How should I play?

[Juanen]

Well, I bought the game + DLCs. I'm not sure if I should start playing without DLC rules or if I should choose one of them. Although it's my first time playing Civilization, I'm a regular player of this kind of game.

[grognardgary]

Okay vanilla is enough different than gathering storm that it is almost like have two different games. Using similar pieces.

[Lemurian1972]

Play with everything. It's a far superior game. I say this because it's not like there's a Vanilla MP scene where you need to know those rules. Some key rules change between rulesets, and since you'll almost never be going back once you adopt the later rules, there's little point in learning the older style. If your time is precious, learn the better ruleset that corrects for flaws they discovered with the older rules.

The only time it's important is if you really like playing scenarios, or you're interested in playing the monthly challenges. Scenarios have a lot of rule changes and some of them are based around the Vanilla rules, and some of the Challenges seem to be the same.

[Juanen]

The point is, I would like to learn how to play properly, but I can't choose all rulesets at the same time, I need to chose Gathering, Rise and Fall or Vanilla if I'm not wrong

[Hamish]

Well I would suggest starting with vanilla, Gathering storms is very complex in comparison, so vanilla will get you familiar with the core. I never took to Rise and Fall - just didn't like it. Rise and Fall is part of Gathering Storms but done better IMO

[Stormwinds]

Gathering Storm includes all of the gameplay mechanics of Rise and Fall. Playing with the Gathering Storm ruleset is the same as playing with everything.

[Lemurian1972]

Originally posted by Stormwinds:

Gathering Storm includes all of the gameplay mechanics of Rise and Fall. Playing with the Gathering Storm ruleset is the same as playing with everything.

Yes this is correct. Sorry for my imprecision. Gathering Storm is the final complete version of the game's rules.

You could start with the Vanilla version, but there were several changes to key rules and if you take the time to 'learn' vanilla you'd just have to unlearn the rules that lead to big changes in how you play. The way Strategic Resources and City Loyalty work changed significantly and these have a big effect in how you can fight wars, so it's overall just easier to learn the current rules since they'll be what you end up spending the most time playing with anyway.

[threethreethree]

Just my opinion among many of course, but I think you should do vanilla first, especially since your attitude is wanting to learn how to just basically play first, which is a good thing. But it also depends on how you'd end up playing or what you want to get out of it. Yet, that means play vanilla first to find out.

I got gathering storm and rise and fall, and there's some things I like about them and some I don't like. I barely like them to use them at all. But then there's a lot about vanilla I never bother with already.

I always play domination only, while also 'getting my religion on' too for the fun of it...but that's only because there isn't really any kind of 'fulfillment' to the other victories how it's played for them, not because I fantasize about taking over the world. The game seems to be intrinsically about that, and the other victories are only there to have other options so it can appear to not be a world domination game hehe.

[Juanen]

Guess I'll play a few vanilla games and then swap to Gathering, Thanks you for the advices guys!

[grognardgary]

Always welcome most of us are more than willing to help but always remember some are better than others.

[AbSlayer]

Kiss your normal life bye The addiction of this game can not be over estimated :) have fun

[colinw1006]

just start with the latest DLC, which would provide the best experience.

[omnius]

I also just bought Civ VI with all DLC's at 88% discount and am doing my first game on a small map with the standard rules on settler difficulty. I did the tutorial as well as the first scenario with Alexander. I bailed midway through the second scenario as Cleopatra when the Libyans came from both east and west. Now learning the ropes without scenario limits. I'll go next to chieftan difficulty on a medium map and try Rise and Fall before bumping up another difficulty level and doing the Gathering Storm rules on a large map.

[gdshore]

This game (twitch) isn't addic(twitch twitch)tive it's normal to (twitch twitch twitch) when not playing.

[Lemurian1972]

Originally posted by omnius:

I also just bought Civ VI with all DLC's at 88% discount and am doing my first game on a small map with the standard rules on settler difficulty. I did the tutorial as well as the first scenario with Alexander. I bailed midway through the second scenario as Cleopatra when the Libyans came from both east and west. Now learning the ropes without scenario limits. I'll go next to chieftan difficulty on a medium map and try Rise and Fall before bumping up another difficulty level and doing the Gathering Storm rules on a large map.

Do whatever makes you happy, but I still say it's mostly a waste of time learning rules that are just going to get tossed out or amended by later rulesets that will end up being the one you use 99% of the time. It ends up being quite confusing changing over to the Loyalty system and the different Strategic Resource rules after starting out on the original versions.

Also Scenarios are very much specialized gameplay modes with very different rules and not a good way to learn the ropes. They're meant to be Challenges once you've mastered basic skills.