"Happy" buildings or Lux slider? Which is more efficient?

[snardo]

I've seen a number of comments to the effect that at low difficulty levels one should not need to build the more expensive "happy" improvements (i.e. cathedrals and colliseums). Is this because it is more efficient to use the lux slider in the F1 screen?

I guess it's worth trying out. Right now I've got a C3C game on Warlord in the late 1300s AD and mid-MA tech-wise. I was just recently able to capture my second luxury resource, so I can't depend much on those for happiness. I'm trying to be strategic about what I build where, but it seems like it's pretty hard to maintain happiness in some cities without lots of "happy" buildings. Maybe I'll try selling off all the expensive buildings and try upping the lux slider to compensate. As it is I have lux at 10% and science at 40 or 50% (can't remember which, ATM).

I'd appreciate any thoughts or previous experience you can share. Thanks.

[vmxa1]

Markets are most useful, once you gain a third lux as you get additional happy form each lux. Coloseiums I do not build as they are too expensive and I would rather use the slider or specialist and put my money into paying and building troops.

Cathedrals are about the same and I rarely build them. Again at Warlord, I should not need them and at higher than Emperor I cannot afford to divert shields. The main thing is to not build them as soon as you get the knowledge. If I build them, it will be much later, when I can get them up quickly and not delay making things like settlers and troops.

I will only build them in two or three of my best cities, typically when they become metros, if they do.

[Whoha]

many of those buildings also grant culture, which you'll want to have anyway.

[vmxa1]

Naw, I am not going to worry about culture. I will get some incidently from temples, but I am not trying to get culture outright. The reason is that at low levels I do not need it and at high levels I can make little use of it. Seeing your name reminds me I have not played any Moo1/2 lately.

[CultureClash]

On easier settings I tend to obsess about putting more more of the buildings and end up putting pretty much all of the happy buildings, but if you aren't worried about culture markets definitely are one of the most useful.