Why be a Republic?

[Wartavia]

Could anyone tell me if and why they use Republic as a government?

I play on deity and I never use it. I start on Despotism, go for Monarchy at the earliest opportunity, as I think everyone does. Then I will try to get Statue of Liberty and go for an early Communism. When I have upped my shield production to a suitable level (most cities having factories), I change to Democracy (hopefully with Michaelangelos to help control unhappiness).

I have experimented with Republic of course, but found that it caused serious unhappiness problems with no particular benefit, particularly when it's still quite early in the game.

Am I missing something?

 

[Terrapin]

Am I missing something?

Not too much. I use republic as an intermediate phase between monarchy and democracy. Its advantages are the extra trade you gain, a much smaller concern with in-the-field troops than Demo and the ability to grow your cities with celebrations. I try to put together an early round of city growth before entering Democracy. It is worth noting that I am a peace/trade/spaceships player, not a commy/shields/war player.

 

[la fayette]

Wartavia
Republic is very very useful (let us say unavoidable) if you play a peaceful game aiming at early landing.
Republic is almost no use at all if you play a warmonger's game aiming at early conquest.

Compared with Monarchy, the main drawbacks in a peaceful game are: greedy settlers (2 food/turn), lack of free supported units (3/city) and lack of marshall law (3/city). If you are at war there are 2 more drawbacks: unhappy wives if more than one unit is away from home, and vicious Senate that signs cease fires behind your back when you are willing to fight.

But Republic brings 2 huge advantages: One more trade arrow (+ higher delivery bonuses and trade routes), and WLTCD (celebration).
A well planned celebration gives such a boost to your civ that the first time you manage it, you feel almost like cheating

TRY IT
(or you will never become a good deity player )

 

[Titi]

I would have said the same as Terrapin but la fayette ends his explanations with

try it or you'll never become a good deity player

I thought I was, but only with despotism / monarchy / democracy
Maybe I'll try to have republic when it's available, and see if I become a better player !

 

[Old n Slow]

I used to skip Republic as well, but now see the incremental gains between Monarchy & more sophisticated governments.

A key consideration -- trade.

Once you can get those camels off to distant markets, the payoff is soooo much better in Republic; not to mention spending a few turns (maybe just three or four) to grow your cities to a larger size. mmm mmm good.

Good times to ease away from Monarchy are when the local envrions have been searched as well as can be, and when war is not the most pressing concern. When those conditions occur, thoughts of trade should begin, and the search for a government that will exploit the best from that.

 

[ElephantU]

Republic is available much earlier than Democracy (in fact, it is a necessary prerequisite). Some players go direct from Despotism to Republic (particularly playing One City Challenge), but the Settler food difference and the 3 supported units in Monarchy are worth considering. If your empire is ready, making the earlier switch to Republic gives you much more trade and bigger caravan bonuses than waiting for Democracy, as well as a period of celebration growth and lower corruption and waste.

 

[zenon]

Republic is a must in Early Landing Games for the reasons pointed out in this tread. I usually switch to republic before delivering caravans overseas. Playing OCC or Early Landing under favourable conditions (small map, good SSC site) Early Republic is still my choice. You just have to research one more tech for Republic compared to Monarchy and you can usually skip Monarchy completely. Feudalism (or even better Chivalry) can be traded for later in most cases.
With the luxury slider at 30 or 40% unhappiness is not really a problem. You are still researching faster than under Monarchy. In the end its just a comparison between lesser shields/food and better trade/research + earlier celebration.

 

[mangor420]

wartavia you are right republic is no good you can not have ships out exploring or fight i challenge anyone to play me as a republic. i will beat you before you get to democracy.

 

[Terrapin]

Uhhhh, Mangor,, you might want to read this site a little more carefully before issuing open ended challenges... some of these folks are obscenely good at this game...

 

[mangor420]

i stand by my statment any one who thinks they can win as a republic want to accept?

 

[mangor420]

BEST GAME DIETY LEVEL RAGING BARBS DOUBLE PRODUCTION DOUBLE MOVES SEVEN CIVS WIPED OUT ALL AT 500 B. C.

 

[funxus]

Originally posted by mangor420
BEST GAME DIETY LEVEL RAGING BARBS DOUBLE PRODUCTION DOUBLE MOVES SEVEN CIVS WIPED OUT ALL AT 500 B. C.

Even if you are as good as you say, bragging about it isn't a good thing, shouting (CAPITAL LETTERS) is frowned upon, and are you really as good when it comes to landing a spaceship or playing other types of games like OCC. Some will land a spaceship if you give them 1000 more years than you take to wipe all out, which to me sounds like a much better achievement. Besides, you never said what you're map configuration was, which is quite a big factor. (I'm not myself very good, I just don't like the attitude)

I know this was a challenge Monarchy vs. Republic, and I'm sure that if your target is early conquest, very few would choose republic, but for many other types of games, republic can be quite useful, as pointed out.

 

[mangor420]

trying to root out a real player sorry if i offended you peace

 

[mangor420]

about the capital letters on the post right before i had to press the cap button to make ? forgot to un lock it not good at typing again sorry...... peace

 

[Terrapin]

Hmmmm, forgot about the caps lock... would that have to do with "mangor" or "420?" Enquiring minds want to know!

 

[mangor420]

420 time all day

 

[mangor420]

as for la fayettes statment it will not help you be a good diety player. he is wrong. check my post in great wall vs sun tzu if you want to win fast.if you want to land space ships that is another thing

 

[la fayette]

Originally posted by mangor420
as for la fayettes statment it will not help you be a good diety player. he is wrong. check my post in great wall vs sun tzu if you want to win fast.if you want to land space ships that is another thing

(if you start reading on this forum and take advice from better players, you sure will improve your gameplay within a few months, but if you just go on bragging upon one game in 2x2x, it will lead you nowhere)

 

[mangor420]

am on line for game ip 67.22.42.36

 

[Archer 007]

Republic is great for early economics.