Social Policy Elimination Thread

[Sake]

We have compared UU's, UA's, UB's, UI's, civs, wonders and now even leaderscreens, but we haven't touched social policies yet, even though they are huge part of the game, so i decided to create elimination thread for them. I'm really interested to see what policies end up on top.

This thread includes all normal social policies (even openers and finishers), i decided to leave tenets out of the list because there is enough of them for their own thread and it would make this list huge (which it already is). Rules are same as always: only one post per 24 hours and every vote is +1/-3. Writing reasons for vote is preferable.

List of effects of the policies can be found here: http://dndjunkie.com/civilopedia/POLICY_HOME.aspx

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 20
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 20
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 20
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 20
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 20
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 20
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 20
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 20

 

[Sake]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 20
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 20
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 20
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 20
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 17
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 20
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 21
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 20

Secularism: +2 science from ALL specialists is huge boost, since science helps with everything, and specialists are used for every victory type.

Naval tradition: Great Admirals are weakest GP. +2 movement helps keeping up with fleet, but the effectiveness is really situational.

 

[CultureManiac]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 20
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 20
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 20
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 20
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 20
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 20


I agree with Sake completely. Love to see the bounce in science from Secularism. Great Admirals are the most useless of any GP. Increasing their speed, and popping them faster doesn't change that.

 

[Aenthin]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 20
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 20
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 20
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 11
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 20
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 20

Even though I take Exploration quite often, I agree. I only really take Naval Tradition when I need the admiral for the quest and for the Exploration finisher, but I don't really need an Admiral all that much.

I like Honor opening. Really useful for barb hunting and, in team multiplayer, it also scouts barb camps for your teammate. Not to mention the culture I can rake down especially in Raging Barbarians.

 

[jlim201]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 20
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17- Reformations arent even that good.
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 20
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 20
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21 - This is so OP, it shouldnt even be in the game.
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 20

 

[TreYs]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 20
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17 The opener seems too shallow compared to what policies it provides. Even tall empires don't really benefit from a single gold boost. The only plus this has is the Big Ben wonder, and considering many AIs don't go for this policy...
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 21 I tend to always pursue this when possible. Extra happiness is a boon in any game type. Combined with Mercenary Army, and I can go conquesting with some buffer on my conquered cities.
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 20

 

[VicRatlhead5199]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21 I used to just take this when I was planning on finishing honor but I take it in most of my games because it gives me a heads up on where my trade units might be in danger. The culture, increased str v. barbs and gold from camps are all just icing on the cake. It also helps to gain some early cs allies too.
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17 Almost a waste of a policy, only worth it if you really want to finish the tree.

 

[SalemSage]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 20
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 20
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20 - 3 = 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20 + 1 = 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener -
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

Cultural Exchange is AMAZING. That extra 15% extra tourism on modifiers really racks up. It's seriously helpful.

Theocracy, on the other hand, isn't that great. It IS helpful, yes, but only near endgame when you're making enough money for it to pay off. 25% extra gold and +3 on Holy Sites is a nice bonus, but Piety is supposed to be an early game tree, and this bonus doesn't offer you much at all when you need it.

(Edited for VicRatlhead. Yay!)

 

[Ninakoru]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21 - Just good, even if you don't abuse the free monuments, you can get it later for free opera houses for example.
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17 - I just Hate that one. Having to garrison for the only source of extra happiness in supposedly warmonger SP tree...
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 20
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 20
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[JimBobV]

I'm just saying, I think we all know which social policy is going to win. Its eventually going to come to a standoff between the rationalism policy tree and maybe a tiny amount of others.

 

[SalemSage]

Ninakoru decided to skip my vote for some reason

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[cpm4001]

This whole Elimination Thread thing is just getting silly now...but who cares?

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 20 + 1 = 21 - Surprised no one's upvoted this yet. Free Aquaducts and the ability to buy GEs with Faith is a fitting conclusion to the strongest social policy tree in the game.
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 20 - 3 = 17 - It's pretty much worthless. That +1 Culture won't really help balance out the increase in SP cost as you city-spam, and is pretty much negligible even if you don't expand.
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 20
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 20
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[Viregel]

This whole Elimination Thread thing is just getting silly now...but who cares?

The fun's only just started! Let's see how many more valid elimination threads we can get through.

