader. Seafaring is like an edible version of financial, which you can also get as Hannah. Charismatic is a nice consolation prize, if you choose Falmar. Pirate coves are like every land improvement rolled into one, but safe from the Hippos . Oh and you basically get OO all to yourself unless you leave it too long. You can't go wrong with an amazing economy.

Either flavor of elf. Same reasons as the Lanun, just substitute 'water' for 'forests' and 'commerce' for 'food and hammers' and 'coves' for 'Ancient forest cottages'.

Sheaim are fun too. A ~60 hammer UU that replaces CIV4 nukes ( ), uses metal weapons and leaves buildings intact? Oh and other stuff too.

Calabim are good. Great Hero, very nice synergy with Order, and by far the best use for all the extra people Agristocracy generates. I would say they come in lower as their main strength is 200 strength vampiric death machines which take a while to get and cost you some economy.

And of course, the Bannor. Unique among civs for being able to just fight everyone at the same time forever. Just watch out for the Hippus.

 

[Lade]

I would say every Civ is strongest in human hands. Does anyone really think the AI is smarter than a human at using all of a civ's abilities to the max potential advantage?

 

[JonathanStrange]

True that. Any civ commanded by JonathanStrange is the strongest civ.

Or at least the most unbalanced - and I don't just mean mentally either.