how *does* production overflow work?

[DaveV]

According to T-hawk on Realms Beyond, the overflow is limited to the cost of the just-built unit. So in Solver's post, the overflow should be 200, not 150.

[Supr49er]

Originally posted by Solver
I don't remember how exactly it worked anymore, but with unlimited overflow, one of the testers managed to exploit it massively, up to the point of getting Wonders almost for free.

This was used in old releases of Civ. Build something obsolete, the would pile up. Switch production (with NO penalty) and pop the wonder in one turn, like having a GE.

Wonders should take great effort and cost to build.

[snoopy369]

I believe that is correct: you may only overflow as many hammers as the unit or building you just produced. So, if you had 275 hammers production, and a 200 hammer infantry, you eventually get +200 overflowed hammers for every infantry; so if you ever got bored and wanted to make something big, you could have 475 available at that point.

[MrWhereItsAt]

Originally posted by DaveV
According to T-hawk on Realms Beyond, the overflow is limited to the cost of the just-built unit. So in Solver's post, the overflow should be 200, not 150.

(Further complication) - but what happens if said overflow the next turn goes to create a unit/building/wonder where a bonus to the hammers applies (eg when constructing the Pyramids and having access to Stone). Say, for example, does an overflow of 60 hammers after building a Swordsman (i.e. the limit of the overflow) then become 60 hammers towards the Pyramids or 120 once the effect of access to Stone is counted?

[snoopy369]

Overflow is raw hammers, and stripped of bonuses, and then bonuses are applied to it, if I remember correctly. I believe this didn't work properly in 1.00 (and involved some exploits because it wasn't stripped of bonuses) but was later fixed at the same time as fixing the whipping exploit.

[rah]

If you whip the last turn can you get the overflow over the limit?

[snoopy369]

I believe you do, yes. (The whipping exploit was that if you had exactly the right amount missing - 60, say - you ended up doubling your hammers to 120.)

[rah]

I mean on top of the the normal shield overflow?

[Solver]

It's possible theoretically to get more overflow than the max, I believe, but then it'd just be converted to gold. Right?

[rah]

That's the question?
But at least I know the limit is what you're building for the exploit.

[snoopy369]

I think whipping overflow is identical to any other overflow ... it just adds 30 raw hammers to your production per pop point (on a normal whip with an already begun unit/building). So yes the limit would still be the same.

[rah]

Words like "I think" always sounds so definative.

But that just sounds right.

[joncnunn]

Of note, I think forest chops are the same way too.

Originally posted by snoopy369
I think whipping overflow is identical to any other overflow ... it just adds 30 raw hammers to your production per pop point (on a normal whip with an already begun unit/building). So yes the limit would still be the same.

[joncnunn]

This excess is NOT converted into gold; it's just gone. I presume this is to keep people from building missionarys in the modern era as a quasi-wealth pick.

Originally posted by ColdPhoenix
So from what RJM and Solver say it appears there is a cap on how many hammers can be carried over? I've never heard of this nor of the excess being converted to gold.

[rjmatsleepers]

Originally posted by joncnunn
This excess is NOT converted into gold; it's just gone. I presume this is to keep people from building missionarys in the modern era as a quasi-wealth pick.

My memory is that the excess used to be converted to gold in War Lords. I'll try to post a demonstration save later. If this no longer happens, perhaps it has been "fixed" in BTS.

RJM