Your Perfect Civ

[HamaticBabylon]

Scientific and religious with the legions!

 

[Samson]

I see people talk about settler factories so much, and here even say it is the most important thing in the game.

I guess I had better respond, as I said it was "the most important thing in the game" (even if I did and my humble corrolary ;-) I have fairly recently learnt about settler factorys, and it has quite changed my game.

what difficulty do you settler factory fans play, what strategy and what map size?

I have just started winnign pretty solidly on Demi-god, and have started on Deity. I am playing either huge, with 80% water and a couple fewer than standard civs, to make it a bit easier (for my first diety game).

My strat is generally expand until I cannot anymore, and then play it by ear, usually war for resorses.

I played almost exclusively deity on normal map sizes and a pure warmongerer strategy.

]With these settings, the usefull and productive core of my civ normally wasnt more than like 10 cities or so. Normally i made 1 circle around my capital with 8 cities or less (depending on the amount of unusable spaces in that circle) and only made 1 or 2 cities outside of that circle to get iron and other resources. Then i started my war. With that amount of cities, the settler factory never really was usefull. the time it takes to build a granary made it faster to build the cities without settler factory. (i know the settler factory also gives advantages later on, but my early war and conquest on neighbour is a multitude more important).

It has happened a few times (on Demi-god) that I have not been able to get much use from the settler factory, as I have been traped in on a small peninsular, or a close AI start. It does not take many settler for for the granery to make it worth while (about 3-4 I have read I think?) And you can always use it for workers later, or for settlers to support your armies.

On balance, I think I have played one game where I regretted building the settler factory, and then I may have been wrong.

 

[Theoden]

Religious and agricultural with hoplites

 

[E-Raser]

I like the Ottomans very much, Ind&Sci is a good combo and the Sipahi is a KILLER. Before the tanks arrive it's the attacker, often even without the need of arty support. Fast and furious. And even after tanks he's great 'cos of his speed. But an army with Sipahi is almost too much
Celts I also like Agri is always a very good trade and religious doesn't hurt too. Cheap culture is always appreciated. And a 2step swordsman is a gift too. Easy dealing with pescy horseman. No withdraw and a sure kill.
On large maps Com is also not to be underestimated. Much money and reduced corruption. In this case Ghandi isn't bad at all. No iron, so what? Big grey monsters with additional hit point will easily grab some metal somewhere. Then pikes can secure the gains
French aren't also bad except there UU i consider quite useless. And their teamcolor AARGH. But besides Com&Ind is a really useful combo on large maps.
But honestly I wouldn't say there's one nation I prefer completely. I like to try to get the best out of everyone. So I often play randomly chosen. Only if I hit the Hettis I skip. I consider them obsolete. Chariots are useless.

But that's just my 2 cents. (Euro of corse )

 

[dgfred]

the Celts, Iroquois and Ottomans as is . Any others I make
do with. I also like the Vikings for their MA Golden Age but I have trouble
building up with them if I'm not able to attack an AI early and steal their
land , but I can not seem to resist picking them for the Beserkers . Those middle age marines .

 

[sabo]

THe Americans have the best traits expansionist and industrious but their UU sucks so I hardly ever play them except on very high levels,

 

[Gogf]

Agricultural/Industrious, or Agricultural/Commercial with either the Sipahi, or Berserk.

 

[DS_Legionary]

Agricultural/Commercial with the Gallic Swordsman, or Religious/Commercial with the Panzer would be my ideal civ. I would name it Conquestia.