Sid Meier's Civilization V

Sid Meier's Civilization V

36 ratings
Basics - Byzantine
By Ryan
Hello, this is a quick video guide of what to expect if you are to pick Byzantine as your Civilization.
   
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Video of how to play Byzantine
This will tell you what to expect out of the special units, what to expect out of the playstyle, and what victory conditions to expect to dominate with.


Victory Conditions
Hello, if you really didn't want to watch the video I'll give a quick rundown of what you probably should be thinking if you are randomly paired up with the Byzantines or are just new to Civilization and think they would be fun to play!


Victory Conditions

  • Domination
    The Byzantine are quite unique due to the fact I highly suggest incorporating religion with a Domination Victory. No other Civilization really has those two mixed in together well. You'll have dominating units for land and sea early on. Use them to the best of your ability. Once you've founded a religion grab the policies that increase production and generate faith per kill. Attempt to grab allies by spreading your religion in places that you believe will strategically help you. Recommended.

  • Culture
    The complete opposite of what Domination is about. Cultural Victories are very possible with the Byzantine due to again, the religious aspect. Grab your religion and choose policies that help you collect Culture. Once that's done try your best to get to the Piety track to continue with religion. That extra religious policy that is given helps in bunches because AI and City-States recognize that your religion is more suited for them rather than someone else who only has the first part unlocked. Recommended.

  • Science
    This is not a bad option either considering your religion can/will enhance how much science you are generating. Unfortunately, if you do not play it right with the Byzantines with the religious aspect you will probably have trouble with many victory conditions. Sometimes even the AI will have many religions dissolving the importance of your religion to other cities. Nonetheless, the science aspect of your religion can boost you among the higher Civilizations. Somewhat Recommended.

  • Diplomacy
    This is probably the least favored victory condition just because it takes the most work to win with. Granted you could just spread the religion everywhere and everyone loves it, loves you, loves life - it does not usually work that easily. People tend to make other religions and it gets harder to maintain a friendly relationship with the whole world. Nonetheless, City-States that adopted your religion will sometimes ally up with you, especially those that ask for it. Somewhat Recommended.
Social Policies
Won't get into as depth as the Victory Conditions only because Social Policies can usually go anyway for any Civ and still win. Will only note those that are very important to each Civ.
  • Liberty
    Expanding is not a bad idea considering you'll have great early units to help go on offense/defense. Obviously, if you are considering playing Culturally this is not the best Social Policy to pursue. Liberty will grant you a free settler,free worker that will worker faster, free Great Person, and other goodies that come in handy.

  • Piety
    If you are doing great with your religion and it's being adopted well I'd highly suggest Piety. The extra religion from excess happiness is nice to continue spreading the religion and growing yourself in the process. With the excess amount of Great Prophets you'll be recieving you'll be able to build their special tile improvement which will be greatly enhanced if you finish the Piety track. This is a good solution for a Cultural victory because more than likely you'll be playing with your religion.
The rest are really up to you on how you're playstyle will be for policies, Tradition for hunkering down with few cities - Honor for cutting down enemies early on - Liberty for expanding like a mad-man but again, that goes for any Civ, not just the Byzantines.
Factoids
  • establishing homes for prostitutes.

  • passing laws prohibiting forced prostitution.

  • advocating abortion.

  • granting women more rights in divorce cases.
Brave New World Basic Guides
Coming July 9th!






I'll have guides ready to go on the day it launches! Make sure to check out the guides when you start up your first game of Civilization V: Brave New World!

New Additions:
  • Guide on new Social Policies.
  • Guide on World Congress.
  • Guide on how Brave New World changes the entirety of Civilization.
  • Redesigning videos/guides for breakthrough changes with select Civilizations!








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9 Comments
Harold Apr 18, 2015 @ 1:13am 
a guide were byzantine dosnt cop all the shit because i won my first immortal game as them with a super wide empire on BNW (20 cities settled about 15 conquered) this with mosques, pagodas and cathedreals is a super empire
Ryan  [author] Jul 22, 2013 @ 7:51am 
Don't be sorry! I have a feeling there are tons of people out there that feel the same way you do, even if you were up really late =-p.
Doctor G Jul 22, 2013 @ 7:46am 
you do good work. i am sorry . i was up in the morning.
Ryan  [author] Jul 22, 2013 @ 6:00am 
Haha, I have been waiting the longest time for somebody to say that to me considering that happens at work too. Anyhow, if I were to do that then I probably wouldn't be able to remember half the shit I need to talk about and would say, "You know what, don't play the Byzantine, I hate faith based Civilizations so this one sucks. Do not play. Goodbye.". Would be funny regardless though. Thanks for checking out my stuff anyway!
Doctor G Jul 22, 2013 @ 5:51am 
Could you drink lots of booze before doing one of these. Your monotone voice puts me to bed.
Closed Jun 26, 2013 @ 12:42pm 
öıkış
Kratos Jun 24, 2013 @ 8:58pm 
I got nothing. Only thing I might mention is that tradition is also a good policy to go into first for the wonder production and then adopt the religious belief "Divine Inspiration" to produce butt loads of faith. Other than that I can not identify a single thing you missed.

I'm... actually kinda sad.
Ryan  [author] Jun 23, 2013 @ 3:13pm 
No problem! I'm glad it was useful to you and thanks for the feedback!
Gefilte Fish Jun 23, 2013 @ 1:48pm 
A very usefull guide. Helped me alot, thanks.