Has anybody ever used the 'Policy Saving' game-setting?

[Lordleoz]

There is a game-setting, called something like 'Policy Saving', which allows you to delay adopting policies. For example, you could have adopted 3 policies in Liberty but you delay until Classical Era, when you suddenly adopt 3 policies in Piety. Anybody found it useful? Anybody enjoys using that ability? Please share experiences of saving policies.

 

[ork75]

I have used it in some LAN games with a friend, but didn't really strategize much about it or use it to full effect. I almost never use it in single player.

 

[Adjuvant]

If a player can properly anticipate it's actually detrimental; delaying benefits.

If a player can't properly anticipate, I guess it's a fun way to spoof cultural victory.

 

[dac050]

I always play with the setting on, but rarely use it. It's most useful after I've finished my starting Policy branch (Liberty or Tradition), and for some amazing reason am very close to crossing into the Renaissance. Then I'll wait the 4 or 5 turns in order to open up Rationalism, without opening up another policy branch.

 

[joncnunn]

Personally I think it's more useful for a later point; you'll open up Classic era quick enough.

(Freedom for Cultural victories or Rationalism for any other form of victory)

 

[akashsara]

I always play with the setting on, but rarely use it. It's most useful after I've finished my starting Policy branch (Liberty or Tradition), and for some amazing reason am very close to crossing into the Renaissance. Then I'll wait the 4 or 5 turns in order to open up Rationalism, without opening up another policy branch.

This.

 

[Lordleoz]

Thx to all the replies. They made much sense. Actually I am considering playing a Cultural Victory. I am thinking about getting Tradition opener, and delay all policies until Piety is available (G&K).

 

[Lordleoz]

Oh, by the way, it is 2013 0:00 in my time zone now. Happy New Year!

 

[SnowKomodo]

Never use it, never will. I know settings are there for a reason but something about completing a game on default settings just feels 'right' for me. (This is also why I don't use mods)

 

[Heerlo]

I do turn it on in every single player game, although I never really use it.

 

[TheMarshmallowBear]

I only leave it on (as well as Promotions, cuz I just love abusing the Heal promo), and I only really use it if I really, REALLY don't wanna adopt a Policy in a tree taht I haven't opened yet (i.e, I have Tradition and Liberty finished, but haven't reached Classical Era yet so I don't wanna adopt Honor), so I save it until then.. or I save it to make something work together (save finishing the Rationalism, so I can time my free techs properly).

 

[Matthew.]

Same here, I keep it on but rarely use the feature. It is more of a "I have this master plan to adopt specific tree at a specific time. Oh WTH? I am a few turns off?"

There are mixed opinions on this, of course. Some think part of the strategy is to plan out well enough so that scenario never happens. My view is I already spent X number of hours getting to that point in the game, why throw everything away because of a couple turns are off?

 

[Alpedar]

I use it, but I tend not to ABuse it. No saving multiple policies to powerboost mid/late game policies). I usualy wait at most few turns (eg. when building national wonder, I don't want to spawn setler, but I want him just before it is finished, so he sits (and is at risk and increase maintenance) somewhere minimum amount of time.
I'm not competing with anyone, so I don't mind to take some small advantage and lot of comfort.

 

[Zezima]

I use it, but I tend not to ABuse it. No saving multiple policies to powerboost mid/late game policies). I usualy wait at most few turns (eg. when building national wonder, I don't want to spawn setler, but I want him just before it is finished, so he sits (and is at risk and increase maintenance) somewhere minimum amount of time.
I'm not competing with anyone, so I don't mind to take some small advantage and lot of comfort.

Pretty much this. I have carried over multiple policies to boost my way through Rationalism/etc. before and it can be a lot of fun but feels too much like cheating.

 

[Magma_Dragoon]

I used it to find out what it's like to finish order with a super wide France. I found the effect of having full order upon discovering industrialism rather underwhelming.

 

[compwiz1202]

I turn it on for France because sometimes if you go crazy culture but ignore science, you can fill all the starting policies before Piety opens. You used to be stuck then without it on because you couldn't pick another policy.

 

[Halcyan2]

For Culture, you could consider: Popping the Tradition opener, and then saving all your policies till the Classical era. Then quickly get Religious Tolerance. This will allow Religious Tolerance to reduce as many policies as possible. You then save your policies till Industrial, so you can complete Freedom ASAP.

For Science/Diplomacy, you can consider saving up some policies so that you finish the left side of Rationalism super quick as soon as you hit Renaissance. Later, you can save up some policies to quickly get Planned Economy in Order.

Domination, I suppose you can made a sudden push by saving policies for Autocracy.

 

[ArguCa]

I always play with the setting on, but rarely use it. It's most useful after I've finished my starting Policy branch (Liberty or Tradition), and for some amazing reason am very close to crossing into the Renaissance. Then I'll wait the 4 or 5 turns in order to open up Rationalism, without opening up another policy branch.

same here.

 

[ekat2468]

I keep on always, but only use it in my typical tall science game where I will go through tradition before going throught rationalism in sometimes 15-20 turns.

 

[Furycrab]

You can use it to get to the Rationalism +50% to RAs faster than intended, which means you'll get the bonus science 1-2 RA waves sooner, which can then be converted easily into just about anything else (including more culture which can then be used to backfill Medieval or lower trees).

This is the main reason it's not used in HOF. If you don't do the above it's most likely less efficient to save them, but it can help you if you up a timing and don't get into the Renaissance fast enough.