The key to the game

[aronnax]

"You need three things to win a war, they are money, money and more money"

 

[Daiyoukai Ramza]

I'm casting my lot in with the "Land is Power" crowd.

 

[Yeekim]

Land is power indeed!

But on higher levels (like Immortal) one can not win without skillful use of diplomacy!

Well...except this is 1v1 Tiny map and you are playing Augustus Caesar.

 

[Larklight]

It's the economy stupid!

 

[Diamondeye]

Having a strong opening set of turns.

Your first 50-100 Turns (pending on game speed) shape your empire.

Any player can take a great start from an experienced played and see it through to victory, but even the top players have a hard time finding a way to salvage a start gone arye from a newbie

I agree fully to this, but my vote goes for land. This has a large influence on your start aswell

 

[civvver]

This is like a chicken and the egg question.

I think we could all agree, land begets a strong economy, a strong economy begets a strong military (tech and production) as well as wonders and money for diplomacy, and a strong military leads to the ability to grab more land.

Still, I'd have to say land usage is most important.You don't have to have the most, or best, but how you use land will determine practically everything else.

Funny how no one's voted for wonders. It's such a difference from previous civ games where one great wonder could practically seal your victory (michelangelo's in civ2 anyone?)

 

[coolio2244242]

Simple CIVgebra

Technology+Military=Victory

If you stay ahead of the game with technology, you can create military units that others can't.