Specialists - what are they? How do they work?

[mellojoe]

I really don't understand Specialists. Am I supposed to be toggling on the blank icons and put people there? Why do my cities get -Health [] for Specialists? Are they unhappy because I have too few? Are they unhappy because I have too many? What is the deal?

How do I make specialists work? and what do I need to be doing with them?

 

[Bandobras Took]

I really don't understand Specialists. Am I supposed to be toggling on the blank icons and put people there?

Specialists are a way of assigning a city's population to produce a certain yield rather than work a tile.

Why do my cities get -Health [] for Specialists?

Because Specialists are assigned from your population; if it's listed under a different category in you Unhealthiness tooltip, it may be because the unhappiness rate differs from the normal one. There had been some argument about that, last I heard.

How do I make specialists work? and what do I need to be doing with them?

Honestly, nothing -- they're an option. You can use specialists to avoid growth. You can also use them when there are no tiles worth working. They're a tool to produce the kind of yield you're looking for depending on the kind of specialist chosen.

 

[Ryika]

-Health may just be because the pop is assigned to a Biowell when not used as specialist.

I think there are two uses of Specialists: The Science ones can be somewhat useful later in the game to really maximize your science when you went for an "as tall as possible"-strategy. Culture Specialists can be somewhat useful in the midgame if you didn't start with Artists (which is not really a good strategy, but can occur if you like all-random-starts).

Other than that they're pretty underperforming in my opinion.

 

[Hail]

science specs are fine.
artists specs are worthwhile before reaching the bottom of the prosperity tree. after that, artists specs loose much appeal.
all others are meh.

 

[GAGA Extrem]

There might be some obscure situations where Growers or Traders might be useful (enemy blocking/pillaging improvements, new city with 3 pop that has not enough food to prevent starving, you need energy but don't have generators for some reason). But overall these two are useless. I don't think I have ever employed a grower.

And, yes, Hands Never Idle (+2 energy per specialist) makes Scientists "okay", but nothing more.

 

[Acken]

Specialists with no great persons is one of those moments I really scratch my head.

 

[Mesix]

Specialists with no great persons is one of those moments I really scratch my head.

I just don't see the value of specialists in BE.

 

[Ryika]

Well, I could actually see them working if they were WAY stronger, as an "Invest in a tech/building and have a bonus for the rest of the game"-type of thing. Don't necessarily think are absolutely needed although I too wonder what has caused them to just strip the great persons completely and basically implement nothing to make them better.

 

[Minor Annoyance]

They have their uses, but they're an after thought. Something for when you don't have anything better. Not something to plan a strategy for. Which makes the building that only provide specialist slots very underwhelming.

 

[4N4C0ND4]

Specialists with no great persons is one of those moments I really scratch my head.

This.

But on a side note, I don't miss the chore of moving generals during wars

I'm just on my second game of BE on Soyouz and I don't find specialist usefull at all. Maybe I should use the scientist a bit more at least?