What is your favorite new BtS Civ?

[Phoenix1595]

OK, I am now that guy. The ten new civs have been announced, and now we know not only who they are, but their leaders, traits, UUs/UBs, etc. Question is: which of the new civs are you most looking forward to playing?

 

[sydhe]

Wow. 100% of the voters chose Portugal! Now, if someone besides me votes.

 

[NYHunter]

This really depends. Some I like for flavor purposes, others I like because of their UU others or their UB and other because of their Leaders traits. But, I am going to say that when I consider all those factors combined it comes down to:

Native Americans

 

[Vrenir]

I went with Byzantines with no consideration of their UU, UB, or traits. It's simply a matter of loyalty to my first favorite civilization, ever since I found a book on them in junior high. If only they had dromons again as in CivIII.

 

[sydhe]

Now my explanation for choosing Portugal. I don't mind the traits too much, but (1) The Unique Building is useful. You build a lot of feitoria, which I will, and you have effectively a second Colossus. If you build both, as I will, every coastal city will have huge commerce.
(2) The Unique Unit is great. You can effectively invade civilizations on other continents or take every barbarian city that you find while your carracks explore the world, as soon as you get Optics. Given how long it takes to get Astronomy, this can be a huge advantage. It won't help much on Pangaea, but it'll be a killer on Archipelago or Terra.

 

[Tee Kay]

In order of my personal preference:
1. Babylonian
2. Mayan
3. Sumerian
4. Khmer
5. Ethiopian
6. Portuguese
7. Dutch
8. Native American
9. Byzantines
10. Holy Roman Empire

 

[Phoenix1595]

Now my explanation for choosing Portugal. I don't mind the traits too much, but (1) The Unique Building is useful. You build a lot of feitoria, which I will, and you have effectively a second Colossus. If you build both, as I will, every coastal city will have huge commerce.
(2) The Unique Unit is great. You can effectively invade civilizations on other continents or take every barbarian city that you find while your carracks explore the world, as soon as you get Optics. Given how long it takes to get Astronomy, this can be a huge advantage. It won't help much on Pangaea, but it'll be a killer on Archipelago or Terra.

I think it will give the Portuguese a leg up over the Dutch. Both are potential rivals for a vast overseas empire, with the Portuguese getting an early start. My belief is that once the Dutch get their UU, though, they will be able transport large armies to knock off the fledgling Portuguese colonies. Just a theory, mind you.

 

[Onagan]

I voted for the Dutch, and I don't know why.

 

[Polycrates]

I think it will give the Portuguese a leg up over the Dutch. Both are potential rivals for a vast overseas empire, with the Portuguese getting an early start. My belief is that once the Dutch get their UU, though, they will be able transport large armies to knock off the fledgling Portuguese colonies. Just a theory, mind you.

Seems like the Portuguese will dominate on Terra maps - if they can take a barbarian city on the other continent, they can then start pumping out settlers and control most of the new continent before anyone else can even get there.
On the other hand, their UB (and its requirement for a harbour - and the exp trait giving them cheap harbours) mean that they will benefit more than anyone from traderoutes and peace, so an overly militaristic approach vs other civs may not be their best approach.

The Dutch, on the other hand, have a UB designed for pumping out masses of ships, and a UU for ferrying masses of troops by sea without much need for a separate escort. They strike me as more the successors to the Vikings in terms of projecting power on and via the sea.

The proof, however, will be in the pudding......

 

[Martinus]

Dutch, definitely. There is a great synergy there between the UB and the leader's traits (just build a lot of coastal cities, benefit from commerce and then unleash great production in late game by building dikes).

And on archipelago maps he will simply rule unchecked.

Second choice, based more on personal preference, are the Byzantines - look like a nice mid-game conquest victory civ - and they are almost guaranteed to get a religion of their own.

 

[Arwon]

Maya, just because the Maya are pretty much my favourite historical civilisation for reasons I don't quite understand.

The Dutch are probably the strongest civ, however.

 

[Martinus]

Coming to think about it, HRE is probably also a strong contender for a powerful civ.

With their UB reducing maintenance and Imperialistic, they seem like an ideal candidate for REX - and with Protective, you should be able to defend your initial cities with lesser force than otherwise. Once you become stronger, the Landknechts (Pikemen with 100% vs. Melee units) will rule the day, allowing for the second, military, phase of expansion.

 

[TeraHammer]

The dutch is my fav!

I love
the sea
and my
country
Hee hee hee.

 

[Lars_Domus]

Although Babylonia will always hold a special place in my heart, I think I'll have to go with Maya on this one.

Sorry Hammurabi baby, your UU and UB are just utterly pathetic.
Aaw.. I hope you know I love you anyway

 

[kniteowl]

Although Babylonia will always hold a special place in my heart, I think I'll have to go with Maya on this one.

Sorry Hammurabi baby, your UU and UB are just utterly pathetic.
Aaw.. I hope you know I love you anyway

I dunno I think his UU is pretty Decent, you'll have an extremely hard time axe rushing Babylonia, heck even swords will ahve a hard time attacking them, without large numbers of loses, you'll have to wait until Catapults to effectively take on Babylonia. UB isnt much... but the traits are quite nice.

Babylonia Archer. 3 str + 50% vs Melee + 50% City Defense + 25% Fortify = 6.75.

That doesn't even include the archer being on a hill or any cultural defense.

So with the Babylonia you can safely turtle your way through the ancient age until Catapults appears.

 

[Lars_Domus]

I dunno I think his UU is pretty Decent, you'll have an extremely hard time axe rushing Babylonia, heck even swords will ahve a hard time attacking them, without large numbers of loses, you'll have to wait until Catapults to effectively take on Babylonia. UB isnt much... but the traits are quite nice.

Babylonia Archer. 3 str + 50% vs Melee + 50% City Defense + 25% Fortify = 6.75.

That doesn't even include the archer being on a hill or any cultural defense.

So with the Babylonia you can safely turtle your way through the ancient age until Catapults appears.

Only, you wouldn't want to turtle when you're Aggressive and Organized (which I agree is a very nice combo) - those traits beg of conquest, conquest and even more conquest. Also, even if Blake's AI mod is any indication of BtS' improved AI, I think an early AI Axe-rush is still a long way off. Bowmen might be good for multiplayer, though, but I don't swing that way.

 

[Horizons]

The Dutch UB and particularly the UU are ridiculously overpowered.

 

[Martinus]

The Dutch UB and particularly the UU are ridiculously overpowered.

Don't think so, really.

The dike comes late in game (is enabled by Steam Engine) so it won't have any impact before that. Not to mention it is situational, since it depends on a map and your location if you will be able to benefit from it at all.

The galleon is powerful, but I wouldn't consider it overpowered either - it's essentially a frigate with transport capacity, which is obviously great, but again useless on pangea-type maps etc.

The only case where Dutch combo will become overpowered is on Archipelago maps.

 

[Horizons]

The galleon is powerful, but I wouldn't consider it overpowered either - it's essentially a frigate with transport capacity, which is obviously great, but again useless on pangea-type maps etc. .

According to IGN it's a galleon that can transport four units, can travel in enemy territory (like a caravel) and has +2 strength. So it's actually going to hold its own against frigates, i.e. it doesn't have a counter.

 

[Martinus]

According to IGN it's a galleon that can transport four units, can travel in enemy territory (like a caravel) and has +2 strength. So it's actually going to hold its own against frigates, i.e. it doesn't have a counter.

Yes, but did you pay attention to what I said? That on many maps naval units will be useless - so it is only fair that a naval UU is more powerful, relatively, than a land UU.