ECON SE settings not what they appear to be...

[Zeiter]

I was playing as Morgan with a modified Alpha.txt where demo gave +1 ECON, and I noticed something strange. When I hit +5 ECON, the amount of energy or labs didn't change from +4 ECON. I furthermore noticed that my amount of energy I was getting in each base when I had +4 ECON was more indicative of +5 ECON. And then I tried +3 ECON, and saw that the +4 ECON settings were being applied. Here's what I mean:

With +3 ECON, I should be getting +1 energy to each square (in addition to the +1 commerce). However, my bases were all getting +2 energy to the base square, which is what should happen with +4 ECON. Then, under +4 ECON, my bases were getting +4 energy to the base square, which is what should happen with +5 ECON. Then, with +5 ECON, there was no change. So this is what I think happened:

Firaxis hardcoded the ECON settings incorrectly, so that +3 ECON gets you what +4 ECON should get you, +4 ECON gets you what +5 ECON should get you, and thus, +4 ECON is the highest you can get. Haven't you ever wondered how you could have 7 energy in the base square under +4 ECON? It's because the +5 ECON settings are actually being applied.

This is why an FM/wealth Morgan is so strong - he's really getting +5 ECON.

[jtsisyoda]

The manual and the datalinks do appear to be a little off on this one... I've seen it, too. Did you check if your commerce improved with +5 Econ? And with your alphax.txt, if you induce a golden age to get +6 Econ, what happens?

[Natalinasmpf]

But Loki seems to have fixed it....in the Linux port of SMAX/SMAC...

[Zeiter]

No, commerce didn't improve either. Haven't tried +6 ECON, although when, in reality, would that ever come up? Morgan running FM/wealth/eudaimonic?

[Rubin]

Zeiter, I did some extensive testing some time ago on the impacts of Economy rating (though, I cannot locate the thread anymore).

I just did a second test and here are my findings:

-2, -1, 0, +1 and +2 Economy correspond to the bonus/penalty information in the game (I did not test -3 Economy). Note that a +2 Economy rating gives +1 energy at EACH square, this includes the base square.

+3 Economy gives +1 energy at each square, +2 energy at the base square and +1 commerce rating. Note that the base square gets a total of +3 energy.

+4 Economy gives +1 energy at each square, +4 energy at the base square and +2 commerce rating. Note that the base square gets a total of +5 energy.

+5 Economy gives +1 energy at each square, +4 energy at the base square and +3 commerce rating. Note that the base square gets a total of +5 energy.

Any value above +5 Economy equals +5 Economy. Hence, no additional bonus is received by having a +6 (or higher) Economy rating.

It is also worth noticing that the Planetary Governor receives an additional +1 energy at each base square and +1 commerce rating.

I'd be interested if anyone can verify these findings.

[Zeiter]

Ah, thanks Rubin. That seems exactly like how I've seen it behave. So the info in the manual and the datalinks is false, then. Or at least slightly off.

So really, there isn't a whole lot of different between +4 and +5 ECON, unless you have a bunch of pactmates spewing energy into your bases. This explains alot. Thanks.

[binTravkin]

Rubin, is right and now I know why governor gives so much energy - I once calculated exactly how much more commerce I'd get if I was elected, but when it happened, seemed that I'm getting even more
And I didn't bother checking all those "8+ energy" bases..