15-04-2005 16:04									#1
	SMAX starting slots Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Here's something new I think. Or at least I've never seen it discussed before. Using MM's tech research spreadsheet, I've noticed that some starting slots are more advantagous than others for beelining purposes. Depending on your goal, you can save/avoid 1-2 techs on your beeline by simply starting off in the best slot.

I guess this will have some impact on PBEM's. Not only will you "compete" for which faction you want to play, but you can also vie for the best slot for your faction. On the other hand, if you are late to the game, maybe you can see which slots are still available and then select the best faction for that slot.

Comments, CMN's, anyone?

	15-04-2005 20:47									#2
	Browse Apolyton AD-FREE

I though that spreadsheet was found to not be reliable?

	15-04-2005 20:52									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

It's always worked very well for me. You have to be careful, if it's a PBEM, to place a "yes" in the box for trades. Also, at the bottem left, make sure you have appropriately selected SMAC or SMAX.

	15-04-2005 21:26									#4
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

Spreadsheet is very accurate indeed. It just takes couple of minutes to accustom to it (read everything before using it ) as Net Warrior pointed out. Net, could you bring up some examples?

	15-04-2005 21:45									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Illuminatus,
I don't want to give away all my secrets and ideas . I was looking at trying an oddball faction I usually don't play and trying an oddball beeline to a SP that I generally don't get but which would be very very good for this faction. From slot 1,2,4,5, & 7, the beeline would require 1 or 2 "extra" techs, but from slot 3 & 6 I would get the SP without getting sidetracked. This is the only example I have so far but I'm sure there are many others out there. I plan to look into this finess a lot more before starting my next PBEM.

	15-04-2005 21:47									#6
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Hmm this adds much to faction strengths and weaknesses. You've opened the Pandora's box.

	15-04-2005 21:55									#7
	Remove this text

Yes it does, but of course there are some difficulties you encounter along the way too. For example you might go pod popping and get a tech which knocks you off course, so you might have to commit yourself to not popping pods till you reach your goal.

	15-04-2005 23:18									#8
	Full PM-box? Change here!

There are techs I would always like to get, no matter what beeline I choose. If I can't follow the beeline, I pick some of those (such as Biogenetics). If the path is long, trade would reduce advantages from being in a particular slot.

	15-04-2005 23:42									#9
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Agreed, the longer the route to your SP tech, the less this beeline idea will work out. In the example I was looking at, the desired tech was 5th on the beeline.

	16-04-2005 04:17									#10
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Ok, I've been looking a little and I've come up with a few real examples. The Gaians can start in slot 2 with Cent Eco and go SocPsy, Biogen, SotHB, Cent Emp, and arrive at the Empathic Guild SP. Another example, the Hive can start in slot 2 with D:Loyalty and go InfNet, SocPsy, EthCalc, PlanNet, IntInt, Cyberethics and get the Planetary Datalinks SP, and they'll never have to worry about research again.

	16-04-2005 06:47									#11
	Inflate your Upload Space

Unless of course they kill everybody...then the Planetary Datalinks would become nil...