Golden Age!

[TROOPERBLUE]

Which faction is best with Golden Age (including all costs/benefits to get there)

In my opinion, it is not the Hive because +1 Econ +2 Growth does not mean as much when you start with an Economy rating of -2.
In my opinion, it is not the Spartans because all other factions can choose Wealth as an option (so that when you get to Golden Age! - it will be a +2 Economy Rating
In my opinion, Morgan (he doesnt necessarily need wealth to achieve this) -- infact he has some big minuses that he has to deal with for his +1 Econ Bonus such as Support, cant choose Planned Economy, and Hab Complex needed at size 4. So, his results are mixed, but he can create an "artifical golden age" when he does pick wealth.
With the University.... (the unhappiness minus may be a little more difficult to counter, but hopefully the added Research from the Free Network Node is worth it! (they can get to Industrial Automation quicker) and also can set the luxuries rate higher because of that (they wouldnt miss out on Research)
The Gaians would be an interesting choice candidate for the Golden Age! Because their Efficiency Bonus allows them to pick a Planned Economy, then they build the Children's Criche, so that is +4 Growth for both and then with golden age, its a Population Boom!
Then The Believers seem like an average candidate, no real pros or cons to it (but maybe i am missing something)
And finally the Peacekeepers are half way there with their bonus of 1 happy per 4 citizens, but they can not choose Planned (without Murderous inEfficiency)

So, it is my opinion that the Gaians, Peacekeepers, and University are tied for having the best Golden Age!
Believers and Morgans have an average Golden Age!
And the Hive and Spartans have the worst Golden Age!

 

[Empiremaker]

I disagree. All factions except Morgan and Yang can get into a pop boom without a golden age. (+2 from Democratic, +2 from Planned, and +2 from a Creche). Morgan can get +2 econ easily from wealth. Therefore, a GA is best for Yang and Morgan, who need it for a pop boom.

 

[TROOPERBLUE]

The point of Golden Age isnt Population Boom, it is to get a Population Boom and then some Economy (at least +2 of it).... I agree that all factions can get a Population Boom like you mentioned (Democratic, Planned, + Children Creche) without a Golden Age -- but having a Golden Age is much better because it adds +1 Economy and +2 Growth (so maybe you dont need Democratic or Planned -- just one of them to get it "the population boom") and then the Economy bonus on top of that is just awesome! As far as Yang and Morgan being "more important" for the Population Boom, please explain...

PS -- I have been experiementing with the Believers (Democratic + Childrens Creche) and Wealth. Once in the Golden Age, it adds +1 Econ to your already +1 Econ, making it a +2 Econ, and the +4 Growth adds +2 making it a +6 Growth rate.(Population Boom!!!) And then, on top of that, it might be a little "risky" but to choose Free Market? for a Grand total of +4 Economy.... CEO Morgan would be impressed, except for what he lacks. The Believers with Democratic, Wealth, and Golden Age seem awesome (reguardless of Free Market) but this is just what i am discovering, my opinion.

 

[TROOPERBLUE]

I have just concluded that it is impossible to get a Population Boom! with a Green Economy reguardless of which Faction you choose early on from the 9 SE picks and Golden Age. Here is why -- A Green Economy has a -2 Growth, and the only ways to boost Growth is A) Children's Chreche B) Democratic C) Planned D) Golden Age and E) Hive Bonus... With Green, Planned is out of the question. So, that leaves just A, B, D, and E, which if added together is +7 but Green subtracts 2, and you need +6 rating to be at a Boom! (And 5 is less than 6!)

So, now I look at Morgan choosing Green? = No Population Booms, even with Golden Age and everything else (Might be a poor choice -- if you are going for a Growth, sweet spot).....

 

[beetle]

Hmm. All this time I thought Golden Age caused Population Boom! What is the Growth+ factor for GA? I would swear I have been in Population Boom with Green SE (and without Cloning Vats).

 

[vyeh]

What is the Growth+ factor for GA?

Growth +2.

 

[beetle]

Growth +2.

Thanks, here is the definitive article. I am sure I knew this all at some point, the article sure felt familiar. I forget how much I have forgotten!

 

[TROOPERBLUE]

I just realized something.... Planned Economy and Wealth, although you get no allies from picking them, they are sweet spots, both for Growth and for Economy. Explanation - With a Children's Cheche and Golden Age = sweet spot of +6 Growth +2 Econ. Otherwise, i wouldnt pick them, but with Children's Cheche and Golden Age, they look pretty good, especially early on.

Who would be best with these choices? Not Morgan (no planned). Not Spartans (no Wealth). The Hive get a free +2 Efficiecy trade off for losing the sweet spot on Wealth. Mixed. Overall a +. That leaves the Gaians, University, Believers, and PeaceKeepers. If it would be Redundent to pick Democracy (extra Growth) and inefficient to pick Police State, that leaves Fundamentalist as the choice. (No University, but I like the Univ for the Free Network Node).... So, that leaves the Gaians, Peacekeepers, and Believers! Out of these 3, who has the best Golden Age? I dont know. Note: I would probably still choose Univ even with the Redundent Growth of Democratic.

 

[beetle]

Who would be best with these choices? Not Morgan (no planned).

I usually run Morgan as Green/Wealth. His is the only faction that can hit the +2 Economy sweet spot without Free Market (or Eudimonia) and the lack of Pop Boom is not a big deal until you get Habitation Domes (because of his -3 ceiling).

 

[IdaGno]

I just realized something.... Planned Economy and Wealth, although you get no allies from picking them, they are sweet spots, both for Growth and for Economy. Explanation - With a Children's Cheche and Golden Age = sweet spot of +6 Growth +2 Econ. Otherwise, i wouldnt pick them, but with Children's Cheche and Golden Age, they look pretty good, especially early on.

Who would be best with these choices? Not Morgan (no planned). Not Spartans (no Wealth). The Hive get a free +2 Efficiecy trade off for losing the sweet spot on Wealth. Mixed. Overall a +. That leaves the Gaians, University, Believers, and PeaceKeepers. If it would be Redundent to pick Democracy (extra Growth) and inefficient to pick Police State, that leaves Fundamentalist as the choice. (No University, but I like the Univ for the Free Network Node).... So, that leaves the Gaians, Peacekeepers, and Believers! Out of these 3, who has the best Golden Age? I dont know. Note: I would probably still choose Univ even with the Redundent Growth of Democratic.

TROOPERBLUE: Don't know about the Peackeepers or the Believers, as I don't much play them, but you are correct. Stange a mix as it may seem, Fundie/Green/Whatever gives Lady G a relatively early pop-boom.