What is the best civilization?

[Tucker798]

I have a searched for a thread like this in tips and strats, and general discussion, and couldn't find one.

I've posted this because im intrested in why people use what I (A noob) would consider rubbish civilizations in mulitplayer mode, (e.g the babbies!).

So I was wonder, what you would consider the best civilization to use, what your fave is, and the reason for you choice for either.

Also any tips on using a civilization correctly, as im guessing im using their attributes inefficiently.

 

[JamesT]

Definitely check out Ision's civ reviews:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=87014

However, if you search around a bit, I think you'll find that the general feeling is that there is no best civ. I have only been playing the game for about two weeks, but in my experience, it really depends on what victory condition you are going for, what type of map you are playing on, other playing conditions, etc.

For example, the Babylonian's make up for their shortcomings by being the most dominant cultural force in the game. Personally, I love the Persians. Industrious is by far my favorite trait, especially since I am playing without the Conquests expansion (so worker speed is 200% rather than 150%), Scientific is always nice to have, and most importantly, their Immortals are an unstoppable force in the ancient age, when I like to take care of any rival civs on my continent and forge my empire.

The best thing you can do is read the reviews and experiment with the civs at the same time. The more you play, the more you'll set up your own preferences and strategies for how you want to win.

 

[AndrewN]

Unfortunately your question is much too general, without knowing how you play the game, which land form and how you were intending to win along with other questions we can't answer. As noted above there is no 'best' civ. I have been playing for 17 years and I can win victory condition with any civ

If you were to put a gun against my head and insist then I would say the Iroquois in Conquests could possibly be the closest to the best civ under some circumstances. The Agricultural trait is considered by many to be the strongest and Commercial is a good second tier trait. Plus they have a good early UU.

As for my fav, England Two solid second tier traits and a very interesting UU.

But don't take my word for it, play all the civs then make your own mind up.

 

[timerover51]

The best civilization is the one that you are most comfortable with, the traits of which are best suited to your personality and playing style. I prefer archipelago and continent maps, with lots of water, and do not play Pangaea except under special circumstances (i.e. the huge+ Ptolemy Map). As such, for me the best civilizations are Seafaring, with another trait. So far, I have done well with the Byzantines, Dutch, and trying out the Vikings. The Americans do not do so well on that style of map, unless I get a couple of large continents to play on. I have not tried Carthage or England as yet, not sure about the Portuguese and Spanish. Just not that thrilled with being Spanish.

 

[marineman]

The best civ for a noob i would say..

For a cultural victory babbylon.

For everything else except elmination celts,iroquois.

For Elimination if you are new go with greece the unique unit you can build right away and doesnt need upgraded till riflemen is a huge plus.

 

[The Professor]

As everyone has said, it depends on the map, and your victory conditions, and the way that you choose to play. A lot of people like the Maya--the Agricultural trait makes them grow quickly, which is always useful, and the Industrious trait makes the workers faster, which means you have improved tiles for your citizens to use. The Javelin Thrower isn't an overpowering UU, but it has the ability to enslave--make victims into slaves, which is quite handy. It doesn't get any cheap culture buildings, so it's probably not great for a culture victory, but otherwise, it's a good all-purpose civ.

 

[Spoonwood]

I have been playing for 17 years and I can win victory condition with any civ

Yeah... sure you have For anyone who doesn't know, unpatched Vanila came out in 2001.

As for my fav, England

They smell like MONEY don't they?

I'd modify this if a newbie actually had a victory condition in mind... but probably newbies don't when they start playing (the problem). So, for a newbie I might recommend the Egyptians... faster workers since they probably won't build enough and none of that "hey... what's this 7 turn anarchy thing going on here? Why did I lose my temples and libraries?"

 

[TheOverseer714]

17 years probably includes civ 1 and 2 and likely SMAC and call to power. I started with civ 2 probably 13 years back and have loved turn-based strategy ever since.

 

[Spartanism]

Lately I have been very successfull with the Dutch. I play Pangea maps mostly and the seafaring helps you by putting you on the coast and thus you only can expand towards the center and down the coast. The Arg trait is essential in Conquest.

For new players I would suggest maybe check out an exp Civ like Russia. You can shoot for the Rep slingshot and turn up goody huts for several techs.

 

[Northen Wolf]

I like Germans & iros for warmonger, Greece/India for peaceful tech race.

 

[Sweetchuck]

Yeah, I agree with Spart - an expansionist civ would work well for a newbie.

America would be good, industrious & expansionist. Industrious mostly because newbies would tend to want to put their workers on automate and the industrious trait would get the most benefit from them.

