Whether and where to build landmarks, manufactories, academies?

[Grotius]

Do you folks build the "specialty" buildings offered by the Great People? If so, on what sort of tile? I have experimented with them, and I usually end up sticking them on an as-yet-undeveloped plains or grassland tile, but I'm really not sure where to put them.

Also, are they worth it? E.g., I understand that the hammers from a manufactory will eventually add up to more than the value of rushing a Wonder, at least if the manufactory is placed early on. On the other hand, the manufactory replaces whatever other development could be on the tile, so it has a significant opportunity cost. How many hammers does a Great Engineer save you if you rush a Wonder with him? Should we save him for the priciest late-game Wonders?

Along the same lines, how many beakers does a Great Scientist give you if you rush a tech? As for the Great Artist, I usually want culture more than I want a couple more tiles, but it seems our only option is to make a landmark.

Anyone have any thoughts on these questions?

 

[Wulf38]

Artists are the only ones that I'd really consider settling as buildings. Scientists give unlimited beakers towards the tech of your choice, which is really strong. 3 extra hammers is probably not worth using up a great engineer, I'd rush a wonder. Merchants don't really give much gold from trade missions, so I just use them for golden ages.

 

[Grotius]

Thanks. I didn't realize the Scientist gave unlimited bulbs toward any one tech. I suppose that means it's best to save it for late game? Or maybe not?

Likewise, does the Engineer always auto-complete a Wonder? If so, presumably he's best left for the most expensive Wonders?

It's really the Great Artist that I'm least sure about. 5 culture on a tile sounds nice, but it means the tile won't produce much else. On the other hand, a culture bomb isn't always that useful either. I'm half tempted to use the Artist for a Golden Age, as you suggest for the Merchant.

 

[AlienFromBeyond]

Landmarks on Plains River tiles are amazing, 1/1/1/5 and goes to 1/2/2/5 in a Golden Age. The more I play, the more I think having as many tiles as possible ready to explode on a Golden Age happening the better.

 

[skallben]

Thanks. I didn't realize the Scientist gave unlimited bulbs toward any one tech. I suppose that means it's best to save it for late game? Or maybe not?

Likewise, does the Engineer always auto-complete a Wonder? If so, presumably he's best left for the most expensive Wonders?.

I believe you should take into account that cost is relative to production rate since late-game you work more tiles with greater efficiency and potentially you got buildings helping aswell. Also, the effects of advantages in early game become cumulative through the whole game...Bulb Civil Service and you will have a population boom and you will have it earlier...More of everything in the long run...

As for settling specialists, I cant tell as I have no habits yet...But at least Academy should be a massive yield over time, no? Especially so as beakers can be hard to produce. Production is neat aswell atleast in early game. So, it depends on strategy, circumstances etc...Just like CivIV, no?

 

[Wulf38]

I just made a landmark in my current game. It's fairly early (turn 113/50BC) and the landmark is really helping a city get its border expansions faster, and it's getting me through the social policies faster.

I don't actually know whether an engineer always finishes a wonder completely as I've yet to get one. Too bad there's no worldbuilder for quickly testing stuff like that.

 

[Ravellion]

The really expensive late game wonders are not finished with one GE. You'll get about 80% of them though.

 

[ChristofferC]

I would probably build them on a food or luxury resource (if that is possible?) so I don't accidentially build them on undiscovered strategic resources. Haven't built any yet, though.

 

[Abremms]

engineer does not always auto complete a wonder, just a set amount of hammers towards it. (not sure how much it is).

i will build a manufactury if it's early in the game, because 3 hammers per turn over the course of a game adds up. the chances of accidentally dropping it on an unrelieved resource are pretty slim in my estimation.