by samson
This study of hut outcomes was conducted on version 2.4.2, mostly on Deity/raging hordes at various map sizes. It used
both reload testing and continous play testing. Both types of tests gave similar statistical results.
The study was done in two parts. The first part was concerned with determining what factors affect the frequency of the
five types of outcome: Tribes, Gold, Mercenaries, Scrolls and Barbs. The second part studied the specific results
available from each outcome type.
Much of the information reported here is already well known but some conclusions, hopefully, will be new and able to help
resolve long standing disputes.
There are five possible outcomes from tipping a hut:
When a hut is tipped by a Civ which has no existing cities and the Turn# is less than 50 (i.e. <1500BC on Deity),
then both Tribes and Barbarians are suppressed and their chances are added to Mercenaries. Thus the outcome ratio
becomes 0:1:3:1:0 in TGMSB order.
If the Turn# is greater than or equal to 50, then this rule does not apply and the ratio is normal, 1:1:1:1:1.
Under these circumstances, it is possible to tip a hut for a Tribes outcome and, on suitable terrain, have it become
your capital - complete with a Palace.
If the distance from a hut to the nearest city is less than 4 (as measured by the rectangle system or the formula for distance given in "Calculating Caravan Delivery Payments") then both Tribes and Barbarians are suppressed and their chances are added to Mercenaries. The outcome ratio becomes 0:1:3:1:0 in TGMSB order.
If a Civ has more than one existing nomad (NONE settler) per 8 cities, the nomads-result of the Tribes outcome is
suppressed and the chance is added to Scrolls.
With less than 8 cities a single NONE settler suppresses the nomad result. There must be at least 8 cities to support
one existing nomad, 16 cities to support two, 24 cities to support three, etc. If not, then Nomads are suppressed and
the outcome ratio on nomad-suited terrain becomes: 0:1:1:2:1.
If a Human Civ tips a hut on a continent on which it has no existing cities (but does have cities elsewhere) and the
distance from the hut to the nearest city is greater than 12, then the outcome ratio is: 7:2:2:2:2. In other words,
there is a 47% chance of a Tribes outcome under these circumstances.
If the Civ is an AI, then the chance of a Tribes outcome is 100%.
Note, all rules are applied together. For example, under these circumstances if the terrain is nomad-suited and the nomad-result is being suppressed by the Nomads Rule, the Tribes chance is added to Scrolls and the outcome ratio becomes 0:2:2:9:2.
Once a Civ acquires Invention, the Scrolls outcome is suppressed and its chance is added to Gold. The outcome ratio becomes 1:2:1:0:1 in TGMSB order.
After any Civ acquires Explosives, the Nomad result is suppressed and its chance is added to Gold. Thus, on
Nomad-suited terrain, the outcome ratio becomes 0:2:1:1:1.
These are, I believe, the only factors affecting the type of outcome from huts. More specifically, the following
factors were tested and found to have no statistical effect on hut outcomes:
The Tribes outcome has two possible results: Advanced Tribes and Nomads. Terrain is the determining factor in which
is selected.. Advanced Tribes occur only on Grasslands or Plains. All other terrain types produce nomads. Nomads
can also occur on Plains or Grasslands when the surrounding terrain makes the site poorly suited for a city.
The Nomads result is subject to the Nomads Rule and the Explosives Rule (see above).
Before 1000AD, all cities founded from Advanced Tribes have a size of 1. After that date, the size of the city can
be 1 to 4. It will always have a Temple. In addition, it has a 50% chance of having a Marketplace, 33% chance of a
Granary, and a 25% chance of a Library.
The Gold outcome has three results:
There are two result classes of the Mercenary outcome. In general, these can be described as 1-move units and
2-move units. Each of these result classes has an equal chance of appearing from a hut. The specific types of units
depend on the discovery of technologies. Once the governing technology has been discovered by any Civ, the unit
begins appearing from huts.
Initially, Horsemen and Chariots are available as 2-move units in a ratio of 2:1
Polytheism introduces Elephants. The ratio of Elephant, Horse, and Chariot is 3:2:1.
Chivalry replaces all 2-move units with Knights.
Monotheism replaces all earlier 2-move units with Crusaders.
Leadership replaces earlier 2-move units with Dragoons.
Conscription replaces all 2-move units with Riflemen, a 1-move unit.
Archers are the initial 1-move unit.
Iron Working causes Legions to replace Archers as the 1-move unit.
Gunpowder causes Musketeers to replace Legions as the 1-move unit.
Guerrila Warfare causes Fanatics to replace Musketeers as the 1-move unit.
Mercenary units are supported by the nearest city, unless the nearest city is foreign in which case they are NONE.
The result of a scroll outcome can be any unacquired Civilization Advance for which the Civ has all prerequisites.
The chance of obtaining a specific Advance can be calculated by listing the position numbers of possible advances
in an alphabetically-ordered list of all advances (as under @Civilize in Rules.txt). An advance's chance of selection
is statistically equal to the distance between its position and the position of the advance above it
(wrapping the list from bottom to top).
For example, with no starting techs the list of possible advances and position numbers out of the total of 93
advances would be:
Advance | Position # | Chance |
---|---|---|
Alphabet | 2 | 7/93 |
Bronze Working | 9 | 7/93 |
Ceremonial Burial | 10 | 1/93 |
Horseback Riding | 37 | 27/93 |
Masonry | 48 | 11/93 |
Pottery | 66 | 18/93 |
Warrior Code | 88 | 22/93 |
Note that Ceremonial Burial, appearing immediately after Bronze Working, has only 1 chance in 93 while Horseback Riding benefits from the long gap between itself and CB.
(incomplete)
The assumption of randomness in the determination of hut outcomes appears to be valid. Although sequences of similar outcomes do occur, they are unpredictable and fall within bounds predicted by a random model modified by the rules and conditions described above.