Culture Penalty

[Team Sleep]

Just wondering what structures cause culture penalty when taking new settlements. And what is the best way to bludgeon the culturle penalty without having the city defect?

For example what should I do as conquering a Roman City with an arena in it? Sure it makes the people happy...but it does have a culture penalty doesn't it? So do I destroy it...and risk a revolt?....or do I keep it....and if so....for how long & why?

Do all foreign buildings cause culture penalty? What if we both have the ability to make a blacksmith...should I destroy theirs anyway and construct my own?

Any guide or detailed answer would be appreciated.

[Hakomar]

I always thought the governmental building, like the villas and palaces that you get with population growth are quite bad for culture pentalty if not yours.

[athanaric]

Just wondering what structures cause culture penalty when taking new settlements. And what is the best way to bludgeon the culturle penalty without having the city defect?

The governmental building causes 25% at least. Other buildings cause only a low penalty, but it sums up of course. The best way to combat it is to make sure the enemy city isn't fully upgraded yet when you capture it. This is not always the best strategy with barbarian factions though.

For example what should I do as conquering a Roman City with an arena in it? Sure it makes the people happy...but it does have a culture penalty doesn't it? So do I destroy it...and risk a revolt?....or do I keep it....and if so....for how long & why?

With most cultures, you should be able to "upgrade" the arena, which also means getting rid of the penalty. If not, you may as well keep it - the pacifying effect of the happiness bonus and the games outweigh the puny penalty you get from one building.

Do all foreign buildings cause culture penalty?

Yes - though I'm not entirely sure about markers and unique buildings.

What if we both have the ability to make a blacksmith...should I destroy theirs anyway and construct my own?

I'd keep it, initially - if you have the time later on, you can destroy the foreign smithy and build your own instead. In some cases, it helps in getting rid of 5% of penalty.


General hint: the Romans are best at negating cultural penalty, because of their ability to build level 3 roads and farms, as well as level 5 sanitization.

[Irenaeus]

It's also worth noting that buildings built by a faction that is of the same culture as you doesn't give Culture Penalty points. So if you're Seleucid then Ptolemaic buildings are OK (and vice versa), and the same for Aedui & Arverni.

[Steforian]

This will help me allot ;D (ungrateful Carthage not wanting to become Roman....)

[Turtle Hammer]

I am curious about this as I've not noticed culture penalty much before. Is this something that's not represented on the buildings stat screen? I've only ever seen the culture penalty stated with enemy governmental buildings before.