How to Improve Civ while at the happiness cap

[Smote]

Well, first off, if you're like me, you're already have found all the luxuries, built all the collosseums, and STILL want more cities/population.

You're probably filled to the brim with conquered cities, and wanting to add that next juicy city to your empire.

Well, additional advancement will only happen through more efficient use of population/cities. So while before this cap, any old city near 1 luxury was acceptable, our standards have improved.

Now, we rate every city in our empire. Gold output/production output/science output/# useful luxuries vs happiness cost of keeping the city. Use whatever scaling as desired, to give each city an overall rating: combined usefullness - cost.

Example of scaling equation:

gold output *1 + production*2 +science*2 + #useful luxuries*8 -happinesscost*5

Order this list.

Now, upon capturing a new city, we merely apply our equation. If the city is better than our worst city, we add this city to our empire and burn our worst city down. If this city is not, we burn it down.

Sadly some cities are non-burnable, and I recommend giving them to other civilizations if they are at the bottom of the list.

This is how you continuously improve your civilization while maintaining the same happiness levels.

Usually this strategy desires burning down any puppet city without a collosseum, as you cannot order puppet cities to build them without taking an additional happiness hit for control. Don't even try to build a courthouse, its impossible.

Your happiness consultant,
Smote

 

[Izmir Stinger]

You are essentially advocating strengthening your empire by means of pogroms.

 

[Nunya]

Another way to do it: found a city, click avoid growth, buy a Coliseum and Theater. Voila, you just gained a net 5 hapiness and thats without accouting for social policies like Meritocracy and Planned Economy.

 

[Monthar]

Well, first off, if you're like me, you're already have found all the luxuries, built all the collosseums, and STILL want more cities/population.

Build Theaters in a few cities, such as those few you want to be large production areas. You can also try planning for those policies that either boost happiness or reduce unhappiness. This is where the Cultured city states help.

Usually this strategy desires burning down any puppet city without a collosseum, as you cannot order puppet cities to build them without taking an additional happiness hit for control. Don't even try to build a courthouse, its impossible.

If your people are unhappy, Puppets will prioritize the next happiness building they can build.

 

[Smote]

Yeah, you're right, I should probably city spam with size 2 cities with collosseum+library+theatre+2 scientists+avoid growth.

Just finished my first huge/deity/marathon game as China 467 turns of epic wars, 1 with 5 cavalry trapped in texas, holding off an army of 15 riflemen. (Yes, I sent 5 cavalry to attack America.)

Did you know that riflemen who used to be pikemen are very tough on cavalry?

Too true.