starlifter
Deity
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2001
- Messages
- 4,210
by Slow Thinker:
bonuses are multiplied IMHO:
1 * 3 (mountains) * 2 (fortress)
i.e. a non-fortified caravan has the defense 6
Thanks for the input, Slow Thinker. However, the defenses are not multiplied, they are summed, calculated on the base value of the unit. Several things lead me to believe addition is used:
1. That is what Microprose and Sid Meier have stated, with no retractions I'm aware of.
2. The general game results I have seen seem to comply with it.
3. This is the approach used for taxes, science, and luxuries.
4. The even/odd factors and rounding method was chosen to emphasize the increase in usefulness of a Cavalry over a Dragoon, for instance.
5. A quick test can be tried with a Mech Infantry on a mountain in a fortress.
6 + 12 + 6 = 24 (addition method)
6 * 3 * 2 = 36 (your suggestion)
The defense factor difference is so large that you will see, even with informal testing, that the correct method is the "Addition Method" (defense factor = 24).
BTW, I read the (very slow-loading) Apolyton thread. To me, they were not clear about how the defense factors were applied. The percentages wre correct, but if they advocated a straight multiplication, then those threads are wrong, unless someone can git a direct confirmation from Brian Reynolds, see the source code (post it <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/smile.gif" border=0>), or decomplile it and determine the exact function used. Failing that, a large Monte Carlo simulation should confirm the addition method, too.
On june 12, 2000:
"(I think Hasdrubal is correct, modifiers are summed, not multiplied; much like the fact that a library and university combo doubles a city's research (1*[1+.5+.5]), NOT (1*1.5*1.5 = 2.25) times as much research. I'm in the minority on this view.)"
the above was posted by one Apolyton person in the http://www.apolyton.net/forums/Forum3/HTML/001196.html thread.
I see Apolyton has been haggling over this for a long time. Haggling seems silly to me, since there is only one absolute truth. All "official" sources I've ever read explictly state the addition method, and even use such examples.
I won't go jump into Apolyton's debate over this, but I suppose there is a chance that Reynolds used a different (e.g., the multiplier) method but documented and blessed the publication of the "addition" method. Perhaps the publications are wrong, or misprinted, too. <IMG SRC="http://forums.civfanatics.com/ubb/beerchug.gif" border=0>
EDIT: Typos.
[This message has been edited by starlifter (edited July 19, 2001).]