Exploration any good?

[gundad]

I have played quite a few games but I cant get myself to take exploration. Does anyone love this policy tree or is it a red headed step child?

 

[Scarpa]

I've only played one game but used that tree to good effect. Was playing a Portugal naval trade empire and did a mostly-beeline to Astronomy. Opened Exploration after Tradition and then chose the two top policies after that. Worked for my goals, but definitely didn't seem like a 'go to' policy tree. After that I filled out Aesthetics.

 

[quantum42]

It can be useful if you have a lot of coastal cities. You get extra production, happiness, culture for completing this track. Plus you need to open this track to build the Louvre wonder.

 

[Dogmouth]

The opener, Naval tradition, and Maritime Infrastructure are all good on water maps. You don't have to go that deep to take advantage of these policies.

 

[VainoValkea]

I've been playing more navy-heavy lately, I think I'll experiment with it one of these games.

The problem is, though, that rationalism tends to take top priority anyway.

 

[Miravlix]

I've been playing more navy-heavy lately, I think I'll experiment with it one of these games.

The problem is, though, that rationalism tends to take top priority anyway.

That makes no sense, you can finish at least two, before rationalism can be opened.

If Rationalism and Exploration both opened at the same time, so you have to choose between them you're logic would make more sense, but at this time your choosing between exploration, patronage, piety after having finished liberty/tradition/honor.

 

[Dogmouth]

That makes no sense, you can finish at least two, before rationalism can be opened.

If Rationalism and Exploration both opened at the same time, so you have to choose between them you're logic would make more sense, but at this time your choosing between exploration, patronage, piety after having finished liberty/tradition/honor.

I think the idea is that some people delay culture until rationalism opens. Generating more culture to take advantage of Medieval policies will, indeed, make Rationalism more expensive and harder to finish. That said, I always take at least some of the Exploration tree on water maps.

 

[VainoValkea]

Maybe I'm beelining into some Renaissance techs too hard but I don't think I usually finish my first two policy branches completely before that. I must pay more attention the next time...

 

[Miravlix]

I think the idea is that some people delay culture until rationalism opens. Generating more culture to take advantage of Medieval policies will, indeed, make Rationalism more expensive and harder to finish. That said, I always take at least some of the Exploration tree on water maps.

Thats G&K thinking, it doesn't work in BNW with cheaper policies. You would have to not build monuments and avoid ruins to keep away from finishing at least two policies before rationalism is available.

 

[Dogmouth]

Thats G&K thinking, it doesn't work in BNW with cheaper policies. You would have to not build monuments and avoid ruins to keep away from finishing at least two policies before rationalism is available.

I'll concede that I'm behind the times on this. I don't attempt to culture delay in BNW, so I don't have much experience on that topic.

 

[Eagle Pursuit]

Since sea-going trade routes are superior to caravans, I don't have enough land trade routes to make Commerce worth while, therefore Exploration.

 

[Rob5000]

Since sea-going trade routes are superior to caravans, I don't have enough land trade routes to make Commerce worth while, therefore Exploration.

Definitely true...but what if you were land-locked?! Dun dun DUNNN......

 

[Roxlimn]

That's actually not the key factor. The key factor in good sea trade is having major Civs having their capitals (or even any kind o major city) on the coast. Without these destination cities, sea routes aren't better than land routes, and are riskier.

 

[Randall_Flagg]

That's actually not the key factor. The key factor in good sea trade is having major Civs having their capitals (or even any kind o major city) on the coast. Without these destination cities, sea routes aren't better than land routes, and are riskier.

Very good point!! In my current game my capitol is land laocked. And only one sea route is in top 9. And it is not much better then # 10 a land route and much safer to use.

Land capitol to capitol trade is quite enough to make me happy.

I will grab the opener of expolration, but would rather work on Patronage or Piety for my 2nd tree. I admit I am addicted reformation closer in peity tree.

 

[Novalia]

Combined with great lighthouse exploration is awesome on archipelago map. I usually go trad or lib, finish them, then 2 patronage. The oracle is pretty easy to build so I usually have one or two spare SP choices before rationalism. In this archipelago domination game I'm playing as Indonesia I'll go deeper into exploration before rationalism.

 

[chazzycat]

Most of the tree is quite good on naval maps, especially the extra production, gold & happiness. But the opener is pretty good on almost any map unless you're totally landlocked and don't care about the Louvre.

 

[Gigaz]

Exploration is a must have for domination and culture victory on water maps. The extra production for coastal cities and the finisher for extra artifacts are awesome. The improved admiral and the extra happiness are useful.

 

[BroOfTheSun]

Good for wide, culture victories. Yes, you can win culture victories by going wide, and Exploration can help you get there. The closer is a big boast to culture and tourism, and getting all those extra artifacts can help you fill those museum slots when you go wide.

 

[kaspergm]

Problem with this tree is that opener and both level 1 policies are great, both level 2 policies are really bad, and the level 3 policy and finisher are mediocre at best, so it's really hard to find a case where trudding through both level 2 policies just to get to the level 3 and finisher is worth it. So spend three policy points here if you have many coastal cities, or spend one if you want the Louvre, and then move on to either Rationalism or Ideologies. And if you reach that point before entering renaissance, still go somewhere else, because pretty much any policy tree opener will give you better benefits than the level 2 policies of this tree.

 

[Muskie]

I have played quite a few games but I cant get myself to take exploration. Does anyone love this policy tree or is it a red headed step child?

Yes if you want to fill your museums and wonders with artifacts. Everything else is superfulous to the extra antiquity sites, only way to get them is Exploration.