Yeah, that's what I did.
And I used republic for a while, not cause the happiness hit, but for the +25% GPP. I did this when I was trying to get two prophets, and a Great Bard for my last mana. (Also changed traits to the ones that enabled unlimited specialist for those during that time)
And I built mokka's cauldron, demon's altar and the soul forge in my best production city (rushing them with gold when I could), then I finished the last towers, and then I built the capital there, and switched to God King, Serfdom and Religious Discipline. And started building the Tower of Mastery. I got my golden age from the saved up Great People, then I started sacrificing units in the city for Hammers, Research and Golems. I built adepts that started with 17 exp that I sacrificed too. It took 2 golden ages, sacrificing my archmages and most of my wizards, firebows and then with 7 turns to go, I rushed it with Gold.
And I used republic for a while, not cause the happiness hit, but for the +25% GPP. I did this when I was trying to get two prophets, and a Great Bard for my last mana. (Also changed traits to the ones that enabled unlimited specialist for those during that time)
And I built mokka's cauldron, demon's altar and the soul forge in my best production city (rushing them with gold when I could), then I finished the last towers, and then I built the capital there, and switched to God King, Serfdom and Religious Discipline. And started building the Tower of Mastery. I got my golden age from the saved up Great People, then I started sacrificing units in the city for Hammers, Research and Golems. I built adepts that started with 17 exp that I sacrificed too. It took 2 golden ages, sacrificing my archmages and most of my wizards, firebows and then with 7 turns to go, I rushed it with Gold.