Effective use of Caste System

[DrunkenAnthrop]

I'm playing BtS / Emperor and I know there are good uses for Caste System, but I rarely seem to end up running it. (Representation seems an obvious one, but surely there are more.) What are the best ways to effectively implement and use Caste System? Thanks!

 

[Nilmerf]

Caste System really starts to shine in the Renaissance, once you get Representation as well as the Guilds/Chemistry +1 to workshops. In this case a workshop will be better than a hill for production before you can build railroads. And the connection with Representation is obvious in high food sites. A combined farm/workshop empire is very versatile and powerful with Caste System, as you'll be able to shift gears from research to production at the drop of a hat.

 

[Cam_H]

(Oops ... disregard original)

Great Person Farm can be difficult to implement well without the Caste System.

 

[dingding]

Try to give you the simplest answer.
Four ways to use well Caste system:

1. GS Strategy - use Caste system + Pacifism (if possible) + NE (if possible) to generate GS points. A GS can bulb +1600 beakers, which means you can use one to bulb Philosophy, Paper or 1/2 Education. It's the most efficient way to beeline Liberalism.

2. GM Strategy - use Caste system + Pacifism (if possible) + NE (if possible) to generate GM points. A GS can make 1100 gold in the Middle Age, 1700 gold in Renaissance et 1900+ in Industry Age. A powerful way to support a 100% Research, especially when you're at war.

3. GA Strategy - use Caste system + Pacifism (if possible) + NE (if possible) to generate GA points. A GA can bomb 4000 culture for a city. Best way to rush a culture victory.

4. Maximize your workshops' output - a workshop Cast system + Guide + Chemistry give you more output than a mine before railway, let alone +1 food given by SS. This is always the reason why I stick to Caste system till the end of the game.

 

[dirtyparrot]

GA is a good time to run Rep/CS/Pacifism. Also remember that CS is pretty much gives you quick border pops for non-creative leaders(although this in of itself is more of a nice bonus than the main reason to switch into CS).

 

[lymond]

Unless I'm going for a particular strategy early centered one of those 3 GPs, usually GSs, I tend to try to time Caste in such a way to take advantage of the workshop bonuses. I also try to have my cities set up to take advantage of this, such as workshop those plains tile which just rock out hammers later. I will then run Caste for as long as possible or until Emancipation just becomes too much of a problem, but there are generally always ways to counteract unhappiness such as the culture slider - and I'm a big fan of the theatre.

One nice thing I like about Caste is it values growing and stablizing your cities vs. Slavery. I love slavery early but really have learned to value growing cities to the fullest to work as many tiles or specialists as possible.

I try to time my change to Caste with a Golden Age and shortly before getting at least Guilds. The GA will give a bonus to the workshops during it's duration anyway and with Guilds coming in soon via tech or trade you will have that same hammer total. Chem is always a priority for me too. Your plains tile will all now be anvils.

 

[lymond]

GA is a good time to run Rep/CS/Pacifism. Also remember that CS is pretty much gives you quick border pops for non-creative leaders(although this in of itself is more of a nice bonus than the main reason to switch into CS).

good point about culture - I do use that a lot. Allows so that you don't have to build theatres first in new or captured city.

 

[dirtyparrot]

I'm just curious, whenever people switch to Pacifism during a GA, does anyone use this as an opportunity to switch warmongers into Pacifism (either through spies or trade) to cripple their economy?

 

[Oggums]

I usually switch at Guilds, when workshop stop sucking. If I'm still going to get more use out of Slavery for a while (e.g. whipping buildings in conquered cities during/after a mace/treb war), I may just wait for Chemistry. With a large empire, I'll stay in Caste (with State Property) for the rest of the game

 

[Pir Lan Tota]

I would use cast if I am A > SPI and B> not gonna whip for a bit

So, after each whipping round, just flip back to cast. Prevents Slave Riots as a bonus.

 

[Pir Lan Tota]

whoops, double post

 

[IPEX-731BA5DD06]

Love Caste System I usually run it exclusively till end of game, I may dabble in Slavery from time to time. Serfdom, I've never ran, and Emancipation, Nah....

I tend to run farms, workshops mainly, with EVERY HILL mined in a cities BFC (love popping resources)

Set your cities, Production, lots of hills, workshops, etc

Science all improvements and Mucho specialists assigned.

Wealth Merchants, dye's and other high income tiles.

 

[dirtyparrot]

^ I ran serfdom once, while playing as Asoka (and I build the Hagia Sophia for GE points and it was only costing me 2 workers). Needless to say that those fast workers plowed through all those jungle tiles really quickly (couldn't come up with an analogy).