Mass Extermination

**Bumson** · December 19, 2007, 04:23 PM

1) Has anyone ever spread the plague to their own cities? I ask because I know that the plague causes the population to decrease which would eventually reduce squalor thus improving public order and allowing an individual to increase taxes in a city. This would also allow a player to focus on the development of income generating buildings.

The bad thing with doing this is that by decreasing the population you might reduce the income in a city from taxes and after the plague is gone, the population growth percentage would be higher causing squalor problems again.

2) What does the health "bonuses" do in the game? Does it actually help prevent against plague or does it just play a role in increasing population growth?

**antaeus** · December 19, 2007, 04:26 PM

i have spread it intentionally to enemy cities... using spies.

but it backfired when i started getting random plague infections in other parts of my empire when spies and diplomats etc moved about the map from my enemies.

as far as my own cities go, i wouldnt purposely spread the plague cause of the effect on income.

**Emperor Tom** · December 20, 2007, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by antea

i have spread it intentionally to enemy cities... using spies.

but it backfired when i started getting random plague infections in other parts of my empire when spies and diplomats etc moved about the map from my enemies.

as far as my own cities go, i wouldnt purposely spread the plague cause of the effect on income.

I do the same it is a very smart move. But also plague to is bad for your empire when you can't build your amries do to a dwindling population. I say this to the original poster of this thread of course.

**Renco** · December 19, 2007, 04:30 PM

Usually you shouldn't have too many cities like that, a population happy city can usually manage 30,000 to 45,000 without exceeding the free upkeep militia number. Just build happiness buildings and so forth.

**Lost Crusader** · December 19, 2007, 04:41 PM

Spreading plague in your cities may reduce squalor in the short run, but it would have a devastating effect on your economy. I don't recommend it.

**SSJPabs** · December 19, 2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Lost Crusader

Spreading plague in your cities may reduce squalor in the short run, but it would have a devastating effect on your economy. I don't recommend it.

One exception: If you have just conquered a new city and there is super massive unrest (such as if it's a different religion). Nothing takes the rebellion out of the peasants like the Plague Rats of Doom and it gives you time to convert the survivors to your own religion (conversion also happens faster as there are less people to convert. This is useful if you are trying to play a more chivalrous game and only occupying cities.

**Lost Crusader** · December 19, 2007, 05:39 PM

I rarely capture a city with different religion. Before attacking, I send a few priests/imams to do their duty. Except when on crusade, but then the chivalry gained by the crusade is usually enough to keep the public order while I'm converting the population to my religion.

**pwijnands** · December 20, 2007, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by SSJPabs

One exception: If you have just conquered a new city and there is super massive unrest (such as if it's a different religion). Nothing takes the rebellion out of the peasants like the Plague Rats of Doom and it gives you time to convert the survivors to your own religion (conversion also happens faster as there are less people to convert. This is useful if you are trying to play a more chivalrous game and only occupying cities.

Yep, spreading the plague into your own cities is a very chivalrous thing.

On topic:
I wouldn't recommend introducing the plague into your cities as it lowers public order too. It's probably best to let each city reach a point at which it has a stable population. In Rome it was fairly easy to calculate this, but in Medieval 2 a governor with high chivalry will cause extra population growth.

**vonKrysiak** · December 20, 2007, 07:50 AM

PLus if you spread the plague to reduce squalor you are lowering your income from the city as it is population based as well. It would be a better idea to just lower the taxes and build some buildings in the meantime to keep the people happy. I try to stay away from spreading the plague as it always seems to backfire straight in my face ;-)