slavery - how to use?

[rafisher]

I switched to Slavery in my last game, but then realized I had no idea how to use it: how do you go about sacrificing population to finish building something? I went into the city but couldn't find a way to do this!

Thanks.

 

[flamingzaroc121]

in the city screen next to the minimap are a bunch of buttons , slavery is second one down on the keft

 

[Cam_H]

Also see Zombie's Micromanagement is alive and well in Civ 4! article - the section 'Whip 'til your hands bleed' on really how to use Slavery.

Also, you must have sufficient population in your city to use the whip. Small cities with a large build in the queue will be unable to whip - the game will advise you of the required population when your mouse pointer hovers over the Slavery button.

 

[kovacsflo]

Reading the title of the thread I thought that the question meant the tactic of sacreficing (when to do that, when not, etc.)

I think this is too expensive way of finishing a building, but there can be special situations. However apply this civic just from these situation (not mentioning that I always try discover code of laws, partly because of caste system).

Flóri

 

[InFlux5]

"this is too expensive way of finishing a building"

Small cities with a large build in the queue will be unable to whip

In other words, you'll do better if you whip small stuff.

 

[Softnum]

Note that they've fixed the overflow bug mentioned in the Micromanagement article in Warlords, so Slavery, while still a good tactic, is much less powerful in Warlords then Vanilla.

 

[Andorim]

Slavery can be useful when a city reaches a health or happiness cap -- just whip away those sick and unhappy workers. I often will whip a granary or a lighthouse, as the improved food supply will quickly grow back. It is also good for temples, markets, or coliseums in unhappy cities.

If possible, always whip at least two population; otherwise the unhappiness created might negate the positive effect of the newly produced item.

 

[cabert]

about how to whip, cam_h showed it well.
About what to whip, when to whip, here are my guidelines.

- working good tiles is a priority. Do you need a library more than the 8 cpt from a gold mine? I don't think so.
- whipping is only worth what you whip is worth. Here are 4 good whipping objects : granary, library, axe, catapult. Those objects all have in common that you can (at some point) whip them for 2 pop points, they also are amongst the most useful builds possible.
Other good candidates :
* caravels when you discover optics.
* Something that will give a bunch of overflow on the turn before you discover a tech opening a wonder.
* A defensive unit when you get backstabbed.
* the "special" buildings = those cheap ones you have because of your traits.
* a forge/temple/theater/market = happiness buildings. They will help you growing (when the whip weariness is wearing off).
- Whipping can help you manage happiness. For this you need to whip 2 or more pops each time. If you whip one pop, you have the same unhappiness you had before. If you whip 2, you have a net advantage of 1 unhappiness + you'll grow back too fast if you whip one pop = unhappiness from the whip will be visible. Exception = granary whipped asap because it will help you grow fast enough to whip efficiently the rest