I really like Venice. I always start out with the idea of playing some kind of wheeler dealer who takes over the world with money instead of the beakers from Rationalism and research.
But based on what I do when I play, Patronage isn't really that useful for me. At least adopting it is, because Forbidden Palace is a great wonder, useful for a couple of different victory types.
But the benefits from Patronage? I almost never have happiness issues with Venice. I usually buy one or two city states depending on location and my starting area (food), and send cargo ships with food to Venice.
But other than iron, I really don't worry about resources until the late game. Then I buy the city state with a Merchant of Venice to get my oil/aluminum/uranium. So by endgame I usually have a couple of merchants sitting around Venice twiddling their thumbs. And often the game ends without them doing anything.
I really don't bother to ally with any city states till the end game with the World Congress and Leader victory condition. If a militaristic city state has some funky unit I really want, I'll do it before, but often do not.
And in the end things like Treaty Organization get the city states on your side a lot better than doing the Patronage thing (money/units) or quests.
Also it is a pita to fight Greece, and the occasional civ that goes into Patronage, for influence as the game goes along. And if you can get to Industrialization early, you can wipe out all Alexander's hard work in short order with Treaty Organization.
I can see the use, but getting city state allies seems like it would be of more use to civs that can go wide, and need luxuries for happiness.
Usually I go Tradition, then Patronage until I can take Commerce.
Anyone got any thoughts on this matter?
But based on what I do when I play, Patronage isn't really that useful for me. At least adopting it is, because Forbidden Palace is a great wonder, useful for a couple of different victory types.
But the benefits from Patronage? I almost never have happiness issues with Venice. I usually buy one or two city states depending on location and my starting area (food), and send cargo ships with food to Venice.
But other than iron, I really don't worry about resources until the late game. Then I buy the city state with a Merchant of Venice to get my oil/aluminum/uranium. So by endgame I usually have a couple of merchants sitting around Venice twiddling their thumbs. And often the game ends without them doing anything.
I really don't bother to ally with any city states till the end game with the World Congress and Leader victory condition. If a militaristic city state has some funky unit I really want, I'll do it before, but often do not.
And in the end things like Treaty Organization get the city states on your side a lot better than doing the Patronage thing (money/units) or quests.
Also it is a pita to fight Greece, and the occasional civ that goes into Patronage, for influence as the game goes along. And if you can get to Industrialization early, you can wipe out all Alexander's hard work in short order with Treaty Organization.
I can see the use, but getting city state allies seems like it would be of more use to civs that can go wide, and need luxuries for happiness.
Usually I go Tradition, then Patronage until I can take Commerce.
Anyone got any thoughts on this matter?