pop boom in smac

[dacole]

There was one of the pop boom stratiges that due to a bug didn't work in smac but did work in alien crossfire if I remember correctly. Anyone remember which one this was? Thanks!

[binTravkin]

It was "Golden Age popboom" or, most common referred to as GA popboom.

GA was supposed to give +2 growth +1economy to the city which has got it, but in SMAC instead it gave only +1Economy.

It may seem a little bug, but for some factions that meant a huge weakness.
These were factions which weren't able to select all SE choices which give Growth (not talking about Eudaimonic Future Society).
Those factions are:
Morgan (unable to select Planned)
Hive(unable to select Democracy)

In SMAX it's a big change for Morgan as Golden Age usually gives him very much (he can reach magical +5economy with GA) and of course popboom.

For Hive it's not a big deal because getting GA to Hive cities is damn hard and is considered irrational by most players (especially for so called "Hiveaholics" which tend to think that Police is made for drones and they do not need anything else).

[dacole]

Thanks, that was what I thought but wasn't sure. (sigh) it would be nice if GA pop boom worked in smac make it easier to boom only certain cities and not all of them at once. Thanks again!

[binTravkin]

Glad to help!

[Rubin]

dacole, the Win2000/XP Compatibility patch fixes the GA popboom bug in SMAC.

[dacole]

hmm interesting thanks!

[livid imp]

Originally posted by binTravkin he can reach magical +5economy with GA

Magical +5 Econ? I understand the magic nature of the +2 Econ, but what is so special about +5....other than just more of the same?

The SMAC manual lists+5 Econ as:

"5 +1 energy/sq; +4 energy/base; +3 commerce"

More is better and all, I just don't see the magic.

[binTravkin]

More is better and all, I just don't see the magic.

+5 econ is maximum you can get

If you can get +5 econ, it's sure you can quickly become a planetary governor (due your superior economy)
and therefore you have effectively +4 Commerce, +1 energy per each commerce transaction, +big base energy output to get the commerce at max levels..

Then just go enslave an AI or 2, give them CPs so that their base count = your and enjoy the cash flow.

Especially useful with ICS - the tighter the better (as you get more bases).

And DOESN'T work without Planetary Trade Pact, but usually that's not a big problem..

In other words - commerce can do magic if you know how to use it..

[Kirov]

Personally, I love Morgan not for his potential to get 3 or higher ECON, but for the ability to get +2 ECON w/o FM...

FM really has its drawbacks, even if you're experienced and know how to handle them.

[dacole]

I've found that FM Wealth is best in the early game when you are still expanding, especially if you are playing a builder and wouldn't build many police units anyway. Even with Zak the drone problems don't seem to be that bad as long as you put ten percent or so to psych.

[binTravkin]

Personally, I love Morgan not for his potential to get 3 or higher ECON, but for the ability to get +2 ECON w/o FM...

FM really has its drawbacks, even if you're experienced and know how to handle them.

Yes, momentum Morgan (PS/Green/Wealth) sometimes makes me fall out of my chair..

[livid imp]

Like I said, more of the same. Not to discount what is there, I just didn't see the "magic". To me, the jump in income between a +1 Econ and a +2 Econ is "magic".

Say you have 10 cities at level 7, and 5 workers each.
Let's say for the sake of simplicity, 1 energy per square worked. Under a +1 Econ you would be taking in 50 worked + 30 base = 80 energy. Under +2 Econ you pull in 100 worked + 30 base = 130 energy.....a 62% increase.

Verses at a +4 Econ.... 100 worked + 40 base = 140 energy. At a +5 Econ 100worked + 60 base = 160 energy at only a 15% increase.

Now of course there is also the extra income through commerce, but that income can potentially be zero depending on the circumstances. Commerce income can be very low if your pactmates are not very built up. Any income that inconsistant I see as "gravy" on top of my real, steady income. I never use that kind of unsteady income to decide which SE to choose. I could likely make as much trolling for worms as I could in commerce.

I wish 3+ Econ had greater benefits to make FM more attractive to Morgan. I wouldn't be against +4 per base at a 4 Econ and a +8 per base or more for a 5 Econ.

[binTravkin]

ok, ok it's just a question of taste - I found myself in rather a superior position in most games as soon as I can support +5 economy..

That's just expierence..

[Chaos Theory]

The stated benefits of econ are incorrect. The actual benefits, based on my observation, are:

+3 Econ: +1 energy/sq, +1 commerce, +2 energy/base
+4 Econ: +1 energy/sq, +2 commerce, +4 energy/base
+5 Econ: +1 energy/sq, +3 commerce, +4 energy/base

[Major Guz]

Originally posted by Chaos Theory
The stated benefits of econ are incorrect. The actual benefits, based on my observation, are:

+3 Econ: +1 energy/sq, +1 commerce, +2 energy/base
+4 Econ: +1 energy/sq, +2 commerce, +4 energy/base
+5 Econ: +1 energy/sq, +3 commerce, +4 energy/base

You are not entirely correct. The complete list, this comes directly from alpha.txt, I don't know if this is changed in alphax.txt (SMACX), this is the SMAC economy rating.

#SOCECONOMY
-3, -2 energy each base
-2, -1 energy each base
-1, -1 energy at HQ base
0, Standard energy rates
1, +1 energy each base
2, +1 energy each square!
3, +1 energy each square; +1 commerce rating!!
4, +1 energy/sq; +2 energy/base; +2 commerce!!!
5, +1 energy/sq; +4 energy/base; +3 commerce!!!!