14-06-2004 22:53									#1
	How to Win the Culture War? Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

I play at regent or monarch level and usually dominate the power score but always lag in the culture score when compared to AI civs around the same tech / score level.

What does the AI do for some civs that allow this huge culture score? I build the libraries and other city improvements but do not build a lot of wonders past the 1st two ages.

How can a player win the culture war?

	14-06-2004 23:36									#2
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The reason the AI "wins" the culture war is that it likes to build improvements. But don't worry, that makes it easier to conquer them.

I wouldn't worry too much about lagging in culture compared to the AIs. You don't want to fall too far behind or culture flipping can become a pain, but it isn't vital to stay ahead.

If you really want to stay ahead, like for an empire-wide culture win, I'm not the best person to be talking to. I don't worry about empire-wide culture much and have never bothered trying to raise it much.

	14-06-2004 23:58									#3
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I'm not worried about it but the flipping makes me flip out!

I am tempted to try a non-agressive cultural approach to victory but its more fun to war!

Would like some advice on achieving a cultural victory.

	15-06-2004 00:01									#4
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If you want a cultural victory, one-city is probably going to be easier. Just set aside a city early to build lots of culture in; preferably one with good production. Try to build its temple, lib, etc. a little earlier than you otherwise would, and make it your prime wonder producer. If you build all the cultural improvements there while building some of the high-culture wonders, you should be able to get a culture victory unless the city is sacked or something.

	15-06-2004 00:09									#5
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never ever lagged behind in culture

first reply has a point though, my military is usually more like a local militia...

	15-06-2004 02:02									#6
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No reason to be behind in culture at Regent or Monarch.

At Monarch, the AI does get a production boost and hence can make things including wonders a bit cheaper than you..

If one AI gets a jump on all others civs and makes many ancient wonders, they will pile up culture. If you do not get early temples, then they will have the double culture sooner and add more culture.

As long as you are making most of the middle age and later wonders, they will not be able to hold the culture lead, unless they can grow much larger than you.

There are a few culture civs that have traits that help them with cheap temples and libs.

	15-06-2004 05:08									#7
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So temples are an early start on the culture points. I usually build barracks or granaries before temples because I usually don't need the happy face boost. Thanks for the tip. I am going to start a game strictly centering around culture and it appears temples will be the first build.

Religious civ will give boost to the effort but I haven't chosen the other trait. No military....boy is that a tough addiction to break!!!

Is there not an AI production boost at Regent? Darn, I was patting myself on the back for mastering Regent.

Great advice as always! I luv this forum!!!

	15-06-2004 05:12									#8
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Nope, Regent is where the ground is level. The AI only starts getting bonuses at Monarch.

	15-06-2004 06:17									#9
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Bomb them into submission,conquer them, and use tanks to take back any cities that flip to them.

Eventually, you'll take more terrain, more cities,etc and will have more culture, but it will take a while.

	15-06-2004 10:31									#10
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I start building temples very early in the game.
That helps a lot. But I play on deity level, and I'm still always behind on culture

But somewhere during the 3rd ere I start catching up.
I always build improvements as soon as they're available. But indeed, I'm not the biggest warmonger (ok, I'm no warmonger at all)

	15-06-2004 21:22									#11
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Yes, but you probably do not have many flips either. Getting those temples and libs going early makes it easier to prevent flips.

My goal on sid is not to catch up in culture, but just get to within half of theirs to prevent a culture loss.

	15-06-2004 22:42									#12
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Play as Babylon

	16-06-2004 00:28									#13
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On most starts, you can "afford" to build a Temple early on in your first couple of cities. I say "afford" because I'm not entirely convinced it's a top play (there are better things to do, like build units).

A couple of Temples so early keeps you in a position of cultural supremacy until the Medieval era, taking advantage of the fact that the AI rarely builds Temples until it has expanded to a critical mass.

I did this in a Demigod Japan game a while back (a report is on these boards somewhere), and it worked great. That is, until Sumeria started snagging 75% of all the Wonders...

