What Is Your Favourite Civ to Play as and Why?

[PCHighway]

I use cavalry to fight infantry weakened by artillery. The cossack doesn't go obsolete until tanks arrive. Plus, they can be upgraded from knights. It's just a shame the Russians have such bad traits.

Hear! Hear! I was just going to say Cossack's lasted the longest Samurai, Rider's, and War Elephants, All replace knights, And as soon as you get Cavalry, they are useless. Cossacks however, don’t upgrade to anything. (like Cavalry) And The only bonus for war elephants is they require no resources. Samurai get an extra defense, And riders an extra movement.

Ive just finished watchin the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and am considering disbanding all my millitary units in my latest game (especially my transporters and marines).....got a guilty concience now lol

Just watch Patton, that should whip you into shape
All in all, The Japanese, While good, arnt the best all-around civ. Good on an Island? yes Continent, sort of, Pangea (what i usually play) no. That’s their weak spot. In my game.,

And they can sometimes be bad when next to a Mountainous region. But Mountainous region's hamper everything except industrious civs, Who seem to thrive in an closed off-environment.
I suppose everything depends on th staring position, the type of map, and the players stradegy?

On a side note, Egypt is in the lead poll-spot followed closely by Japan and Greece (those Corinthian Hoplites are certainly good... but that good?) When I'm Greece/France everyone takes advantage of me... You NEED those Defensive units!

 

[HotDog Fish]

I LOVE IMMORTALS!!! They can fight off all those sissy knights and pikemen, too bad they don't upgrade to anything, I think you should be able to upgrade ALL your not horse units into musket men due to the fact the gun was common because any idiot could use it the persian are also industrious! (yay, my slave workers are now actually useful) and scientific (they get good culture and good science output)

Greece is great to because hoplites are near invincible in the early game, and they are dirt cheap, they are scientific and COMMERCIAL, this combined with them being scientific (spend more on science) they get a TON of tech fast

For religious civs it's a toss up between the expansionist and fast Irioqious and the industrious Egyptians (but suffer from poopy but impressive looking UU)

 

[PCHighway]

I LOVE IMMORTALS!!!

Calm down over there! Don’t say anything you will regret later Besides you cant choose a civ Solely on its uu, can you? You have to take into account the starting tech's the government they work best in, There traits there weakness and a lot more.

 

[pharmacy]

Poll shows that Egypt and Japan are the best... which is the way it should be.

In general, (or if you have completely random setup) Japan is the best cause' you don't have to depend much on horse and saltpeter to "develope". Samurai is knight + musketman. Their defence is even better than the musketman cause' the attacking knight cannot retreat (so under some circumtances they equal knight+rifleman). It was really annoying when my musketmen/rifleman/infantry being damaged seriously without killing any attackers nor getting promoted (especially you have to defence against a big stack of enemy). Of course, if you have China and India as rivals... you gonna have to tough middle age.

In recent time, I have learned to win without big and long wars so Egypt just becomes my favourite.

One thing about cossacks: they can defeat infantry (with numbers and then retreat to heal for next attack). They are the most impressive unit...even though they didn't arise from the glorious Soviet Union. Theorically calvary can do the same in but I feel that Cossacks can attack better ...:ak47:

 

[thomson_2001]

Got to say im suprised that egypt are top. Japan is up there too so what is it with these religious civs? That seems to be the overall desirable trait in civ3 due to the 1 turn anarchy and cheap temples etc... My personal fav is industrious as in a turn based game the quicker you can to things the better, which is why i guess the religious 1 turn anarcy trait is desirable. I aint shocked by persia's high number of votes as they are a very powerful and offensive civ to play due to the early agressive UU.

I agree with Pharmacy: The cossack is an amazingly strong and flexible unit. It comes about when there are weaker defensive units around and moves quickly into enemy territory.As it is a fast unit its "retreat" trait when nearly dead means you can keep throwing new cossacks in as wounded ones retrat to heal. Eventually you get 30 or 40 elite cossacks running around!

