Comments on comments.
Quick notes on these
1) I still think we should get rid of the Forge and spread out the bonuses.
--There is a proposal to put the bonus on either armory or MA right now, might be able to kill two birds with one stone. I've already made plain my thoughts around more strategic resource bonuses
I always build forges when I can but if we get rid of them then the bonuses need to be kept and spread out. I see the bonuses for all production resources as something beneficial for the AI. It needs the help in late game when we are pushing towards our victories. It makes things a bit more even in MP too IMO.
2) I don't know if the per pop production cost for the courthouse is available and active. It's a good idea, but it may be simpler to just make it a high base price with no upkeep to discourage annexing small cities. The AI should know how to do that to manage happiness already.
--I'm fine either way here...as long as the courthouse has no continuous cost.
3) I think I'd reduce the observatory a little further or add some upkeep to it.
--I could see a nerf to the output...considering that I don't get an observatory in nearly every game I play, a more flexible observatory is basically a science inflation.
I think the observatory should be down to 15% although I would not mind a +1 bonus to other mountain tiles in the city. The bonus tiles would give you a reason to build it earlier if it was available. 15% is not much if you are not producing much to start and the few extra science at +1 per mountain won't be OP in the late game.
4) Stable probably still needs a cost reduction.
--It currently costs as much as a market or temple, and its got a pretty solid bonus now. Not convinced it needs a cost decrease as well.
The rationale for a reduced cost for the stable is that it is an early Classical building as opposed to the late Classical temple and market. Horseback Riding is only 2/3 the cost to research compared to Philosophy and Currency. There is a significant jump between late and early in both Ancient and Classical eras because they are so short. Emphasizing the differences in the early game is very important since it is already so short. It is simply logical that the Stable should cost less.
6) I think the windmill was agreed to remove the hill restriction?
--Agreed. The restriction never determined much early game anyway. Getting that extra hammer from a hill settle early is always worth it.
7) The med lab and or the hospital could do some kind of growth related happiness as well and that would make them more worth the cost.
--They are both getting pretty significant hammer reductions. The hospital is a good building, I want to build it, it just was hammer expensive. The medical lab....I could potential see another bump here, that 25% growth isn't as good that late in the game.
IMO it isn't about whether or not to build them. If you are really looking at balance issues then you want to go past something deserving to be in the game. You want to look at whether the building is attractive enough to cause someone to hesitate on the decision to build this building or another one because they are both actually good to build. That sounds like balance to me. Giving buildings multiple uses moves them out of the niche or specific need category into a part of the strategy category. If the Medical Lab could use a bump then I think it stands to reason that the Hospital could use one too. It is also good to remember that the late game really needs to be picked up and every advantage put in to help with the happiness system is going to help the AI. I really think we need to make it easy for the AI to avoid happiness issues.
8) I think the caravansary was also to add a bit more to land trade routes (say +3-4).
--I'm ambivalent on +3, I wouldn't go to +4.
I think that +4 is good here unless you can just extend the length of the trade routes instead. +3 and making the trade routes scalable in length or just longer in general if that is all that can be done would be okay. Playing on huge maps, which I always do, means that caravans are almost entirely useless for money unless I make roads to other civilizations myself. Even then it still isn't that great so that is why I am for going to +4.
