What does "Disable Epoch" do?

[Kriegsspieler]

When you start a new game, the screen that has "Generation Settings" includes a checkbox near the bottom for "disable epochs." But I have no idea what "epochs" are -- the word does not appear in the manual -- and therefore I do not know whether I would want them disabled or no.

Does anyone possess the necessary insight into this?

[Che12]

Epochs are different phases of the society in your city, like revolutions, good economic times and such things. They change from time to time. In this times you get a bonus or penalty.

[t1it]

It's in-game zeitgeists(events basically) that slowly gives your empire some bonus or malus every, going up strength every turn until maximum effect then slowly disappearing.
Do as Das Tactic says, play with it on one game to see what it's kinda like. Decide then next time if you want to turn it on. I'm, playing with it off as I dislike complete random effects that you have 0 control over.
Although it's actually 'realistic' in that certain events in your empire happens outside your influence and you just have to deal with it.

[DTurtle]

They disable the various "time of ...". You get bonuses or maluses for a varying number of turns. So you might get more political points or all your leaders will get more corrupt and so on.

[Kamelpov]

And if you allow those random event to happen you earn 1 fate point each time to compensate.

[Kriegsspieler]

Ok, thanks for this. This is helpful. I recall now in an early try at the game I got a "time of research" right at the start.

Personally, I don't mind having to deal with random events, as long as they are plausible in terms of the game's environment. From this point of view, I have trouble imagining what a "time of research" might be. Maybe eventually the game will provide more contaxt.

[BlackRain]

Time of research just gives you more research, kind of self explanatory