Command Center question

[Rubin]

Why does the maintenance cost for the Command Center vary? I've been told the cost depends on reactor type. I checked the manual, and it says that this cost indeed vary, but not why - nor that it has something to do with reactors.

If the cost vary this way, I guess maybe a tight economy momentum player may be hit hard by a sudden increase in the upkeep cost for one of the most vital facilities.

Can someone explain this?

I'm currently upgrading the help file to display more or less hidden features like this cost increase ... so this would help me greatly.

[Flare]

~Shrugs~ It comes from Civ I & II. After certain techs, the price of barracks increases. Since SMAC uses a lot of Civ I & II code, the decided to carry it over. Yes, it is a pain, but that is the price you pay for war.

fission Reactors = 1 credit per barrack
Fusion Reactors = 2 credits per barrack
Quantum Reactors = 3 Credits per barrack
Singularity Reactors = 4 credits per barrack

[TimeTraveler]

Yes, one of the variables controlling the maintenance cost of command centers does increase to the highest reactor. However, the maintenance cost itself will never be more than half of your difficulty level, rounded up.
This means that at citizen level, you pay no maintenance, at specialist and talent you only pay one credit per turn per command center, at Librarian and higher that maintenance doubles at Fusion power, and at Transcend that maintenance rises to three at Quantum Power.
The maintenance never reaches 4, and thank goodness for that.

[Maniac]

Oh, I never even noticed it varied. The increase is kinda silly really. In Civ2 it was sort of logical since you had only one building to represent the training facilities throughout all the ages. But here in SMAC you have, besides the Command Center, the Bioenhancement Center, so you already have to pay extra for more morale on higher technology levels.