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Republic First
I havebeen experimenting a bit, and I'm beginning to see why Republic first is a viable alternative to Monarchy first in 1x1x. It does take one more tech to get to republic. Just as when going to monarchy you will almost always need to research a tech which doesn't lead directly to your goal. Of course if you happen to discover writing from a hut on your way to Monarchy this becomes a somewhat moot point, especial;ly if you already gave another tech that doesn't lead directly to Monarchy. You don't get marshall law, and you have a higher support cost. And since Ceremonial burial is not directly on course to republic, you need to deviate for that as well.
Now what are some advantages?
As long as you always have 2 drade producing roads per city that doesn't have a trade special, you can generally keep a size 2 city happy enough with 30 % luxuries. Size 3 cities with 2 trade specials, 40%. Sounds like a lot, I know. But we shall see that it is actually not that bad of deal.
1. You now don't need the troops in your cities for martial law. Instead of quickly spending 20 to 30 shields for warriors, spend 40 for a temple sooner. Granted, that's not millitarily sound, but since most people rely on warriors for martial law at this point anyway, what's the difference?
2. even at 30% luxuries, with roads now producing twice as much trade, and 2 roaded squares plus the original city square for a size 2 city, that's 4 trade per city after luxuries instead of 3 in Monarchy.
3. Less waste as well. In Monarchy, even on a medium size map, and especially on a small map, you don't need to be that far from your capital before you start getting waste. In republic, less waste. you can use thatextra shield or 2 to support a good military unit in your outer cities.
4. 10 (I believe) cities before the first problem with extra unhappiness as opposed to 6 or 7 that you would get in Monarchy. And if you are really into early expansion, the onset of the double unhappies is actually a blessing in republic, at least for cities of size 2at least.
5. In general getting to republic involves 2 revolutions. If you go straight to republic, you only have to revolt once.
6. Granted, you will start out with a bunch of size 2 cities. But once they get to size 3 with temples, they are just 3 turns from size 5.
Definitely in many circumstances a quick republic could be synonymous with a quick demise. (IE, lot's of unfriendlies nearby, bad goodie huts an even bigger problem than in Monarchy, etc) But a good civ player is also a flexible civ player, and should be able to use early republic to great advantage under the right circumstances. The trick is knowing when.
Now what are some advantages?
As long as you always have 2 drade producing roads per city that doesn't have a trade special, you can generally keep a size 2 city happy enough with 30 % luxuries. Size 3 cities with 2 trade specials, 40%. Sounds like a lot, I know. But we shall see that it is actually not that bad of deal.
1. You now don't need the troops in your cities for martial law. Instead of quickly spending 20 to 30 shields for warriors, spend 40 for a temple sooner. Granted, that's not millitarily sound, but since most people rely on warriors for martial law at this point anyway, what's the difference?
2. even at 30% luxuries, with roads now producing twice as much trade, and 2 roaded squares plus the original city square for a size 2 city, that's 4 trade per city after luxuries instead of 3 in Monarchy.
3. Less waste as well. In Monarchy, even on a medium size map, and especially on a small map, you don't need to be that far from your capital before you start getting waste. In republic, less waste. you can use thatextra shield or 2 to support a good military unit in your outer cities.
4. 10 (I believe) cities before the first problem with extra unhappiness as opposed to 6 or 7 that you would get in Monarchy. And if you are really into early expansion, the onset of the double unhappies is actually a blessing in republic, at least for cities of size 2at least.
5. In general getting to republic involves 2 revolutions. If you go straight to republic, you only have to revolt once.
6. Granted, you will start out with a bunch of size 2 cities. But once they get to size 3 with temples, they are just 3 turns from size 5.
Definitely in many circumstances a quick republic could be synonymous with a quick demise. (IE, lot's of unfriendlies nearby, bad goodie huts an even bigger problem than in Monarchy, etc) But a good civ player is also a flexible civ player, and should be able to use early republic to great advantage under the right circumstances. The trick is knowing when.
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