Rate the Social Policies Part I: Tradition/Liberty/Honor

sonicandfffan said:

Votes so far: 24 votes.

7.26 - Tradition (Ancient Era)

8.38 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
6.67 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
7.00 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
5.21 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
7.42 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
7.29 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
8.83 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


7.02 - Liberty (Ancient Era)

5.67 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6.12 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
6.67 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
8.67 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
6.75 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
6.67 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
8.54 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

5.53 - Honor (Ancient Era)

5.25 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
5.04 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
5.58 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
6.50 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
6.04 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5.75 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
4.54 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

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Old count:

sonicandfffan said:

RESULTS

Votes so far: 18 votes.

7.29 - Tradition (Ancient Era)

8.39 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
6.67 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
7.06 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
5.00 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
7.83 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
7.05 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
9.06 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


7.09 - Liberty (Ancient Era)

5.56 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6.39 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
6.89 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
8.72 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
6.72 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
6.56 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
8.78 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

5.39 - Honor (Ancient Era)

5.12 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
4.83 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
5.33 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
6.56 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
5.61 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5.67 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
4.56 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

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New topic: Rate the Social Policies Part II: Piety/Patronage/Aesthetics

Credit to kaspergm for the format from his rate the beliefs topics. We've done beliefs and wonders, now we move on to social policies. Adding a numerical value to things helps new players (and experienced players) decide how to prioritise their game and I think doing this for several aspects of the gameplay will provide useful resources for this forum.

I'd ask you to put your vote before the name of each belief, like this:
5 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens.

As with the wonders, the voting range is from 0 to 10 where 5 is average. Give votes between 0 and 10, where 0 is worst and 10 is best, like this:

10 = Pretty much required for any game
9 = Excellent
8 = Extremely good
7 = Very good
6 = Above par
5 = Average
4 = Below par
3 = Poor
2 = Very Poor
1 = Worse than useless
0 = Never take ever.

When voting, take into account both the strength of the policy, its prerequisites, the policies it unlocks and how situational it is in its applicability. To give an example of this, a policy like citizenship might not be the best by itself, but the fact it unlocks two useful policies should factor into your score. Also of course, how well it suites your playing style or personal likes or dislikes also should influence your vote. Also keep in mind that something useful for a domination victory might not be as useful for a cultural victory. How you weight the different things is subjective obviously. I'll try to make some statistics when people have put in some votes to see how things distribute. Here are the list of social policies:

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Tradition (Ancient Era)

_ - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
_ - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
_ - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
_ - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
_ - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
_ - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
_ - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

_ - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
_ - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
_ - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
_ - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
_ - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
_ - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
_- Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

_ - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
_ - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
_ - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
_ - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
_ - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
_ - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
_ - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

Tradition (Ancient Era)

9 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
4 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
8 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
6 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
7 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
5 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

4 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
5 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
7 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
5 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
7 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
5 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
8 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

5 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
4 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
6 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
8 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
6 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
5 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.


All in all I start with tradition 90% of the time. The 3 culture + free monuments is just too much of a boost.

.

Shouldn't Piety be included as well, since it is now an Ancient SP that competes with Tradition/Liberty/Honor?

Tradition (Ancient Era)

8 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens Nice bonuses for early-game capital expansion, and HG is great, but AI seem to tend to go Tradition in most games (?)

6 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city Good if going for early wonders, otherwise happiness bonus is a bit meh

10 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities ideal assuming aiming for cultural victory, opens up 2 others

1 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength situational, usually only choose this if going for finisher

6 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital means deep into Tradition but great for tall games

7 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital ditto

10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era. helps empire grow, GE's great assuming have a religion

Liberty (Ancient Era)

7 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids tricky to choose between Tradition & Liberty openers, AI often doesn't prioritise Pyramids

8 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings great for boosting early production when going wide

10 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital unless going to steal workers from CS or other civs this is a must if Liberty is opened, the +%age improvement rate also handy especially in synergy with Pyramids, unlocks 2 SPs

7 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice) no brainer if spamming cities, a 10 if playing Venice

6 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age. nice to increase SP rate but often have to hold off to make best use of the free GA

6 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities. never been sure about this one, handy if struggling with happiness once cities are planted and all luxuries improved, usually chosen last

10 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital free GP can give a huge step up when timed right for critical tech or wonder or multiple CS quest

Honor (Ancient Era)

7 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus. combat bonus helpful but not deal-breaking, seeing camps not much use because should be exploring anyway, culture-per-kill is great if going on the warpath, ToZ nice for warmongers and AI often ignores until later

5 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster. if warring then probably going to be getting plenty GGs anyway but a free one early doors helps a lot, +prod is slightly helpful, usually only choose on path to following SP

10 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile. go-to SP for a military civ

9 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat. ditto

4 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2. only good in itself if struggling with happiness and have a large standing army, only really useful to unlock...

