for moderation and temperance.

Learn how to make the best starting choices in Tropico 7, from background to starting profession, to optimize your island's economy, faction relations, and citizen happiness.

The strategies you employ in Tropico 7 are heavily influenced by the choices made during character selection at the outset of the game. Selecting specific backgrounds or professions can make the game easier by improving education, productivity, or lowering crime rates. You can also modify your standing with various factions and choose rewards that significantly impact your play style and island economy.

Background Choices:

• Moscow U.: Provides a lower Education bonus than Harvard but improves relations with Communists. Ideal for players focusing on farming and mining to appease the Soviet Union.
• Harvard U: Offers a 20% bonus to Education and improves relations with America, but may negatively impact relations with the Soviet Union.
• Miner: Increases ore extraction speed by 50%, benefiting both Communist (iron, bauxite) and Capitalist (gold, jewelry) factions. However, it negatively impacts Environmentalists due to increased pollution and landscape damage.
• Farmer: Useful for feeding the populace and increasing revenue from rum, cigars, and canning. Pleases Communists and farmers but may reduce respect from Intellectuals.
• Biblical Scholar: Increases respect from both religious groups and the educated. Leads to faster-educated, more law-abiding citizens. Considered an above-average choice.
• Man of the People: Earns favor with Communists but may alienate religious groups.
• Booze Baron: Specializes in sugar production and rum revenue. Initially disliked by religious groups, but they may come around if religious buildings are constructed.
• Leftist Author: Provides an Education bonus and increases the standing with Communists and Intellectuals.
• Fortunate Son: Grants a general boost to respect from most factions, excluding Intellectuals. A balanced, neutral choice.
• Self-Made Man: Boosts capitalism through increased capitalist respect, improved U.S. relations, and higher factory productivity.
• Silver Spoon: Provides a significant boost to capitalism, an extra $2000 starting cash, improves relations with America and tourists, but may decrease relations with Communists.
• Generalissimo: Significantly improves military relations (30%) and soldier effectiveness (15%) in spreading control, but increases citizen unrest by 20%.
• Chief of Police: Improves relations with Militarists, reduces crime by 40%, and has a less severe impact on liberty compared to a soldier background.
• Developer: Generates 50% higher pollution, which can lead to riots from Environmentalists. Offers unspecified benefits.