Well. I feel all of you must be acquainted with the senate. But I’m sure most of you must be wondering which goverment to pick while playing. In this post, I’ll explain about the senate and guide you how to pick a government.
What is a Senate?
– It is a building which when built at any other city besides your capital, changes that city to your new capital.
– Senate also allows you to research systems of government.
– Also receive a unique General, the Patriot, with each form of government.
– The Patriot is generated in the Senate. If your Senate city (Capital) is captured, then the Patriot is generated at a nearby city.
In which age should you research which government?
– In age 2:
- Despotism – Military research and barracks units 15% cheaper; receive the Despot Patriot (a General who also provides supply, Line-of-Sight, and plunder bonuses).
- Republic – Commerce Limit increased by 50; receive The Senate Patriot (a General who also provides healing, bribing, and building defense bonuses).
– In age 4:
- Monarchy – Stable units are 25% cheaper and faster to build; receive The King Patriot (a General who also provides supply, siege, and mounted combat benefits).
- Democracy – Non-Library technologies 20% cheaper; receive The President Patriot ( a General who also provides production, building, and healing benefits).
– In age 6:
- Socialism – Factory, Airbase and Dock units 20% cheaper and faster to build; receive The Comrade Patriot (a General who also provides supply, combat and assimilation benefits).
- Capitalism – Receive +100 Oil income and 500 Oil; receive the CEO Patriot (a General who also provides defense, range and healing benefits).
How to pick?
– Selecting a senate depends on the situation of the game.
– In general,
- When you are in a defending position, you pick the second one i.e republic, democracy and capitalism.
- When you are in an attacking position, you pick the first one i.e despotism, monarchy and socialism.
– But with some nations you need to pick certain type of government to gain more benefits out of them.
– Picking between socialism and capitalism depends on the scenario. Mostly go with capitalism because you get 500 oil and the oil income starts going. But if you are on the attacking end and in a position where you have to hold on a city (capital), go with socialism.
– Some players prefer age 4-5 kill. They go republic followed by monarchy and then kill. Its totally dependent on the scenario of the game.
Few exceptions to the general mindset:
– When you are against a Russian opponent, you should research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : You don’t want your units burning in it’s territory. If you go republic, even your general gets attrition damage in its territory.
– When you are Aztecs, you should research despotism, monarchy and socialism at all scenarios.
Reason : Plunder benefits
– When you are Americans, you should research monarchy in age 4.
Reason : Plunder benefits.
– When you are Romans, you should research despotism and monarchy at all scenarious.
Reason : Plunder benefits and cheaper barrack units are helpful in creating a big army.
– When you are Inca, you should preferably research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : Plunder benefits.
– When you are Indians or Persians, you should research monarchy in age 4.
Reason: Elephants become cheap and they are the hardest unit to kill in the game.
– When you are Turks. research despotism.
Reason : Very helpful in an early attack (Age 2-3 attack).
– When you are Iroquois, research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : Iroquois units heal automatically when not attacking in friendly territory.
– When you are Mongols, research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : Plunder benefits from raiding and attacks.
– When you are French, research despotism and monarchy.
Reason : French already has healing benefits and unique cavalry units.
– When you are Chinese, preferably republic in age 2.
Reason : Start with Chinese is always defensive. Booming till age 4 is a better option then attacking early.
– When you are Greeks or Russians, preferably research monarchy in age 4.
Reason : They have unique cavalry units.
– The general mindset still applies when you are Bantu, British, Dutch, Egyptians, Germans, Japanese, Koreans, Lakota, Maya, Nubians, Spanish and other scenarios with other nations.
Note that in Americans, you have free senate upgrades. So don’t forget to research senate. In Iroquois, first senate is build instantaneously and free.
I have covered up almost all scenarios in the game. I’m sure after this post, selecting a government would be an easy decision for you
My picks are dependant on situation,in II i pick 50-50% senator/despot,in IV i always go monarch(+2+2 attack/defense for cavalry and 25% cheaper cavalry is just uber),in VI i used to pick CEO as everyone does,but nowadays i like picking Socialism due to its better benefits.
Dave
My picks are also dependent on the resources I have at the moment 🙂
I strongly disagree with choosing Capitalism as the default. I never go with Capitalism unless there aren’t enough oil wells for me. You get +500 oil as a bonus…for what? You only use oil to create war machines(nukes aside…if you’re researching nukes, go ahead and go Capitalism), so you might as well go with Socialism which will make those units cheaper…FOREVER.
In the long run you’ll regret going Capitalism unless you really used that +500 oil to make major gains in Industrial.
For French, I think you meant to suggest researching senator. I thought maybe french got double healing for despot + wagon. But I’m probably getting confused with Versailles.
You don’t get plunder benefits if you choose monarchy by the way.
@Sir Fellatio
Well preferably getting capitalism gives u quick oil……..becomes very useful when u want to get planes asap. Bcoz after age 6, planes in battle can give u an awesome edge. Even the heal helps.
But I also agree that cheaper troops help a lot.
I think it this way. Most of the times you have eco +450 minimum after age 6. So having cheap troops doesnt make a lot of difference. But it does help. 😀
Socialism gives you 20% cheaper airbase, dock, and stable units. It does not give you cheaper troops. Any talk about building airbase units after age 6 is pointless because Socialism wins easy.
If you need that much oil early on, you’re better off buying it at the market even if it costs 250.
Even comparing the Socialist General versus the Capitalist General, the Capitalist choice loses out.
The only thing I chose capitalism for is the heal. This reason is enough for me to choose it in 95% of my games.
Godzilla
@Godzilla
With the CEO, you still have to bring a supply wagon. And the Comrade Patriot gives you an attack bonus. If you happen to go head to head against a similar army led by the Comrade, you’d lose. The CEO doesn’t heal that fast anyway.
If i was fighting my opponent when i had just aged VI I would go capitalism because in middle of all that fight and raids I don’t get time to setup oil wells and build eco at the same time so to get a quick oil boost I take capitalism. But if I have enough wealth at the same time then I would choose socialism for the benefits. In case of french, No doubt socialism is the best.
|IND|_Jatin
@Sir Fellatio
Well, IMO bringing a supply wagon isn’t that hard, is it? 😀 But you are right, meeting a similar army would mean most likely a loss to the CEO. However, giving the troops more range, capitalism can give very good benefits if properly used.
I like taking Socialism when i need to fight major air/sea battles, of course, when i have tons of wealth and no metal and sometimes because of the 4000 craft points which can well substitute 3 more generals.
@Jatin
I agree with you, but don’t you think French+capitalism is even better? That is why every government is uniquely good and you should take it into your stride.
Dont forget about aztecs with good eco and healing-This combination means death!
@Alan
No! Try the other way. Aztecs + Despotism. Just compare the plunder. I believe “Aztecs” means “raiding and fighting”. Even while defending a raid, you kill a raiding unit and you’ll get plunder. Aztecs with republic just kills its plunder power.
I know in nomad you wish to get economy to 150 asap. But for just +50 commerce limit, you kill its plunder power which has a long term benefit.
Ask Kaniska xD. He just posted a game on mastersleague with aztecs in nomad game. Look, when you get republic on nomad you can raid too. And still have good eco. This combination gives you more than despotism. Despotism is always very dangerous in nomad game, cause if you fail first fight against player with republic, you are in very bad situation. +15 more plunder is not that important.
In STD, u have to go despot as aztecs if you are playing aztecs properly. Its not just the added plunder bonus, you get cheaper infantry for the ENTIRE GAME. You can’t fill up a 200 commerce cap that easily anyway.
Just as with socialism, the longer the game lasts, the more of an edge it gives you.