Oh dear squalor...

[MrBosnia]

Hi MrBosnia,
Unfortunately, your only resort against squalor, once you have it, is building heath buildings, as you have said. I do believe, however, that they do not actually resolve squalor and instead simply counter-act and, over time phase their good out by piling huge amounts of population upon your settlement creating a worse squalor issue. You could also upgrade the Governor's palace, yet that can make things worse in the long run too.

The best thing I find if the problem is too out of hand is abandoning the settlement and then returning to exterminate the populace. I am afraid to say that I don't think that there are any cheats to resolve this and the only way of solving it is to avoid population growth in the first place. This can be done by not upgrading farms, avoiding health buildings and temples which promote growth. Sadly this places you at a disadvantage, it will take longer to gain better military units and trade networks, so in a few provinces you could allow fast growth to gain a stronger empire.

May I also suggest that you try rebalancing the population. Simply train many units of peasants in your largest cities and disband them in your smaller ones. This migration moves men from the large city, that could do with less people in the populace, to a smaller one that requires the population to expand.Simply when your almighty popular standing gets above eight shields. However, beware, the other Roman factions can declare civil war when they get eight popularity with the people shields too. Also bear in mind that the civil war can start earlier when you do not have eight shields with the people. If you have two or less with the senate then they are quite likely to demand your faction leader's suicide - in that case, should you refuse, then the great war begins!Don't worry! It won't last for too much longer. You are currently a Junior Member which means you don't get the same privileges as full Members/Senior Members at this time. However, once you do become a full member, through good and sensible contributions, you can have a wonderful fifteen second flood control. If you desire more information then feel free to read the FAQ in the Entrance Hall.

Hope this helps you, cheers!

Thanks for the enlightening response. I like your migration tactic though, it could possibly help on a smaller scale. I guess letting your city revolt and quickly taking it back isn't that bad, though it will slash a bit of my popularity with the people though.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

...though it will slash a bit of my popularity with the people though.

I'm not too sure, yet I don't believe that the popularity with the people is cut through the loss - it actually may cause it to increase when you recapture the rebellious home of the scoundrels - the fickle plebeians of Roma seem to love a winner!

Thanks for the enlightening response.

Your more than welcome!

[Fate]

I was jsut thinking, as a way to reduce squalor, once a city has rebelled, and been massacred, and there is say 5000 (in a roman city) left in population, could you take a huge number of these out as peasents, stick them in weak navies and send them to enemy infested waters?
Surely this would be easier than moving population around to another settlement, as viola, the men are gone!?

Does this work?

[MrBosnia]

I'm not too sure, yet I don't believe that the popularity with the people is cut through the loss - it actually may cause it to increase when you recapture the rebellious home of the scoundrels - the fickle plebeians of Roma seem to love a winner!Your more than welcome!

Which brings me to my next question:



How can you increase the popularity of your people? Is the main way by battle victories?

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi,

How can you increase the popularity of your people? Is the main way by battle victories?

Yep, it most certainly is! The people love anybody who can win plenty of battles. It also can help having governors with several good "popularity boosting traits" such as "Popular Hero" which are generally gained from winning epic and heroic battles! Hope this helps you, cheers!

[Critical Bill]

Squalor....I often find my self wishing for a 'Set fire to City' button.

Maybe in a future expansion

[YENKO]

Squalor....I often find my self wishing for a 'Set fire to City' button.

Maybe in a future expansion

Hehe, yea. Or, how about:

Insert coin and select:
1)Enslave population
2)Exterminate population
3)Raze & exterminate city




Y.

[Stuperman]

Which brings me to my next question:



How can you increase the popularity of your people? Is the main way by battle victories?

I think taking Wonders helps too, but am not sure.

[mightilyoats]

Yes, I believe capturing a wonder immediately gives you the vanquisher trait (or promotes it by one). Same happens on the last battle with a faction to destroy it. i.e. Take that last settlement.

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

Hi again Pleblian#10,
If you require any more detailed advise on the running of your economy then this very useful guide could help you out immensely. For the guide on how to keep your population happy, and keep your funds up high, then section five may interest you. Hope it helps, cheers!

BTW, your welcome to all advise.

[Plebian#10]

OK - I had to go back 10 years to try some of the ideas given to me. I captured the Zeus wonder which helped and built a law temple in Messina. I also conscripted peasants and sent them to areas that needed population and also killed a few groups of them off. I inserted the best "managing" governor in my clan and added a few more garrison troops than I had previously and I have to admit it has improved the overall happiness situation - it was touch and go for a couple of turns when the "blue" face appeared due to a spy that managed to get inside Messina, and it still is a little dicey but I think Messina will make it without a revolt. Now, however, I
have two more cities (Athens and Larissa) that are in the same situation but not nearly as bad. The control of your populations happiness could be the inverse of the level of micro management you are willing to put into the cities you control. Thanks for all of your tips and coments - it has "upped" my play level a bit.....