The Americans

[Ision]

I have decided to do a review on each CIV. My intention is to encourage debate and hopefully to help others (and myself) in their game play. For the record, I am primarily an Emperor level player with a builder/warmonger combination style of play.

The Americans

“I love thee, I love thee not, I love thee, I love thee not…” would be the national anthem of America if the Civs had one. Beloved, despised and sometimes both at the same time - America is one of the most debated Civs in the game. Typically this Civ is disliked by ‘newbies’ and praised by the higher-level players. The truth lies somewhere in between.

Industrious and Expansionist, America has the traits that can result in an explosive early game start. In combination these two traits are arguably the most complimentary traits in the game. Together these two traits result in pure production power. The Industrious trait will result in a faster road network. This will quickly translates out to higher gold revenues than most other Civs. The Expansionist trait usually results into a quick tech lead combined with a greater knowledge of the map. Add to this the fact that America starts with Pottery, which allows for immediate access to granaries, and this results in a faster city expansion. Add yet again the fact that those early scouts will have located the ‘prime real estate’ for the settlers to found the cities. Combine all these elements and what results is a total city lead, scientific lead, commercial lead, production lead, and trade advantage. Out of the starting gate, few if any Civs can rival the sheer force of the American expansion.

The trick to America is to translate that early lead into a permanent state of affairs. It is here that the ‘newbie’ loses patience and the veteran begins to cement his dominance. America, and only 2 other Civs, has no half priced buildings of any sort. The American pays ‘sticker’ price on everything! To offset this it is imperative that the American maintain his expansion as long as possible. He may not crank out temples and libraries as fast as others – but he will have more. He may take longer on those barracks and airports - but he will have more. His cities may not produce as much science, food, or commerce as other Civs – but he will out produce them nevertheless. With America – SIZE DOES MATTER. The key to this Civ is simple. It’s a numbers game.

As a warmonger Civ America is greatly underrated. The lack of a UU in the first 3 ages leads many to this false conclusion. Whatever America may lack in quality is easily made up in quantity. Or to quote a particularly evil man, “quantity is it’s own quality”. Given the typical large sprawling empire of the Americans, the ability to crank out what will seem like an endless stream of units can quickly overwhelm even the best equipped or cutting edge of armies. America wins it wars with its economy (pure production/commerce/quantity advantage) and logistics (faster workers facilitating military movement by roading). A successful early war with America will pay off more than perhaps any other Civ. Launch that war at the end of your expansion phase (or during - if the conditions are perfect) and you indirectly lengthen that expansion phase. Remember, with America – SIZE DOES MATTER. If you’re the type of player that likes to have high scores – you will be hard pressed to find a better Civ than America. As a builder America is again, often underrated. No you will not have the oldest temples/libraries in the game, but to repeat myself – you will have the most. America builds almost in the same manner that it wars – it relies on the power of its economy. While not the best of builder Civs, America can hold it’s own well. I will add this however; with this Civ you are often better served waiting (Middle Ages) to build temples or libraries. Their benefit simply does not outweigh the fact that they are slowing that crucial expansion phase. Chase those luxury resources like crazy – while important to any Civ, their impact on America is especially strong.

America has 3 major downsides. Firstly a Modern Age UU (the F-15 jet fighter) that while an excellent and versatile unit (now with the C3C improvements) it simply is a non-factor in all but the most unusual of circumstances. Secondly, the lack of an early UU necessitates that America pursue at least a minimal wonder strategy in order to initiate a Golden Age. This will tie up a valuable city or two in the part of the game - where it hurts America the most. As a production powerhouse, I strongly recommend the pursuit of the Pyramids for this Civ – free granaries for America accentuates their production advantage to near ridiculous levels! Regardless, pull 1 Industrious wonder in the Ancient Age and Copernicus or Magellan’s in the Middle Ages, for your GA.

The 3rd downside is a subtle one, but the most important one. In essence America plays ‘differently’ than any other Civ. There is a certain commonality of play between most Civs that is not as consistent with America. The Civ trait combo that is perhaps the most complimentary in the game - may also be the most demanding. The fundamental problem with America is that no other Civ is as unforgiving of early mistakes as America. New players struggle with proper worker management, happiness, and tech research. America is built around proper worker management and getting the absolute most out of their traits. This Civ is a challenge even to mid-level players, no wonder that ‘newbies’ dislike this Civ so intensely! Every Civ provides players with built in advantages; America has very subtle advantages that require patience and attention to detail.

Summary: Before C3C, I often said that if America had a UU like the Immortal or Rider, there would have been a ‘best’ Civ – America would have been untouchable. Had you asked me to rate this Civ prior to C3C, I would have given it an unqualified top tier status (among my personal top 5). This is no longer the case. The toning down of the Industrious trait hits America harder than any other Industrious Civ. America relies on the strengths of this trait to a greater extent than all the other Industrious Civs. The greater value of expansionist does mitigate this somewhat, but not enough to balance out the loss. So where does Ision put them? As usual America doesn’t make anything easy. On a huge/pang map – 1st tier choice, on a stand/continents map – 2nd tier choice – on a small map or island map – 3rd tier bottom level. So I’ll split the difference, overall a middle of the pack - second tier Civ.

below are the links to my other Civ reviews:

[MattPilot]

nice review!

