Wishlist Alchemy - Converting Gems for Gold needs a better Rate

Griefor · #1 June 5th, 2008, 06:59 PM

I did use the feature once, but I was very desperate for gold and in retrospect it was probably a bad idea regardless. I did wonder why it would be in there to begin with if it's so bad. I feel trading should be expensive, but worth it enough of the time to add something to the game.

Twan · #2 June 5th, 2008, 07:28 PM

I agree, I actually only use alchemy when I'm 20 or 30 gp away from being able to build a castle or recruit a capitol mage.

In a mp with Machaka, I had to alchemize a lot in a war against Man whode bards were spreeding unrest in half my realm ; and finally realised that as long my mages upkeep was paid it was better to alchemize for other gems my huge production and summon thugs than to alchemize for gold and recruit troops. For 24f alchemized in death you get a bane lord, and it's far more interesting than recruiting 360g of anything.

MaxWilson · #3 June 5th, 2008, 07:52 PM

Alchemy would also be proportionately more valuable if you were playing with 25% or 50% gold multipliers.

WraithLord · #4 June 6th, 2008, 05:05 AM

Quote:

MaxWilson said:
Alchemy would also be proportionately more valuable if you were playing with 25% or 50% gold multipliers.

I totally agree.

Up until I read this thread I hadn't noticed how little I've used Alchecmy. Between the higher gold income in dom-III and the nerfing of fever fetishes, alchemy in dom-III has turned out to be not cost effective.

Edratman · #5 June 6th, 2008, 08:56 AM

I also find that the gems I have in excess are not convertable. IE, if I'm playing a nation without water paths, the water gems are pretty much useless, but I never seem to have a mage that can covert these gems to gold or swap them out for other gems that I could use.

This may be out of date information because I quit even clicking on the alchemy button at least a year ago.

Endoperez · #6 June 6th, 2008, 09:00 AM

What you can alchemize doesn't depend on the mage doing it. You can change gems into astral or astral into other gems, at 2:1 ratio, or fire or earth gems into gold, and that's all.

ano · #7 June 6th, 2008, 09:13 AM

I meant alchemizing fire and earth for gold.
That's the thread topic, isn't it?

ano · #8 June 6th, 2008, 08:59 AM

MA T'ien Ch'i alchemists receive a 50% bonus as well. You don't need any special pretender or something for that. It may really help early on but only when it's crucial to have a bit more gold.

JimMorrison · #9 June 5th, 2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Twan said:
...For 24f alchemized in death you get a bane lord, and it's far more interesting than recruiting 360g of anything.

Odd. When I alchemize 24F gems, I get 12A, and then only 6D gems. Maybe I am doing it wrong? O.o Anyway takes me 48 of any gem type to get a Bane Lord, which is 720g, or a decent quality summons in its own right.

Twan · #10 June 6th, 2008, 04:48 AM

Quote:

JimMorrison said:

Quote:

Twan said:
...For 24f alchemized in death you get a bane lord, and it's far more interesting than recruiting 360g of anything.

Odd. When I alchemize 24F gems, I get 12A, and then only 6D gems. Maybe I am doing it wrong? O.o Anyway takes me 48 of any gem type to get a Bane Lord, which is 720g, or a decent quality summons in its own right.

Hum, yes.

In fact 720 g for a bane lord is rather expensive compared to 720g of good troops, it was only interesting because I didn't have money to pay upkeep for other troops (and my capitol had too much unrest to recruit my best ones iirc).

About mages upkeep I didn't knew as I always managed to have just the gold for my upkeep cost, it's interesting to know leaders can't desert (so finally you can completely ignore upkeep when you only use summons).