I've been playing the Maya pretty exclusively. Industrious and agricultural are a pretty lethal combination, and the javelin thrower (who enslaves enemy units) early on is huge. Besides them, I occasionally play the Iraquois or the Ottomans.

To echo what some have already said, and like city placement, maps, level of difficulty - it all depends on your style. I'm a builder, I can't not build everything I get my hands on - so workers are key for me. I'm a warmonger also, and I play the AI on the highest aggression level. They usually declare war on me first because of that, but I'm not afraid to jump into an early war depending on the situation.

I also like playing at Regent. I've played a few Monarch games, but I find myself out of my element when I have to focus on a strategy that isn't my cup of tea, and for me - that's not as much fun as when I'm doing what I like to do.

Fun - that's the key to the game. Figure out where your niche is and go for it.

 

[silver 2039]

I find that one's that I like are the Maya due to their traits, and their good early UU.

the Ottomans are another favorite of mine, as are the Germans, and Chinese.

 

[Quilty]

For new players I would suggest maybe check out an exp Civ like Russia. You can shoot for the Rep slingshot and turn up goody huts for several techs.

I started playing the Russians recently and liking them. I've played the Persians and the Ottomans almost exclusively ever since I first started with Civ III because I liked the industrious/scientific traits, which help me build up a tech lead as I like to do. I switched to the Russians after getting annoyed at enemy expansionist civs using scouts to pop every nearby goody hut before I built my first warrior. I had to sacrifice building roads at a fast rate early in the game (the trade being converted into scientific research), but popping techs from goody huts make up for it and help me reach Republic at around the same time as I would in a Persia/Ottoman game.

 

[eldar]

C'mon, where are the votes for Portugal and the Hittites?

(Just for the record, I really don't like Portugal, but I've had success with the Hittites. At least they're Commercial, which is great on any map... and they're fine on Pangaea/Continents maps, even their UU doesn't totally suck if you only have to contend with flat/hilly terrain. Portugal I would suggest work best on a 70% continents, or maybe a 60% archi, map... but they still suck.)

Favourite? Persia. Just for the Immortals.

 

[Spoonwood]

For OCCs, and possibly 2-5CCs also, Commercial tribes only have real use in that they have Alphabet. I think Seafaring works better than Commercial in this respect, unless I've forgotten something. So, for an OCC, I'll take Portugal over The Hittites anytime... This indicates why I asked about your favorite tribe... not the best one. Eldar prefers The Hittites over Portugal, because of the games he plays... one can usually think of conditions where a generally less prefered tribe actually becomes better than a more prefered tribe. Oh wait... this isn't my thread... it's the "best" tribe thread... sorry.

America makes an interesting recommendation for newbies... do you think newbies should have an early GA via The Colossus and The Pyramids?

 

[Spectre X]

Iroquois - Agricultural, Commercial, deadly UU (the Mounted Warrior).

 

[anaxagoras]

I like the Celts as a newbie Civ, personally. Agricultural for expansion, and religious gives you cheap temples so you can fill out your borders without conflict and keep your people happy at the same time. Meanwhile, the move-two sword comes at just about the time you'll be running out of space for peace, and will need to use military methods to stay up with the neighbors. Having a fast UU keeps your units alive longer and lets you run home to heal.

The Celts are very forgiving.

 

[Ormylar]

I haven't played Civ3 in a long long time and I never got the expansion packs so I don't have any clue to what Agricultural gives. However, from what I remember, I found Industrious civs to be my strongest choices. I'm usually Americans (Expansionist/Industrious) or Persia (Scientific/Industrious).

Note: This is the origianl Civ3, without the expansions, plus it's hard to remember somethings from it.

 

[kreme]

Map plays a large part..but it comes down to your preferred style of play.
For instance, I am a warmonger, so militaristic preferably.

It's whatever you have the most fun with

 

[Taras Bulba]

Top 5: (off the top of my head)

1. Russia
   • cheap libraries
   • nicely placed Golden Age (I think)
   • the scout (helps more on lower levels)
   • the Cossack is amazing (Conquest blitz)
   • a LARGE city list (something I like)
2. Ottomans
   • once again, cheap libraries
   • industrious trait makes workers great (and with Fascism, they're unstoppable)
   • nicely placed Golden Age
   • the Sipahi has an AMAZING attack
3. Iroquois
   • agricultural is the strongest trait
   • gain money quite easily
   • the Mounted Warrior is very powerful
   • start with Alphabet, makes getting Republic easier
4. Maya
   • agricultural
   • industrious
   • pretty much can build their UU from the start, and all the Ancient Age
5. Celts
   • cheap temples = free culture basically
   • the Gallic Swordsam is awesome
   • fairly large city list, if I remember correctly