some civics are very weak?

[gdgrimm]

I've used both Serfdom and Mercantilism at different times, with quite nice effects.

In fact, I usually always spend part of the game in Serfdom. It makes jungle hacking and some of the more complicated resource specific improvements (like Plantation) bearable without having to team workers. Also, when pushing for a SS victory, Steam Power tends to be low on the priority list, so I may run Serfdom quite awhile to maintain that 50% speed.

Mercantilism works beautifully in games when you own your own continent (either because you're alone or your early conquests MAKE you alone).

It can also work well in a large empire. If you have more cities than all your trade partners combined, about half of your cities will only be trading piddly trade routes with yourself anyway. So sacrificing the vertical benefit of a few of your cities having great trade routes with partner, for the situation of all cities getting a free specialist can be pretty dramatic.

[MasterDave]

The only time Mercantilism is worthwhile is when you have no foreign trade. Ohter than that, I usually will not use an economic civic at all until free market. Giving up all that commerce from foreign trade routes is just too big a hit on the research and cash income.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by MasterDave
The only time Mercantilism is worthwhile is when you have no foreign trade. Ohter than that, I usually will not use an economic civic at all until free market. Giving up all that commerce from foreign trade routes is just too big a hit on the research and cash income.

When the only other option is the basic one, then I see nothing wrong with it. In my current game where I have 8-10 civs with open borders (and 4-6 without) I got an extra income by switching to Mercantilism

But you're right, it could use a boost. Maybe make it 2 extra for cities with 6 or more, and 3 for cities above 16

[player1]

It can get the opposite.
I had game were I was alone on island, and got Mercantilism early.

It was good for a time.

But when I got Astronomy later I switched back to Decentralization and boosted my incon significatly.

[Jaguar]

Well, the Civics that come latest are generally the most powerful, so some of the middle civics often get skipped by players with certain styles. Serfdom is one of the ones that I find myself always skipping. Maybe it should be made more worthwhile. However, the game is designed so that Emancipation, Free Speech, Police State, Free Market, State Property, Environmentalism, etc, are generally more powerful than the civics that come before them, and the game should stay that way.

[Adagio]

Originally posted by Jaguar
However, the game is designed so that Emancipation, Free Speech, Police State, Free Market, State Property, Environmentalism, etc, are generally more powerful than the civics that come before them, and the game should stay that way.

I don't like it that way, it makes the 'free choice' less 'free'er'
The earlier civics should get stronger with age, to make it more balanced

[Jaguar]

In most cases, the early civics can sometimes remain useful. The only civic that completely dominates is Emancipation. Free speech is generally a no-brainer as well. But there's certainly variety in the economics set and the religion one.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Adagio
I don't like it that way, it makes the 'free choice' less 'free'er'
The earlier civics should get stronger with age, to make it more balanced

I prefer it how it is; after all, there aren't too many barbaric tribal nations in the modern world (those that exist aren't doing very well). Having the more advanced civics more expensive to upkeep is good enough, IMO.