What Civilization do you use the most

[The_Newbie]

They are the best technology civ if you play on a map with lots of land. I have gotten about 5 techs from expansionism and added to science you will never be caught up. Plus Cossacks look cool.

 

[Mîtiu Ioan]

Originally posted by Windwalker
Americans in the lead?!?!

Wow, I tend to view Americans as near the worst civ in the game; their sole saving grace is industriousness, which ain't all that great. Expansionist is not very useful in a lot of situations

Well, in a map bigger than small or tiny :

America is my second option- first is China.
Industrious is a very effective "civ skill" in early moments of the game, when you have only 2-3 workers - and even after this - it's very nice to have a modern empire with full of irigations, mines, etc.

And expansionist isn't so bad - 1 or 2 free techs from huts in the begining of the game is extremely useful - esspecialy on Deity level.

And F-15 units - very bad, but here is a enormous advantadge - you don't receive "Golden Age" in the first turns when is almost useless !!

But IMHO opinion Chian rules because of Militaristic - very usefull for getting leaders for rushing wonders - and their Raiders came exactly when is needed ( in my style of play ) to knock down 2 or even 3 civs with are in front of me and because are fast in many times I was able to double my empire using them !!!

Regards,

P.S. : For small maps I prefer anyway the Iroquois - for a fast effective attack-unit like the Mounted Warriors.

 

[LordAzreal]

I don't have a particular favourite, though I do tend to gear my decision toward the Industrious civs (I like to build up infrastructure quickly, not forgetting being able to clean up pollution quickly and with minimum workforce). Therefore I'd have to prefer:

1.) The Persians (their scientific quality helps get far far ahead). Not forgetting their extremely powerful UU (well for ancient times anyway)

2.) The French (the less corruption of Commerical helps build a huge, far-flung empire that can take advantage of the good infrastructure of being Industrious)

3.) The Americans (Since 1.17, Expansionist has been useful as goody huts give out more settlers to Expansionists. Having loads of territory early game helps... especially under republic). God bless America.

4.) The Egyptians (religious quality helps shift governments quickly, so I can go straight from Democracy to Communism for wartime once my full infrastructure has been established). Their UU is for one shining moment a powerful one, but is quickly replaced by the Horseman (though it has the same stats, don't forget that the War Chariot is wheeled, thus preventing it from crossing unroaded mountains and jungles. The Horseman can freely go where no chariot can).

5.) The Chinese (their militaristic quality makes their already useful UU a lot more powerful. If I feel like being a warmonger, I can depend on the Chinese to provide a good game).

However, barring Industrious civs, I'll prefer Babylon if I want to build up a hugely cultured civilization (in wartime, they suck as their UU is weak when compared to the Persians, Romans and Greeks), or Germany if I would rather be a warmonger (they can quickly advance towards their fantastic UU being scientific and all).

 

[Ravage31282]

This is actually quite shocking. I can't believe only one person in this whole post is siding witht Russians!! There are a couple reason the Russians are great.

1. Expansion - In the new patch this is even better than before, but starting with a scout is great for early exploring and as a bonus your first unit doesn't have to explore but can stay fortified in your city
2. Science - but not for the free tech, mostly for the halved cost of building a library. Combined with early expansion, the speed of building libraries in your new cities will expand your borders VERY quickly, not to mention the huge boost in science from the libraries. Coupled with the free techs should put you way ahead. (and for those that would argue religious would be better here...civil disorder isn't a large problem in the beginning of the game anyways, i'd rather get ahead in science)
3. This setup gives the Russians a large empire beginning the game and more than enough tech to keep it. While their UU isn't as good as others, by the middle of the game you should be pretty well in control of the game and the UU should be more than enough to dominate the game from that point on, if not win immediately (assuming regent or monarch difficulty)

For these reasons, I would say the Russians are the best. At least since the patch anyways ;P

 

[Allemand]

You've made a good argument, but I think industrious workers will make up for much of that early science lead (more roads give more commerce = more $ and science). It's hard to say, and also depends on the map size. Later in the game, there is no advantage and that's when the industrious civ pulls ahead for good.

