Which is the best civ?

[NewDestroyer]

vote

 

[Piltdown_Fan]

Whichever one pays me the most tribute
Depends on your style and prejudices. I'm a builder and I'm interested in ancient civs, so I like Persia, Egypt, Babylon.
Also, I'm American, but I've never played as Honest Abe.

 

[silver 2039]

The best civs are the ones that are industurious/militrilistic

 

[Kaiser_Berger]

Whichever one I'm playing in the game
In all honesty though, they're all good.

 

[dreamdeferred]

I like the scientific ones, personally, especially Persia and Germany. Babylon is pretty good too, but their UU sucks.

 

[conuil]

Persia in my opinion. Industrious is the most important attribute, scentific is one of the better ones and the UU (immortal) is quite powerful.
China's pretty kick ass too especially if you use the militaristic trait to spawn leaders, thier UU (rider) is also very useful.

 

[WickedSmurf]

As always, it depends... My choices are Persia and Babylon.

 

[Brewster]

Everyone has a slightly different style of play and will vote for the civ that best suits them. Here are my pick for different victory conditions.

Military: Japan (militaristic = more promotions and GLs, religious = one turn anarchy and half price temples and cathedrals)

Space Race: France (commercial and industrious is a great combo. GA is timed right to get many of the era's best wonders)

Cultural: Babylon (religious and scientific = half price culture!!!)

Overall: Persia (Immortals are just too much fun in the ancient era and scientific trait allows you to use the free-tech-at-the-beginning-of-the-era slingshot)

 

[Darkness]

depends on your style of play and the victory condition you're aiming for...

 

[Chutney]

I like the Chinese and the Babs. The bowman is actually excellent, in my view, if you can find your nearest neighbour really early...

 

[Norlamand]

I'd have to vote for persia or the Ottomans given their traits and great UU's. Ottomans tend to work better for me because the GA comes at a better time. I find most civs quite playable. My personal favorite is actually Rome, for historical reasons, but other civs tend to be more successful.

 

[thedirk]

I play Egypt and India the most often. China and France would be next. Industrious, Religious and Commercial are my favorite traits, so any Civ with at least one of those is playable for my style.

 

[lord42]

The Greeks, combining comercial and scientific for super reaserch speed and with one of the 3 best uu.

 

[DS_Legionary]

The best civs for me are the Iroquis, Russia, and Japan... at least those are the ones I like to use the most

 

[Sargon II]

I'd say Greece and Persia seem the best for me.

 

[En passant]

China is preferable for a military conquest, Egypt for any other type of victory condition.

On a small Pangea map, Aztecs is a very good choice for a quick military victory.

On a large Pangea map, the Americans traits works pretty well.

On easier levels where you do your own research (up to Monarch) Persia’s (but not the Ottomans since their UU comes into play long after the outcome is decided) combination of traits and UU is great.

 

[Ips]

Why has nobody chosen the Arabs?

The expansionist trait is great for early exploration and I simply cannot live without the religious trait of no anarchy when changing governments.

Also the Ansar warrior easily upgrades to Cavalry once it has done it's job of starting a golden age.

 

[worlddomination]

It is hard to identify the best civs. However, for the cultural builder the babylonians is a must-have civ. It is easier to identify the worst - England (and how sad is that on the Richter scale of joy? - I love England IRL). Just see how far the traits commercial and expansionist will take you! If at war, no military boost to help you. If a cultural builder, no culture and no industrious kick-in-the-butt to achieve a lift off. Why, oh why, Firaxis, did you spoil the historical reputation of England with a useless UU - it's a wreck, and so am I when I come to think of it!

 

[Flash_Flood]

I'd have to say the Ottomans for quick expansion and late middle/ early modern war, Celts for early search and destroy.
(I play alot of regicide)

 

[nalves]

In vanilla - Persia
In PTW - Ottomans
I C3C - Portuguese