The kind of Civ games i like

[Naokaukodem]

First i only play custom games: no espionnage (how tiring are those spies pillaging your ressources every turn, or poisoining your waters! I HATE that), no barbarians (they can become a real pain and a fair disadvantage in Emperor and above, and i like sending settlers unprotected - by the way, the AI without barbs will still protect its settlers! so it's an advantage for you hehe), only Conquest Victory.

Yes, only Conquest Victory. It's important for the following.

Indeed, the ideal game of Civ for me would be a game without victory, virtually.

Because, I always thought that Victory types in Civ games were kind of artificial. In reality, there is no winning civilization, there is the course of History that makes things change. Civilizations rise, fall. That's a thing i always wanted to see in a game like Civ, people following the Suggestion forum can confirm. Because with Victories, the game is way too much alterated from an History point of view. I mean, it greatly disminishes the impact of "rewriting History", as most of the elements or true History aren't there. (rise an fall of civs)

That's why, an ideal type of game i play in Civ4 is only Conquest Victory, not even Time Victory, so i can continue infinitly until the whole map is only one civilization. This is the ultimate achievement of Civ IMO. Then, I have time to appreciate all facets of Civ.

I didn't try it from this perspective yet, because when i tried it it was damn tedious, but Marathon mode could add to this.

Because, one problem with that type of game within Civ4, is that the time passes too fast. For example, there are no enough technologies in order (in highest difficulty levels) to catch up with other civs and get an advancement, in order to build powerfull units and conquer others.

I mean, with conquest Victory only enabled, it can become that i can't win, whenever i can't lose either. Because my weapons are not advanced enough compared to other civs weapons. And considering that the AIs will have plenty units in say Emperor, it can become very unlikely that i could conquer them. Then, it is the status quo.

So, the solution to this kind of dead end, with only Conquest enabled, would be a -much- longer tech tree. First i thought about extending it into the future, so we could continue to play endlessly in modern era and try to catch up and finally outpass the other civs technology, in the Future.

Then, I said to myself that it was not necessary. History is rich enough in order to allow a way more extended and diversified tech tree within itself. If for example I spend 100 turns in Antiquity, then i would like to have some good military techs to discover within this time span. Same for other eras.

Actually that's not the case with Civ4 Marathon mode. Or much more less. You don't have enough opporunities to dominate technologically and militaristically.

So my question -because i have one- is the following: will i be able to have such games in Civ5?

 

[MrBanana]

What kind of single player video game can you not win! (Sorry I can`t do question marks)

 

[Naokaukodem]

it's without victory virtually, because Civ victory types does not allow at all a recreation of History (rise & fall)

in the end and realistically it would be more conquest only (but impossible/less possible in the state because not enough techs)

if you have other suggestions of victory types that would allow rise & fall, and more precise simulation of History, please share

 

[need my speed]

I like that kind of games too, or games where I am so powerfull that I act as a peacekeeping force. Romans are invading Greece? I'll conquer the cities the Romans conquered and give them back to the Greeks. That kind of things.

 

[The_J]

What kind of single player video game can you not win!

Did you play the Anno series?
The biggest part of the game is the sandbox mode, where you just build up your empire. Just play, no task, just build it up.

Boring imho.

 

[Dermo]

I think the most intersting game I ever played was where I turned on the 'Always at Peace' option, then set the victory conditions to Conquest and Domination only That was kinda fun.
Other than that I've been playing highland games with dense mountains and seas. I makes for some cool maps where you settle in a few choke points early on and be able to control a large portion of the map

 

[Naokaukodem]

I like that kind of games too, or games where I am so powerfull that I act as a peacekeeping force. Romans are invading Greece? I'll conquer the cities the Romans conquered and give them back to the Greeks. That kind of things.

Yes, acting like a third party is fun. I remember one of my games, i was leading, but some other civs in the same continent was growing powerfull. They started to go at war with each others, and i gave units to the weaker, for the stronger not to get stronger again. I succeeded pretty quite in doing so, because the weak civ survived and even ended to dominate. Then another civ declared was on another one, and i repeated the thing, giving this time Modern Armors to weak civ! No use to say that the weak civ survived and ended to dominate. I ended up to dominate all of them. Hehe...

But that's yet different from a virtually endless game in order to allow the only Conquest Victory Type.

I think the most intersting game I ever played was where I turned on the 'Always at Peace' option, then set the victory conditions to Conquest and Domination only That was kinda fun.
Other than that I've been playing highland games with dense mountains and seas. I makes for some cool maps where you settle in a few choke points early on and be able to control a large portion of the map

Yes, that's a good idea. This way, you have a truly endless game... but i'm not sure that's what i want. I think Conquest only could do the trick, but because you end up often in the status quo, not being able to conquer but able to defend, i would be cool that they there is more techsin order to be able, have more occasion to do the break. Maybe in a mod? The only thing to do would be the make the tech tree much more wide. (and possibly futuristic)

 

[Tylerryan79]

Why don't you try playing on a lower difficulty on marathon on a smaller map? If you can't beat the ai and can't out tech them then maybe your not ready for the level your on? You can survive and ect, but can't conquer, so lower it. Then when you can find that sweet spot and beat a game and move up a level and/or make the map larger.

 

[Naokaukodem]

Why don't you try playing on a lower difficulty on marathon on a smaller map? If you can't beat the ai and can't out tech them then maybe your not ready for the level your on? You can survive and ect, but can't conquer, so lower it. Then when you can find that sweet spot and beat a game and move up a level and/or make the map larger.

I have two tracks of games: ones that i play on Noble, for the fun but whatever i do in this mode i always win. Ones that i play with the difficulty and i'm stuck with Emperor for now. (only won 1 time, because the AI was aiming Infantry when didn't even have Riflemen)

But with my games on Emperor for now i have a lot of difficulty to win because I put only Conquest Victory on, and i heard many players win the highest difficulty modes with diplomacy or culture. I don't like these victories because i do not feel they are in the normal course of the game, like you get them because it suits your power. They are only "tricks" for who gets accutomised to them, which i am not.

It can take a lot of time to outtake the AIs militaritically in higher difficulty modes. It is even nearly impossible.

EDIT: PS: I forgot to tell that i always disable Tech Trade.