What 'feature' is most helpful for your playstyle?

Tom DeMille · May 9, 2000, 14:26

Venger's "the crutch for the weaker player" thread has made me think about which feature - wonders, government type, caravans, etc. helps me the most in winning a game.

I play mostly OCC games, and for those WLT*Ds are critical. It wouldn't matter much if I had all my science wonders and trade routes established, if I was still wallowing along with a pop of 9 or 10.

So what is most important for your games? Is it building railroads for quick conquest, or those happiness wonders that allow sprawling ICS empires. Or maybe its those caravans that you ship around after invention to give you discoveries every turn or two.

Ming · May 9, 2000, 14:37

Against the AI, nothing is really all that important. All of the those "wonderful challanges" have proved that nothing matters as long as you understand the game.

We proved you can win with only one city...
We proved you can win without any wonders...
We proved you can win without ever attacking another Civ...
We proved you can win without bribing cities...
Fastest conquest... Fastest to space...
It doesn't matter.

Now, in MP, that's a different story.
The feature I think is the most helpful is good land with great trade specials.
When it comes to wonders, any I can get is good too

Steve Clark · May 9, 2000, 15:30

We had this same thread awhile back, so it's good to revisit topics like this.

I would now say building a gazillion caravans/freights, but that's not a feature. So I guess it would be the disbanding of caravans/freights to build wonders. I got to the point of building all of my wonders (except for the first one - Colossus) all by caravans/freights. Is that a crutch?? Nahhh.

The Mad Monk · May 9, 2000, 15:58

How about a 'random tech' challenge? Up until very recently, various cultures never tried to work toward a specific technology, they just 'blundered into them'. Why not attempt a game where, instead of deliberately choosing the next tech, you roll a die (or draw a card, or something)?

Ming · May 9, 2000, 16:24

Interesting concept. It would probably only really hurt at the beginning of the game when you are trying to get out of despotism.
It would indeed slow you down, but not put you out of the game.

After that, it might make you lose a wonder or two, but really shouldn't stop you from beating the stupid AI

shamrock · May 9, 2000, 18:24

What about winning the space race while never increasing the lux rate above 0%?

Ming · May 9, 2000, 19:14

I used to play that way all the time...

Communism is a great form of government...

May 9, 2000, 19:17

Howitzer

'nuff said

May 9, 2000, 19:18

to be more specific. An actual feature would be the lousy AI. It really helps my horrible playstyle

. I can take as long as I want building city improvements and still crush the AI.

Ming · May 9, 2000, 20:16

Spoken like somebody that really understands Civ! ROTFLMAO

May 9, 2000, 21:38

quote:

Originally posted by Ming on 05-09-2000 07:14 PM
Communism is a great form of government...

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Long live the Communists!
-- SilverDragon

ColdWizard · May 9, 2000, 22:13

In SP games Black Bart's posts cover it

in MP games Sun Tzu's or Great Wall (or both

) will ensure my civ's pathetic existance for a few extra centuries

SmartFart · May 9, 2000, 22:21

Single player is well explained by Ming.

Multiplayer?
There are alot of features and i do mean alot.
My personal favorite is pre-working settlers and instant forts.

Venger · May 9, 2000, 22:47

quote:

Originally posted by Tom DeMille on 05-09-2000 02:26 PM
I play mostly OCC games, and for those WLT*Ds are critical.[quote]

Civ cripple!

[quote]It wouldn't matter much if I had all my science wonders and trade routes established, if I was still wallowing along with a pop of 9 or 10.

Let's facr it, you're already going outside the box on a OCC, you need whatever help you can get, WLTYYYD included...

quote:

So what is most important for your games? Is it building railroads for quick conquest, or those happiness wonders that allow sprawling ICS empires. Or maybe its those caravans that you ship around after invention to give you discoveries every turn or two.

I don't do spaceships, so I guess it'd be
Wonders. Anything that is Civ Wide - Pyramids, Magellan, Mike, Bach, Hoover, etc. are expecially helpful. I can deal with not getting many of these, but Deity large map conquest, it's nearly impossible without any, unless blessed with a good startup.

Venger

Venger · May 9, 2000, 22:49

quote:

Originally posted by Black Bart on 05-09-2000 07:17 PM
Howitzer

'nuff said

Pure genius.

Venger

Smash · May 10, 2000, 02:52

I can't really say I have a style but 5 things really

1.manipulating the tax rate-gotta be careful here

2.Rushbuilding-cheat or no cheat

3.Vet Pikes-put a couple cats with em and you are safe for awhile

4.Specialists-they aren't affected by corruption.That helps alot early

5.Chokepoints-self explanatory

Other HUGE helpers

1.Apolyton Strategy Forum

2.Multiplay

3.OCC

4.ON TOPIC posters(no offense OT)

Oldman · May 10, 2000, 06:57

For my normal style of play the Pyramids is a must!!!!! i spread quicker than bad news, and it's about a quarter of the cost to build the pyramids than granaries!!!!

Leonardos is great too!!!! you can really abuse it sometimes too! build stacks of the cheapest stitiest units you wouldn't normally touch with a barge pole, and get 'em all upgraded!!!

Givin' it Large to the London Massive!! Boyaka-Sha!!!!

Oldman · May 10, 2000, 07:01

Forgot to mention my handbooks!!! Probably by the 2 biggest bad-asses to walk the Earth, apart from Elvis!!!

You cannot, i repeat you CANNOT play any strategy game without reading Machiavelli's The Prince or The Art of War by Sun Tzu!!!

AkwaticDudeCity · May 10, 2000, 09:30

Machiavelli you say? Now that's my favourite feature. More specifically, the diplomacy. I know the civ2 diplomacy is kinda poor, but you can still make it work. In SP obviously. For example, when some AI's decide to ally against me, i send an emissary to one (who depends on their gold, size, location etc.) and ask them to declare war on their ally. They want some gold in exchange for their betrayal, so i give it. When they declare war, i demand tribute and they pay me back what i payed them for their betrayal and often even more.

harharhar

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ugh crud, why won't they fall prey to my Machiavellian schemes?

Ming · May 10, 2000, 10:18

I only wish the diplomacy stayed fun as the game progresses. Once you take a lead, most of the AI's won't deal with you unless they want a cease fire to build up their troops again. And the Gold MPE version is even worse.
That's why I like MP... the diplomacy is a lot more fun with humans than the stupid cheating AI

Scouse Gits · May 11, 2000, 05:32

Oldman - I thought they were requisite reading for life not just Civ (is there a difference?)

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Scouse Git[1]

"CARTAGO DELENDA EST" - Cato the Censor

May 11, 2000, 05:41

For me its a rush to communism via SOL, along with vet ironclads

Nothing ancient stands a chance if you time it just right.

Even Muskets are no match, which leaves plenty of time to decimate warlike civs while trading overseas with my more likeable and friendly business partners.