I have listed changes to the policy tree so they are more distinct in how they shape the empire. The bonus they provide is dependent on certain buildings being built, and those buildings are also built faster. All buildings will have their cost increased by 50%, but have that total 150% reduced to 75% with the appropriate policy. Each buildings will have a lot of different ways that it can be buffed depending on what policy is selected.
For example, the basic market will provide:
+1 food with Tradition
+1 Happiness with Liberty.
Library will provide:
+1 Culture, +1 Happiness with Tradition,
+1 Culture, +2 science, +1 Faith and no maintenance with full Piety.
This will create inflation, but other concepts will address that.
Maintenance cost will be increased for both buildings and units. Cities will be made stronger, so larger armies will be required to take down cities, and more of them will die in the process.
There will be different concepts for military offensive and defensive capabilities, as well as different ways to cope with an increased maintenance cost.
Tradition
Tradition will have a slight boost to producing military units. They will have enough extra gold from their basic buildings to have them afford one or two military units per city. They will also have extra culture from Forts, so Forts will be worth spamming. The aim is to make Tradition build a lot of forts, and afford having military units move around in their own territory to defend it. No discount to upgrading units.
Liberty
Liberty will have almost crippling nerfs to buildings units, but considerable discounts to buying units. Free citizens do not accept conscription, but having a strong enough infrastructure, they will themselves build militias that the ruling class can buy as mercenaries at a discount. Eventually, with strong enough economy, it will be able to afford having a huge offensive army, but lack the will to fight prolonged wars outside of their borders unless other social policies take hold. There will be no incentive to build forts, but units stationed in cities will require no upkeep, since the people pay for their own defense. Small discounts to upgrading units.
Honor
Honor will receive considerable boosts to battle efficiency and effects. They will have a considerable discount to producing military units, as that is a part of their culture. The units need to be financed through constant war and (greatly boosted) looting, so engaging in war will be lucrative, while being passive will eventually ruin the economy. Small discounts to military upkeep, large discounts to upgrading units.
Piety
Piety will have a culture that promotes sacrifice, increasing combat efficiency and considerably lowering maintenance costs. Upgrade costs will be slightly increased, as the soldiers and cultures are less interested in the material side of life and more to the altruistic side. Normal build speed.
Each tree will have their opening tier have some benefit and some considerable drawback:
Tradition
Adopting Tradition indicates that a civilization has dedicated themselves to their land, and have directed their efforts to cultivate it. The leaders establish a social system that provides security and basic needs but in turn stifles free trade and thought. There is a cost and reluctance associated with maintaining this order, so expansion with maintained order has its challenges.
- Free unit: 1 Worker
- Free maintenance cost for 1 unit.
- Granary: +1 culture (base 0), +100% construction rate.
- Each city you found will increase the Culture cost of policies by 10%.
Liberty
Adopting Liberty indicates that the citizens have rejected a centralized leadership. In order to do so, they had to take the cost and responsibility of their personal protection in their own hands. Being no longer forced to obey a ruler, the entire world is theirs to explore, discover, settle and profit from.
- Free unit: 1 Scout
- Free maintenance cost for 1 unit.
- 1 science in each city
- Unit Maintenance cost reduced by 10%.
- 2 gold in each city
- Caravansary: +1 culture (base 0), +100% construction rate.
- -25% Production towards Military Units.
- -10% attack for all military units.
- All workers are automated.
Honor
The opener signifies that the civilization is being incentivised to war, and they are preparing to direct the economy and production of the society to answer that call. This increased stress in the society causes a decrease in happiness.
- +1 gold in each city
- Barracks: +1 culture (base 0 culture, 3 maintenance), +100% construction rate
- Military Units gain 20% more Experience from combat.
- Free unit: 1 Warrior
- Free maintenance cost for 1 unit.
- +10% Unhappiness from Citizens in non-occupied Cities
- Notifications will be provided when new Barbarian Encampments spawn in revealed territory
- +25% Production when training Melee units
Piety
Adopting piety signals that the society is directing it's resources towards a centralized form morality.
Religions generally imprint a concept of self-sacrifice for either the group at large or for the afterlife of the individual. This expectations can have a toll on the individual, and citizens who have not accepted the tenets of the faith will feel unhappy about the restrictions. A lack of attention to maintaining the culture while demanding piety from the population can have a destabilizing effect.
*Shrines: +1 Culture, +100 construction rate.
*+1 culture in each city
*+1 faith in each city
*Palace provides +1 Culture, Faith, Gold, Production, and Science
*-5% happiness from Citizens in non-occupied Cities
*-5% Production in cities when constructing Buildings (including Wonders)
Much more information available here:
http://yasergames.com/index.php/2nd_try_2019-09-27
