Caste System Civic

[Philotas]

I'm starting to like the Caste System civic. I've played a couple of games where I've pretty much bee-lined to Code of Laws to grab a religion (seems the AI will normally get Hinduism and Buddism before me on Prince). By putting merchant specialists in cities with a good food base, I've been able to expand faster than normally with the extra income from the merchants taking care of the maintenance costs, which then lets me keep my research at 90% or 100%.

[Cort Haus]

It's also handy to use an artist to get those border expansions in quick for new cities.

[padillah]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
It's also handy to use an artist to get those border expansions in quick for new cities.

I've done this a couple of times. Send out two Longbowmen, a Settler, and a Great Artist. Then when you build the city, wait a turn and create a great work. BAM! 4000 culture in this little border town and huge cultural borders that defy flipping.

Works wonderfully when a late game anhilation leaves a little room to grow, too.

Tom P.

[V3nom]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about using an artists specialist rather than a great artist.

but yes, as someone who's still forgets to build half as many cottages as he should, this civic can be a lifesaver. especially when combined with the pyramids (and therefore representation)

[nullspace]

Caste system + representation is quite powerful. It can largely replace cottages as a source of money and science. Add in mercantilism, pacifism, philosophical trait, the Parthenon, the Sistine Chapel, Angkor Wat, and the Statue of Liberty, and you have a lots of powerful specialists, and tons of great people.