I always play americans, just because they are 'americans' - even though i am austrian hehe

After reading your review, i'm not so sure if i should continue playing them, since my style of play is usually only a few cities that cover lots of territory. i like it peaceful (until the modern age, when i start using 'modern tactics'). I'm more of a builder, though with a strong military to secure my peace.

Given that, what civ would you recommend?

[vmxa1]

Yes it is often over looked that you have no cheap structures. The late UU is not over looked and much decried.

I agree the tone down of IND hurt them more than any others. I would rather have a despot ancient age GA then one very late, when I already have the game locked.

[Cort Haus]

Good comment, Ision.

I used to find the USA so strong in Civ 3.0 pangea games that I stopped playing it - I thought it a hugely under-rated builder civ. One day I'll find out how it feels in C3C, but I won't be playing them on 'pelago.

[AJ Corp. The FAIR]

Hey Ision,

What happened? Retired of civs descriptions?

Although I'm a rather experienced civver and know the pro's and contra's of many civs myself, it was a pleasure to read your comments and thoughts. Don't let the lack of postings discourage you: people will read your profiles.

So come on, get off your lazy b***, and start giving us more weekly civ lecture (and hey, there's still a long road to go, isn't there )



AJ

[AJ Corp. The FAIR]

Hey Ision,

What happened? Retired of civs descriptions?

Although I'm a rather experienced civver and know the pro's and contra's of many civs myself, it was a pleasure to read your comments and thoughts. Don't let the lack of postings discourage you: people will read your profiles.

So come on, get off your lazy b***, and start giving us more weekly civ lecture (and hey, there's still a long road to go, isn't there )



AJ

[theDragon]

He must have fallen away into a wormhole that leads to the Alternate Dimention of Lavalamps.
!!!

[MattPilot]

its spelled dimension

sorry, i usually don't correct, but the way you spelled it kinda irritated me don't really know why though

[Vince278]

Originally posted by MattPilot
its spelled dimension

sorry, i usually don't correct, but the way you spelled it kinda irritated me don't really know why though

He probably meant dement-ion.

[MrWhereItsAt]

I have not played with the Americans since the toning down of Industrious, but it was always this that made the Americans powerful - right along with the fact that you never triggered your GA at an inopportune time because you could not afford to not use a particular unit. It is extremely difficult to get by in many games without Swords, Knights, Horsemen etc, so if you have a UU preventing you from getting a generic form of one of these you need to be really careful. Many times I have resigned myself to that horror of horrors - a Despotic or unprepared for GA because I could not afford to not use one of these units. The Americans can keep their GA until it is generated by Wonders - all you need to do is build any one wonder, and capture one or two with Industrious and Expansionistic traits - surely not that hard for an Industrial powerhouse!

The Americans have always been about these two things for me - using workers galore to improve everything under the sun, and then choosing the time for my GA with precision, instead of relying upon a successful battle in a war to start at a time of my choosing.

[Plotinus]

Originally posted by MattPilot
its spelled dimension

sorry, i usually don't correct, but the way you spelled it kinda irritated me don't really know why though

Well, if we're being correct here, don't you mean "It's spelt 'dimension'"...?

[MattPilot]

no (unless you mean the "it's" part )


m-w.com

according to them either word is fine, though 'spelt' has another (primary) meaning: "a wheat with lax spikes and spikelets containing two light red kernels "
So that would suggest 'spelled' would be a more proper word (even though both are fine!)

[Plotinus]

Ah, true. I was actually intending to correct your punctuation (apostrophes and also quotation marks!) rather than your spelling - somehow my alternative crept in as well... Still, it was nearly 3am, you know!

[Odin]

Your stratagy sounds very much like what the US has been doing in the past 200 years!

[Vince278]

Originally posted by Odin
Your stratagy sounds very much like what the US has been doing in the past 200 years!

[PresidentMarcos]

Ahh, yes. I've used the US to overwhelm everyone within a hundred tile radius of my capital (namely, the Iroquois, the Aztecs, and the Inca) and do it very quickly...less that 60 turns after starting the game, in fact. On El Mencey's 362*362 world map, if you play right, ALL of north america can be yours if you play the Americans. Quite an underrated civ, actually.

[Vince278]

Originally posted by PresidentMarcos
On El Mencey's 362*362 world map, if you play right, ALL of north america can be yours if you play the Americans. Quite an underrated civ, actually.

Most, if not all, of South America as well.

[Odin]

I'm Playing with the Americans right now. I just took Rome and Veii with my Horsemen + Swordsman rush (the swordsmen being upgraded goody hut wariors).

[Daddy-O]

Excellent info for a newbie!

[Vince278]

Wow. Is that from a historical starting location?

[Barinthus]

Where can I get the El Mencey's map?

[Vince278]

Try Civfanatics. I was going to suggest his own website but I keep getting blown away by all of the crappy pop-ups.