When you first get a social policy in Civ5, what do you choose?

[Tiodichia]

Tradition all the way for me

[Jimmy McGill]

Obviously Tradition. Maybe Honor if I'm playing as Monty.

[The Joker]

tradition opener ftw. Its just the most logical choice even if im gunning for a domination victory

[Matthew]

Liberty

[zxcvbob]

I almost always open Tradition first, then open Honor (I play raging barbs), then go back to Tradition. Sometimes I open Liberty instead of Tradition just to mix it up.

Someday I'll try straight Piety with someone like Monty to get the Heathen Conversion reformation belief (the AI's love that one, so it's a race to get it) and then start filling up Honor and go on the warpath.

[Username Unavailable]

Honor. But that's probably because I end up conquering the world at the end.

[zxcvbob]

Originally posted by Saldor:

Honor. But that's probably because I end up conquering the world at the end.

I love the honor opener. But I take Tradition or Liberty opener first to get my city borders expanding and to help get that 2nd and 3rd policy faster. (beyond that, it probably slows you down getting to the next policy, unless you're planning to go deeper in the tradition tree anyway)

[SubTonic]

If there are barbs and the landmass is decently sized, I unlock Honor for the bonuses against them. Otherwise I pick Tradition or Liberty depending on my plans.

[TheGaleRider]

I usually go Liberty but sometimes I go Tradition.

[apeculiarkat]

Tradition, Liberty, or Piety.

[zxcvbob]

Someday I'll try Aztecs (with raging barbarians) with Piety first, and grab the Heathen Conversion reformation belief (it is very popular with the AI's so gotta rush to get it) Then go full Honor and start conquering my neighbors. No tradition or liberty required. Might be a total disaster :-)

[mfly6148]

I typically go for a culture or diplomacy victory; I generally open with Liberty in order to get the associated bonuses (especially free worker and free colonist). Very soon after getting one or both of those free units, I'll open Piety because I like to found a religion and snag my favorite reformation belief (heathen conversion) as soon as possible. Seems to have served me well, so far, playing as various civs.

[Grumpy]

Originally posted by Matthew:

Liberty

I used to go tradition all the way, but Liberty helps set up 3 cities much faster than Tradition and the food you get from the internal trade route is more than enough than what Tradition offers.

Still not decided either way but I am liking Liberty more & more in early game.

[Jimmy McGill]

Originally posted by x2Madda:

Originally posted by Matthew:

Liberty

I used to go tradition all the way, but Liberty helps set up 3 cities much faster than Tradition and the food you get from the internal trade route is more than enough than what Tradition offers.

Still not decided either way but I am liking Liberty more & more in early game.

Do you even happiness bro?

[Matthew]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=384408275

7 unique luxuries within range. More than enough happiness. Tradition tries this, not only would the cities be late but NC as well. Liberty can hold over from population growth across 5 cities + GS from finisher, doesn't need the quick NC. Since playing Austria, I took both southern city-states as well through marriage <3

Rather boring game since Rome and Germany were shut down before they could even begin spamming cities.

I've never downplayed Tradition and always say Monarchy is the best policy in the entire game, but the way ppl think choosing Liberty is like an automatic loss or something is mind-boggling. If you can get 7 or 8 cities early on with any opener (Liberty obviously best for it), then it is cruise control to any victory.

For me it is Tradition -- Liberty ------------------------ Honor/Piety. Tradition pulls just slightly ahead of Liberty due to population growth during Renaissance/Industrial (Liberty eventually will need to cap capital growth), but it is extremely minor in the big picture.

Sure, we could discuss min/max blah blah, but it must get terribly boring playing every. single. game. as Tradition Babylon. Liberty is fun, and is more than viable :)

[Kepos]

Tradition give you +3 culture, next Freedom +1...if you spend 2 more into freedom you get a free settler, which in fact mostly is my very first settler to come. Next ones get cheaper. After this, all depends on your civilization and your playstyle.