Civilization 5 : help me not be awful

A lot of it depends on the civilization that you choose. Some are better for scientific victories and some for military. Usually the science/cultural civs with a 4 city base are the most efficient way to go.

Roads between your cities will help with the unhappiness. Also lux resources will cut down. Also there are happiness generating building to cut down on the unrest. My suggestion is to sell off some of your smaller satellite cities that dont give you much benefit.

Typically, I will finish the game with 5 maybe 6 cities. I dont start large scale wars until 1800s and usually I try to get others to fight for me via denouncing and ratting others out with the spies then I sit back and watch. Also, I sell cities I capture to my allies or sometimes sell them to the person im about to go to war with to bankrupt them before my blitzkrieg.

My favorite civ is Babylon. Get walls of babylon and good archers early on and the they pump out great scientist very fast. Usually by the turn of the 18th century im 7-12 techs ahead of everyone else.

Oh Jeff. There is a period of time between unlocking Trebuchets and Artillery that is just awful for attacking and taking cities. I tend to try and be peaceful for that period of time because it's not worth the hassle unless the enemies are next to one of my production cities. As for happiness, build those coliseums and try to structure your religion to give happiness bonuses if you still need more.

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Roads between your cities will help with the unhappiness. Also lux resources will cut down. Also there are happiness generating building to cut down on the unrest. My suggestion is to sell off some of your smaller satellite cities that dont give you much benefit.

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All of this except the roads. They help a good bit, but don't overdo them because they carry maintenance costs. Keep your cities spaced properly as well to maximize efficiency.

My biggest hangup when I started was settling too many cities in poor locations. I would settle more just because another civ was approaching. It isn't the worst thing to do, but don't let other civs dictate your entire strategy. You'll settle close and piss them off...and if your new city is too weak, you're screwed and they get the land anyway.

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I dont start large scale wars until 1800s and usually I try to get others to fight for me via denouncing and ratting others out with the spies then I sit back and watch

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This too. Cause a little chaos with your diplomacy. Warmonger penalties are reduced if you aren't the aggressor.

One strategy I really enjoy sometimes is instigating a 2-front war. If you're warring with a neighbor (or plan to) pay off the AI to fight them. Say your setup is:

You | Opponent (or soon to be opponent) | Their Neighbor

You pay off the neighbor to distract them from you. If you're a little overmatched this can pay off big time if you play your cards right. If those two civs are already uneasy (denounced, etc) you can do it for cheap. I got one over the weekend to go to war for 3 horses for 30 turns and 6GPT.

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My favorite civ is Babylon. Get walls of babylon and good archers early on and the they pump out great scientist very fast. Usually by the turn of the 18th century im 7-12 techs ahead of everyone else.

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Great one to play with. Rome is awesome for expansion (production bonus for building already in capital). Greece is solid for allying with CS. France USED to be unstoppable before G&K.

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I will say that Hiawatha with the Iroquois nation is the most loyal person ive played with.

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He is awesome. Get him on your good side early and he'll be there until the end.

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I just got BNW

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I haven't played in a bit, but the new Native American civ was way overpowered in that. You could choose what bonuses you get from ancient ruins, which was OP as frick. Other than that, great addition as I actually thought twice about going to war because of the trade losses I would incur.

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Apparently storming a city and forcing a religion down their throats creates angst..go figure

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That is why you use great prophets. IIRC, those guys ignore borders and can convert a whole city to one religion with the spread faith action.

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Yes but you run the risk of pissing of the leader if they're spreading their own religion

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Yeah well I figure if he is storming cities and converting religion, he probably isn't worried about pissing off leaders

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Srb, have you tried playing with Venice? Im still trying to perfect my strategy with them. Got any good tips if you have played with them?

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Yes and they're a blast.

-Trade routes like a mother.
-I like to use religion with them.
-Rush Great Library to unlock Classical Era (through free tech) and build Colossus for the trade route.
-Adopt Patronage.
-Scout early. If you can found the WC you're golden.
-Oddly enough, I don't use merchant of Venice too often. You lose the CS votes.
-Keep a modest army but ALWAYS have a ship or two to protect your trade routes.
-Go for a diplomatic victory.

After Patronage, I usually go commerce or rationalism.

Once you ally enough CSs it becomes cake. The bonuses you get through Patronage and trade routes are insane.

Depending on map size, it doesn't hurt to puppet one or two CSs. You can buy a cargo ship and send them to Venice to grow the city, just don't go overboard.