Great engineers disappearing?

[Leathaface]

It seemed to have happened a couple of times to me that when I got Great engineers/s early on (around metal casting state), by the time I want to use the engineer for the space elevator he is no longer there, I definitely don't use him.

It seemed to have just happened there, plus I can point out another game where I was certain a great engineers was born around metal casting stage and he was nowhere to be seen.

WTH!?!?!

[rah]

Did you do a golden age?

If I had a GE in the early days, there's no way I wouldn't have used him before the SE. And I wouldn't be building the SE anyway.

[Leathaface]

I did have a golden age, but I used a great scientist.

[King Kalmah]

Originally Posted by Leathaface

I did have a golden age, but I used a great scientist.

you need atleast two GP's to start a Golden Age I thought...

[rah]

Not in BTS
1 for the first
2 different for the second
3 different for the third
etc.
Maybe that was vanilla, I can't remember that far back. Heck at my age, I'm having problems with yesterday.

[Leathaface]

Originally Posted by King Kalmah

you need atleast two GP's to start a Golden Age I thought...

could the game have used the great engineers without me knowing it? I saw the great scientist and clicked Start Golden Age, and it started.

[rah]

I would bet that was it.

[King Pluto]

If you have more GP than you need for a Golden Age, their proximity to the GP you actually use to trigger the Golden Age determines which are used. So, if you have a GS, GE and GM and you want to save the GE, group the GS and GM in the same city or on the same tile AWAY from the GE and trigger with them. Guaranteed to save your GE that way.

[Kallikrates]

If one has three GPs, including an Engineer, and wants to start a GA that requires two of them (the first GA on vanilla/warlords or the second on BtS) how can one make sure that the Engineer
(suppose you want to keep him to rush/help a mid-/late game wonder) is NOT used up. I had this situation once and re-loaded several times, I believe in the end I put the two non-engineers in one city and started the GA with one of them, so in this case the one in the same city was picked. But what is the default/mechanism?
o.k. this was just answered and works as I had thought, thanks!

[rah]

Yeah, after being burned a few times, I group the ones I'm using together and move them out of the city before I trigger. It's much less likely for you to screw it up.

[lymond]

Question is - Why are you building the Space Elevator (worst wonder in the game)? Second question - Why in the world would you keep a GE sitting around for that long?

[rah]

Read my post #2

[Htadus]

Originally Posted by lymond

Question is - Why are you building the Space Elevator (worst wonder in the game)? Second question - Why in the world would you keep a GE sitting around for that long?

Though not that long I would keep him for Mining inc.

[s.bernbaum]

@Kalikrates: what they mean by grouping is put the two that you want to use on the same tile, highlight both, and then select the Golden Age icon. To be even safer, make sure that the GE is not on the same tile as the two GP that you highlight. Also, be aware that the GPs have to be different types. So, eg, if you have two GS and a GE and you highlight the two GS, you will still end up using only one of them and the GE.

[Htadus]

^^
Now that last part is very important. I know I've messed up like this in the early civ play days.....Actually, come to think of it, I think I did this even recently.

[6K Man]

Maybe the GE committed suicide when he realized you were going to build the Space Escalator with him?

Seriously though, there are two things wrong here:

1. Getting a GE in the early game and saving him until the late game is a colossal waste of the GE. If you’re playing normal speed, you could have had thousands of hammers even by settling him. Or you could have rushed an early wonder that you didn’t otherwise get. Or you could bulb something (Machinery, and kill everyone with Xbows). The point is, early great people are scarce, and by just letting him sit, you’re giving up the chance to leverage an early advantage.

2. Why are you building the Space Elevator? The general consensus here is that diverting to Robotics to build SE will actually slow down your Spaceship construction. Some consider SE to be the worst wonder in the game.

[Imp. Knoedel]

Originally Posted by s.bernbaum

Also, be aware that the GPs have to be different types.

Does that mean you can only ever have a maximum of 6 Golden Ages without Taj Mahal and Events?

Originally Posted by 6K Man

Maybe the GE committed suicide when he realized you were going to build the Space Escalator with him?

You have to admit, building an Escalator into Space would be an even worse engineering nightmare than an Elevator.

[TheWilltoAct]

You can't ask for advise without catching an earful of unsolicited opinions.

/internet

[s.bernbaum]

Originally Posted by Imp. Knoedel

Does that mean you can only ever have a maximum of 6 Golden Ages without Taj Mahal and Events?

No, but an interesting question. Personally, I have never used GPs for more than 3 GAs in a game. However, I have seen people posting about having around a dozen. Although I don't know, I suspect that there is a max number of GPs used for a single GA and after that the number needed does not keep going up. Either that or once you get past GA #6, you can use two of the same plus the others. Perhaps someone who has used the large number of GAs will post the answer here.

[Imp. Knoedel]

I just tested it with worldbuilder, the result is as follows:



So obviously there is a limit of 6 to GP-triggered GAs in one game.