Religous or humanist idea - reformation strategy

[AnssiA]

For large nations that are going to expand Humanist is much better. If you are not planning to expand a lot, you really don't need Religious or Humanist. Feel free to just make french space marines with Economic + Innovative + Quality + Offensive and have some military policies that give +5% disciple, +20% infantry combat ability and some siege bonuses.

 

[Yxklyx]

I perfectly understand Expansion is not optimal idea, but should everyone play the same meta all the time? especially so for casual games, when player beats AI most of the time despite not taking min-max ideas...
I mean, for WC sure, but for casual blobbing? it doesn't even matter, yet everyone is told not to take Expansion

I never blob and I like to start as a OPM and get to 1000 development and settle there so I never take Administrative. I also never take Innovative. Economics is usually my go to group because I want to get +3 advisors as fast as possible. Religious/Humanist are pretty useful in some games as well. Expansion is really just there if you already have Exploration and have LOTS of colonization planned.

 

[makaramus]

Expansion is a terrible idea group, don't get it.

Humanist is excellent as France, it gets you to +3 tollerence of everything.

If you don't feel the need for it, then Admin is great. Quicker and cheaper coring is lovely. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, Economic is a good group. If you just want to buil a super strong France then Econ's -20% development cost will be significant.

its not a bad idea group if you want a colonist as france but also want to pick another 2 idea from diplo slot.
after complating idea he can easly dow for trade companies but I agree terrible idea to pick as first idea group
better if you pick someting else before while fighting with england and taking your culture lands back I say

 

[TheMeInTeam]

I also never take Innovative. Economics is usually my go to group because I want to get +3 advisors as fast as possible.

Innovative reduces adviser costs. In 1.23 with the ability to promote for +5 advisers the savings are pretty significant.

Innovative + influence + diplomatic will let you get -45% adviser cost, and this can stack with -50% from estate advisers. Can't beat out administrative in a blobbing game (especially because the policies themselves cost ADM and DIP so are questionable) but it's pretty lulzy and worth a try if you've never done it. Note that the most recent patch caps the cost reduction at -90%, though a level 5 adviser at 10% cost is nice if you're not actually expanding much.

If someone waved a wand and administrative didn't exist, innovative is likely what I'd take in its stead in 1.23.

 

[AnssiA]

Innovative reduces adviser costs. In 1.23 with the ability to promote for +5 advisers the savings are pretty significant.

Innovative + influence + diplomatic will let you get -45% adviser cost, and this can stack with -50% from estate advisers. Can't beat out administrative in a blobbing game (especially because the policies themselves cost ADM and DIP so are questionable) but it's pretty lulzy and worth a try if you've never done it. Note that the most recent patch caps the cost reduction at -90%, though a level 5 adviser at 10% cost is nice if you're not actually expanding much.

If someone waved a wand and administrative didn't exist, innovative is likely what I'd take in its stead in 1.23.

By the time you can afford lvl 5 advisors, they could cost double and you'd still take them. The point where the advisor discount is most valuable is when you are ~200-400 dev and would like to start using lvl 3 discounted advisors.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

By the time you can afford lvl 5 advisors, they could cost double and you'd still take them. The point where the advisor discount is most valuable is when you are ~200-400 dev and would like to start using lvl 3 discounted advisors.

At that point, you can be running influence + innovative and running level 5 discounted advisers (-85% cost). He did state he wanted them as soon as possible, after all.

This loses to the standard blobbing plays in utility, but I'm not seeing how economic actually gets you there faster.