8 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster. upgrading highly promoted units is a must

0 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era. don't think ever chosen this, should have plenty of gold from puppets

Tradition (Ancient Era)

9 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
7 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
7 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
3 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
8 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
8 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

7 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
8 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
10 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
9 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
6 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
9 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

7 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
6 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
9 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
6 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
6 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
2 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.[/QUOTE]

Tradition (Ancient Era)

8 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
9 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
6 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
5 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
7 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
4 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

5 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
8 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
7 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
10 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
8 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
9 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
10 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

6 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
3 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
4 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
9 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
6 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
3 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

I think I could have one of those for civilizations

Halcyan2 said:

Shouldn't Piety be included as well, since it is now an Ancient SP that competes with Tradition/Liberty/Honor?

Click to expand...

Yep, but there are 7 policies to rate per tree and if I make the lists too long people won't bother to vote, I try to keep it with no more than 20 things to rate per topic.

If I do it by era it'd be ordered 4/2/2/1, rather than 3/3/3.

OK, I'll join in to try and generate some interest:

Tradition (Ancient Era)

10 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
7 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
8 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
8 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
9 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
7 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

5 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
7 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
4 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
8 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
3 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
9 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
8 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

3 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
3 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
3 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
8 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
7 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
3 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
2 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

9 - Tradition Opener
6 - Aristocracy
9 - Legalism
5 - Oligarchy
9 - Landed Elite
8 - Monarchy
10 - Tradition Finisher

7 - Liberty Opener
4 - Republic
8 - Citizenship
9 - Collective rule
10 - Representation
6 - Meritocracy
9 - Liberty Finisher

8 - Honor Opener
6 - Warrior Code
7 - Discipline
5 - Military Tradition
8 - Military Caste
7 - Professional Army
3 - Honor Finisher

Tradition (Ancient Era)

8 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
4 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
6 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
8 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
8 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
4 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
8 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

4 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
8 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
8 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
4 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
4 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
8 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

8 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
4 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
6 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
8 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
6 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
6 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
8 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

I maybe the only Civ player that believes Oligarchy is excellent and is far and away better than Military Caste. I often feel like Military caste ought to be maintenance free and Oligarchy should only apply the combat bonus.

No I agree. Oligarchy is great because it basically increases your GPT since you have maintenance free units, it's like a volunteer army which you can unlock early and it's pretty vital for maintaining an early army without crippling your GPT. That's pretty much vital to deter the AI from declaring war on you.

That said, happiness is pretty hard to come by until you unlock tier 2 ideologies, and 2 culture per city on top of that is pretty big.

Tradition (Ancient Era) (53)

8- Tradition Opener: Much stronger than Lib opening as border expansion is painfully slow without this.
7 - Aristocracy:
7 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Unfortunately harder to time now to get the more expensive buildings still a good policy.
7 - Oligarchy: I hate garrisoning units but you can't deny it's benefits
7 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): Equal to Fertility rites and feed the world (in the capital only) which I usually only snag if theres nothing better.
8 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
9- Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.



Liberty (Ancient Era) 48

5 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6 - Republic (leads to collective rule):Great for those jungle/coastal cities with tons of food but no production.
7 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): the 25% can really make a big difference if you get a marsh or jungle start.
8 - Collective rule (requires Republic): Very strong for puppet/ICS empires
4 - Representation (requires Citizenship): Golden age comes to early (usually) but the decrease SP isn't bad.
9 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): Very Strong happiness bonus
9 - Liberty Finisher: Allows you to snag a wonder or a religion or sometimes both.


