Underpowered social policies

[Lyoncet]

One think I don't fully understand. Does Police State (from Autocracy) reduce unhapiness in puppet cities?. I think it is only in annexed cities without a courthouse (The policy says that it reduces unhapiness in occupied cities). If occupied cities means only "annexed cities without a courthouse", this policy should also be buffed.

I'm reasonably sure it applies to any city that has the chain icon, meaning annexed cities without courthouses. However, I while I haven't used the policy in ages, I think the general consensus is that as things stand, it's a great policy - maybe the best the tree has to offer. This is because when combined with Theocracy, your non-courthouse annexed cities actually generate lower unhappiness per population than any other combination of factors in the game, excepting India's UA. You lose out on culture points over a puppet empire because you're annexing (and puppet empires are grossly overpowered for culture right now anyways, and I believe that they should and will be fixed), but by the time you're that deep in Autocracy, you're probably going to get way more benefit from the happiness and production/citizen control than a few extra policies anyways.

 

[ticats85]

What is the very first social policy when you unlock the freedom branch?

Last two games I've played I read it as something along the lines of unhappiness from population decreased by half. But, when I unlock it it gives me a very minimal increase in happiness (about 1 or 2) when it sounds like it should be giving me huge amounts (30ish my last game).

Am I interpreting it wrong?

 

[Antarion]

only specialist count for freedom

 

[TheMeInTeam]

Liberty + Collective Rule to Republic: Liberty is good prereq, gives a small bonus (+1 culture to every City) and opens up the tree in a great way, Collective Rule gives a bonus that is also related to Liberty, and most of us will pick this one up anyways (Free settler / settlers are 50% cheaper), but Republic is a terrible dead-end policy. +1 production to each city sounds more of a prereq bonus more than anything, it is somewhat related to both it's prereqs, but it feels like there should be an extra Policy after this one that would give something awesome (probably a pasive multiplier).

Hammers are TREMENDOUSLY scarce in this game. If RA tech blocking didn't lead to fast era jumping, it's not unreasonable that this provides more total hammers than merchant navy or the +5 one based on how early it is available...and there is a definitive present value consideration too. SP issue or strategic balance issue...not clear!

Legalism offers some odd trade-offs, but keep in mind that certain civs already seem too powerful because it exists.

Things like police state are only bad because of when you get them (unless you're just abusing the anarchy bug to spam units). -50% in annexed cities, for example, can GIVE you happiness before building a courthouse by annexing cities; that has tremendous power potential. Could you imagine if such a thing were, say, medieval? This isn't so easy to balance.

 

[jagdtigerciv]

What is the very first social policy when you unlock the freedom branch?

Last two games I've played I read it as something along the lines of unhappiness from population decreased by half. But, when I unlock it it gives me a very minimal increase in happiness (about 1 or 2) when it sounds like it should be giving me huge amounts (30ish my last game).

Am I interpreting it wrong?

It actually increases happiness based on the number of Specialists you're running. What it says is that unhappiness caused by citizens being worked as specialists is halved.

It is a very powerful social policy when you're running a lot of specialists. Even if you're only running a few specialists, you can easily pull together +2/3 happiness.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

It actually increases happiness based on the number of Specialists you're running. What it says is that unhappiness caused by citizens being worked as specialists is halved.

It is a very powerful social policy when you're running a lot of specialists. Even if you're only running a few specialists, you can easily pull together +2/3 happiness.

Strictly speaking, it reduces unhappiness IIRC. The governor does silly things with this if you let it sometimes and can lead to some pretty funny anger swings that one might struggle to figure out at first glance.