 

[MirandaCore]

Whats this thing w/ Industrious civs? I find that trait useless. If u want faster road building, just build an extra worker for every 2 workers and poof! u've got the Industrious trait even if u're not industrious.

(The extra shield in metropolises is useless)

 

[BCLG100]

yeh but you have to pay more gold which could either be goin into the treasury or into science

 

[Portuguese]

Religious, military, and scientific are much better... and expansionistic to deity levels (free techs from barbs...)

industrious is a useless trait!

 

[Oddible]

Favorite is Greek to me. The additional Science advance each age saves me the $$ I make being a commercial civ. I just hate having to scramble for cash. The commerce makes it easy to get in the $$ quickly. And of course the hoplite makes the early game a treat. Bring 'em on bad boys - hoplite defends like magic.

Runner ups are Persia and France. France again because the commerce helps get me money rolling early and the industry keeps the production high.

I've been playing CivIII since it was released and have yet to play a game as Egypt (though I almost always seem to ally with them at some point in every game). Now that I know they're a favorite will have to give 'em a whirl.

 

[thomson_2001]

ive never played as france or egypt.Im gonna give egypt a go but France have p*ssed me off far too much in past games! The musketeer looks a decent unit though.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

Most definitely the Egyptians. Anarchy free government switching plus quick workers are the best advantages to my way of thinking.

India is second best, I love the sound of those elephants.

The rest are all fun in their turn. I suppose Romans, Zulu, Americans and French tie for last place in my book...

 

[wohmongarinf00l]

some of u are missing out on the great iroquois. where would i be without those mounted warriors, cheap temples and goody huts...

 

[Civddict]

I'm afraid of germans. They always kick me.

 

[The Last Conformist]

I see that Japan is very popular, and given the traits and the UU they should be good, but for some reason I just don't seem to be able to win with them.

I agree that Egypt is good. My first Monarch victory was with Egyptians from a Jungle start ... and that after getting wiped out with Japanese from much friendlier starting locations a couple of times.

However, I voted for Persia. While the War Chariot isn't exactly bad, is completely outclassed by the Immortal, and Scientific isn't significantly weaker than Religeous. All those cheap libraries do wonders for you culture and scientific progress, and I'm not in the habit of changing government alot.

 

[Sultan Bhargash]

hear hear Wahmongerin, my highest score ever was with the Iroquois, pop rushed mounted warriors conquering a small world in the early AD. Nice color scheme and always an honor to play against as well.

 

[Higher Game]

I don't like the immortal. It goes obsolete! I won't hold up to horsemen in mp because of its slowness and its dead end tech tree path. I can see the Zulu dominating with their Impi, the first mech infantry.

I also like Eygpt, but militaristic doubles the chance of promotion. You just can't pass that up. Also, industrious is primarily an early game tech. Try an archer rush with the Chinese. It works.

 

[Lt. 'Killer' M.]

I'm really surprised religious fares so badly. Is this because we all t4end to use the anarchy thing to our advantages? I love going to pointless wars in modern times, jsut to make all AI change gov, then back to peace, jsut so they have long anarchy while I switch back and forth wioth ease!

Also, why not Babylon???? the UU sucks, but religious and scientific gives you a very big chance to grab alll Middle Ages wonders. And culture flips go TO me if I use them, never away....

 

[Higher Game]

Babylon gets a rotten GA and they are not militaristic. No thanks. Culture flips are almost extinct now.

 

[murewa]

Originally posted by HotDog Fish
I LOVE IMMORTALS!!! They can fight off all those sissy knights and pikemen, too bad they don't upgrade to anything, I think you should be able to upgrade ALL your not horse units into musket men due to the fact the gun was common because any idiot could use it

Hell they should be allowed to upgrade straight to SEALs. With that kind of Agility/Strength/Dexterity/Stamina...(see what I mean). Unfortunately SEALs don't come in the box so forget it. Still, I would have settled for Immortals to Marines.

 

[Portuguese]

Do someone here like the romans... They are great to do GLs in a very good time, where they are needed to some important wonders...