What does the «economic» civics do ?

[Niptium]

I'm curious because in the information section - this is totally vaporware...

There is

Free market
State property (communism)
Decentralized
Mercantilism
Environmentalism

I'm pretty curious about mercantilism (or as we call it colbertism)

Any board staff member can explain ?

[Verenti]

Mercantilism provides +1 Specialist free per city but disallows foreign trade? I think.

[Freddz]

Free markets gives one free trade route per city. I think. Whatever it means.

[kolpo]

Some time ago(so can be outdated) read I that State property reduces civic maintenance caused by distance from capital. It also raises food production.

[Xmudder]

Free Market grants an extra trade route. This means a few more gold per city (1 in early games / small cities, but I've seen up to 4 gold per route and 4 trade routes per city). Corporation (IIRC) also allows another trade route.

Mercantilism grants you a free specialist in each city, but your cities can't trade with allied players' cities - the ones you have a free trade agreement with. Dunno what specialists do, though.

State Property evens out distance from capital calulations on city upkeep - your far flung cities will cost no more in maintnance than you nearby ones. And apparently adds extra food (which is rediculous - food shortages are endemic in state property societies, not food surpluses).

Environmentalism removes all the sickness caused by population, which is most of it.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Xmudder

State Property evens out distance from capital calulations on city upkeep - your far flung cities will cost no more in maintnance than you nearby ones. And apparently adds extra food (which is rediculous - food shortages are endemic in state property societies, not food surpluses).

How stupid, State Property should give production bonuses, not food bonuses. The USSR had to IMPORT foof from the US to keep it's citizens fed, not the other way around.

[GeoModder]

Originally posted by Odin
How stupid, State Property should give production bonuses, not food bonuses. The USSR had to IMPORT foof from the US to keep it's citizens fed, not the other way around.

Only after harsh summers.

[Niptium]

What are specialists ?

[Xmudder]

Originally posted by Niptium
What are specialists ?

Elvii, Tax Collectors, etc. Tho I think they have new names this time around (Arist, Merchant).

I assume you've played other versions of civ? They are population taken off tilling the land and sent to focus on produing culture, happiness, health, science, money, etc.

Free specialists mean you don't have to feed them, I think. So it's a free Elvii for every city, no food required.

[Jaybe]

They are population taken off tilling the land and sent to focus on produing culture, happiness, health, science, money, etc.

... and GREAT artists, engineers, scientists, businessmen, etc.

[The_Aussie_Lurker]

The Specialists are Engineers (bonus Hammers ), Entertainers (bonus Culture ), Priests (bonus Happiness ), Scientists (bonus Science ), Merchants (bonus Income ) and one which I believe increases health (beta testers, any idea !)
Anyway, from what I understand, to create these specialists you require certain improvements (like a forge allows you to convert one of your citizens to an engineer), but certain Civics choices-and Wonders-grant these specialists without the need for an improvement AND, unless I am completely mistaken, without the need to convert population. The number of specialists your city has IS one of the factors in determining how quickly you produce Great People (Great Scientists et al), with total population being another.

Hope that clarifies things.

Yours,
Aussie_Lurker.

[kolpo]

Also note that one of the effects of respresenation is +3 science specialist, so represenation is a good government if you have a lot of specialists.

[Blake]

and one which I believe increases health (beta testers, any idea !)

Imagine if they were called doctors, that'd be mind-blowing.

[Xmudder]

Originally posted by Blake

Imagine if they were called doctors, that'd be mind-blowing.

The pics looks more like Bakers.