I like the Russian UU. The 4 defense factor means it can defend as well as musketmen, so production could be switched to just Cossacks.

 

[superman20]

Will somebody explain to me why religious is such a good attribute? I have always thought it was the worst one.

 

[Buecephalus]

not to put too fine a point on it, but the French suck. Sorry.

I really like Japan, but I voted for the Romans. I tend to play conquer/domination games and the legions of Rome kick ass early and often. If I want to play a little longer into the middle ages I'll play Japan 'cause samurai rule that age! Maybe it's just playing style but I found the French to be utterly useless (and people say the game's unrealistic!)

 

[CivAl]

Egypt is the perfect blend of attributes. First, there is Industrious. I usually am one road ahead of my settlers with workers this fast! (ie, I always have a road to an empty spot). In the early game an extra shield or two can win a wonder race. Workers definitely come in handy early. Plus, all my workable squares are roaded and irrigated/mined including mountains while my opponents still don't have all their capital squares exploited. As for rails...

Egypt also is Religious, which is not only a government-change boost but also an expansionistic one. With fast early roads and a Temple in 7-20 turns, you are definitely in charge of the division of land, and can consolidate your empire faster, eliminating gaps.


Downsides: the Chariot stinks, but Ancient wars are a bad idea anyway and depend more on luck than anything else unless you have overwhelming power, Jaguars, or MWs.

If anything drives me crazy, it's the Pyramids! I can easily get the Pyramids before everyone else, but it causes a GA, which is bad. So I usually go for GL, then Republic, and set to all cash and rush buildings....

 

[LordAzreal]

Originally posted by Buecephalus
not to put too fine a point on it, but the French suck. Sorry.

I really like Japan, but I voted for the Romans. I tend to play conquer/domination games and the legions of Rome kick ass early and often. If I want to play a little longer into the middle ages I'll play Japan 'cause samurai rule that age! Maybe it's just playing style but I found the French to be utterly useless (and people say the game's unrealistic!)

Everyone has their own method of playing, so I'll spare you from being forced to think otherwise, but I'll make my points anyway. I don't expect you to believe right away, just to think a bit about it.

The thing that makes the French useful is the fact that they can have a large, farflung empire with less corruption. Their industrious quality also means that infrastructure can be built up quicker than non-industrious civs. Taking full advantage of this, the French have much potential (too bad the AI wastes it. Sure, the AI usually builds a powerhouse France, but not the biggest powerhouse France can be) as their complete road system allows for much commerce (with less corruption to choke it up) and therefore more science, more money to support troops (if you are a Republic or Democracy) and as such are extremely powerful in the right hands (no wonder they gave Joan of Arc a Napoleonic uniform in Industrial age and a French Army uniform in Modern times. They can manage a large military).

Indeed, the Romans make for a good farflung warmongering empire. When you're on a smaller map, you can possibly have it all wrapped up before gunpowder makes its appearance on the battlefield. And the Japanese samurai is quite a powerful version of the knight. So I'm not going to argue against these asskicking civilizations, as I agree with you 110%.

Anyway, I prefer longer games. After playing through most civs, trying the standard map for the first time in ages (don't you get tired of waiting five minutes for AI number crunching?), I've come to a few more conclusions:

1.) The English are perfect for maps comprised of small islands. Since they already have pottery and alphabet, they can get to mapmaking quicker than other civs (not to mention that their UU is a SHIP). Their commercial quality makes corruption due to being on a different landmass less of a problem (though on these maps, pyramids, Sun Tzu's AOW and Bach's cathedral are useless).

2.) The Greeks are an excellent farflung scientific civ. Their commercial quality makes them able to gain a huge lead in science as less of the economy is choked up by corruption. Their UU sets them in quite a safe position throughout the ancient era (hell, the Greeks don't even need pikemen the hoplites are so damn good). Later on in the game, you can shoot much further ahead of the competition being scientific, having cheaper and quicker to build libraries, universities and research labs. I made it to modern era when other civs were only just discovering gunpowder, banking, education and chemistry.

