javad said:
Does Propaganda EVER work?
Propaganda works fairly well when used correctly. What you have to realize is that it will cost a considerable sum of money, and it is only useful in certain situations.
1. Annexing towns that have just changed hands.
The reason being that the culture for these towns is 0 there usually aren't many military units there, and the population is usually fairly low due to the size reduction on conquest, pop rushing and drafting. This causes the cost of the propaganda attempt to be significantly decreased which allows for repeated attempts on the same turn.
2. Establishing a beachead on those backward AI Islands that you occasionally find on Archipelago maps.
This allows you to gain a harbor, build up culture, and move your troops in all before you start the war.
3. Taking one square islands without a pain in the ass marine invasion.
IMO worth just about any price in gold to avoid that much micromanagement deadly bombers has made this much easier, but it still takes forever and a bunch of resources to set up and execute a successfull marine invasion.
4. (Regent and below) Pulling half of an AI's continent out from under them during a gov change.
It might just be my imagination, but during anarchy it seems like the cost of Propaganda goes down, and the success rate goes up. So gift or sell a new gov to a non religious civ, kill research to make money,watch your mil advisor for their anarchy period to start and hit them with every cent you have. Chances are you'll pull at least a few.
5. Retaking your towns that have just fallen to the AI.
They're your people, they're probably resisting, the town's culture is zero, and it's usually under cultural pressure from your other neighboring towns, so it will very likely work.
The main advantage to propaganda is that it is the only way of acquiring cities peacefully. It does cost a lot and it is never guaranteed to work but it effectively allows you to buy cities. If it worked any better it would be unbalancing.
