The value of rushing caravans

[geofelt]

After many games, I finally understand the value of rushing caravans. If you need gold to complete a wonder, the cost is 200 gold for each 50 shields needed(or one caravan). If you start building a caravan, and have at least one shield, then you can complete that caravan for under 125 gold.
The way I do it, I start a caravan, and get(let's say) 5 shields on it. I then pay gold to complete a warrior(13 gold), change to a phalanx, rush that for another 25 gold, change to a diplomat, rush that for 25 gold, change to a settler, rush that for 25 gold, then change back to a caravan. Two turns later, I have a caravan worth 200 gold that only cost me 83 gold and three turns. Even a one shield city could do this for 125 gold in two turns. This is much more efficient than just paying for the wonder. It is a bit tedious, though. If I can get tribute, then it is real easy to build many wonders.
How do others do this? Is there a better technique?

[Smash]

Thats pretty much it.The savings are substantial in gold and turns.When to buy can change with sheild production.

If you are actively trading,it is probably worth it to rush from scratch if neccessary.Even if the warrior slot is long gone.You can be looking at payouts of 500>1500 and more plus the beakers.If you keep recycling gold back into camels and freights,you whiz thru the tech tree and end up filthy rich.

[TCO]

is this in Ming's cheat list?

[atawa]

It shouldnt be, its not a cheat imho, just good gameplay.

You actualy dont have to build more then 2 types of units all game: dips/spies and caravans.
(not counting the 2/3 exploring units at the start of the game)

[rah]

it's called incremental buying and is not considered a cheat, by most people.

If you're getting good pays, just keep rushing them, but unless the pays are great, it's best to do it every other turn.

Or early in the game when money is tight, and you're rushing for wonders.
Rush buy it over 4/5 turns. Let a shield or more produce in each row then just buy the rest of the row. (if a city produces less than 10 shields) Next turn do the same. Yes it take longer but early in the game money is tight and the routes aren't paying the well to justify rush buying from scratch.

RAH

[TCO]

I think it was in Ming's cheat list...pretty evident that it's a tedious workaround of a restriction on buying wonders...

I know some of the other rushbuy peculiarties were in his cheat list...

[rah]

But you must remember, a lot on his lists were exploits of the game with no moral judgements. Whether they were actual "CHEATS" were left up to the groups of gamers definitions.

Of course, some were so obviously cheats, that 99% of the people disallow them.

[Scouse Gits]

Assuming you are building a 200-shield wonder like the Colossus, the saving gained by incrementally buying four caravans is huge. Based upon four cities each with a production of five shields per turn the saving is around 500 gold.

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SG(2)

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by GP
is this in Ming's cheat list?

What do you care? YOU DON'T EVEN PLAY

[TCO]

I played a bunch, back in the day. That was before you got to the site, donkey...

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by GP
I played a bunch, back in the day. That was before you got to the site, donkey...

Lol - YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CD NOW

[TCO]

Let it go...you geek, you.

[Alexander's Horse]

As for rush buying caras - I think its always worthwhile - provided you have the cash

[Scouse Gits]

Strange how these things come around ...

The following is taken from page 6 of "The Mad 2.42 Succession Game" over on Civ2|General

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Economics 101
Assuming that a city has a production of 5 shields per turn
The cost of a caravan is:

* 10 turns - natural build
* 6 turns + 44 g - 'tickling'
* 3 turns + 86 g - economic incremental rushing
* 2 turns + 111 g - incremental rushing
* 1 turn + 150 g - heroic incremental rushing

The value of a caravan when added to a WoW is 50 Wonder shields = 200g

Moral: it is never cost effective to buy a WoW - always buy a caravan instead.


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Notes on the above:
natural build - 10 x 5 shields = 50 = caravan
tickling - 4 x (5 shield + 11g) + 2 x 5 shield = 50
eir - 5 shield + 11g + 3 x 25g + 2 x 5 shield = 50
ir - 5 shield + 11g + 4 x 25g = 50
hir - 50g + 4 x 25g = 50

and this might go some way to explaining why I hate Feudalism and GunPowder - they take away my Warrior and I don't get it back until Fundamentalism.
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Appendix A

Warrior / Fanatic = 10 shield
Phalanx / Pike / Horseman = 20 shield
Archer / Diplomat / Musk = 30 shield
Settler / Trireme / Caravel / Legion = 40 shield

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What you doing slumming here AH - had another PCR and need to get back the Deity status?

SG[1]

[Alexander's Horse]

Eh! I'm a civver

I don't mind inc buying caras by line, i.e. fill in one line every turn, I tend to do it over 3 or 4 turns.