Forge is okay, too, but the research for it is too expensive to be a fair trade off. And theater and coliseum are there too for some reason. ALSO, library rush! Get that going ASAP and you will skyrocket down the tech tree.
That +2 culture means new cities turn into crosses almost immediately, which means you can build without food right next to it. ALSO you get three extra happy people for every city (one just because, one for monument (so immediately), and one for broadcast tower. Your armies get one or two more levels that make them brutal. After that the game is cake.Ī weaker version of financial's boost, BUT you also make lighthouses, courthouses, and factories faster. Rush, rush, rush!!! With this trait you can IMMEDIATELY topple your nearby foe and have a permanent lead with an amazing gem starter city. Also, it stays useful for the duration of the game. Out the gate this is a massive boost to your research AND lets you make/take lots of cities fast.
After 200 hours this is my rankings from best to worst :
