A question about scoring

[MeteorPunch]

The best general guidelines for a high score imo, was stated by DaveMcW:

Here is the exact formula for getting a high score:

1. Cover territory with your culture as fast as you can.
2. Reach your victory condition as fast as you can, as long as it doesn't conflict with #1.
3. Keep your citizens as happy as you can, as long as it doesn't conflict with #2.

These are words to live by in GotM land for those who don't know. However, it doesn't specifically answer a question I have. Which would score higher in a hypothetical situation:

1. Immediate conquest victory with 50% land.
2. Rushing to get 66% land as fast as possible, then conquest.
3. Rush to get 66% land as fast as possible, *then* continue playing turns "milking" as the score increases points per turn *until* points per turn start to equalize (before dropping), then conquest.

If anyone can make sense of this question and answer it is much appreciated .

This may or may not relate to a game of mine in progress .

 

[klarius]

Well, it depends
There is the possibility to milk a few points by going to domination first. But that will work only if the result is already very good.
If you get to domination limit too late, you will be near the steepest part of the Jason milking curve and you will lose points.
But in any case the difference will be small. You will not change much in the last few turns.
The art of high scores really is to milk the score from very early, while not slowing down the victory.

 

[solenoozerec]

1. Immediate conquest victory with 50% land.
2. Rushing to get 66% land as fast as possible, then conquest.
3. Rush to get 66% land as fast as possible, *then* continue playing turns "milking" as the score increases points per turn *until* points per turn start to equalize (before dropping), then conquest.

If anyone can make sense of this question and answer it is much appreciated .

First a difference between 1 and 2. Imagine that you achieve both 1 and 2 at the same date. In this case, most likely 2 is better. Now if you imagine that a gap between 1 and 2 is growing, then a difference in score will start to shrink. At some point, 1 and 2 will become equal and after that 1 will become a better choice.
As for the 3rd, I think it depend on your milking skills.

 

[MeteorPunch]

First, thanks for the responses. When I look at the Jason score graph, I can't tell if the center occurs at turn 270 or turn 330. I am now assuming that getting to the domination before or after this date is the way to determine whether milking will help or not...I don't know which it is. If you get to domination before the curve, most will consider it a drag to milk it to the end to gain a few extra hundred points, unless the cow is what they are going for.

So three new questions.

1. What is the center date of the curve: 270 or 330?
2. Is my milking benefits assumption correct? (EDIT: milking benefits one side, pre or post-curve, much more.)
3. If so, does milking benefit pre or post-curve center?

Again, if anyone understands the language in this post , thanks.

 

[MeteorPunch]

First a difference between 1 and 2. Imagine that you achieve both 1 and 2 at the same date. In this case, most likely 2 is better. Now if you imagine that a gap between 1 and 2 is growing, then a difference in score will start to shrink. At some point, 1 and 2 will become equal and after that 1 will become a better choice.
As for the 3rd, I think it depend on your milking skills.

There is little time difference between 1 and 2. 2 can be achieved in ~5 turns. But to me, it would seem better than, score wise, to allow the new territories to expand in population, boosting the points per turn score until the points per turn (firaxis) evens out.

sorry for the complication in this post. I can easily understand firaxis scoring, but jason is tricky and mixing the two is scary

 

[solenoozerec]

There is little time difference between 1 and 2. 2 can be achieved in ~5 turns. But to me, it would seem better than, score wise, to allow the new territories to expand in population, boosting the points per turn score until the points per turn (firaxis) evens out.

If I were you, I would go for whatever is faster. This does not mean a better score, it is just that I value fast victories more than high scoring victories.
If a difference will be just 5 turns, I doubdt that a difference in score will be high. I suggest you save your game, make a choice, submit a game and then replay your game alternatively. When tresults will be published, check your alternative score with Jason score calculator and post it here.

 

[MeteorPunch]

@solenoozeric: my score in the game won't be in competition for fastest or highest scoring, I just want to have an understanding of things . That is a good idea to compare them and learn the results. I may do that and post here later.

If anyone knows the answers for post #4, please comment.

 

[solenoozerec]

I just want to have an understanding of things . That is a good idea to compare them and learn the results. I may do that and post here later.

You aslo can try to use your Firaxis scores and dates for Jason score calculator using best scores from different XOTMs. This way you can see how specific map conditions would effect your Jason score outcome.

 

[klarius]

The center of the pure milking curve is at turn 270. But it's modified by the best date term, which makes the steepest part a little earlier.
Still within 5 turns you will change your score only by a few points.

 

[Jove]

I hope you glean the answers to these questions, Meteorpunch. I've had the same thing on my mind as well. One example that provokes this question is the (ever-famous, I know) 50BC domination win by BradleyFeanor in COTM6, I think. The fastest date ever, yet the top scores went to people who finished later. This isn't the only example- look at the recent gold medals going to Cultural victories in recent games. The dates are lousy compared to the domination/conquest dates, yet having all those tiles and happy citizens for so many turns resulted in a higher score. What you seem to be asking is, where it the line? How do you know when your Jason score is peaking? I suggest having a calculator and the Jason scoring equation handy, and just keep track. I don't do this, but I imagine even one game of that would give you a 'feel' for the effect we're sensing.