3.) Industrious quality doesn't have as much value on a standard map when there is less territory to occupy (and ultimately build infrastructure on). Although shield bonuses help (especially with factories, nuclear plants, manufacturing plants and Iron Works when the amount of shields in the city is hugely increased)

 

[Arrian]

I have a virtual tie between Babylon and Egypt. I voted for Babylon, but have been playing Egypt more of late. Either of them makes a great builder civ. I cannot bring myself to play a non-religious civ.

-Arrian

 

[Corinthian]

Persia has helped me win easily on low levels. The Immortals wiped out the Zulus and other civs easily in ancient times. The science advancement also helps on Chieftan and Warlord levels, allowing for a massive science and wonder lead.

I, like others here, thought that the Americans were the weakest civ, and chosen only because of patriotism, but after playing them with 1.17 installed I've been playing some of my best games. The expansionist trait allowed me to grab a lot of technology early from goody huts (though I had to work hard to consolidate the land before I was swamped by barbarians), and since I was stuck on a continent dominated by plains and jungle, the industriousnes helped. However had I been playing on a different land, with other civs starting closer, I doubt I'd be in such a strong position.

I usually play with a random civ. So much relies not just on tactics and race, but also on the landscape!

 

[Buecephalus]

I agree with a lot of your points LordAzreal, and I've enjoyed playing as the Greeks, but the few times I've played the French...well, I'll just say they don't suit me.

p.s. they suck, sorry bro

 

[LordAzreal]

Originally posted by Buecephalus
I agree with a lot of your points LordAzreal, and I've enjoyed playing as the Greeks, but the few times I've played the French...well, I'll just say they don't suit me.

p.s. they suck, sorry bro

That's OK. You have your own method as everyone else does. Their UU is crap anyway. They're mainly well-suited as a peacemonger's civ (their large military just means that other civs are more likely to leave them alone. They shoot to pacify rather than kill and conquer). I see that you prefer domination and conquest over the Space Race, Cultural or Diplomatic victories.

 

[erix]

My favorite civ is "Germans". Because of the "panzer". I havent tried all the civs yet but the most powerfull civ specific unit among which i tried is panzer.:tank:

 

[baseballtwin86]

The Russians have to be the best civ in the game. The fact that they are expansionist helps them early in the game, especially using the map to trade for techs. The scientific attribute is excellent for getting ahead of the other civs, and they love communism and not democracy. The people tend to be happy, with no war weariness. Plus, the cossack is a great advantage against other civs. The Extra movement allows for faster conquering of territories, and the extra defence is great for holding onto conquered cities. If only the leader was Lenin and not Catherine.

The second best civ is are the Germans. I never really liked playing as the Japanese or French

 

[snifter]

I've only played 7 or 8 games and never finished, so maybe i'm wrong, but...

The computer is bound to be more consistent than me in its playing style (if less intelligent) so that seems to me a pretty good indication of which civ has the best advantage. And the computer picks the French. In almost every game I've played, I look at the historiogragh at the end and the French are top three. I haven't played them myself yet, but they're my next civ.

 

[Hideyori]

i play the egyptians and the persians if i want to win-idustrious is the best with religion close behind, and the immortal is bloody excellent. I play the germans and americans more often, though, just to play by my nationalty. I wish that one could choose at the new game screen what abilities your civ will have.

 

[petey]

Hideyori,

You can change the abilities of your civ in the Civ Editor.

Just go to the Civilizations tab, select your guys and give them what you want. That way, you can play your home country, but not have to deal with traits that don't suit your style of game play

 

[Exile_Ian]

I do tend to spread my games around between the Civs (although I tend to play the same style anyway, which isn't actually the best way to do it).

Overall, I tend to use the Russians most though. Their Expansionist/Scientific attributes just about sum up my style and I do like the Cossacks (who seem to arrive just at the right moment in the game for me). Cossacks are pretty deadly if your opponents are only up to Riflemen, and their mobility is great.

Of course, I don't play as Czarina whats-her-name - I tend to change the name to Lenin just for the heck if it.

 

[Netman95]

Germans

Got to like those Panzers