Quote Originally Posted by Starforge View Post
How about "we fired half the graphic artists and hired programmers to make better AI, diplomacy, and gameplay" Total War. I'd buy that game. Unfortunately, CA seems to be going through a gaming mid-life crisis. The games get prettier and more stupid with each release.

Seriouslly, though:

Mid 1800's or less (preferably much less in my case - Rome, Greece, Assyria, China, etc. would be my preference.)
Slower, not sped up gameplay. Take the turns to months or less rather than seasons or more. (I guess that's the city building gamer in me talking probably.)
Better AI, etc. as mentioned above, but I know that's still a pipe dream for the foreseeable future. Far riskier and harder to do than making it look pretty.
You sound like you need an overdose of Civ V.