Civ V - Gods and Kings Pre-Order

[Gusington]

Do you think that could be the center of my problem? I just can't help reach out for a plump, succulent city state when I see it just dangling there all juicy-like.

[TheCommandTent]

there's no real need to ever whack a city-state, unless they've got a resource you *have* to have, and they're allying too much w/ your arch-enemy.

don't get drawn into wars you don't need to :)

Unless you are a warmonger like me :)

I usually just let City States be as long as they like me and don't get in to much of the way of my territorial expansion.  Plus I am usually to busy fighting one of the other Civs.

[Ulfang]

So to make my first end game a little more interesting I declared war on India. Shameful display! I got steamrolled and did not make it to 2050!

So I started a new English campaign...a 'duel' with just one other civ {Carthage) split on two continents with a mod thrown in (tech ends in 1918) and I started in the Renaissance Era. Marathon game speed, which I think may be a mistake because it take 100+ turns for just basic structures and innovations to be built. We shall see.

After this game I need to play as Ethiopia against the Italians.

I love Marathon mode. It does take ages for things to be built but is more realistic. If you start in the ancient era advanced discovers only appear around the right time. No more gunpowder appearing in 1200ad ;)

I NEVER play Marathon because it takes, quite literally, for EVAH to build/discover/win then! 

And the Chinese had gunpowder a thousand years before that Ulfang, so why does 1200 Anno Domini seem wrong?

Because having muskets in 1200 ad Europe is silly. Longbows are acceptable though ;) next you have tanks in 1300. My love of medieval European history  doesn't include Panzers

[MetalDog]

^I certainly understand :-)

[Bismarck]

Gus,

Start on am easier level until you get the hang of the game.

[Gusington]

^I was thinking about lowering the difficulty. But then is 'Prince' really 'normal'? How does Sid Meier define 'normal'?

[Bismarck]

^I was thinking about lowering the difficulty. But then is 'Prince' really 'normal'? How does Sid Meier define 'normal'?

Semantics are irrelevant; learn what you need.

[TheCommandTent]

I believe at the 'normal' level neither the AI or the human player gets any advantages.  The harder levels give the AI a boast to happiness and income I believe while the easy levels give the human player a boast to happiness and income.  Somebody please correct me if I got that wrong.

[Bismarck]

The manual is moot on levels below Prince other to say your armies may be more powerful, the barbs less aggressive and ruins more helpful.

[Gusington]

^Interesting. You know what I am going to scrap my current campaign, ratchet down the 'Marathon' level of development and lower difficulty a notch, and see where it gets me.

[Ulfang]

Good idea Gus. Go in at Nursery (kindergarten) level. ;)
Seriously though it's best to start at a level where you can get somewhere easily so you can develop your own strategy and see how the opposition acts. Crank it up when you're more confident.

Marathon level isn't a good way to learn things as it will take you a long time to get anywhere. It's still my favourite mode though. It's tough in the early years though as you don't have many troop types, or buildings with it asking a long time to develop technology. Turns go quick though ;)

[Bismarck]

Good idea Gus. Go in at Nursery (kindergarten) level. ;)
Seriously though it's best to start at a level where you can get somewhere easily so you can develop your own strategy and see how the opposition acts. Crank it up when you're more confident.

Marathon level isn't a good way to learn things as it will take you a long time to get anywhere. It's still my favourite mode though. It's tough in the early years though as you don't have many troop types, or buildings with it asking a long time to develop technology. Turns go quick though ;)

Exactly.

[Gusington]

I'll swallow my pride and ratchet it down.

[Gusington]

I turned it down to standard level of production and one notch down below in difficulty and man what a difference...I am now kicking ass and chewing bubble gum.

[MetalDog]

Just work towards one of your Victory Conditions.  The A.I. usually picks Space Race, but you can work towards anything.  As an aside, I know in IV, there was a button to check your Victory Condition progress against your chief competitor.  You might want to look for that.