Golden Age

[Restless Native]

So I've only come back to this game after playing the original expansion free release. I've not got up to date with these expansions and am enjoying the new mechanics.

One I have a question about is the Golden Age. I understand this is only a once a game kind of shot.
I'm playing as France and still in the first age, it's about late 1470's. I have just got the option to launch a Golden age but I am wondering do people always go for it as soon as they can or is their a strategy around waiting until a later age to take better advantage.

One reason I'm thinking about holding off is two of the bonuses are Army and Navy morale. I am just on the edge of my aggressive expansion and am probably going to avoid war for the next few decades so would not get the full use of this bonus.

Are there other reasons to delay a golden age or am I crazy not to take it now?

 

[atwix]

i think most people wait for age of absolutism and after court and country and getting 100 absolutism to do golden age.

but depending on goals of campaign, it is feasible to do it before the age ends, if you know you can't fullfill 3 goals easily in next age.

you could go ham when you get élan as france, combine it with defensive ideas and golden age, and melt anything for 50 years.

 

[HansBaer]

If you want to do a world conquest, you should save it until the age of absolutism because it increases your max. absolutism. If your not going for a WC, it doesn't really matter when you enter your golden age. The sooner the better I guess because money, military bonuses and mp become more abundant as the game progresses.

 

[Restless Native]

Alright thanks all, I think I'll trigger it just after reformation kicks in

 

[holyvigil]

If I'm not France Ottomans or Ming I generally try to use it when I'm up against one of them for that little extra help in the fight. But If I am one of them then I wait until 100 absolutism to give me that extra edge in moping up everything.