Culture penalty

[Sandrus Castus]

This is bothering me since RTW Vanilla... What is this culture penalty actually? Is it:
a) people are unhappy because you build not enough "culture buildings" (e.g. temples, odeons, ...)
b) people are unhappy because they are not the same culture as their rulers (e.g. you, as the Romans, conquer a barbarian settlement - people are unhappy because they are ruled by another culture)
c) something else?

I'd like to know what it is, and what I should (can?) do about it. It gives unhappiness for about 45% so it's quite an issue.

[TheRomanRuler]

i believe its b. Not sure tough

[dvk901]

In RTW, there is (as far as I know) a built-in penalty for conquering a settlement that is not your own culture. In RS2, there is an additional penalty in the cultural building that is in each settlement if you are not the 'base' culture of the people there.

[Grimbold]

Of course the culture penalty diminishes over time.

Btw are there any regions where this penalty is felt more than in other places? I ask because there are regions that tend to be more rebellious than others. Egypt was an example back in vanilla. I remember that this was my extermination spot, since they kept rebelling all the time.
Northwestern africa (Carthage essentially) also seems to be unstable, which is why in my Gallaeci campaigns i tend to avoid going there early on. As soon as you get past Cirta, you get settlements very unstable.

[Sandrus Castus]

Thanks, dvk.

Of course the culture penalty diminishes over time.

Are there parameters for this, about how quickly it goes? Is there anything possible to do to speed up the acculturation process?

[dvk901]

The further away from your capital settlements are, the more rebellious they will be. Also, ALL areas of the Steppes will be VERY rebellious.

[Grimbold]

The further away from your capital settlements are, the more rebellious they will be. Also, ALL areas of the Steppes will be VERY rebellious.

I dont think that in this case its a matter of distance. I've conquered Italy before as the Gallaeci and that wasnt very rebellious.

I've convinced myself that north Africa is where are the rebells meet

[xsithspawnx]

From what I understand culture penalty comes from having other culture's buildings in your settlements. Upgrading them to buildings of your own culture or destroying them should lower the penalty. Some buildings are indestructible however, so there is often no way to get rid of it completely. You may want to save your score and experiment a little bit with this to be sure, but AFAIK that should be the answer you're looking for.

[sevenfaces]

I always assumed it was a representation of the native populace's displeasure with you holding dominion over them.

[Grimbold]

I usually dont destroy anything, except their military installations (barracks).

My conclusions are just logical assumptions.

You gain control over a region which is of a different culture than yours. Naturally they'll be unhappy not only because you hold dominion over them but you're different. This penalty or unhappiness if you prefer, will decrease over time with help of strong garrisons and the building up of said settlement, which normally includes law and happiness bonuses.

But make no mistake, if we're talking about settlement which are of different culture and are far away from your "homeland" or capital if you wish, it'll take a loooong time to get a decent happiness in said settlement(s).

[rory o'kane]

If I can't build over it, I destroy it.

[Xenos]

Yes as far as i know each building that is not Barbarian or roman or whatever faction you are, gives 5% to cultural penalty. So generally you want to destroy everything that is not of your faction, though keep in mind any building that gives 5%+ order will counter itself out and thus is still useful to you.

I hope that eventually they make it so that even buildings you cant destroy.. like roads? Or town hall? Add a means to dirty it up, or clean it up, or whatever, thus converting it to your type. Otherwise your totally out of options to get rid of the % lose from unbreakable buildings.

[rory o'kane]

Yeah, but by the time you build all the temples and the law buildings and colonnaded streets and the like, a few 5%s here and there is negligible.

[Ybbon]

We really want the "completely destroy" button that allows you to completely and utterly wipe a settlement out leave nothing but a stain. No re-population allowed. You'd use it to terrorise or the most serious revenge. Unfortunately, the exe has no such ability so no mod could do that.

[Brusilov]

When you are about to take a settlement always make sure that you have a garrison stack nearby with a decent governor (that is good retinue/traits). You army general may not have the 'good' retinue/traits that will make them a good governor. You need to have a supply of decent governors if you are going to expand - in order to do so build the library/academy in your capital (if it's not there already) - this usually gives a family member/general decent retinue/traits after a number of turns.

If I take a settlement I will always destroy the other culture buildings that cannot be upgraded by my faction. Always look at the buildings - quite often they will have built the tax building which can give up to 40% decrease in popularity.

[century x]

The second you take a settlement destroy their faction buildings. And keep a stack in there for a little while. Gives you enough time to get a governor out there that is good and then you can take the stack away. OR keep a stack nearby at all times just in case rebels start to come back. Then you can simply put the stack back in,

[Grimbold]

Define faction buildings

[rory o'kane]

It think century x meant to say "their faction's buildings", so anything build by them that's not the same culture as yours - obviously if you're Greek and you're conquering a Greek city, you don't need to knock everything down, just the barracks and temples if you can't use them.

[century x]

It think century x meant to say "their faction's buildings", so anything build by them that's not the same culture as yours - obviously if you're Greek and you're conquering a Greek city, you don't need to knock everything down, just the barracks and temples if you can't use them.

yes that is what I meant

[Grimbold]

So what you're saying is if you conquer a city from a different culture (imagine you're greek and your oponent is barbarian), you'd destroy every single building?

Hmm if that is the case, then the question is: deal with the penalty and keep everything, or destroy all buildings and start from scratch?

Thats the way im understanding things.