To hurry or not to hurry?

[Maniac]

Comments?

Yes. First please remember that the Research bonus is capped off at +5. So it would be ineffficient to go Knowledge and Cybernetic at the same time.

Also I don't get why you discard FM so easily. FM seems to me just as useful for the CyCon as for about any other faction. It can also be justified in RPG terms for us. I made a start with that in the philosophy thread from a few weeks back.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Maniac
First please remember that the Research bonus is capped off at +5. So it would be ineffficient to go Knowledge and Cybernetic at the same time.

But that's the difference between a 40% boost in research vewrsus a 50% (capped) boost - not insignificant when your lab points are in the 3 to 5 thousand range by late game

Also I don't get why you discard FM so easily. FM seems to me just as useful for the CyCon as for about any other faction. It can also be justified in RPG terms for us. I made a start with that in the philosophy thread from a few weeks back.

I guess I never found the extra +1 energy per square a good trade off for the -3 planet and -5 police in the early game (where Planned is such an appealing alternative to a growth starved faction - research rate is rarely a problem, but growth and industry often are)

-3 planet is "wanton ecological disruption", which spawns mindworms galore eventually, with a minimal probability of capturing one. This is mitigated slightly if indeed it's the Manifold Nexus to the south.

But, the -5 police can be neutralized with all the drone-relieving SP's and the planetary disruption by the ecology SP's, but I'd think the circumstances would have to be extraordinary for me to go that way.

Planned seems just more efficient (pun intended) for the Consciousness

But, hey - I'm just spouting the statistics and tables from the manual and the Prima Guide .....

(and revelling in my new unbanned status)

G, the

[Corellion]

I can't speak as authoritatively as Googlie, as I've rarely played the CyCon against other human opponents, but from my limited experience, I'd have to agree with him. The FM doesn't provide enough of a benefit. As a matter of fact, given that I usually play VERY long games, my empire is gigantic by the end. At that point, I find that Green is actually the best economic model to go by (and +9 efficiency is great, I barely lose any energy at all).

[Drogue]

Actually, as Archaic argues a lot, the -3 Planet isn't such a bad thing at all. ED early in the game, when pops release worms at most, mean that the clean mineral level is raised so that we can rpoduce more towards the end. Pop booms are not always a bad thing. Besides, the +1 energy per square with FM can halve research time in the early-mid game. Green at the end is the best, and Planned when growing, but FM for the mid game is very important IMHO, especially if we want to out tech the PUT. I propose that if we find the PUT, we change to Planned and go to war, using probes, and take their bases for tech steal. If we don't, we need to keep our tecjh close to theirs, and so FM is needed. That is my opinion for the mid game. Planned for war, FM for peace, Green for the late game when we need efficiency.

[Cedayon]

FM isn't an all-powerful choice, but it has its place... that place is the late-early and mid game (more during peacetime, as the Prime Function mentioned).

[Maniac]

I guess I never found the extra +1 energy per square a good trade off for the -3 planet and -5 police in the early game

In the early game I agree with you of course. But since you included Cybernetic/Eudaimonia, I assumed you were talking mid-end-game.

[Drogue]

Personally, because it is our ideal, I think to RP we have to choose Cybernetic. I laugh at the Hive trying to be democratic, or if the PUT chose Power. If Cybernetic isn't available then iot could be argued, but we are the CyCon, Cybernetic is our dream and goal!

[Corellion]

Dream? It is the only logical end to the development of an advanced society!

[DeathByTheSword]

we dont have to worry about the -3 planet anymore...it will be -2 with the manifold....or did somebody already said that?

[Googlie]

Assuming you don't get beaten by another faction to building a base there (which you need to get its +1 Planet bonus)

[Corellion]

Question: How much of the Manifold needs to be within our territory to get the bonus, because we currently hold a section within our territory. Do we have to have the entire thing?

Either Googlie is enjoying trying to torment us, or we may be in for some early game faction-meeting.

[Googlie]

Any part of the Nexus has to be within a base'sradius - having it in your territory isn't enough (as the border would shift if another faction built outside it, but closer to it than your nearest base

So you need to get AP's Colony Pod down there and build (at least in 68:78, NE of where the scout currently is) - that'd give the +1 Planet

G.

[Googlie]

Originally posted by Corellion
Either Googlie is enjoying trying to torment us, or we may be in for some early game faction-meeting.

Well, in one of the early FAQ's I said that I tried to give the factions 20 turns or so before they bumped into one another, subject always to the unpredictable AI - or the Pirates heading off in unexpected directions (I assume that they'll explore around their start position first before haring off on a beeline to the end of the world)

But the odd popping of an earthquake can unexpectedly link landmasses where 2 scouts have been staring into the fog across a channel, blind to each other's presence and suddenly an earthquake pops and there they are - one step and "oops, sorry" as they bump into each other.

I believe that there have been 2 podpopped earthquakes since the game began

(And I do enjoy tormenting all the factions - especially when I see the AI being taken for patsies)

G.

[Corellion]

Oh, but what a cruel and awful God you are, yet also so kind. You are one to be feared, yet also revered without fear, and to be cursed, but also embraced as the all-powerful being you are. You are truly one of contradictions... you cruel sadistic nut

[Googlie]

ROFLOL

GGLIE