Need help planning a game

[Fradley110]

So I've played Civ 5 for about 100 hours, I understand every aspect of the game but wouldn't call myself that experienced just yet. My friend has played about 20 hours and is still fairly new to the game.

He's only just got Brave New World so instead of dumping us into a normal free for all game like we've done before I wanted to try something interesting.

My idea is to have us both on a team against single AIs but on either immortal, or if thats still to easy deity. My plan is to have me as Venice to act as a single city economic and science powerhouse and him as the Germans to produce the military (which I'd fund) to defend us (and maybe manage our religion) and then to try and get a diplomatic victory by building the UN first and then buying off the city states.

Now I have only played a team game once on single player where we had a handicap and it seemed too easy, even on immortal. Do any of you experienced players think I should up it to deity or will limiting myself to single city Venice be a good way too ensure that its going to be a slug-fest for us but still possible to survive and win. Or would I just be safer making it 2v2v2v2 and putting it on a lower difficulty?

Also are there any better combinations of civilisations for us two to pick?

Thanks for your help, it's greatly appreciated.

[D3bs]

It sounds as though you have a good plan but a couple of things to consider. You may not be located close together so choose your map wisely as you may need to support each other in early game. Also, the starting position has to be good for Venice otherwise you may be stuck for decent trade routes or, alternatively, a target for early sea attack. You will hit a science slump early to mid game with Venice depending on growth so make sure your friend also builds national College ASAP.

Other than that, have a great game and let us know how you got on.

[Fradley110]

thanks for the response. We picked the donut map because I really liked the idea and was confident that if I got put on the inside coast I would do well. I decided against Venice in fear of being on my own for too long, I don't really know if they could survive being only one city on immortal so I picked Portugal whom I play with a lot and could do well with. We started and we were literally right next to each other and we were on the inside coast so that backfired but the beautiful feitoria made up for it in my opinion and I was rich and happy throughout. We did okay in the end, my friend isn't great at building cities so his science was always quite low and my not-so-friendly-but-not-killing-me-yet Russian neighbour scienced our arse. Was pretty fun though and we didn't get wiped out as I feared.

He wants to do a normal huge Earth map next (on a probably lower difficulty) so I'm currently planning for that. Any civ in particular might be a good bet to try out on huge Earth?