Austria 3rd policy tree?

[SpankmyMetroid]

What should my 3rd policy tree be in my Austria game? I have reasons why all 3 would be worthwhile. Right now I'm gunning for a tall 6 city diplomatic victory, Tradition -> Statecraft. Married with 6 city states so far and working on the 7th, allied with 5, leader in votes and voted leader of WC by my friends. I caught up in tech thanks to spies and scholars in residence and have been successfully grabbing key wonders, like slater mill and Westminster, so I'm not worried anymore about being far behind the tech/culture leaders.

I have one neighbor on land, Gandhi, who should get aggressive because his UU is online this era. We were friendly in the past but now he's guarded. No wars between us, ever mainly because he built great wall so trying to invade him would be too much of a pain, but.I'm scheduled to have a joint war against him in 10 turns with Egypt, his only other neighbor. It was actually a tough choice, since I've been nonaggressive all game and I'll drag a distant friend into the war because of a defensive pact, but I didn't want to lose favor with Egypt by declining and I feel like I would have a much better chance at accomplishing something if India is flanked from all sides... plus my Hussars and medley of cool UU's given by military CS's have been sitting around doing literally nothing all game.

So imperialism might be on the table if I want to start getting a little aggressive, especially since my supply cap kind of sucks (it's 19 but I haven't prioritized defensive buildings in the satellite cities). Industry could be useful to get more gold and production for diplomatic units, but I've never run it Tall before so I don't know how effective it could be. I prioritized farm triangles + cathedrals for growth and money so most of my forests are gone by this point, so bonuses from lumbermills wouldn't be too significant, but I have plenty of mines. Rationalism is obvious because tall. Any suggestions?

 

[Bromar1]

What luxuries are you getting from CS? Imperialism can boost the monopolies that you get from CS. If they are mostly giving you lux with flat yields (for example cotton or crab that give +3 gold or +3 food) then it might not be great. If they have a +% Monopoly like copper (+10% prod) or salt (+10% food ) then it can be extremely powerful, ESPECIALLY if you are going tall. statecraft + Imperialism can let you hunt for powerful monopolies because often you only need to ally a few CS and cap a few cities to get something crazy like +20% gold or +20% food

 

[chicorbeef]

If you have 19 supply cap/a 6 city Tradition empire....I don't think Imperialism is all that great for that situation, especially if you don't have a navy or water tiles.

I would say Industry or Rationalism, probably. You can take out a weakened neighbour without Imperialism anyway. As for which, well, you just have to see which VC will be most viable in the end. If you can't win a Diplo, it might be time to switch tracks into Rationalism, otherwise Industry will probably be the best.

 

[SpankmyMetroid]

If you have 19 supply cap/a 6 city Tradition empire....I don't think Imperialism is all that great for that situation, especially if you don't have a navy or water tiles.

I would say Industry or Rationalism, probably. You can take out a weakened neighbour without Imperialism anyway. As for which, well, you just have to see which VC will be most viable in the end. If you can't win a Diplo, it might be time to switch tracks into Rationalism, otherwise Industry will probably be the best.

I need to pick now, though. I completed statecraft and need to choose a policy opener... so the situation right now is the best guess to the end of the game. I’m ahead by a lot of votes and keep passing sphere of influences for me so I think diplo is the best option.

 

[CrazyG]

I need to pick now, though. I completed statecraft and need to choose a policy opener... so the situation right now is the best guess to the end of the game. I’m ahead by a lot of votes and keep passing sphere of influences for me so I think diplo is the best option.

Do you want production or science?

Rationalism helps you unlock new techs more quickly. Unlocking a tech earlier can mean you get to pass it earlier for a faster win.

Industry would be better if you have happiness problems, production problems, are worried about getting attacked, things like that.

 

[tu_79]

Kind of what CrazyG says.
On paper, Rationalism lets you win faster. If China is next to you, you might throw the paper to the basket.

 

[SpankmyMetroid]

Kind of what CrazyG says.
On paper, Rationalism lets you win faster. If China is next to you, you might throw the paper to the basket.

I’m not sure what this means.

 

[tu_79]

I’m not sure what this means.

