The powerful Sacrificial Altar

[Kark]

I'm playing Aztecs for the first time ever in . The Sacrificial Altar with its –50% duration from sacrificing population must be one of the most powerful UBs. It seems like this and the the Spiritual trait will make Slavery an nice option also when I reach more modern times. For the first time the Cristo Redentor feels like an important goal.

Interesting combination ...

 

[phungus420]

I consider it the best UB in the game.

 

[Ghpstage]

I'm playing Aztecs for the first time ever in . The Sacrificial Altar with its –50% duration from sacrificing population must be one of the most powerful UBs. It seems like this and the the Spiritual trait will make Slavery an nice option also when I reach more modern times. For the first time the Cristo Redentor feels like an important goal.

Interesting combination ...

Christo Redentor doesn't really add much to Spiritual, the Wonder you really should be chasing is the Kremlin

The Sac. Alter is my vote for best UB too

 

[TheMeInTeam]

If it isn't #1, it is way up there. It costs less than normal courthouses and has a great special ability...in the past I've voted it best UB and I usually go between it and some others like ikhanda/hammam/etc. but it's got to be close to the top.

 

[theskibum]

I agree with the above sentiment. Certainly in the top 5 for UBs

 

[Kierkegaard]

Top 5 for sure. But I wouldn't vote it number one. That depends on the situation.

(tbh; I didn't play with the aztecs much. )

 

[Kark]

Christo Redentor doesn't really add much to Spiritual, the Wonder you really should be chasing is the Kremlin

I was thinking about the no wait between changing civics or religion. Haven't come so far in the game yet, but it seems to me that using slavery in modern times must be an on-and-off thing. Then the CR would be handy in combination with the Altar. (Can't see how the Kremlin would help, but that's maybe a joke?)

Using Sacrificial Altar after discovering Mass Media and the Internet ... Luckily there's no Amnesty International in the game.

 

[Ghpstage]

I was thinking about the no wait between changing civics or religion. Haven't come so far in the game yet, but it seems to me that using slavery in modern times must be an on-and-off thing. Then the CR would be handy in combination with the Altar.

Using Sacrificial Altar after discovering Mass Media and the Internet ... Luckily there's no Amnesty International in the game.

You need a little bit of time to make use of the whip when you swap, without the CR you only need to wait 5 turns so it isn't a big deal. Cycling civics with Spiritual leaders is something I do a lot during a given game, especially between Slavery, Caste and their supporting civics.

Can't see how the Kremlin would help, but that's maybe a joke?

I don't think Slavery is ever worth using in the late game without the Kremlin..
It reduces rush costs by 1/3, this applies to both rushbuy under US and whipping with Slavery. To make 2 pop do the work of 3 then each pop point slaved must recive a 50% boost, from 30 to 45 hammers: multiplies like Forges or Factories work here too)
This goes a long way toward improving its efficiency at a point in the game where high populations and strong competing tiles would otherwise make Slaving pointless.

 

[Kark]

I don't think Slavery is ever worth using in the late game without the Kremlin. It reduces rush costs by 1/3, this applies to both rushbuy under US and whipping with Slavery.

Aha. I thought it was only when using . You can always learn something new on this forum.

 

[Iranon]

Number 1 for me as well... it often enables more efficient sustainable production and makes sudden bursts (whip every 2 rounds for a quick military buildup for a strike) markedly less costly.

Ikhanda and Rathaus are stiff competition because they too are available early, provide decent benefits right away and ridiculous ones in the late game. However, those mostly come into their own when one is winning anyway... I haven't yet played a game in which I managed to spread well-stocked corporations and still lost.

 

[Grey Fox]

It's a great UB, and really defines the Aztek playstyle. There is no reason not to whip with the Aztecs.

Definitely top 3 or so for me. Might be top 1 but I've almost never played the Aztecs so can't really say. But I think I will play them more in the future. Got a nice Emperor difficulty game going with the Aztecs and man has it been fun to whip whip and whip some more. Spiritual is awesome too.

 

[§L¥ Gµ¥]

I play on normal speed and I've never gone out of my way to pick the Aztecs to try out the alter. Courthouses are quite expensive, and come towards the end of my REX & Whip phase to seem attractive as an option to me. I prefer something like the hippodrome, a theatre with double happiness to offset the emancipation penalty of a late game SE.

 

[Grey Fox]

You just whip em with 3 to 4 pop. And your whip phase will be extended with this building, or you're just not playing the Aztecs.

 

[DigitalBoy]

I haven't played as the Aztecs, but if I did I suspect I wouldn't care much for the Sacrificial Altar. By the time I get access to and have built courthouses, I'm usually phasing out of slavery.

 

[phungus420]

Maybe it's the way I play, but I never want to phase out of slavery. The decision to do so is either based on wanting to use Emancipation to punish other civs, or because other civs are running emacipation and I'm tired of being punished. Either way it's never because I want to give up slavery. I realize Caste System and Vassalage are useful, but I've just never found that they compare to the power of slavery except in very specific conditions. I mean I've used them to good effect, but 90% of the time I find slavery better. I've also not played the Aztecs much, but the SA is just so in your face good you can't help but notice it, much like the Dike, but I think the SA is far and away better because it has such a long useful lifespan. I also agree with Iranon and others that there are other UBs that are very good as well and compete for the top slot, like the Ikhanda and Cothon, but at least for me the SA is clearly my choice for best UB.