Toot your own horn.

[Pike]

Is the AI more intelligent? Whenever I play CivII: ToT, the communication through the foreign minister is stupidly cocky. Like I'll be wailing on some mothersmurfer, and he'll get in touch with me trying to cut me a deal to receive mercy from his brutal military. And I'm all like, smurf that noise, I'm gonna take over this city.

AI improvements not so much, but there is a "civics" feature (a la Civ IV), the ability to customize your own units, the ability to terraform land and change it significantly, and most importantly, the story and quotes, which are the best of any game.

[Chris]

Overcoming fear, and generally speaking, just be a happier and more content person. That is my achievement.