Republic?

[Dell19]

I decided in my latest game to avoid using Monarchy since I didn't think I would be able to have an early war as I didn't have a close neighbour however I was rapidly growing so when I decided to change to Republic I was suprised to see my cash flow very very low. At some points I was actually losing money until my cities began to grow abit as now I can have a reasonable research rate. Considering that I didn't have a huge number of units I think I will wait abit longer until changing next time until I have finished expanding.

Fortunately I should still be able to win as I've built several wonders including the GL which allowed me to run at 0% research. Its on Monarchy and I was just wondering when people change to republic in their own games?

 

[ummmm........]

I'm a strict Republic/Democracy player, and I usually switch to Republic as soon as I get it. That said, it is usually the last tech I get from the AA. I used to have the type of problems you are describing, and while most people will emphasize luxuries and marketplaces as prequistes for switching to Republic (and those are certainly important) my experience has been that a well developed road network is really the decisive factor. The main benefit of Rep/Dem is the extra commerce in each tile that is already producing at least one. In other words, make sure all of your tiles are producing at least one. It should make the difference.

 

[kb2tvl]

The down side to Rep is not being able to fully eliminate a civ that has been beaten down. That is you spent the time to destroy their military and now all that is left is to take their cities.

 

[ummmm........]

You can finish wars as a Republic (or a Democracy) if you are careful and have a good understanding of the mechanics of war weariness. One mistake a lot of folks make is underutilizing the luxury slider. You've got all that extra gold, so spending a bit of it for luxuries late in a war isn't really a waste. If you were a monarchy, you wouldn't have the gold anyway, so . . .

 

[Dell19]

Yeah another mistake I made was to not consider building marketplaces. Next time I think I will wait longer before changing or consider going to Monarchy first if I'm a religious civ.

 

[collin_stp]

I always change to republic as soon as I can also, and rarely go into monarchy, unless I am warring (or plan to soon), and am religious. I don't know how many units you had, but I rarely have that many units when I switch, since I usually either use them up in an AA war, or I don't build a ton, because there is no good opportunity to war. I try to build quite a few marketplaces before I switch to republic (or soon after the switch), which usually takes care of the money problem, and at least in my last few games, I seem to have little problems after the switch, but I remember having the same problems as you when I tried to go straight for republic, forgetting about everything else. So, I guess my first statement is not 100% true, since it is not my highest research priority now.

 

[Dell19]

I had 1 unit per city plus a couple of extra units...

 

[Theoden]

I rarely go into Republic. The reason, I always have a lot of units in despotism since i can support them. And going to republic with as many units as i have (and I don't build many) it is suicidal to go to republic.

 

[dmanakho]

I decided in my latest game to avoid using Monarchy since I didn't think I would be able to have an early war as I didn't have a close neighbour however I was rapidly growing so when I decided to change to Republic I was suprised to see my cash flow very very low. At some points I was actually losing money until my cities began to grow abit as now I can have a reasonable research rate. Considering that I didn't have a huge number of units I think I will wait abit longer until changing next time until I have finished expanding.

Fortunately I should still be able to win as I've built several wonders including the GL which allowed me to run at 0% research. Its on Monarchy and I was just wondering when people change to republic in their own games?

This is a usual thing with republic. If you don't have marketplaces you will always have issues with cash flow, so it's better to have at least some infrastructure before switching, but in a long run it's all worth it

 

[dmanakho]

The down side to Rep is not being able to fully eliminate a civ that has been beaten down. That is you spent the time to destroy their military and now all that is left is to take their cities.

What exactly do you mean???
In my experience i always can switch to republic, have almost non-stop wars until modern age and keep annihilating one AI after another, plus keep my "We Love the King Day" going in all my core cities. It's just all about right management and nothing else.

 

[kadgl]

I agree with Ummmm...., my road network is the deciding factor on when to switch. I'm usually a little behind in my worker actions when I discover Republic, so sometimes have to wait. Once I have, say, 3/4s of my worked tiles roaded, I'll switch. This is on Emporer.

 

[joycem10]

for me, im looking for a 25-50% of my cities over size 6. that way the unit support doesnt cut into my income quite as badly.

 

[kb2tvl]

What exactly do you mean???
In my experience i always can switch to republic, have almost non-stop wars ...

What level are you playing on and do you use infantry(foot + seige) stacks? How early do you start waring? Is your map a huge panagea? or smaller islands?

 

[dmanakho]

What exactly do you mean???
In my experience i always can switch to republic, have almost non-stop wars ...

What level are you playing on and do you use infantry(foot + seige) stacks? How early do you start waring? Is your map a huge panagea? or smaller islands?

I usually play continents and usually on monarch level.
trick is to calculate your every move during the war, do not use multiple turn city sieges but rather take enemy cities in one turn. Try not to lose too many of your own units. Basically use all possible steps to keep war weariness down. Use luxury slider and get access to as many luxuries as you can plus have market places in as many cities as it is rationally possible.
Republic is not as bad with war weariness as democracy. It quite okay to wage wars... ALthough for constant warmongering monarchy-> communism can be a better path.
Again, it is a matter of personal taste

 

[Samson]

for me, im looking for a 25-50% of my cities over size 6. that way the unit support doesnt cut into my income quite as badly.

This is what I think as well. Having aqueducts is far more important than market places. Construction is the most expesive tech after republic (except perhaps Monachy, I never go for that) but I will try and get this and build the aqueducts before I have my one and only revolution.

 

[dmanakho]

This is what I think as well. Having aqueducts is far more important than market places. Construction is the most expesive tech after republic (except perhaps Monachy, I never go for that) but I will try and get this and build the aqueducts before I have my one and only revolution.

There is only one gotcha with 6+ population and early republic-> You need either to have more luxuries or spend more money adjusting luxury slider to keep your population happy.

 

[Samson]

There is only one gotcha with 6+ population and early republic-> You need either to have more luxuries or spend more money adjusting luxury slider to keep your population happy.

This does not tend to worry me too much. The extra pop should be getting at least 2 commerce in, so I do not mind spending one of them on keeping him happy.