Can someone explain what the happy cap is???

[JackHammer]

I have heard the term happy cap thrown around a lot on the forum, but am not sure what it means.

I also am unsure of how it is affected by game play, the strategy behind managing it, and what an optimal happy cap should look like. Any help here would be appreciated.

-JH

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Cabert, our resident Frenchman, to the rescue:

http://www.civfanatics.com/civ4/strategy/happiness.php

Looks like it isn't quite up to date with BtS though (happy caps aren't as low in BtS).

He also did a "ways into health" thread but sadly not a "ways into pants" thread, which is what we really need to learn from ze French

 

[jabberwalkee_]

The term 'happy cap' just refers to the number of people you can have in your city until they become unhappy (and thus don't work). Unhappy people eat food but do nothing useful and they should be avoided in 99.9% of cases.

 

[LydianRain]

The term 'happy cap' just refers to the number of people you can have in your city until they become unhappy (and thus don't work). Unhappy people eat food but do nothing useful and they should be avoided in 99.9% of cases.

What's the 0.1%? Stockpiling whip fodder?

 

[whats a navy]

What's the 0.1%? Stockpiling whip fodder?

that is it. At least the only thing I can think of.

 

[coanda]

I let a city grow once when I was about to get calendar - I knew my happy cap would be raising by about 5 points shortly thereafter, so I wanted to get started on growing to new happy cap as soon as possible. Still not sure if it was the right decision, but I can see arguments for it.

 

[jabberwalkee_]

What's the 0.1%? Stockpiling whip fodder?

Yep. Can be good when rushing from a high food capitol while you are waiting for copper/horses to be hooked up. Also occasionally if I'm about to get into HR.

 

[pollock]

Happiness cap is maxium amount of people can have and they all be happy. Can keep alot of unhappy people if goner get some happiness soon. Like a war ending

 

[Framesticker]

While it's been explained above, I want to sharpen a point about growing beyond the happy cap. While unhappy citizens eat up 2 food while doing nothing, they die under the whip just as well. Also, there is no reason to give these citizens food. If you work all possible good tiles and are starving while above the happy cap, there's no reason to reallocate tiles so you don't starve.