I build them if my base production is 10+, even with Hover. The bonus without 10+ shields is not significant enough to validate the upfront expence and the mantinence. What are your thoughts?
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When do you build factories?
- Thread starter Prof. Garfield
- Start date
funxus
Orange Cycloptic Blob
I usually have about 10s as a minimum, except for the odd occasion. I also wait for HD (or soon before) unless the city is really productive and would benefit greatly from a factory.
bellisaurius
Chieftain
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2001
- Messages
- 25
I can't remember where, but I remember someone calculating the variables as an algebraic exercise and coming up with 8 shields as the break even point comparing the inceased shields to the gold production capitlized for some time out.
That said, 10 is a nice number, unless there are accessibilty issues concerning pollution (no roads or rails in a large part of the area), or some other odd requirement where a couple of extra shields will make life convinient for a city in the middle of nowhere.
That said, 10 is a nice number, unless there are accessibilty issues concerning pollution (no roads or rails in a large part of the area), or some other odd requirement where a couple of extra shields will make life convinient for a city in the middle of nowhere.
Archer 007
Rebirth
About 10 is mine also.
Actually, I start at 5s, as soon as I get industrialization, in all cities that finish what they're working on. I don't usually rush buy factories, so I assume that by the time all these are done, I'll have Hoover anyhow (or very soon), and then they'll be worth it.
greek-anarchist
Down With the Aristocrats
I start building them as soon as i get them too, but i usually have an "order" that things are built in, so when i first get it i build it in my cities that dont have anything to build, so they have a bunch of production, and i usually have a sewer system in the city before the factory, so its a sizeable city with a bunch of production. Id have to say that if i had to make a numerical choice, i would go with 8-10. it seems like a good number, not to high, not to low
I go with 10 because it gives 15 when finished. This gives 5 bonus and at 4 gold maintenence, I'm up one. I just find that the bonus is almost negligeble before that. Even with Hover, less than 10 shields seems a pretty small increace, considering that I normaly end up buying the most of the factory anyway, so I don't want it to take forever to get my costs back...
Old n Slow
Emperor
Hmmm...I'm usually thinking about other things.
Factories are rarely placed before Hoover's is on board -- and often wait until offshores are in place and/or mass transit is available. In most of my production centers, sticking in a factory means that a mass transit is also required, raising the "effective" cost -- so a number of potential 'worthy' locations will miss out.
Also, rarely am I in a game where the factories will make that much of a difference -- lessor cities have the call to make trucks or engineers (usually rushed since time is a factor); also these locations may be sticking in infrastructure desigend for max pop growth -- again trucks being a key item for production.
I don't recall sticking in factories into cities with production as little as 5 shields unless the site was going to support many engineers & the shields were needed for that activity; sites with as few as ten shields may get factories because the funds were in excess of $10K and nothing else was calling for money. Once a site has 15 shields+, a factory looks like a good deal.
Factories are rarely placed before Hoover's is on board -- and often wait until offshores are in place and/or mass transit is available. In most of my production centers, sticking in a factory means that a mass transit is also required, raising the "effective" cost -- so a number of potential 'worthy' locations will miss out.
Also, rarely am I in a game where the factories will make that much of a difference -- lessor cities have the call to make trucks or engineers (usually rushed since time is a factor); also these locations may be sticking in infrastructure desigend for max pop growth -- again trucks being a key item for production.
I don't recall sticking in factories into cities with production as little as 5 shields unless the site was going to support many engineers & the shields were needed for that activity; sites with as few as ten shields may get factories because the funds were in excess of $10K and nothing else was calling for money. Once a site has 15 shields+, a factory looks like a good deal.
BC Horizon
Chieftain
- Joined
- Apr 11, 2004
- Messages
- 25
I've always waited for 12-15 shields before building. Mostly, I don't worry about having Hoover Dam before hand, it depends on how pressing my need for a construction bonus is.
Specialist290
Terracotta Statue Man
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2003
- Messages
- 1,335
I don't really have a single set number (or estimate) that I start building Factories at (don't keep track of shields when I'm doing it), but I usually build them when I think my cities have developed well enough to use one effectively, so about 10-15 sounds right. I also usually wait until a sizable amount of my "lower level" improvements (Marketplaces, Libraries, Supermarkets, etc.) are in place.
Andu Indorin
Retired Druid
Ah, well, given the fact that I tend to just buy everything (a nasty habit), I'll almost always wait until after both Hoover's and Mass Transits, and sometimes not until I've reached Environmentalism.
Offshore Platforms, however, are another matter. I'll usually try to build these the first chance I can get.
Offshore Platforms, however, are another matter. I'll usually try to build these the first chance I can get.
Mise
isle of lucy
hmm... I normally build it in all the cities that have run out of things to build, which seems to happen quite frequently, so it's normally as soon as I get industrialisation for old cities.
Of course, since I'm not as sophisticated a player as some, and ususally don't use (so far) power democracy or any sort of population-increase-through-celebration method, so my cities are just taking off when they are at 5 shields production. In general, about the time all those factories are finished is about the same time as my massive farmland projects are complete and also about the same time as Hoover Dam. So usually the production skyrockets within a few turns of the factory's completion.
Colincivmaster
Chieftain
Offshore Platforms, however, are another matter. I'll usually try to build these the first chance I can get.
I agree, i almost always build these, more so than factories. If i do build factories it isn't until a while after industrialization and in only a few cities.
I agree, i almost always build these, more so than factories. If i do build factories it isn't until a while after industrialization and in only a few cities.
A+ombomb
Actuary
I rarely build factories based on shields. When I do, its in a city that has a huge base shield set already (20+), and I am planning on producing large quantities of something (tanks for instance) or I plan on capitalizing in which case the cost of purchasing the factory and maintenance are outweighed by the extremely large boost in shields -> coins.
What I do build factories for is support. I will build a factory for support regardless of its total shield production. I often times have upwards of 500 settlers in a game, and factories are a major means to support them!
What I do build factories for is support. I will build a factory for support regardless of its total shield production. I often times have upwards of 500 settlers in a game, and factories are a major means to support them!
500 settlers? I hope you build leo's.
A+ombomb
Actuary
Settlers generic for both settlers and engineers. I do get leo's, but I usually have it long before I really start my push for mass engineers.
