first game with secret societies. has it been good or bad?

[Exemplar]

random leader gave me seondeok. second barbarian camp i cleared gave me sanguine pact. it's 2640bc and i have a vampire :) he's only str 20 right now, tho, but eh, this early he's a free warrior.

[FastHamster]

Korean vampires. What could possibly go wrong?

[SPC_UK]

Met three so far, not joined, used governor on Pingala instead.
A shame Sean Bean doesn't read the text when you discover them.

[Exemplar]

well, early on, sanguine pact is pretty op. it's not just the vampires, they are nice, but appropriately positioned vampire castles make your capital very very strong. so my nearest neighbor, rough rider teddy, didn't have a chance with my combined early (before 1ad) 2 muskets, 2 vampires and a siege tower, my capital is already size 11 with production through the roof, and i have ridiculous science per turn, so the game's pretty much over for all intents and purposes so I'm going to start a new one.

what was the drawback really? other ai opponents seemed to not like me for being vampire, but they also didn't like me for taking over poor teddy. it's not the first domination game i've played wherein no one liked me, and it doesn't really matter if i'm just killing them anyway.

[BLACKcOPstRIPPa]

I wanna play so badly, I'm jealous.

Have to wait for my work day to end. Da

So does AI use the pacts well?
Like does it make a visable difference or is it s new feature they can't use right?

[Animalman]

gl hf testing now

[Dray Prescot]

I have been playing with the Secret Society rules for a week or so (Along with the Tech + Civic Shuffle option). At times, I have had all 4 Societies offering for me join them. Usually I just take the Owls of Minerva. Usually I am a peaceful empire builder concentrating on developing what I have plus exploration.

About the Sanguine Pact, do you only get the 1 original Vampire Unit, or can you build more of them at one of your cities. I see in @Exemplar (message above) a reference to him having 2 Vampire Units.

It sounds to me like a Trajan (Rome) Sanguine Pact with the early Roads could be pretty powerful. When I want to conquer early, I go with Trajan. I have had games with Trajan, where I have conquered one Civ by around 2000 BC, and a 2nd Civ by close to 1 AD.

I am not quite sure that I understand how to use the Vampire Castle. Does building a Vampire Castle use up the Vampire Unit? If IIRC the info I read last night, the Vampire Castles can only be built on small number to terrain types.

[Kerrovitarr]

All SS's has their own style. And what style you prefer that SS you join.
Owls are the most flexible due 2 free policy card slots, increasing your gold income, trade route capacity and enhancing espionage.
Vampires are more war focused and well placed castle can give a lot of food and production.
Voidsingers are quite good for religion and tourism focused gameplay. As well as some interesting interaction with civs like Eleanora (both additional relics and cultists assisting with flipping cities), Menelik (even more income from faith generation) or even Trajan (free obelisks in every city).
Hermetic order is all about placing your districts around ley lines and focusing on great people. If you manage to get a lot of great people then you're fine. Otherwise Hermetic order is most weak imo.