Neat combinations/tricks you've found

I think the tech option for Iron Orb should simply provide a random tech that the player isn't currently researching.
 
Still, a free random tech is... random.

I personally could see the Iron Orb event just being used to effect the AC, and have it be a completely random (requiring a library?) event.

Maybe I'll just unclick Living Events. :p
 
I'd prefer low random chances for the advantages of choices in events, but that's just me.
 
Senethro said:
I would say a % chance for Iron Orb to give you a tech is worse. When the mechanic is well understood and known by everyone, its just a part of the game. Use it or lose it. Its a known reward for researching Writing. Make it random and its a worse annoyance.

A fixed quantity of beakers would be more sensible.

Honestly, a lot of the free GP events could do with higher gold costs as well.
Click to expand...
I don't agree for two reasons, though I do like your suggested fix. One, I don't know how the AI handles this event. Does it know about the free tech? Two, the event's 3rd choice primarily functions like an easter egg. It functions by NOT "being well understood or known to everyone". Based on the advertised benefits of each choice, the choices are all similarly useful, but insignificant with the 1st and 2nd choices probably being most popular. However, as soon as the easter egg is discovered, the choice disappears because of the massive benefit attached to the 3rd choice. I would prefer if some sort of choice was maintained and the importance of this event reduced, otherwise writing will become an even bigger beeline than it already is, one that only human players in the know will understand and exploit. It widens the already wide gap between novice player/AI and veteran player.

I would suggest something like:
  • don't buy it (save your gold)
  • buy it and install it (+6:science: for your library, +4 AC)
  • buy it and smash it (-2 AC & a hidden benefit)

    Hidden Benefit:
  • 33% chance of a free tech of your choice (or alternatively a set number of :science: towards a tech of your choice)
  • 67% chance nothing
or if you wanted to get a little crazy...
  • 5% chance of two free techs of your choice
  • 15% chance of one free tech of your choice
  • 30% chance for a set number of :science: towards a tech of your choice
  • 50% chance nothing

This way, instead of choosing between an early minor benefit and a massive game changing benefit (essentially a non-choice), you are choosing between a fairly strong benefit and an unlikely, but potentially game changing benefit (a risk/reward assessment). It would also hide the easter egg longer for new players making it an even bigger surprise when it happens. This was a surprise I never experienced due to folks hinting at it in the forums, most likely because it was SO powerful. Making it an unlikely chance reduces its importance, preserving its flavor as an event and reducing its potential to become a *Hey Newb! Why'd you didn't smazh the orb?* mechanic. You really have to consider the event from both points of view, the player who knows the secret and the player who doesn't. It has to work for both, individually and together, in my opinion.

If the AI knows to smash the orb, thats a huge benefit for them, if they don't, thats a pretty big handicap. Ditto for new players playing with veteran players. I think this is a situation where a little more balance is needed in the event's choices.
 
+6:science: is way too high for an event. +2:science: is fine.

I do agree that the free tech seems to happen most of the time and may be broken. I have chosen option 2 and not received the free tach, so there is a chance of failure.

To be honest, it seems to work okay now. Many of the events in FfH have one option that is better than the others. Having the best result hidden and possibly no occuring seems okay to me.
 
^ It's option 3 that gives the free tech.
 
Huts are broken too.
A fixed gain to research (perhaps the tech you research at the moment) would be more fair. And maps are awfull. It would be better if you gain an eyeball (lasting 3 turns or so) from the shaman of the hut. " He lends you his eye"
 
I would approve of the eyeball mechanic, but a standard one (1 turn).
To explain it, maybe: "they propose to tell you about the area" (the eye illustrating what area you ask them about)

I read FF's changelog and I approve 100% the idea to make full technologies scarcer and usually only offer a (significant) amount of beakers towards a technology in huts. This should be in the main mod.
 
Absolutely an agreement from my side. Especially because in the early game state a single tech makes a big difference as each one can have a really essential effect on your economy (except perhaps exploration or masonry).
 
JFSebastian said:
This way, instead of choosing between an early minor benefit and a massive game changing benefit (essentially a non-choice), you are choosing between a fairly strong benefit and an unlikely, but potentially game changing benefit (a risk/reward assessment). It would also hide the easter egg longer for new players making it an even bigger surprise when it happens. This was a surprise I never experienced due to folks hinting at it in the forums, most likely because it was SO powerful. Making it an unlikely chance reduces its importance, preserving its flavor as an event and reducing its potential to become a *Hey Newb! Why'd you didn't smazh the orb?* mechanic. You really have to consider the event from both points of view, the player who knows the secret and the player who doesn't. It has to work for both, individually and together, in my opinion.

If the AI knows to smash the orb, thats a huge benefit for them, if they don't, thats a pretty big handicap. Ditto for new players playing with veteran players. I think this is a situation where a little more balance is needed in the event's choices.
Click to expand...

I agree 100%
 
Same here. A sure-fire huge benefit is of no good for game balance.
Skipping a sure-fire small benefit to get a shot at a big game-changing one is a calculated risk, and allows players to choose what kind of game style they want.

I'd rather the event didn't always happen, too. Predictable events (as in: you're fairly confident as to how and when they will happen) are not interesting to me.
 
In Civ4 you get a free tech from Liberalism. Why not consider the event like a version of that for all players.

Making it a gamble/random makes it unfair on those who the random number generator hates. Making the event rare increases the chance of it firing on turn 250 and giving someone Mithril Working.

Keep it as it is or make it give a fixed beaker quantity.
 
Perhaps the event should be given to Alchemy Labs not to Libraries. It would be more about the game state where you get Liberalism in Vanilla and you would strengthen a building that's pretty weak now anyway.
 
Imuratep said:
Perhaps the event should be given to Alchemy Labs not to Libraries. It would be more about the game state where you get Liberalism in Vanilla and you would strengthen a building that's pretty weak now anyway.
Click to expand...

I like this idea, it would prevent it happening early on then.
 
JFSebastian has the answer, I think. In fact, I like his answer so much I'ma go mod that sucker in right now... but the full game could really, really use that change too.

There is no risk for a pretty massive reward. And remember, in vanilla civ, only the FIRST civilization to Liberalism gets the free tech.
 
Well I am not sure if this is listed elsewhere as an exploit, but
siege weapons + airships is nice.
You can bombard a city, load up into the airship the same turn, fly off to a new city and be ready to bombard again the next turn.

Really speeds up conquest
 
In Civ the FIRST civilization to liberalism gets the free tech.

In JFSebastian's FFH a RANDOM civilization with libraries gets a free tech.

Can anyone identify the problem here?
 
Someone took the risk of getting nothing and won, which doesn't mean that the other gamblers lost or that those who chose a sure-fire benefit didn't get it?
(btw, 6 beakers is too much and the probability of getting a full tech of your choice should be lower)
 
as opposed to currently EVERY civ gets a free Tech, if you know the secret for not taking the "obvious" choice?

If you don't you are at a huge disadvantage simply for not having played as much?

The risk is, "saving" the bonsu for later in the game. As mentioned previously some people don't build libraries till late in the game, or purposely keep themselves under 75 gold to prevent this from happening until they are ready.

The risk is you COULD have had +6 research the entire time instead and may get no bonus tech, or set amount of beakers which the +6 beakers per turn would have been teh better option.
 
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