Thank you for the kind words. I remember that you said one time you only play England. I like them very, very much too... one of the most versatile civs, I think. Amazing UUs, amazing UA (the spy especially)...
About the monument...I like it in all new cities as first building, but in the capital I don't usually prioritize it.
1) When Tradition: I don't build it, I wait for the Legalism policy. I build scouts and rush the shrine instead if I have good dirt for a pantheon.
2) When Liberty: I don't prioritize it, because:
- either my warrior or scouts reveal some good place to settle (a natural wonder, perhaps), and I will produce a settler quickly without waiting for Liberty policy that gives one. The monument gets delayed until after shrine, granary, water mill (I like food buildings a lot). It's still good for border expansion, after all.
- there is no good enough place to hurry to settle, so I can wait for Collective Rule. And while the monument helps you get faster to it, I still prefer to build other things like shrine, granary, or a wonder.
3) When Honor or Piety, I build it ASAP, but after 2 scouts and the shrine. (I still take Tradition Opener when I want to go deep into Honor or Piety, 3 culture and fast borders are just too good to skip).
About the monument...I like it in all new cities as first building, but in the capital I don't usually prioritize it.
1) When Tradition: I don't build it, I wait for the Legalism policy. I build scouts and rush the shrine instead if I have good dirt for a pantheon.
2) When Liberty: I don't prioritize it, because:
- either my warrior or scouts reveal some good place to settle (a natural wonder, perhaps), and I will produce a settler quickly without waiting for Liberty policy that gives one. The monument gets delayed until after shrine, granary, water mill (I like food buildings a lot). It's still good for border expansion, after all.
- there is no good enough place to hurry to settle, so I can wait for Collective Rule. And while the monument helps you get faster to it, I still prefer to build other things like shrine, granary, or a wonder.
3) When Honor or Piety, I build it ASAP, but after 2 scouts and the shrine. (I still take Tradition Opener when I want to go deep into Honor or Piety, 3 culture and fast borders are just too good to skip).