Is the Industrious Trait "THAT Powerful"

[lazarus319l]

OK - So I know that many think the Industrious trait is one of the best if not the best, behind agriculture. But with the 200% worker speed down to 150% and the game rounding up with any jobs workers do, is this trait really that great?


I've always played a CIV with it based on many articles read here but after realizing the computer was rounding against me and reading the article below to find out the actual benefit is only 18% I'm thinking that it's not that good of a trait. Mind you, I recognize that any time bonus or turn bonus you can get at the onset of the game is HUGE...but I wanted to know what other people thingk


http://www.civfanatics.com/content/civ3/strategy/cracker/civ3_starts/index.htm

 

[TheOverseer714]

It isn't as good as Vanilla, I agree there, but still pretty good. Ag is more powerful, but play a game where you aren't the major player, watch who wins the wars. China, Persia, the Ottomans and France are generally duking it out with the Aggies for top dog. And ask yourself why the Maya are usually so strong. Simple, they have the 2 best traits. Agricultural and Industrious.

 

[Taras Bulba]

yessir

yessir it is

 

[iambenben]

i usually use seafaring and scientific, usually because i like playing on islands

 

[Sweetchuck]

It isn't as good as Vanilla, I agree there, but still pretty good. Ag is more powerful, but play a game where you aren't the major player, watch who wins the wars. China, Persia, the Ottomans and France are generally duking it out with the Aggies for top dog. And ask yourself why the Maya are usually so strong. Simple, they have the 2 best traits. Agricultural and Industrious.

Plus the Javelin Thrower.

 

[Optional]

A while ago there was this thread: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=264129, in which the question was which trait you would rate as the weakest. I answered Industrious, and you can look up my reasoning there if you want.

My experiences haven't changed much. I've moved up a level since. One of my first games on Demigod I played with Korea, I started next to the Mayans, which was a strike of good luck, because I had no problem wiping them out.
I'm now trying to play a good game as the Mayans, and I find that a lot more difficult: no Alphabet and no early contacts means that I'm likely to fall behind. I like the Javelin thrower, but they're expensive at 30 shields, so I have a problem building up a military quickly. Also they can give me a Golden Age in Despotism, so I find this a tricky unit.
The enslavement feature is interesting, but not strong. Ordinary town captures give you much more slaves. In my last (failed) game as the Mayans I captured a Chinese town and caught 16 slave workers, as there were 6 settlers and 4 workers hiding there. Compared to those numbers, what the Javelin thrower manages to enslave is mere bread crumbs.
So I guess I'll be stuck with the Mayans for a while, trying to play them better!

 

[vmxa]

Industry was nuked a bit in C3C as it was so strong in C3 and PTW. I still love to have the trait as it lets me skimp a bit on workers early in the game.

Be careful about comparing the traits value by looking at the nations as many other factors come into play. The second trait and their UU are huge as well.

I personally do not like Ag as it drives me crazy with that extra food and I am trying to balance my growth. It a strong trait, I just find it annoying.

Commerce give you alpha and I love the French with Comm/Ind and their UU does not cause me to worry about triggering a GA.

Everyone loves the Iroq, but the MW also has a bit part to play.

 

[Hasdrubal Barca]

If you play your cards right an industrial trait can beat an agricultural, of course if both players have equal skills and good starting postions it can become difficult, but then again thats utopic, starts are never difficult and players have different tactics...