A failed experiment...somewhat
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Here is an experiment that I performed since this morning. The theory was justified, but the overall results were a bit disappointing:
Small map, normal setting, AI pure good, scattered, UNCOMMON habitablity (for a reason). Government was Technologists with research bonuses as well as social production and diplomacy.
The exeriment: Play hard to achieve the Terraformer. Colonize EVERY planet regardless of class prior to the Terraformer being built. I made it that far with over 70,000 bc in the bank. I have been selling all technology for mad amounts of money due to my advanced diplomacy. In most cases, AI was giving me 200 bc for 50 months for groups of tech including Terror Star, Artificial Life, Transporters, etc. I gladly gave them all my tech because they didn't have the bc to build it anyway!!! So I colonized every planet including Class 1 planets with 1 million people each. Each planet was instructed to build habitat improvement and constructors. Next after habitat improvement was soil enhancement. This took 6 to 12 months for every planet aith social production at 100%.
In all, I colonized 47 planets of varying habitability 1 through 14.
Here's the part I didn't expect, immediately after colonizing every planet, my cultural infuence went through the roof and I had only 12 months to finish my experiment...DOH!
The Terraformer had no effect on class 1 planets. 4 in all.
Class 2 planets became Class 3
Class 3 planets became Class 4-5
Class 4 planets became Class 6
Class 5 planets became Class 8!!! Only had one of those...
Class 6 planets became Class 8 as well
Class 7 planets became Class 9
Class 8 planets became Class 10
Class 9 planets became Class 12
Class 10 planets became Class Class 12
Class 11 (had none) There were worms on this planet that made it a 12.
Class 12 planets became Class 14
Class 13 planets became Class 15!!!
Class 14 planets became Class 16!!!
Habitat Improvement increased PQ by 10% on each
Soil Enhancement incresed PQ by 10% on each...however I didn't have time to finish soil enhancement within my new 12 month time limit...damn it. I am assuming that Class 11 would have become Class 13, with at least a PQ improvement of 2 with HI and SE. I had to time to Terraform ANYTHING!!!
THE RESULTS:
Result #1: THERE IS NO GUARANTEE that the Terraformer will increase any planet by more than 1. I have noticed some planets increasing by more than 1, but I also have Class 1 planets remaining that way.
Result #2: It is unknown until future experiments if a Class 8 planet could become at least Class 15 with The Terraformer adding 1-2PQ, SE & HI adding 10% each, and Terraforming adding 20% PQ. In theory, bases on math, it should halt at PQ 14.
Result #3: It is absolutely worth occupying all planets with PQ of 10 or higher just before building the Terraformer. With PQ increasing to 11-12, then later adding another 40% with social improvements, all Class 10 planets will eventually become Class 15 or better.
Please keep this in mind for your long term games!!! ESPECIALLY on larger maps! Have your colony ships waiting!
Result #4: Another way to achieve a culture win is to occupy even the most desolate of planets. You lose a TON of bc per month, but you win in 12 months. Not sure how to calculate this, but the influence win seemed very easy. I'm still a little foggy as to why this happened...and I only launched colony ships with 1m population per ship.
???
OK...just letting you all know what I did this morning. As a side note, for any of you trying to find another way to make big $$$, selling tech has made me more money than any other method...just make sure the AI goes broke and can't make use of any of it. Hope the info helps!
Lord Alzandrion
Small map, normal setting, AI pure good, scattered, UNCOMMON habitablity (for a reason). Government was Technologists with research bonuses as well as social production and diplomacy.
The exeriment: Play hard to achieve the Terraformer. Colonize EVERY planet regardless of class prior to the Terraformer being built. I made it that far with over 70,000 bc in the bank. I have been selling all technology for mad amounts of money due to my advanced diplomacy. In most cases, AI was giving me 200 bc for 50 months for groups of tech including Terror Star, Artificial Life, Transporters, etc. I gladly gave them all my tech because they didn't have the bc to build it anyway!!! So I colonized every planet including Class 1 planets with 1 million people each. Each planet was instructed to build habitat improvement and constructors. Next after habitat improvement was soil enhancement. This took 6 to 12 months for every planet aith social production at 100%.
In all, I colonized 47 planets of varying habitability 1 through 14.
Here's the part I didn't expect, immediately after colonizing every planet, my cultural infuence went through the roof and I had only 12 months to finish my experiment...DOH!
The Terraformer had no effect on class 1 planets. 4 in all.
Class 2 planets became Class 3
Class 3 planets became Class 4-5
Class 4 planets became Class 6
Class 5 planets became Class 8!!! Only had one of those...
Class 6 planets became Class 8 as well
Class 7 planets became Class 9
Class 8 planets became Class 10
Class 9 planets became Class 12
Class 10 planets became Class Class 12
Class 11 (had none) There were worms on this planet that made it a 12.
Class 12 planets became Class 14
Class 13 planets became Class 15!!!
Class 14 planets became Class 16!!!
Habitat Improvement increased PQ by 10% on each
Soil Enhancement incresed PQ by 10% on each...however I didn't have time to finish soil enhancement within my new 12 month time limit...damn it. I am assuming that Class 11 would have become Class 13, with at least a PQ improvement of 2 with HI and SE. I had to time to Terraform ANYTHING!!!
THE RESULTS:
Result #1: THERE IS NO GUARANTEE that the Terraformer will increase any planet by more than 1. I have noticed some planets increasing by more than 1, but I also have Class 1 planets remaining that way.
Result #2: It is unknown until future experiments if a Class 8 planet could become at least Class 15 with The Terraformer adding 1-2PQ, SE & HI adding 10% each, and Terraforming adding 20% PQ. In theory, bases on math, it should halt at PQ 14.
Result #3: It is absolutely worth occupying all planets with PQ of 10 or higher just before building the Terraformer. With PQ increasing to 11-12, then later adding another 40% with social improvements, all Class 10 planets will eventually become Class 15 or better.
Please keep this in mind for your long term games!!! ESPECIALLY on larger maps! Have your colony ships waiting!
Result #4: Another way to achieve a culture win is to occupy even the most desolate of planets. You lose a TON of bc per month, but you win in 12 months. Not sure how to calculate this, but the influence win seemed very easy. I'm still a little foggy as to why this happened...and I only launched colony ships with 1m population per ship.
???
OK...just letting you all know what I did this morning. As a side note, for any of you trying to find another way to make big $$$, selling tech has made me more money than any other method...just make sure the AI goes broke and can't make use of any of it. Hope the info helps!
Lord Alzandrion