house evolutions: how do you play?

[gRRRz]

One of my joy in this game is seeing homes getting better and better. Even if it's not a requirement I always try to maximize the house level everywhere in my city; even if it requires importing expensive goods like beer or jewelry. I like the idea of having only wealthy people in my city (so basically even the mine workers have nice things). I play without global employement (because it completely breaks the game imo) and I like having a thriving communities just next to a rows of emerald mines (like at appartment level at least), I build gardens and tiles everywhere.
In each map I try to get the maximum evolution possible at least once. If I can get a house evolved enoug I'd end up erasing it.
I know some players, even very experienced voluntarily limit the level of houses in their city for diverse reasons (less ressources; less people...), or simply don't care.
So what's your play style? Am I the only one doing that? or is it perfectly normal?

[monsieurJean85]

For me, it depends.

I definitely like my housing to be at least Residence level, if possible. It's just nicer to look at.

I do sometimes hold back on evolving housing if I'm not sure what to do with the extra workforce. In general, though, I tend to reach the highest available level for 2x2 housing by the end of the mission.

I tend to hold back a lot more when it comes to evolving past Fancy Residences to 3x3 properties, though. In the OG game, this was mainly because of the sudden workforce decrease due to all inhabitants "evolving" into scribes.
In the remake, however, it seems like this doesn't happen. When I played Abu, which is one of the first missions where you can evolve housing to Common Manor, I built a special Manor block separate from my other housing, but the moment that housing evolved to Common Manor, there was no decrease in unemployment whatsoever.
Not sure what to make of that yet. On the one hand, it eliminates the sudden drop in available workforce, which would always mess with me in some way when playing the original. On the other hand, it would mean that Elite housing cannot soak up high unemployment anymore.

[Telariust]

Originally posted by monsieurJean85:

..When I played Abu, which is one of the first missions where you can evolve housing to Common Manor, I built a special Manor block separate from my other housing, but the moment that housing evolved to Common Manor, there was no decrease in unemployment whatsoever.
Not sure what to make of that yet..

This is an error due to the "fixed worker ratio".
Switch to "classic age simulation".

[Minie1000k]

I like that my houses are nice, but I make them evolve depending on the needs of the industry. in this version of the game it is easier to maintain neighborhoods of mansions, so when it is more or less good to the city I build a neighborhood of rich houses, but in the old pharaoh I waited until almost the end, using them to reach the population needed to win.

It's very different to play with global workers than not. In the old game, as you're forced to build houses near industry, I also put gardens and statues in industrial areas. Now I just put them, if I have any empty square left, just to make it more beautiful.

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a mi me gusta que mis casas sean bonitas, pero hago que evolucionen dependiendo de las necesidades de la industria. en esta versión del juego es mas fácil mantener barrios de mansiones, asi que cuando ya le va mas o menos bien a la ciudad construyo un barrio de casas ricas, pero en el viejo pharaoh me esperaba hasta casi el final, usándolas para alcanzar la población necesaria para ganar.

es muy distinto jugar con los trabajadores globales a no hacerlo. en el juego viejo, como te ves obligado a construir las casas cerca de la industria, también ponía jardines y estatuas en las zonas industriales. ahora solo lo pongo, si se me ha quedado algún cuadrado vacío, solo para que esté mas bonito.

[gRRRz]

well after setting up agriculture the second thing I do is set up a fancy block around the palace; that will just get enough workforce to get the game started. I'm only up to the point where I had 3x3 mansions once in this version (you can't evolved past 2x2 in a lot of missions up until saqqarah). problem is workforce needs are very different depending on the housing quality so if you have too low housing early game you'll have to build more; and if mid game you have suddenly a sourcing problem you can lose half your population very fast (like pottery not going to houses because you're hoarding them for a request)

[Kunming]

(Playing with global employment)

I have the perfect housing block layout for efficiency, can add or leave out certain things to control the housing level; holds around 2800 ppl. I lay that down, get everything running (look on the egypt map to see whats the money maker). Then once comfortable, make another smaller housing area and try to evolve it to the highest housing possible for the map.

Oh and look out first where to put the god triangles to not get stuck end game, or worse, rebuild everything.