[Huzurdaddi]

BoT does cause your population to die but at slow rate so it shouldn't affect your income greatly over time (at least not at the rate you are describing it). What does affect your income is unrest it produces. You should use patrollers

Perhaps that is it. I did not do that ( I did not actually notice the effect of BoT on my economy until about 20 or so turns after it had been cast when I noticed that my upkeep and my income were quite close, I then looked at the history chart and was amazed to see the decline ).

You could always alchemize to astral gems...

AND find an astral 3 mage AND get enchantment 5. Yes indeedy. No wait. No. Or get an astral 2 mage and get construction 6 and forge a starshine helmet. Easy. No wait. Hard.

Still no big deal. I'm not saying that the spell is overpowered ( it really is, hence in multiplayer anyone who casts it get crushed ) but it is pretty powerful and early.

But really my main question was if the computer players were equally affected by it. And it seems that they may be and that they simply reduce their tax rates to offset the unrest.