Question for those advanced players who play A LOT!

[Pyrrhos]

Is there a balance point or balance points between luxuries (traded so they cost you money), lux tax and entertainers? Is there a point when I should rather buy, say, ivory for xxx gpt than increase the lux tax ? Or would it be better to reduce production in affected towns/cities in order to turn a citizen into an entertainer? Is there a difference in these choices and what is "optimum" between the difficulty levels eg buy lux on demigod but go for the entertainer on monarch?

 

[Tomoyo]

No.

It depends.

There are too many variables. The only real way to figure out which way is the best is to calculate how much money each method would cost you. Most of the time, the best option is to get the luxury, but there's no short answer for this.

One more thing: The cost of a luxury is directed influenced by how much happiness it would give you, so you don't need to factor that into your thinking. So is the luxury slider, for that matter. And specialists cost whatever tile they were on minus the gold they produce, of course.

 

[eldar]

Firstly, Entertainers (or "Clowns" as they are more popularly known) should only be hired as a last resort. Always see if you can convert citizens to other specialists first.

One particularly neat trick is with a policeman, if you've researched Communism. The policeman will give back 1 corrupted commerce to the city. This 1 commerce might be enough for the lux% to add an extra happy face.

Other than that, the general rule of thumb I use is:
"Is the gpt portion of the cost of buying in the luxury enough that I can offset what I spend by dropping the lux slider one notch?"

If the answer is yes, do the deal. Drop the lux slider a notch, and either take the cash or up the science slider, your choice.

If the answer is no, don't do the deal, unless there are other reasons (like trying to keep a strong/aggressive AI off your back).

A size 12 city with a marketplace only needs 6 luxuries to prevent rioting at 0% lux (at Emp+ you will have 6 happy, 1 content, 5 unhappy citizens). So buying in those other 2 luxes is definitely not worth it.

 

[vmxa]

Even if you determine that it is cheaper to buy a lux from someone, than to up the lux slider, I would not do it.

I do not want to fund their research/war(s). Money or goods I send to them, helps them and that is not in my best interest.

I would only do that if it was a weaker civ, then it not going to hurt me later.

 

[AznWarlord]

Even if you determine that it is cheaper to buy a lux from someone, than to up the lux slider, I would not do it.

I do not want to fund their research/war(s). Money or goods I send to them, helps them and that is not in my best interest.

I would only do that if it was a weaker civ, then it not going to hurt me later.

Yeah, I only sell lux to civs for money, and I usually declare war right after so they can't benefit.

When some of my citizens are unhappy, I just make scientists, until the unhappy ones are content, but the causes the happy ones to be content as well.

 

[Vidar]

Yeah, I only sell lux to civs for money, and I usually declare war right after so they can't benefit.

Then you'll destroy your own reputation. No one will want to trade with you again!

 

[Synobun]

Heck, who needs good reputation

 

[WackenOpenAir]

Clowns do not only cost production, they also cost food if your town is not at its maximum size. That is a very important cost, you always want to avoid wasting food when cities can still grow. If it can no longer grow, scientists are not so bad.

Your cities usually don't need the same amount of happiness. For example, maybe you need 30% lux to make all your cities happy without entertainers while with 10% or 20%, you would have all your towns happy except for just a few. In this case, it is ok to use a few clowns, but not too many. If i have to give you a rule of thumb, i would say:
Value the cost of clowns at around 20gpt. If reducing the lux slider produces more extra tax or science than the cost of the clowns needed to make that possible, then reduce the slider and use clowns.

As said, it is simple to see if paying gpt for a lux is worth it.

The best thing is to trade luxes for other resources and technologies, or to conquer the luxuries.

 

[Pyrrhos]

So if I'm offered a lux at 250 gpt, that's equal to 14-15 clowns? In that case, what is the detrimental side of that other civ getting my gpt worth? His research boosted by 10%? Two to three tanks per turn? Would it be fair to say that accepting such a trade, the use of some 50 Grouchos will benefit me in the long run?

 

[Pyrrhos]

Btw, thx for the tips!

 

[vmxa]

250gpt would have paid for a lot of units to take that lux. Making you much stronger and him much weaker or dead.