How to use Hereditary Rule?

[Xpl]

I'm sorry if this seems a bit stupid, but what is an efficient way to use Hereditary Rule?
In my case my cities grow too fast. This is good and all, but when I switch to representation or whatever later in the game, unhappiness cripples my cities.

Of course there's the avoid growth button, but I may leave it there and my cities won't expand at all. So basically my question is, how can you effectively use this civic to your advantage without too much micromanaging?

 

[michmbk]

I have had games where I don't ever get out of HR - a civic that ensures happiness is only limited by your ability to pay for unit upkeep.

In games where you don't have many happiness resources, monarchy is a must to increase your happy cap. I then will usually just build cheap defenders. Hopefully by the time you're thinking about rep you have other opportunities to increase your happy cap (colosseums, theatres, trades for happy resources...), so the switch doesn't end up being that painful.

It's a pretty simple civic to use IMO - build units when you're close to your happy cap and keep your cities growing. Goes very well with an empire loaded with cottages.

 

[cbucks]

Pillage your copper and iron mines and build warriors

 

[Aken420]

u most probably wont use all ur attacker .... so rally dem in the cities far from ur cultural border ..... n d cities near ur cultural border i most probably gonna be full of defending units

 

[Framesticker]

That used to be a major sticking point for me too - dealing with post-HR unhappiness. Here's I learned to deal with it:

Metal Casting is an extremely valuable tech, even more so if you're Industrious. They're expensive hammer wise, but the 25% multiplier is HUGE early on, and getting your happiness from Mining resources doubled is also a great benefit. However, if produced early enough, you have lots of time preparing for what comes after HR. Colosseums and Theatres early on will probably be enough, but Markets and mass Temples is where the real benefits lie.

MC -> Early.

 

[CivMonger]

Nothing solves unhappiness problems like taking luxury resources from your neighbors

I've heard asking sometimes works too, but haven't bothered to confirm this "getting along with others" strategy.

 

[vanillasine]

Pillage your copper and iron mines and build warriors

u just blew my mind.. u can pillage ur own resources O.o didn't realize u can do this

 

[Sisiutil]

If you're switching to Representation later in the game, make sure you switch to Free Religion as well and have spread several religions to your cities. The free +1 for each religion should help compensate for the loss of military unit happiness. Each religion can also add a temple--which are very cheap in the late game--for another +1 .

Also, take over or trade for more happiness resources, and built more happiness multipliers. Markets and forges are great for this.