3 Governments Question

[Gelion]

Suppose you have three identical civilizations: same number of cities, equal population, same technological advantages, similar terrain and units. At a certain point each of them has decided to pursue a different development course. One chose a Republic as a form of government, another one Communism and the last one Fundamentalism.

After a certain amount of time has passed, what would be the advantages and disadvantages of each civilization vis-a-vis each other and the rest of the world? Who would be stronger militarily? More stable? Larger? More advanced?

 

[Prof. Garfield]

If adequately prepared, I would expect the republic to be larger and more advanced under most circumstances (and therefore be able to out-do the others militarily) after a decent interval, and a democracy even more so. The republic can use We Love the Consul growth and produce large cities relatively quickly. Republic also gives greater caravan delivery bonuses because of extra city trade, though the other governments can acquire this bonus through We love the Comrade/High Priest day, but their cities will be smaller. With proper trade, however, all the governments should manage a tech per turn (in theory).

If engaging in trade for the primary means of aquiring science, communism is likely the worst of the late governments. The negative trade-off to fundimentalism is the 50% science cut (and a minor factor of cities your cities being a little easier to bribe), but caravan deliveries do not suffer this cut. The non-republic/democracy will have to deliver more caravans to achieve the same payoff (due to smaller cities and a lack of trade bonus), and it is possible, I suppose, that they might have a harder time achieving a tech per turn, or might possibly run out of commodities to deliver.

Even if a funimentalist/communist civ achieved a similar research rate to a republic/democracy, the latter civ would have a larger population base from WLTCD and the extra production would offset the military advantages of the other governments.

 

[Terrapin]

Also, of course, depends on the exact set up of the Civ when the splits are made. If they are at war, or war is inevitable before the Republic can put its advantages in trade and celebration to use, then either Fundy or Commie may come out better. If the Republic has a little room to breathe, I think it will do better than the others.