The passive policies aren't purely about numbers. They change our civilisation's culture over time and, as we found out when questioning about it during the Caradysh war, to a greater extent than manual actions. Glory passive policy was an emergency measure. Leaving it on will make our civilisation care more and more about glory and prestige, which means they become bigger assholes. Putting them on Trade will instead have the Arthwyd making connections and exchanges with other civilisations, which is a good thing.
We'll get enough Prestige from megaprojects, maximising infrastructure (Oshha said we got Prestige for getting full temples), and the wars we'll inevitably have to fight.
Believe it or not, there are a healthy degrees and ways in which one can celebrate achievement without turning into an asshole.
On a cultural level, Trade would could make our culture more materialistic and interested in acquiring exotic goods. Honey Trade wealth reductions and the like. Which is its own brand of toxicity.
If you want to make the "how will this affect our culture" argument? You'd have a better argument with Art and Religion. Also Education and Study to a lesser extent.
That said, I doubt we'll need to worry about the 1X passives when there's a x6 Infrastructure passive dominating the zeitgeist. Even the Elders' attempt to be different seems to have defaulted to our x2 Empire Passive.
EDIT: Not that Trade is sub-optimal when it comes to numbers. The extra information and relations with other civilisations will be very useful in the long term for the Arthwyd.
If we're talking narrative, we're best served improving connectivity throughout our burgeoning empire and reaping all the many associated benefits. Empowering the ability for the empire to function as a whole will give greater rewards and long-term stability than focusing on building up the core.
And yeah I quite dislike the Isolationists/Purists, but I also want to further normalise relations with the Caradysh. The more stable our relationship with them, the better.
If you want Trade for the extra information and relations, you're better off slotting a second Foreign passive. Double down on the existing focus.
Narrative-wise, every settlement is already connected via properly maintained and well-worn trails. I'd rather the Empire prioritize setting up the infrastructure needed to provide food for its citizens than on upgrading the existing pathways into something a little more prestigious.
Boats could be a good way for improving connectivity though.
Some, but not a lot at all hence the warning telling you to try and spend less Econ than you gain. You will want to error on the side of caution.
Appropriately vague. Fair enough.
[X] [SEC] Build Wall = (Western Rock River)
[X] [MAIN] Expand Econ.
[X] [SEC] Trade Expedition = (Fordysh)
[X] [SEC] Trade Expedition = (Hamefordysh)
[X] [SEC] Settle Land = (Greenbay)
There's a few more turns left on the Theocrat/Localist quest timers anyway.
Approval:
[X][MAIN] Train Sacred Warriors
because there's decent odds that the Nersondurans will eventually try to capture Arthwyd citizens as slaves.
...hey
@Oshha does MAIN Boats count as infrastructure?
