Best use of a great engineer?

[johnny5000]

Usually when I get a great engineer I use them to rush-build a wonder.

Is this generally the best way to use them, or should I consider settling or bulbing a tech?

Edit: While we're at it, is there a good summary anywhere to the best usage of great people?
When to settle, when to rush-build, when to make academies, when to start golden ages, etc.

 

[DaveMcW]

Settled GE has better stats than any other settled great person.

If there aren't any wonders left that fit my strategy, I will settle them.

 

[blitzkrieg1980]

As most everything in CIV, it's situational.

Usually, by the time a GrEng pops, the 'Mids. GrLighthouse, Oracle, Parth. and Colossus are gone. So only marginal wonders at that point. However, if any of the above are still in play, I'll usually rush it. If I've done a doh! move and forgot to start the GrLibr or had warring troubles early, I'll rush the GrLibr.

Other than that, I'll settle if I think I'll get another, or save for Mining inc.

 

[JTMacc99]

For me, my favorite use is Mining Inc.

Second would be almost any wonder. I will seriously consider taking a detour on the tech tree for a few turns if I pop a GE and see a wonder I might like to have.

I hate settling them, but can't argue that they are excellent in that roll.

I've even used them to bulb a tech here and there, but it sure seems like a waste unless there is a very strategic reason to do it. (Like bulbing machinery WAY early when I'm the Chinese.)

 

[Virtual Alex]

I nearly always use them to build a wonder. Most often I use him to rush the great library in a not-so-productive science city.

 

[Shafi]

Settled GE has better stats than any other settled great person.

If there aren't any wonders left that fit my strategy, I will settle them.

What do you mean better stats?

 

[RyanZ]

Early: Pop moai statues on an island or peninsula with seafood and no production

Late: Mining Inc.

I will use it on a wonder if the AIs have the wonder's tech. I tend to save them for Mining Inc. if they're going to be rare though

 

[Fluxx]

What do you mean better stats?

Correct me if I am mistaken but a GE has 9 hammers + 6 beakers on a rep based economy.

9 Hammers is ALOT.

I sometimes settle GE before TGL or parth, depending on my tech sit and general prod capabilities.
Often the extra hammers will make you complete the early wonders on time anyways.

For things like SoL I will save a GE if it looks I got a chance at it. Simply because it is a damn expensive wonder in times you rather do not spend hammers on wonders.

 

[jihe]

Correct me if I am mistaken but a GE has 9 hammers + 6 beakers on a rep based economy.

9 Hammers is ALOT.

I sometimes settle GE before TGL or parth, depending on my tech sit and general prod capabilities.
Often the extra hammers will make you complete the early wonders on time anyways.

For things like SoL I will save a GE if it looks I got a chance at it. Simply because it is a damn expensive wonder in times you rather do not spend hammers on wonders.

3, not 9

 

[Negator_UK]

I don't think I have actually done this, but using it to rush the apostolic palace occurs to me as one good use ....

Must think harder in my next game.

I second the founding corp idea though, definitely worth saving them for that once the early wonders are gone.

Bumping the SoL to the finish line is also a good plan.

 

[cabert]

Correct me if I am mistaken but a GE has 9 hammers + 6 beakers on a rep based economy.

9 Hammers is ALOT.

I sometimes settle GE before TGL or parth, depending on my tech sit and general prod capabilities.
Often the extra hammers will make you complete the early wonders on time anyways.

For things like SoL I will save a GE if it looks I got a chance at it. Simply because it is a damn expensive wonder in times you rather do not spend hammers on wonders.

it's 3 hammers + 6 beakers, which is still the best you can get.

 

[blitzkrieg1980]

it's 3 hammers + 6 beakers, which is still the best you can get.

Depends on the game.

High commerce/cottage games, I feel a settled GM in wall street city is the best (18 per turn, 1, 3 (in Rep) )

In Wonderspam/SSE or early Rep specialist/settled GP heavy econs, a great scientist nets a total of 29 and 1

In a hammer econ or military game is good for settled GrEng in Ironworks city gets you 9 6 (in rep).

But I'd say in a space race (or even some military games) it's better to found Mining Inc. I've had Mining Inc. give me 16 per city.

Monarch & below advice

 

[DMOC]

Best use of a Great Engineer? Rush a wonder.

Preferably one that isn't rushed by a resource or one that will just take you too long and is crucial to your strategy (for instance, if you have no marble and need a ton of Great Scientists but you already chopped your capital out of its forests, rush the GLib).

 

[Windsor]

it's 3 hammers + 6 beakers, which is still the best you can get.

Great prophets yields 3 5 3 (rep/AW). Easily much stronger than settled GEs.

 

[Divaythsarmour]

My favorite is to settle GEs and GPs in the capitol (where most of my wonders are). Over time settled GEs and GPs increase your hammers per turn to the point where you can build wonders in just a few turns with an industrious leader.

My second favorite thing to do is to bulb a key tech. The first GE will often give you machinery or some other high priced military tech at a time when it can really make a difference (either getting ahead militarily - or struggling to keep up).

My least favorite thing is to finish a wonder with a GE. I'll only do this if the wonder is essential in some plan for synergy.

If you love wonders, it's better to settle them.

 

[blitzkrieg1980]

Great prophets yields 3 5 3 (rep/AW). Easily much stronger than settled GEs.

AW only adds 1 to priest specialists, not Great Prophets. It's still only 2

If you love wonders, it's better to settle them.

You need several settled producing GP before starting the desired wonder for this to be true. If you desire wonderspam, rush the wonder and then build another. Settle GEs for military IMO not for wonders (although can be used for both). Or better yet, found Mining Inc. and take 15+ per turn for late wonders/space race/military win.

 

[Silu]

Great Prophets only give 2 hammers.

edit: whoops, beaten to it

 

[killmeplease]

Great prophets yields 3 5 3 (rep/AW). Easily much stronger than settled GEs.

2 5 3

edit: lol

 

[pi-r8]

I like using a great engineer to rush west point in my heroic epic city. It usually saves me enough time to build at least 10 extra units, vs if I had built west point normally.

 

[blitzkrieg1980]

I like that! Especially if you don't have access to stone (+100% build rate for West Point). If I'm on a military domination or conquest run, having a 1 turn West Point in Heroic Epic city is great. On Marathon, it'll save you enough for (sometimes) 15-20 units