What do you do when you realize you're not playing optimally?

[callmewoof]

The save-load system in civ is probably there for saving and loading. Mostly because an average civ-match takes 7 centuries and most people can't play that in one go. Mario-stages takes less than 5 minutes, most people can set aside that time.
About that random seed option, that's probably there for crashes, making sure you can do the exact same thing you did the last time after a crash-recovery.

Crash recovery? I'm not sure. By default, that option is off and you don't get a new seed, so if you crashed then you're already getting the same time line. The only purpose it serves is to get different results after a reload by player choice, aka my spy died but after a reload he stole a tech.

 

[Gazebo]

Crash recovery? I'm not sure. By default, that option is off and you don't get a new seed, so if you crashed then you're already getting the same time line. The only purpose it serves is to get different results after a reload by player choice, aka my spy died but after a reload he stole a tech.

Seed refers to the RNG in the game. RNG is applied to a lot of stuff, and a lot of times the numbers are calculated (or at least the RNG algo. is pre-determined) ahead of time. Random seed refreshes that value on load.

G

 

[zarakand]

I'll never reload. I might restart an entire game but reloading just feels cheaty.

I tend to agree with this, but for me the game isn't relaxing when I have to focus that hard. I'd rather play a level lower and meander about doing whatever seems entertaining at the time.