squalor

[Armenia_Byzantium]

in order to lower the effect of squalor, i need to understand the meaning of that in this game

if it means poor condition for the population of a settlement then by building markets and other buildings for commerce and trade should do it and i guess lowering taxes will also help

or if it means filthiness then then concentrating on putting buildings that increases law and health bonus would help counter the effect of squalor.

this is my understanding on the topic basically, correct me if im wrong or you can enlighten me further on the topic.

[FactionHeir]

Crowdedness and the resulting filth and unhappiness.

[MStumm]

Well squalor has two effects. It decreases your growth rate, and causes unhappiness. I think the only way to reduce squalor, is to build higher level walls and have your governor develop -x squalor traits. To counter growth effects of squalor build farms, health buildings. To counter unhappiness build happiness and law buildings. I dont think markets have a direct affect on squalor, they just increase trade. Although trade has a small effect on population growth.

[Armenia_Byzantium]

Well squalor has two effects. It decreases your growth rate, and causes unhappiness. I think the only way to reduce squalor, is to build higher level walls and have your governor develop -x squalor traits. To counter growth effects of squalor build farms, health buildings. To counter unhappiness build happiness and law buildings. I dont think markets have a direct affect on squalor, they just increase trade. Although trade has a small effect on population growth.

would a governer's authority level has direct effect on countering squalor?

[Quintus.JC]

would a governer's authority level has direct effect on countering squalor?

Retinues such as 'Icon not Made by Hands' offers an increase to public health.
Other traits can effect public health too, but I'm not too sure about a governer's authority level though, only faction leaders have authority ain't it?

[MStumm]

I dont think authority has an effect on squalor. If I am correct authority determines how likely your generals will rebel, but rebellions are so rare, that I think authority is a junk stat.

I think you mean to say chivalry when you said authority. Chivalry in a governor increases growth and happiness. Dread does not increase growth, but does increase order.

My strategy for the economy is to put taxes on low, until the city grows to a huge city level. In the meantime I buy farms first, then ports, roads, markets, and happiness buildings. Setting taxes on low gives a growth bonus, and increases chivalry, which gives even faster growth.