Time to settle this once and for all.

zorbop · October 30, 2003, 22:56

This has been a long debated topic, but i have never seen a poll on it, so here goes. What is the best government type? The best all-around? IF you could only use one government for an entire game, which is it?

And sorry, but i am not including "Banana" in the poll!

GhengisFarb™ · October 30, 2003, 23:15

Capitalism.

Rhothaerill · October 30, 2003, 23:49

There was actually a poll on this a few months ago, but my answer is still the same. Pound for pound Republic is the best government. Democracy has better characteristics, but if I don't have the religious trait I don't like switching governments more than once in a game if I can help it.

vmxa1 · October 31, 2003, 01:00

Since I spent more time in Republic......

Rasputin · October 31, 2003, 01:39

communism cause it makes the middle war easier

Paddy · October 31, 2003, 02:22

Bring on the democracy....

Flip McWho · October 31, 2003, 03:11

Yup, democracy

Jaybe · October 31, 2003, 03:38

I have been playing as Rome for my last few games, with a mod where Republic is delayed, requiring Printing Press and Banking. I go into Monarchy and stay there. I can war without concern, and being Commercial I can grow to where I almost never pay for my military (except early on).

Of course, in another week everything will change....

ChrisiusMaximus · October 31, 2003, 03:42

Monarchy for mixed strategy, and it is my usual style of play to war then build some then war again. So Monarchy gets my vote.

alva · October 31, 2003, 04:17

In SP : republic
in MP: starting to lean towards monarchy

WarpStorm · October 31, 2003, 06:51

It depends on the game situation and you may need to redo this question in a few months once most people here have switched to Conquests.

Harovan · October 31, 2003, 07:19

Where's the Anarchy option?

Or the Bananocraty, for that matter?

My vote goes to Republic.

grappleman · October 31, 2003, 07:28

democracy...who doesnt love the fast workers in the mid industrial era when you major production tiles have pollution coming out the wazzoo.

asleepathewheel · October 31, 2003, 08:11

republic

Jamski · October 31, 2003, 08:19

Republic. I head for this and stick with it till the cows come home.

-Jam

Stuie · October 31, 2003, 09:12

Feudalism.

I voted Republic only because, like others, once I switch I don't like switching again unless playing a Religious Civ. Then I use whatever suits my whim.

Arrian · October 31, 2003, 09:49

Depends.

-Arrian

eris · October 31, 2003, 12:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Arrian
Depends.

-Arrian

Exactly! If there was one correct answer, if the answer didn't change with the game circumstances, user play style and goals, then the game would be broken! It would have failed in its attempt to create balanced choices where the player constantly has to make trade-off decisions.

As I understand the lingo of this forum, the answer is not just "banana", the answer is literally "none of the above, by deliberate design".

If it weren't so interesting to make these choices, if it weren't so frustrating trying to make absolute decisions, if ithe game wasn't so maddening about it all, then we wouldn't be as addicted as we are and we wouldn't be having this conversation and asking these questions that have no answer. In other words: if there were an answer to your question, you wouldn't be asking it.

Of course, that depends, too. Doesn't it?

Turrosh Mak · October 31, 2003, 12:50

Based on what most players are saying, the 5-8 turn penalty for switching governments isn't worth it. Changing governments is supposed to be one of the fundamental parts of the game, yet NOONE does it if they don't have the religious trait? Absurd!

This to me SCREAMS that it should have been changed to something like 2-4 turns.

Was this point ever brought up to the Firaxis folks?

vmxa1 · October 31, 2003, 12:52

Of course it depends, but we are suppose to pick one. So what one do yo use the most?

Konquest02 · October 31, 2003, 13:01

As Arrian said: It Depends....

But I voted for Republic, because you can do almost anything in this govt.

Shogun Gunner · October 31, 2003, 13:05

Democracy - but I have to get Bach or Suffrage GW. I love the better production.

Dominae · October 31, 2003, 13:33

Republic, hands down.

Those who are saying "Democracy" are thinking of Civ2.

Dominae

Hagbart · October 31, 2003, 13:46

Why is it that republic is better than demo?

Demo gives more commerce, better workers and better defence against spies... right? So for a peaceful civ, demo should be best?
Is it the war wariness that makes demo worse than rep?

Please explain.

Catt · October 31, 2003, 14:01

Republic, though I am curious to try out some of the new govs in Conquests (Dominae seems to have done so and still proclaims Rep the best, so my expectations are appropriately set)

Quote:

Originally posted by Hagbart
Why is it that republic is better than demo?

Demo gives more commerce, better workers and better defence against spies... right? So for a peaceful civ, demo should be best?
Is it the war wariness that makes demo worse than rep?

Please explain.

Democarcy doesn't give more commerce -- the commerce bonuses are identical. Demo gives slightly less corruption, but the difference is very small (and potentially offset by all the lost commerce during the anarchy of the government switch). The only "spy" advantage Demo enjoys is immunity to propaganda -- otherwise the espionage effects are identical. The real advantage of Demo is the faster workers. The real disadvantage is war weariness. Unlike the difference in corruption, the war weariness difference is large enough to be quite noticeable.

The favor that Republic enjoys among most players comes down to the analysis of the trade-off of 5 - 8 turns of anarchy, plus greater war weariness, in exchange for faster workers. Many, me included, don't think the trade is worthwhile.

Catt

Stuie · October 31, 2003, 14:08

Quote:

Originally posted by Catt
The favor that Republic enjoys among most players comes down to the analysis of the trade-off of 5 - 8 turns of anarchy, plus greater war weariness, in exchange for faster workers. Many, me included, don't think the trade is worthwhile.

Considering how many workers I usually have by the time Democracy is researched, the worker bonus just doesn't do anything for me. I'd much rather decrease my war weariness.

Dominae · October 31, 2003, 14:14

Hagbart, Catt's post sums it up nicely. The key is that it's not worth spending 1) a few turns of Anarchy, and 2) the cost of researching/purchasing Democracy (the tech) to get out of Republic. If you're playing a Religious civ and happen to pick up Democracy for cheap, then you might as well switch, thouhg (Democracy is not completely useless). But to answer the question "Which is the best government", I think you'll find the switch to Republic wins more games than the switch to Democracy.

Catt, my comments are for Play the World only. I'm not yet prepared (or allowed) to discuss Feudalism and Fascism.

Dominae

Cookie Monster · October 31, 2003, 14:39

Definately depends -

However, if I was forced to pick only one government, other than despotism, it would be monarchy. I don't have to worry about war weariness, don't have to worry as much about luxuries. Basically I can go and TAKE whatever I want from other civs under monarchy.

Don't get me wrong. Clearly the superior govts. are Republic and Democracy. But for a gang banger the war weariness is totally un$%^&ing acceptable thus making those govts. more of a nuisance than a help. Just MHO.

planetfall · October 31, 2003, 15:10

Cookie Monster,

Fascism could give monarchy a run for the money.

Wierd experience this month, over 100 turns at constant war in Democracy without horrible WW. Now if I can just figure out what I did and do it
again. I expected to fall back to Republic and then back to Monarchy as WW kicked in.

-- PF

Cookie Monster · October 31, 2003, 15:17

planetfall - I can't wait to get my hands on conquests so I can try fascism. I remember it was one of my favorite govts. in CTP/CTP2 as I tend to be a warmonger.

Let's see what Sid's take on fascism is.