Official: Free Market Economics (Repost)

[GeneralTacticus]

But FM while at war with the Hive and still exploring I accept GTs points that with drop troops it is ok to be at war with FM, but we don't have those. If we really want FM, I would say wiat until we have crushed the Hive.

Is there any compelling reason to crush the Hive now? They aren't a real threat to us yet, being on another continent, and FM will allow us to move towards drop troops much more quickly, due to the extra income.

[Hercules]

I agree with Pande above, switch when planned becomes problematic.
Re: The Hive
While we are discussing the pro and cons of FM and non FM the Hive is likely to be a significant Global polluter on his own.
I am sure you will have encountered a message, when the waters rise, that it was not your fault but the activity of other factions that caused the ice melting. So I think there is reasonable urgency in curtailing the Hive and other heavily polluting faction's activities.
This requires calculating our factions damage potential against other factions.

The factions we have encountered so far have not exactly proclaimed an environmentaly friendly agenda.

[GeneralTacticus]

I am sure you will have encountered a message, when the waters rise, that it was not your fault but the activity of other factions that caused the ice melting. So I think there is reasonable urgency in curtailing the Hive and other heavily polluting faction's activities.

What on earth gives you the idea that the Hive are heavy polluters? They may not be that fond of the environment, but there's nothing to indicate that they're causing pollution.

[Archaic]

With the Hive's likely +2 or +3 Industry (Not to mention that they're an AI controlled faction), and the fact that it'ss highly unlikely that they have mineral levels above 10 at any base, the Hive have the least reason or need to pollute of any faction in SMAC. And yes, I'm including the Gaians there. (They have a reduced pollution, but have as much need to pollute as anyone else) Another Hasty Generalization Herc.

[Micha]

Originally posted by Pandemoniak
"never"

I favour to switch to Green as soon as Planned Economics becomes problematic.

Exactly! Democracy + Green triggers an efficiency of +3 for us, and that will give us the energy credits of Free Market without the ecodamage!
We do now have enough problems with mindworms, do not increase them just for cash! If you need energy credits, go and "lend" it from the Hive!

[GeneralTacticus]

BS. An efficiency bonus at this stage will never gain us as much money as FM.

[Micha]

Not yet, that´s right. But the empire will expand, at least in the Hive-direction...
Efficiency is as much important as energy, since it is difficult to buy your drones happy... (eff. decreases unhappiness, doesn´t it?)

Switch to green as soon as it is neccessary!

[GeneralTacticus]

It still won't matter. It's actually very easy to 'buy your drones happy', using Psych. This also induces GAs, which produce even more energy.

eff. decreases unhappiness, doesn´t it

Inefficiency makes people unhappy; efficiency doesn't make more people happy, just reduces the number unhappy due to inefficiency.

[Micha]

that is what I meant...

But leaving aspects of environmental devastation and poor efficiency, there is still a -5 POLICE effect!
every two units outside the bases trigger one additional drone.... We cannot use the usual methods of coping with that ( cutting nerves, recruiting prisoners out of unhappy citizens) cause we´re the Peacekeepers, so this might be a problem! I still think we shouldn´t use FM as long as we have other ways to go.

[GeneralTacticus]

How would that be a problem? Just use Psych and make sure to keep the number of troops outside of borders to a minimum.

[Method]

all of what the general says is true. i used to use green exclusively, but 1 try at market was enough. +2 economy makes so much more energy and research than efficiency does, that i'll NEVER go back to green (except in a prolonged war, or if i need to please the gaians or something)
you just have to be a bit more careful with drones, but 20% psych is more than enough to do it.

besides, we can get SPs to reduce the -police effect...

[Micha]

ok. I surrender. :
As I´m running out of arguments, I give up for now. Seems as if I will have to join more meetings of the CCCP to recharge my communistic idea.

[Drogue]

It's just fundamentally wrong and unfair!!!! (I have none left either, except RP ones )

[Method]

yay, the greens have surrendered!

[GeneralTacticus]

About time too.