Honor (Ancient Era): 43

6 - Honor Opener: Very Situational. Sometimes damn mandatory. Othertimes not useful at all
7 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition):Early great general can be extremely powerful and stop a rush in its tracks or lead to an easy assualt
4 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): Too bad it doesn't apply to ranged
8 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
4- Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): I hate having to garrison to get benefits
3 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Comes too late for half the benefit
8 - Honor finisher: Gold is always good

Tradition (Ancient Era)

10 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
8 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
7 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
4 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
6 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
5 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
5 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

8 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
9 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
8 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
10 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
6 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
7 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
10 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

7 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
5 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
5 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
10 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
9 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
3 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
5 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

Tradition (Ancient Era)

9 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
7 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
9 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
8 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
10 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
8 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

5 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
8 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
10 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
9 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
4 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
4- Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

2 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
6 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
4 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
5 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
7 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
9 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
8 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

Tradition (Ancient Era)

8 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
6 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
5 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
4 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
9 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
10 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

4 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
4 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
7 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
8 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
7 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
4 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
10- Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

3 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
2 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
3 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
1 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
4 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
6 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
3 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

Edit: Shouldn't Piety be in this mix?; it opens in Ancient as well and is the main alternative to Tradition & Liberty.

Tradition (Ancient Era)

10- Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
10- Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
5- Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
8 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
9- Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
7- Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
5- Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

4 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
10- Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
5- Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
10- Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
6- Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
5- Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
10- Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

2- Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
8- Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
8- Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
7- Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
3- Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5- Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
7- Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.

Tradition (Ancient Era)

7 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
7 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
6 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
3 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
9 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
9 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

7 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
6 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
9 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
8 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
6 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
10 - Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

4 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
2 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
3 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
2 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
7 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
6 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
4 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.[/QUOTE]

Tradition (Ancient Era)

- Tradition Opener: 9
- Aristocracy: 6
- Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): 7
- Oligarchy: 6
- Landed Elite (requires legalism): 8
- Monarchy (requires legalism): 9
- Tradition Finisher: 10


Liberty (Ancient Era)

- Liberty Opener: 4
- Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): 7
- Collective rule (requires Republic): 8
- Representation (requires Citizenship): 5
- Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): 5
- Liberty Finisher: 9

Honor (Ancient Era)

- Honor Opener: 6
- Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): 4
- Discipline (leads to Military Caste): 3
- Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): 5
- Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): 3
- Professional Army (requires Military Caste): 6
- Honor finisher: 3

Tradition (Ancient Era)

7 - Tradition Opener: Increases rate of border expansion, +3 culture in capital, unlocks Hanging Gardens
5 - Aristocracy: +15% production when building wonders, +1 happiness for every 10 citizens in a city
7 - Legalism (leads to monarchy/landed elite): Proves a free culture building in your first 4 cities
3 - Oligarchy: Garrisoned units cost no maintenance, cities with a garrison gain +50% ranged combat strength
7 - Landed Elite (requires legalism): +10% growth and +2 food in the capital
8 - Monarchy (requires legalism): +1 gold and -1 unhappiness for every 2 citizens in the capital
10 - Tradition Finisher: +15% growth, free aqueduct in your first 4 cities, allows purchasing great engineers with faith from the industrial era.


Liberty (Ancient Era)

6 - Liberty Opener: provides +1 culture in every city, unlocks the pyramids
6 - Republic (leads to collective rule): +1 production in every city, +5% production when building buildings
5 - Citizenship (leads to representation/meritocracy): Tile construction rate improves by 25% and a free worker appears near the capital
9 - Collective rule (requires Republic): speeds training of settlers by 50% in the capital and a free settler appears (Venice gets a free Merchant of Venice)
5 - Representation (requires Citizenship): each city you found increases the culture cost of new policies by 33% less and starts a free golden age.
6 - Meritocracy (requires Citizenship): +1 happiness for each city connected to the capital and -5% unhappiness from citizens in non-occupied cities.
8- Liberty Finisher: A free great person of your choice appears near the capital

Honor (Ancient Era)

4 - Honor Opener: +33% combat bonus vs. barbarians. Notified when a new barbarian encampment spawns in revealed territory. Gain culture from each barbarian killed. Unlocks Statue of Zeus.
3 - Warrior Code (leads to Military Tradition): +15% Production when training Melee units and a Great General appears outside the Capital. Great Generals are earned 25% faster.
5 - Discipline (leads to Military Caste): +15% Combat Strength for melee Units which have another military Unit in an adjacent tile.
7 - Military Tradition (requires Warrior Code): Military Units gain 50% more Experience from combat.
2 - Military Caste (requires Discipline, leads to Professional Army): Each City with a garrison increases Local City Happiness by 1 and Culture by 2.
5 - Professional Army (requires Military Caste): Gold cost of upgrading Military Units reduced by 33% and construct Barracks, Armories, and Military Academies 50% faster.
2 - Honor finisher: Gain gold for each enemy unit killed. Can purchase great generals with faith from the industrial era.