That's definitively too long a post. I should try to sum up... Of course, I hope there are no major flaws in my reasoning. (The problem with the Scout ship wasn't probably one, as the effectiveness of increase in maintenance were the same, if you take into accounts percentages. But it wasn't really a bright idea though)
* Maintenance is too expensive cost-wise, especially above threshold, compared to resource production. (Which don't suffer much from the threshold, while the increase in cost for maintenance is... well, threefold)
* Maintenance is only becoming effective (compared to points, as 140 in resource production is more or less as expensive as 120 in Maintenance, if you don't go too high in Organic production) when the upkeep is much higher than your income. Not a good situation to be in for obvious reasons.
* Maintenance will be more useful than resource production if you are relying heavily on trade. Knowing if Political Savvy is more interesting than maintenance decrease depends mostly on the circumstances, as having a single weak partner isn't the same thing as having T&R treaties with 19 huge Empires.
* Maintenance is likely more effective in finite games, but I cannot speak about such games.
* Resource production isn't working in all circumstances. If you are an adept of remote-mining, increasing maintenance can be a wise move. Again it depends on how much of your income comes from remote-mining.
* Maintenance may be more useful under special circumstances. I am trying to see a credible circumstance under which resource production is less useful than increasing maintenance. (Except for remote-mining and trade, although who knows, I might try to delve into these matters as well.
)
* And finally, what did you mean by your Last few words JLS here?
Quote:
Originally posted by JLS:
[...] But there is a much broader effect on this value throughout your AIC game in regards to Mining, Farming, and Refining Characteristics not only in Finite but also the Standard starts as well
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[ October 24, 2003, 16:20: Message edited by: Alneyan ]