50% Luxury Tax and Lower Rate Cap?

[SayHayKid]

The 50% luxury rate tax flag isn't used by any improvement in standard civ as the AI runs the slider at 100% so it would be a purely human advantage. However, if the rate cap for certain governments is less than 100% would that mean then the AI would be able to take advantage? Thus making it a viable flag to use for improvements?

 

[tjs282]

As I understand it, the Civ3 AI generally tries to run its Sci-slider at "maximum without deficit spending", rather than "100%" -- so there is usually also some Tax-collection on most turns (which can then be boosted by Markets etc.). Conversely, the Lux-slider is used very rarely -- but apparently not never (IIRC, @Spoonwood or @Bartleby posted some screenies not long ago, showing some AI towns with nonzero Lux-spending).

That said, I think (you're right that) the only way to 'force' the AI to use the Lux-slider more frequently, would be to lower the rate-cap for some/ all govs. But the percentage would have to be very low: under a 50% rate-cap, the AI would likely still split its spending evenly between the Sci- and (virtual) Tax-slider for the most part -- so only a 40% rate-cap (if that setting's even possible?) would force use of the Lux-slider on every turn (100% - 40% Sci - 40% Tax = 20% Lux).

Of course, that would be true for the human player as well: under any Gov with a 40% rate-cap, neither of the F1 sliders could ever be set at less than 20%, so that would also leave us with very little flexibility in running our economies.

 

[Arexander]

so only a 40% rate-cap (if that setting's even possible?)

Rate caps lower than 50% are possible with Quintillus's Editor and will indeed work as you mentioned, though I'm not sure if some commerce is wasted if you go 30% or lower since the percentages of the sliders no longer add up to 100%.

 

[Sakharov]

I already thought about same thing! https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/buildings-which-increases-luxury-output.689868/
By now I'm experimenting with some replacements. I added two buildings to increase lux otput, but can't say exactly if it really makes a sense. I don't really often use lux slider. Yep, at early game it may be critical, but later... You know.