 

[cpm4001]

The fun's only just started! Let's see how many more valid elimination threads we can get through.

National Wonder Elimination Thread! Natural Wonder Elimination Thread! Luxury Resource Elimination Thread! Strategic Resource Elimination Thread! Non-Unique Improvement Elimination Thread! The list goes on and on!

 

[Talcove]

I bet Gustavus Adolphus' beard that a Rationalism policy will end up winning.

 

[Beaver79]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 21 -
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 17
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 20
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 21 = 20 + 1 the best social policy in the game. Gives about as much science as any policy in Rationalism AND 25% off of buying everything. That's 2 Big Bens.
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 17 = 20 - 3 What is up with this policy? Commerce used to be good when the road maintenance one was in this position. Now I hardly ever take it because this policy is so worthless. Yeah I can buy a slightly better pikeman and upgrade it to a lancer
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 20
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[redwings1340]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 21 -
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21
Tradition - Monarchy - 20
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 17
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 21 One of the best policies in the game. Amazing for tall, rich empires.
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 21
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 17
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 20
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 17 Even when I am a costal civilization, this policy is useless 90% of the time, and bad the other 10% of the time. It's the biggest reason exploration as a tree is bad.
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[arand86]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 21 -
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21
Tradition - Monarchy - 21 2 things are a struggle in the early going. Happiness, and gold. Wait, Monarchy solves both?
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 17
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 21 One of the best policies in the game. Amazing for tall, rich empires.
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 21
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 17
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 17 Land trade is awful anyways
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 17 Even when I am a costal civilization, this policy is useless 90% of the time, and bad the other 10% of the time. It's the biggest reason exploration as a tree is bad.
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 22
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[Lorf Yimzo]

Tradition - Opener - 20
Tradition - Finisher - 21 -
Tradition - Aristocracy - 20
Tradition - Landed Elite - 20
Tradition - Legalism - 21
Tradition - Monarchy - 21
Tradition - Oligarchy - 20
Liberty - Opener - 17
Liberty - Finisher - 20
Liberty - Citizenship - 20
Liberty - Collective Rule - 20
Liberty - Meritocracy - 20
Liberty - Representation - 20
Liberty - Republic - 20
Honor - Opener - 21
Honor - Finisher - 20
Honor - Discipline - 20
Honor - Military Caste - 17
Honor - Military Tradition - 20
Honor - Professional Army - 20
Honor - Warrior Code - 20
Piety - Opener - 20
Piety - Finisher - 20
Piety - Mandate of Heaven - 20
Piety - Organized Religion - 20
Piety - Reformation - 17
Piety - Religious Tolerance - 20
Piety - Theocracy - 17
Patronage - Opener - 20
Patronage - Finisher - 20
Patronage - Consulates - 20
Patronage - Cultural Diplomacy - 20
Patronage - Merchant Confederacy - 20
Patronage - Philanthropy - 20
Patronage - Scholasticism - 21 One of the best policies in the game. Amazing for tall, rich empires.
Aesthetics - Opener - 20
Aesthetics - Finisher - 20
Aesthetics - Artistic Genius - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Centers - 20
Aesthetics - Cultural Exchange - 21
Aesthetics - Fine Arts - 20
Aesthetics - Flourishing of the Arts - 20
Commerce - Opener - 17
Commerce - Finisher - 20
Commerce - Entrepreneurship - 20
Commerce - Mercantilism - 21
Commerce - Mercenary Army - 14 -Wow, a cheap pikemen! That's really cool! Oh wait, its the Industrial Era you say? This is awkward...
Commerce - Protectionism - 21
Commerce - Wagon Trains - 17
Exploration - Opener - 20
Exploration - Finisher - 20
Exploration - Maritime Infrastructure - 20
Exploration - Merchant Navy - 20
Exploration - Naval Tradition - 14
Exploration - Navigation School - 17
Exploration - Treasure Fleets - 20
Rationalism - Opener - 20
Rationalism - Finisher - 20
Rationalism - Free Thought - 20
Rationalism - Humanism - 21
Rationalism - Scientific Revolution - 20
Rationalism - Secularism - 23- Thanks for easily obtainable science, the most important thing in the game.
Rationalism - Sovereignty - 17

 

[Crafty Bison]

+1 and -3 with this many policies starting on 20? This is going to take a freaking age...