Distractions
May. 24th, 2006 02:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stoutfellowI've been rather quiet on LJ of late; in fact, I've been somewhat derelict in quite a few areas. If you're looking for a cause, here it is: Civilization IV.
I've found the game disturbingly addictive.
I'm still playing at the (relatively low) Warlord level; I set myself the task of getting one win at that level using each of the twenty-six Leaders. The idea is to get a feel for the different advantages that each Leader confers, and I think I'm getting it. I've run twenty-three of them so far, and - well, it's a bit different each time. My three best games couldn't have been more different: a Dominance (military) victory playing as Napoleon (Aggressive/Industrious); a Cultural victory as Franklin Roosevelt (Industrious/Organized); and a Space Race victory as Peter the Great (Expansive/Philosophical). Napoleon's is my only military victory to date; I've also had two Diplomatic victories, and the rest are almost evenly divided between Space Race and Cultural wins.
My personal inclination is toward the latter two styles of play - when I do get into war, I tend to attack prematurely and to leave behind insufficient garrisons - but playing an Aggressive leader is kind of liberating. (I also scored pretty well as Montezuma - Aggressive/Spiritual - but in that case I conquered two other civilizations and then parlayed that base into a Space Race victory.) The Financial trait is the one I've had the hardest time exploiting, but I had a breakthrough recently. Playing Elizabeth I (Financial/Philosophical), I managed to box a rival into cramped conditions by a rapid strategic expansion early on; the guide books warn that that's risky, as the maintenance costs escalate enough to throttle spending on research. A Financial leader can mitigate that effect, though, and I managed to get away with it, eventually conquering the rival in question and going on to another Space Race win.
I enjoy playing the religion card early and often, trying to found as many as possible of the seven religions. I tend to get very frustrated if I lose out on both Hinduism and Buddhism (the first two religions to appear), and few things make me happier than scoring all seven. (The financial and diplomatic advantages are substantial, and I've used them to great effect, especially in Cultural victories.) I also tend to go hog-wild on the early Wonders; I almost always make a bid for the Oracle, which gives (as a bonus) a free technology. I usually spend that on Monarchy, Metal Casting, or Horseback Riding, all of which are normally expensive but very very useful.
The special units which go with each different civilization are often intriguing. I'm especially fond of the Mongol Keshik (like a Horse Archer, but even more mobile - great for messing up an enemy's infrastructure and logistics), the English Redcoat and the Roman Praetorian (murderously effective in pitched battle), and the Indian Fast Worker (perfect for an isolationist/builder campaign).
I could babble on for quite a while about other technicalities; I'll forbear, but dayum this is a fun game. Next up: the Emperor Qin.
I've found the game disturbingly addictive.
I'm still playing at the (relatively low) Warlord level; I set myself the task of getting one win at that level using each of the twenty-six Leaders. The idea is to get a feel for the different advantages that each Leader confers, and I think I'm getting it. I've run twenty-three of them so far, and - well, it's a bit different each time. My three best games couldn't have been more different: a Dominance (military) victory playing as Napoleon (Aggressive/Industrious); a Cultural victory as Franklin Roosevelt (Industrious/Organized); and a Space Race victory as Peter the Great (Expansive/Philosophical). Napoleon's is my only military victory to date; I've also had two Diplomatic victories, and the rest are almost evenly divided between Space Race and Cultural wins.
My personal inclination is toward the latter two styles of play - when I do get into war, I tend to attack prematurely and to leave behind insufficient garrisons - but playing an Aggressive leader is kind of liberating. (I also scored pretty well as Montezuma - Aggressive/Spiritual - but in that case I conquered two other civilizations and then parlayed that base into a Space Race victory.) The Financial trait is the one I've had the hardest time exploiting, but I had a breakthrough recently. Playing Elizabeth I (Financial/Philosophical), I managed to box a rival into cramped conditions by a rapid strategic expansion early on; the guide books warn that that's risky, as the maintenance costs escalate enough to throttle spending on research. A Financial leader can mitigate that effect, though, and I managed to get away with it, eventually conquering the rival in question and going on to another Space Race win.
I enjoy playing the religion card early and often, trying to found as many as possible of the seven religions. I tend to get very frustrated if I lose out on both Hinduism and Buddhism (the first two religions to appear), and few things make me happier than scoring all seven. (The financial and diplomatic advantages are substantial, and I've used them to great effect, especially in Cultural victories.) I also tend to go hog-wild on the early Wonders; I almost always make a bid for the Oracle, which gives (as a bonus) a free technology. I usually spend that on Monarchy, Metal Casting, or Horseback Riding, all of which are normally expensive but very very useful.
The special units which go with each different civilization are often intriguing. I'm especially fond of the Mongol Keshik (like a Horse Archer, but even more mobile - great for messing up an enemy's infrastructure and logistics), the English Redcoat and the Roman Praetorian (murderously effective in pitched battle), and the Indian Fast Worker (perfect for an isolationist/builder campaign).
I could babble on for quite a while about other technicalities; I'll forbear, but dayum this is a fun game. Next up: the Emperor Qin.
