Governments - When and if to change

I have the same question. Why not stick with Imperial? Thoughts, anyone?

~SDC~

In my current game I did stick with Imperial for quite a while because I wanted to avoid losing any planets for morale deficiencies, but after they had developed (basically, toward the beginning of midgame) I switched quickly down to the Star Federation (one at a time) because once your planets are out of danger, they make a lot more money through the SF.. Now I only get morale problems with population trouble.. which I solve by building combat transports to nowhere..

I change from Imperialism to Republic as soon as it becomes available. I haven't played long enough (I usually win via cultural victory, this time, I'm purposefully ensuring that won't happen) to get other gov types yet. I don't always do this, but I tend to either play as the pop something or other group that gets +20% morale boost and +20% diplimatic, and sometimes even add another 15% to morale boost. I rarely get into serious trouble then.

This game I have the pop group, an additional +15% morale boost and +50 tech. I wanna get all the tech of course.

Elf

The switch to Republic is in my book a no-brainer since econ is good, and the chances of a planet defecting is minimal. I rarely loose elections twice in a row anyway, so more often than not, I'm benefiting from the econ boost provided by non-Imperial forms of gov't.

I tend to make the switch to other forms of gov't based on the following:
1) Do I need the cash, or are there other ways I can get cash? +20%, +40%, +60% econ can be very very tempting.
2) Do I have enough cultural influence? If I do, then chances are, any planets that defect will soon return to their rightful place - under my iron fist If not, I tend to build star bases with culture modules in the sector.
3) That excess population's been sitting for quite a while in space... Maybe it's time they were given a job LOL
4) Do I have morale problems? As long as it's near the 50s I haven't had problems with Star Democracies at least. I rarely get to Star Federation until way way later at which point my econ is secure, so I don't bother making the switch.

Thanks, Shoujo. The latest patch might make some of the governments a bit more attractive, too.

yep, the slighly easier morale should help quite a bit

Astro

~SDC~

I switched to Federation in a recent patch - it worked fine, had no morale problems and didn't lose a single election after making the change.

I did, however, swim in cash.

~SDC~