	16-06-2004 11:04									#14
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No matter the game I'm always ahead in culture. I build temples and libraries at the earliest opportunity. I usually ignore the ancient wonders unless I have nothing else to do. My capital is usually the wonder city unless another really stands out before the end of the ancient era.

	16-06-2004 13:07									#15
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quote: Originally posted by vmxa1 Yes, but you probably do not have many flips either. Getting those temples and libs going early makes it easier to prevent flips. My goal on sid is not to catch up in culture, but just get to within half of theirs to prevent a culture loss.

That's true.
It's hard to prevent your border cities not to flip in any level above demi-god.
Besides that do you need temples soon anyway in any level above emperor since you only get 1 content citizen.

	16-06-2004 17:19									#16
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quote: Originally posted by CyberShy That's true. It's hard to prevent your border cities not to flip in any level above demi-god.

Can't agree - the most important factor in flip chance is the number of city tiles under the rival civ's influence, so if you can rush a temple/library fairly early, chances are you will be able to garrison with a reasonably low number of units so that within 10 turns your flip chances will be very small. The only effect of the difficulty level is that the AI is likely to have a higher culture than you on higher difficulty levels, which is not as important a factor as the city tiles.

quote: Besides that do you need temples soon anyway in any level above emperor since you only get 1 content citizen.

Use the luxury slider.....often you can't afford to sacrifice units for Temples early on, particularly at higher levels.

EDIT: As per Dom's post, while it's possible and not particularly difficult to build those temples, it's often not the best strategy in the early game, particularly at higher difficulty levels.

	16-06-2004 19:55									#17
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I prefer Sumeria for the Cultural approach. First: agriculture makes for fast expansion. Second: half price defenders in the ancient easily compensate for the "normal" temples. Put science up to 100%. Expand like crazy. Pick up luxuries. Research philosophy first. Take Literature. Build libraries.

I start my wonder building usually with MM (3 happy faces + early money + early culture). Statue of Zeus relieves you from producing offensive units. I always try to grab the Lighthouse for luxury trade. If your lucky you get a SL, which I usually use for the pyramids. I try to avoid Artemis. Too expensive.

The early libraries will boost your culture, because the AI always ignores Literature. Build temples in important cities. And everything works quite peaceful. If you have all the ancient improvements go to war in the middle ages.

	17-06-2004 00:41									#18
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So far so good. I chose the Celts for the Ag bonus. Thats a nice trait to have.

Changed my focus from Barracks/Granaries/Courts to temple/library/colisseums.

Have huge lead in culture now and among top three in power. I have only declared one war and that was to snag some French cities before the Persians got them all. Need that buffer!

As far as wonders go I always chose one each era to go for and if I get it great, if not no big deal. But the important thing is to have one picked out before far enough in advance and prepare a city for max production.

This is a whole new side to the game that I have not explored before. (I ain't got no crulture anyway! )

I know I can win the power score but this is the first game that I will win the culture score!

	17-06-2004 01:13									#19
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One thing you could do if you want to get more wonders is to use workers to build up the city to size 12.

I take maybe 5 workers and set them to mine all the tiles that will be worked for that city. As soon as a worker does its tile, I add it to the city. Now you wil get the max number of shields being produced.

	20-06-2004 06:27									#20
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quote: Originally posted by vmxa1 One thing you could do if you want to get more wonders is to use workers to build up the city to size 12. I take maybe 5 workers and set them to mine all the tiles that will be worked for that city. As soon as a worker does its tile, I add it to the city. Now you wil get the max number of shields being produced.

Great idea. I never thought about using 5 or more to get to pop 12.

I have to admit that you were right in it not being necessary to lag in culture. I have played the most dominating game ever where I am 1st in culture and power.

This has opened my eyes big time. An entire part of the game I have been missing out on.

Regent level has become too easy now! Sid or bust!!

	20-06-2004 08:42									#21
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Cool, but it is a long rough road to Sid, so take your time.