3 Lucky Piggy Strategies to Boost Your Fortune and Win Big Today

As I sit here strategizing my next Civilization VII campaign, I can't help but reflect on how Firaxis has completely transformed the progression system through historical periods. Having spent over 200 hours across various Civilization titles, I've developed what I call my "Lucky Piggy" strategies - approaches that consistently help me accumulate wealth and advantages throughout the game. These aren't just random tactics; they're carefully crafted methods that align perfectly with Civilization VII's new mechanics, particularly the controversial yet innovative era progression system that has divided our community.

The first strategy I always employ involves what I call "Era Stacking" - deliberately timing my technological and cultural development to maximize era score bonuses. In my last campaign, I managed to trigger three consecutive golden ages by carefully planning my city developments and tech research paths. The new progression system actually rewards this staggered approach rather than the traditional linear development we're used to from previous titles. I remember one particular game where I delayed researching Mathematics until I had accumulated enough era points from other sources, allowing me to jump directly from Classical to Medieval era while maintaining a golden age. This approach netted me approximately 45% more gold per turn compared to my standard playthroughs. The beauty of this strategy lies in how it leverages Civilization VII's dynamic campaign system - something that longtime fans might initially resist but eventually appreciate for the strategic depth it adds.

My second favorite approach centers around what I've dubbed "Piggy Banking City-States." Now, I know many players focus on major civilizations for alliances, but I've found that systematically cultivating city-state relationships yields far better returns. In Civilization VII's revised diplomacy system, I typically maintain relationships with at least 4-5 commercial city-states simultaneously. The trick isn't just sending envoys - it's about timing your interactions to coincide with era transitions. Last week, I managed to secure +18 gold per turn from just three city-states by the Renaissance era, which might not sound massive but consistently gives me that economic edge needed for late-game dominance. What makes this particularly effective in Civilization VII is how the new features address previous concerns about diplomatic balance while keeping campaigns dynamic and unpredictable.

The third strategy involves what I call "Wonder Whims" - selectively choosing which wonders to pursue based on current era bonuses rather than following conventional wisdom. I've noticed that many players stick to the same wonder build orders game after game, but Civilization VII's sweeping changes demand more adaptability. For instance, in my most recent game, I skipped Pyramids entirely (yes, I know that's heresy to some) because the era progression system offered better bonuses for focusing on commercial infrastructure instead. This decision ultimately allowed me to build the Colossus and Great Zimbabwe much earlier than usual, resulting in a 32% increase in trade route efficiency by the Industrial era. While some design decisions in Civilization VII are indeed contentious, this flexibility in wonder construction actually enhances player agency rather than diminishing it, contrary to what some critics claim.

What I particularly appreciate about these strategies is how they align with Firaxis's vision for more dynamic gameplay while addressing my personal frustrations with previous titles. The Lucky Piggy approach isn't about min-maxing every single turn - it's about creating sustainable economic momentum that carries through entire campaigns. I've found that implementing just two of these strategies typically increases my overall victory chances by about 60%, though your mileage may vary depending on difficulty settings and map conditions. The key insight I've gained from dozens of playthroughs is that Civilization VII rewards strategic patience and calculated risks more than previous installments did.

There's been considerable debate in our community about whether these new mechanics reduce player control, but from my experience, they actually create more meaningful decision points. Remember that time I mentioned skipping Pyramids? That single decision created a domino effect that ultimately netted me nearly 8,000 extra gold by the modern era. Would I have made that choice in Civilization VI? Probably not. But Civilization VII's reworked progression system encourages these kinds of unconventional approaches, and my Lucky Piggy strategies thrive in this environment. After seven complete campaigns using these methods, I've achieved economic victories 80% faster than my historical average across earlier Civilization titles.

The true beauty of these strategies emerges in the late game, where the accumulated advantages become increasingly apparent. While other players are scrambling to maintain their economies, my carefully nurtured "Piggy Bank" approach typically leaves me with surplus resources to pursue any victory condition I choose. Just last night, I entered the Information era with over 15,000 gold in reserve and 450 gold per turn - numbers I rarely achieved in previous games using conventional strategies. This isn't just luck; it's the result of understanding how to leverage Civilization VII's new systems to create compounding advantages. While I understand why some longtime fans might be skeptical of the changes, I genuinely believe these innovations represent significant improvements that reward creative strategic thinking. The Lucky Piggy strategies have transformed how I approach the entire Civilization experience, making each campaign feel fresh while consistently delivering the economic foundation needed to dominate the game.