How to use Republic?

[drunk7daysaweek]

Hello,
I can't seem to get any benefit from republic. I'm using Russia, did the Philosophy slingshot, got Republic and switched immediately ~1700 BC. Now, I went from +25 gold per turn to -29, I have revolts in my cities every turn, I have to turn my science down to 10% to break even and my production is forced to a halt. What gives? What am I doing wrong? My cities all have 2 spearmen defending and one scout roaming around.. I don't understand when people say there's economical and scientific advantages to Republic.

 

[Bartleby]

You need more roads

 

[gmaharriet]

I don't always switch into Republic immediately. If I don't have enough roads or other development, and especially if I'm in the middle of a war, I wait. Currency is a great tech to go after while you're still developing, because markets seem to give a huge boost to your gpt.

 

[Theoden]

You need to have lots of roads and a few cities at size 7+ to give a reasonable amount of support. You also need a few luxuries, three is good, and marketplaces to increase the effect of the luxuries and to increase income. You also have to somewhat limit you military since unit upkeep is expensive.

 

[Own]

Before all of the following is done, disband most of your military so you're okay for the moment.

Road every tile, build mrkt's/libraries and banks/universities (depending on how much you're researching). You'll be pouring in the ca$h.

 

[Chris Withers]

garrisons (military police) don't help in Republic or Democracy. So those spearman you have in your cities are not helpful in keeping citizens happy. I recall that I have to bump up my happiness slider after going to Republic due to this. Perhaps from 0 to 10%. Also, you need marketplaces in your best cities asap

 

[WackenOpenAir]

Hello,
I can't seem to get any benefit from republic. I'm using Russia, did the Philosophy slingshot, got Republic and switched immediately ~1700 BC. Now, I went from +25 gold per turn to -29, I have revolts in my cities every turn, I have to turn my science down to 10% to break even and my production is forced to a halt. What gives? What am I doing wrong? My cities all have 2 spearmen defending and one scout roaming around.. I don't understand when people say there's economical and scientific advantages to Republic.

That is the problem.

luxuries, size7+ cities and markets are very very good for republic, but not even a real requirement.
Useless units completely destroy your game.

Roads on every tile i think is basic enough that it doesn't need to be told.

 

[Shadzy19]

Just take a look at you'r unit upkeep cost and you know what is wrong
lets say 20 cities below 7 and no marketplaces means you can only have 20 units before u have to pay upkeep .
40 defenders + 1 scout + 15ish workers = 56 units thats 36 to much at 2 gold a unit .
72 gpt in the AA is huge.
This doesnt even add in happiness.
I rather wait to go for republic untill i have a few 7+ cities and a few marketplaces up unless im a argri civ .

 

[CarnDaWoods]

one spearman per city is ample. one worker per city. anything above that has to be used in conquering new cities as quickly as possible. If you can last till you start building market places you will be so far in front it will not be funny.

 

[Mordack]

I am also experimenting with Repuplic based on some good tips from folks in this forum(thank you tomoyo)

in a nutshell I would say that the key to making it work is having a lot of workers building a lot of roads

marketplaces and banks are also very important

 

[WackenOpenAir]

one spearman per city is ample. one worker per city. anything above that has to be used in conquering new cities as quickly as possible. If you can last till you start building market places you will be so far in front it will not be funny.

dont call spearmen and workers in on sentence !

Better use no spearmen at all.
With workers you should not limit yourself for the sake of upkeep. Workers are the liveblood of your civ.

 

[Tomoyo]

Spearmen do have their uses... when you have no horses, they can accompany your sword and catapult stack (high level) and die in place of your swords.

 

[gunkulator]

I'd rather have the 2 more swordsmen than 3 spearmen.

 

[Tomoyo]

I'd rather have a dead spearman than a dead swordsman... but I'd rather have a living swordsman than a dead spearman...

 

[Pentium]

Answer to original question: No military, as many workers as your unit support.

 

[mastertyguy]

No military? If someone declares war? I'd say 1-2 spears on borders. But drunk has built too much of those. You shouldn't have built this much. You are better to build workers.

 

[Empiremaker]

In regards to your spears disband half and move half to your borders. If you sign a ROP move 1 to every city to prevent a sneak attack.
There was a similar thread about this about a week ago. Look at that for more advice.

 

[Pentium]

If you are too much a coward to not have military, use attackers. A horseman can defend 2-3 cities at a time, while spearman can only defend one. And the AI fears attackers more than defenders.