[Stone Mill]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
I hardly see any mention of the overpowering Monolith economy. Sure it takes time to get set up, but once you get going, nobody can compete (esp. combined with good colonization strategy).

Again, this is just what makes sense to me...

I don't blindly build monoliths because there a few factors which makes that process inefficient:

a. I never build monoliths in the early game, and find that Monoliths aren't really comparatively desirable until Monolith III is available. The build cost (up to 5 turns) with a regular space yard is too prohibitive. Usually, your empire needs immediate application of resources. If I have better construction % (can build them in 2-3 turns), I will be somewhat more likely to use them. Generally, I can only pump out Monoliths this fast with Temporal yards.

Compare:
5 turns to build one Monolith facility(I,II,III; 500,700,900 of each resource, respectively)

5 turns x 5 resource extraction facilities(I,II,III; 800,900,1000 of each resource, respectively)

The resources gained by 5 Mineral Miner IIIs (5000) easily surpasses a Monolith III (900 minerals). If you project how many minerals actually applied to your economy in those 5 turns, it's not even close: (5000 + 4000 + 3000 + 2000 + 1000 = 15,000 for the mineral miners)

Not to mention that monoliths are quite expensive and tie up your yards for more turns.

Monolith growth strategies can be enhanced if a resource converter and lots of extra storage is available, because you are building tons of extra organics and rads.

If you don't have a converter, why extract so many organics and rads that won't be used?

Because of the resource "rules of thumb," you will generally need 10 : 1 : 3
So, why not just extract what you need, and put it to use quicker? Organic races make Monoliths more desirable because their resources may be something like 10 : 5 : 5

I still look at Monoliths like a luxury item. In a competetive game against humans, I stick with:

1. I usually build monoliths only when I have a planet with good values in all 3 resource types (and there aren't that many of 'em). I may sometimes select a planet with 2 out of 3, if I need those 2 types.
2. If for some reason I am comforatble and don't need the resources immediately, and I don't feel threatened.

If I'm playing the AI, I may toy around a bit more, because I certainly don't feel threatened.

[ June 14, 2003, 05:16: Message edited by: Stone Mill ]