What is your overall *goal* when playing Civ 4?

[twansalem]

"Other"

I always play to win, but my specific goals (including victory condition) vary significantly from game to game.

One game might be "win domination/conquest/diplomation victory with Kublai Khan, must eliminate at least two civs using Keshiks."

The next might be "win cultural victory as Louis before 1800 AD."

It might be as wide open as "win any way possible a difficulty level (or two) higher than I'm comfortable with."

The next game might go in the complete opposite direction and be a "settler difficulty, found all religions, build all wonders, and win space race before 1700 AD."

But no matter what difficulty level or what rules I impose on myself, if I don't win, I consider it failure.

 

[Pangaea]

The most important is to have fun, and I have fun while playing the game; just random stuff like checking out the various cities and trying to increase efficiency via micromanagement, or checking the various screens. This is one of the reasons my games take half an eternity.

Went with "to improve my game". Obviously winning is important, but behind it all is a wish to improve my game. Not in a cheesy way, as seems almost mandatory at the higher levels, but by better worker management, tech choices, settling locations, use of whip/chop. The basics really, but it's fun to see improvement.

 

[GA econ FTW]

So that when my "away" auto-messages send at work or my work related IM system has a status message posted, to be able to truthfully say "Nuking the French"

...I might have actually converted a co-worker or two to Civ IV by doing that.

 

[bitplayer]

Victory! No matter what no matter how! (though I won't cheat to win or even reroll a combat event)

That being said I lose 90% of my games

 

[vktj]

I love the ability to create an alternative Earth in Civ4 with an alternative history. It also is a great platform for creating a universe for a role playing game, especially when using one of the "realistic earth" map scripts (Tectonics, Perfect World, etc.)

 

[Xenoneb]

I played a game a time ago, and the whole game my goal was to be in first place, but alao have the most technology.

 

[elmurcis]

I like to build up my Civilization 1st (game part up to US/Free Speech/Emancipation/Free Market/FreeReligion), and THAN I go for conquest win (Huge/mara/17 civs). Its usual that my 1st war (from my side) starts around turn 700.. and last civ goes out of game around turn 1400+ anything faster/smaller for me seems not enough..

 

[Ramesses-Rules]

I play to have fun. Some days that means playing to win. Some days it means experimenting around with different things to see what's possible in the game. Some days it is just to relax and get my mind off annoying things in the real world.

 

[Rusty Edge]

I said other.

I want a game to be like a historical fiction novel- first it has to be involving, also believable, but informative and challenging are great, too. Sometimes the hero dies a heroic death.

In practical terms, the goal may be to re-create historical situations, and that might mean sandbagging my own tech development, or gifting techs to certain civs, and pulling diplo strings to start wars. Seeing Izzie attack Monty's jags with her muskets and Conquistadors when I'm playing as Elizabeth is fun.

 

[Matty R]

I voted "Other".

I play only marathon games on large maps. Each game is a story, and I play each game to see how the story, and my role in it, turns out. I don't care if I win or lose, as long as it's interesting.

 

[teriaky]

To bring my civilization to greatness... to recreate history.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

To have fun, improve my game, and to test my mod. I spend more time testing than I do playing these days.

 

[mizzile]

Culture, Killing, learn how to really play.... (I should try harder levels for L.H.T.R.P)

EDIT: Chieftain time!

 

[Owfin]

Never thought to play without trying to specifically win... I should go try that.

 

[Danil]

to have fun building a civilization i guess
and winning
although i've never won a game yet because usually when it comes to this stage i just lose interest