Rationalism: Faster science. You unlock technologies that open victory conditions faster, thus you may win faster. But what if China is next to you? You may have the techs, but you don't have the infrastructure, so it is hard to keep up with production (wonders), diplomacy (delegates) and units (gold for upgrades, production for new units). A big strong civ close to you when you can't keep the army at the same level makes you vulnerable.
Industrialism is slower but safer, you only have to worry about a runaway civ where you can't intervene.

On paper (this means, in theory) rationalism is faster so it makes you win better than the other trees. In fact, that depends on your neighbours' current status (that's why I say you can throw the theoritical paper to the basket).

 

[SpankmyMetroid]

Rationalism: Faster science. You unlock technologies that open victory conditions faster, thus you may win faster. But what if China is next to you? You may have the techs, but you don't have the infrastructure, so it is hard to keep up with production (wonders), diplomacy (delegates) and units (gold for upgrades, production for new units). A big strong civ close to you when you can't keep the army at the same level makes you vulnerable.
Industrialism is slower but safer, you only have to worry about a runaway civ where you can't intervene.

On paper (this means, in theory) rationalism is faster so it makes you win better than the other trees. In fact, that depends on your neighbours' current status (that's why I say you can throw the theoritical paper to the basket).

Ohhhh the paper resource? I didn’t get the pun, sorry.

As for runaways... gandhi is my only immediate neighbor and he doesn’t seem like much of a threat. The policy leaders have split between finishing industry and rationalism, with my closest diplo rival (William) going industry. So I may need to pick that as well to keep up with his diplo unit spam. I’ve just never tried it tall before so I’m wondering how effective it really is.

Honestly I have 25 votes now and the WC is still in the indistrial era. Looks to me like a diplo victory would be quicker, I’m more than halfway there...

 

[Galbias]

Industry is stronger for Diplomatic victory, more production/gold for building/buying diplomatic units and winning United Nations. Rationalism is better for Cultural since you get those massive Tourism boosts from technology faster.

 

[Favorius]

I have recently finished an Austria game. I went rationalism after tradition and statecraft. I had science lead already before picking rationalism but I wanted to win faster. Gold was rarely a problem because city state quests (connect x resource), religion (holy law, global commandments) and espionage missions with intelligence agency were giving lots of lump sums. I had no need of building diplomatic units because trade routes, influence from quests and occassional coups were enough to keep most of CSs as my allies.

 

[CppMaster]

Industry is stronger for Diplomatic victory, more production/gold for building/buying diplomatic units and winning United Nations. Rationalism is better for Cultural since you get those massive Tourism boosts from technology faster.

But Industry gives more TR and Broadway wonder. IMHO both Industry and Rationalism are good for Cultural.

 

[phantomaxl1207]

Industry's weakness is Science, not Culture. You can get +15% Culture from Buildings with Mercantilism.

 

[pineappledan]

Based on the information you have given, you have more or less locked down this game. Blaze through the game as fast as possible and put the other civs out of their misery. Rationalism is the way to go

 

[Galbias]

But Industry gives more TR and Broadway wonder. IMHO both Industry and Rationalism are good for Cultural.

Industry has some advantages and more Trade Routes are helpful but the Tourism you get from The Internet is just massive, not to mention Great Firewall can make Culture Victory a lot more difficult so you don't want anyone else getting it. Rationalism also has growth bonuses which mean you can slot more specialists, though by the time you get Industrial Era policies you can probably work all of your Cultural specialists without too much trouble anyways. Broadway is better for the Culture upon constructing building than Tourism.

 

[GhengisCat]

I haven't played as Austria in months. Do they still have the Diplomatic Marriages that stop influence from decaying? I picked Industry and would horde gold to pick up as many DMs as possible.

 

[neo_arcadia]

Industry? Did you not commence any DM whatsoever in previous era? I mean, DM is available since the beginning of the game and yes, they stop influence from decaying. Super powerful stuff.

 

[GhengisCat]

Industry? Did you not commence any DM whatsoever in previous era? I mean, DM is available since the beginning of the game and yes, they stop influence from decaying. Super powerful stuff.

Yeah, I haven't played Austria in several versions, but I remember DMs being insanely powerful, especially when paired with Industry and Freedom.