Arrays: Are you using them?

[Minor Annoyance]

If yes, why do you use arrays?
For what purpose and under what circumstances?

If no, why not?
Have you ever used arrays, and if so, how did they not live up to your expectations?
Can you envision a situation where you would use arrays in their current form?
What would arrays have to do to make them usable to you?

Do you:
Play to win the most effective way possible? i.e. min-max, play the 'best' way
Play reasonably effectively but still by your own style? i.e. play an effective strategy but not always the same/best
Or just for fun? i.e. screw around, do what you want, see what happens

 

[Mutineer]

what wrong with arrays? they probably provide a cheapest science + one array city will let you use satellites on other side of the world, handy for intercontinental invasion.

 

[TLHeart]

good on your border for the healing bonus to units.

 

[Mutineer]

good on your border for the healing bonus to units.

you mixing that up with obelisks? arrays give 1 sci 1 energy and + 1 to city orbital coverage.

 

[Ryika]

Haven't really played with them too much, the biggest problem I see is that the +1 science from Astrodynamics (while better than getting it from Orbital Automation pre-patch) still comes too late and is just a bit weak. Comparing the base yields of academies and arrays is actually not that much of a difference (as long as there's science to be bought from other Civs) Array gives 1 gold and 1 science, academy gives 2 science and costs 2 gold, which leaves you with -1 science, but +3 gold that can be traded back into science, leading to an almost identical outcome, but giving free orbital coverage. (I still think we need an Improvement-destroying satellite to be annoying enough to "force" wars. :>)

But then, once learning centers kick in - and that's so insanely fast when using artists - the academies absolutely outperform the array. So I guess... if I go for supremacy, use a non-knowledge-strategy AND have enough satellite-resources to annoy my neighbors, that might actually be uhm... kind of... okay? But my main issue is that, to get the array perform good enough you have to go for peaceful victories... but the orbital coverage actually only really has an effect when you want to invade enemies. Just seems very oddly placed - but maybe I'm just doing it wrong.

 

[Gort]

But then, once learning centers kick in - and that's so insanely fast when using artists - the academies absolutely outperform the array.

Do you beeline straight to the learning centres virtue then? I'm interested in your overall knowledge-based strategy as I've pretty much disregarded that virtue tree up to now.

 

[sylvanllewelyn]

what wrong with arrays? they probably provide a cheapest science + one array city will let you use satellites on other side of the world, handy for intercontinental invasion.

1. If a city works more than 1 array, do the range benefits stack?
2. Does it stack with existing benefits like launch facilities?
3. Does it extends satellite range just for the city working the arrays or all cities?

 

[GAGA Extrem]

How do you use Arrays?
Answer: Don't.

Just like Domes they are a very situational improvement that's not worth bothering with most of the time.

 

[Mutineer]

1. If a city works more than 1 array, do the range benefits stack?
2. Does it stack with existing benefits like launch facilities?
3. Does it extends satellite range just for the city working the arrays or all cities?

1 yes
2 yes
3 just for city

 

[Minor Annoyance]

1. If a city works more than 1 array, do the range benefits stack?
2. Does it stack with existing benefits like launch facilities?
3. Does it extends satellite range just for the city working the arrays or all cities?

You don't need to work the array the get the effect. It just has to be in the area the city can work. I don't know what happens when city's workable areas overlap. I assume it goes to whichever actually took the tile with culture.
It stacks with everything but just for the one city.

 

[Bandobras Took]

I don't use arrays because their best use is seen in a satellite-powered intercontinental invasion, which I don't often do a lot of.

 

[Gamewizard]

You could troll your neighbors with miasmic condensers. Won't get you the fastest win time, but it could be fun for giggles.

 

[Gorbles]

I use 'em occasionally.

 

[docbud]

You could troll your neighbors with miasmic condensers. Won't get you the fastest win time, but it could be fun for giggles.

I do that sometimes. It's fun

 

[MattZed]

You could troll your neighbors with miasmic condensers. Won't get you the fastest win time, but it could be fun for giggles.

I once did this once while going Harmony. The entire enemy army actually died to miasma before I invaded.

 

[Minor Annoyance]

I once did this once while going Harmony. The entire enemy army actually died to miasma before I invaded.

Hmm. That's some bad AI. You can survive just by standing still and healing.

 

[Gamewizard]

Hmm. That's some bad AI. You can survive just by standing still and healing.

I doubt the AI considers the miasma at all when deciding where to move units. And the Civ V AI never did like to fortify to heal. Probably a bad combination for it.

 

[Elz Majesto]

I use arrays in my peripheral frontier cities, and usually I aim for 1-2 per city, or more depending on the situation. I like academies more, since I usually go through knowledge first, but if my economy is in the dirt, I will switch them over to arrays. Arrays/Nodes in the warzone areas are a fun combo

 

[Halbbruder]

I use arrays sometimes but other buildings along with the purity and supremacy level 6 abilities together provide nice bonuses to orbital range, not to mention stellar cortex and going straight down prosperity to get T3 bonus. Might virtue also encourages keeping stations to promote more orbital range. I'd most likely build them when I'm using the harmony affinity.