Golden Age - exact benefits

[regar reed]

Hi!

I just saw Washington sore past me with a golden age around 1600.
I beat him at Liberalism, chose Economics as free tech and was later beat by Mansa Musa for the Taj Mahal for four turns.
I was two techs in the lead when Washington started a golden age. Since he is spawning great persons like candy I guess he started one with them. (there is really no other way to get a golden age, is there?)
Two turns after his golden age ended he is again one tech in the lead. Also (see: BUG: rifleman with chemistry) he has about 15-20 rifleman in his cities already.

Point wise I was in the lead with about 150-200 points. We are equall again at the moment.

Has anybody analysed how a golden age increases gold income and productivity? What exactly are its benefits?

From what I saw it was incredible. Are there percentages? I would like to know the mechanism before I waste my precious GP (had only 5 so far) at the wrong time.

Thanks

[djpsychonaut]

Not sure what the exact effects are. I think they removed the Golden Age trigger when one of your UU wins a battle. That used to work almost always on the first try in Civ3... Also, it seems that Wonder building (except for Taj Mahal) doesn't cause a Golden Age either. The easiest way is to use two Great People.

[Shr3dZ]

On a related subject, as I think 'we love the ___ day' is the same effect, does anyone know the mechanism for that? Is it completely random to get a 'wlt_d' as long as your city has more than ??

All its says in the civlopedia is that you get more hammers, more commerce, and no maintainance for the city. Is that the same for a golden age?

[kobo1d]

The only ways to begin a golden age is with the Taj Mahal or by Sacrificing (X+2) Great persons, where X is the number of golden ages you have already had.

Not sure of the exact benefits of one though.

I know that WDL_D only happens when a city is practically paradise, with no happyness or health issues.

[Shr3dZ]

Ya but WLT_D only last 1 turn now right? So Im thinking as long as you have health and happiness in the positive numbers, its like a 1 in 100 chance.

[Kassiopeia]

During a Golden Age, all city squares that produce two hammers will produce an extra one, and all squares that produce two commerce will produce an extra commerce. That's what I read in the manual, at least.

[joncnunn]

According to the manual, the city in the WLT_D also doesn't have a maintenance cost that turn.

Yes, a WLT_D lasts one turn. And it's indeed 1% chance for every happy + healthy city that's a certain size (7?)

[Shr3dZ]

So a GA and WLT_D are both the same thing except for the number of turns it lasts?

Are you saying that if I had +3 and +4 health, I would have a 7% chance per turn of WLT_D or is it just 1% no matter how many +'s you have as long as you have no -'s ?

[djpsychonaut]

Originally posted by joncnunn
According to the manual, the city in the WLT_D also doesn't have a maintenance cost that turn.

Yes, a WLT_D lasts one turn. And it's indeed 1% chance for every happy + healthy city that's a certain size (7?)

I don't agreed with what you are saying about WLT_D lasting only one turn. I've had them continue turn after turn in big cities...

[joncnunn]

GA is empire wide.
WLT_D is only for the affected city.

[djpsychonaut]

I think you've lost me on this one joncnunn.... Isn't WLT_D a We Love the King/Prime Minister/Despot/etc Day? That's when you see fireworks above the city... I've never heard of or seen a "We love the people day..." The manual explains a We Love the King Day as only affecting the city. GAs are empire wide.

[Mazra]

Hi Everyone,

Is a Golden Age better than using your Great Persons toward tech research?

My experience so far at a Noble difficulty is using the Great Persons for techs if you are in a war, and for GAs if you are at peace.

What strategies seem to work for you?

Thanks,

Mazra

[Glostakarov]

In my first couple games I played on the lower difficulty levels, where you get more bonus health and happiness, and a well developed city could go on celebrating for 20 or 30 turns.

As far as what a GA does, every square that produces a coin or hammer produces an extra one during a GA (with knockoff effects on technology of course). It lasts for 8 turns.

[joncnunn]

The Great Persons indivual power is usally the best, considering that a GA lasts all of eight turns.

(Build a Shrine with the Prophet, an Academy with the Scientist, 4000 culture in a boarder city with the Artist, establish a trade route with a Merchant)

Originally posted by Mazra
Hi Everyone,

Is a Golden Age better than using your Great Persons toward tech research?

My experience so far at a Noble difficulty is using the Great Persons for techs if you are in a war, and for GAs if you are at peace.

What strategies seem to work for you?

Thanks,

Mazra

[Dubhghlas]

If possible, establish an overseas trade route with the merchant. One time I did that I received something like 3500 gold pieces all at once. Yowza!!!!