So this topic came up in the chat while I was watching a stream, and I grew curious about it.
Which gains you more gold for your investment over the long run? Relics or Trade Carts?
I made a (very) simple test, taking only into account the most raw of conditions. I invite better and more sophisticated tests by more intelligent and diligent gamers than I in the future, but this is mainly to get a discussion going. All tests were done post-imp with the Britons, which (if I'm correct) have neither a relic nor a trade bonus.
Liberties taken:
- Markets were split across the map, enough so that their value read 80 gold. I did not test on larger or smaller maps, and hope this thread will encourage others to do the work for me. :P
- There was no variance in terrain, no attacking enemies, no obstruction of one cart against another, etc. I was interested only in the base rate of income for each. I realize the results are somewhat unbalanced, the question is by how much. Again, methinks more testing is needed.
- Wood cost of market and trade carts vs. that of a monastery was not taken into account. I used for this scenario two trade carts (gold cost of 100), a monk (gold cost 100), and a single relic, which are for all intents and purposes equally valued units.
Results:
- The 2 trade carts took exactly three minutes to cross the map and return with their gold. In this time they gathered 160 gold.
- In that same three minute time-frame, the 1 relic gathered 90 gold.
So, on face value, the Trade Carts are a far better deal unless you can scrounge together multiple relics! What are your thoughts, and the results of your own tests?
Which gains you more gold for your investment over the long run? Relics or Trade Carts?
I made a (very) simple test, taking only into account the most raw of conditions. I invite better and more sophisticated tests by more intelligent and diligent gamers than I in the future, but this is mainly to get a discussion going. All tests were done post-imp with the Britons, which (if I'm correct) have neither a relic nor a trade bonus.
Liberties taken:
- Markets were split across the map, enough so that their value read 80 gold. I did not test on larger or smaller maps, and hope this thread will encourage others to do the work for me. :P
- There was no variance in terrain, no attacking enemies, no obstruction of one cart against another, etc. I was interested only in the base rate of income for each. I realize the results are somewhat unbalanced, the question is by how much. Again, methinks more testing is needed.
- Wood cost of market and trade carts vs. that of a monastery was not taken into account. I used for this scenario two trade carts (gold cost of 100), a monk (gold cost 100), and a single relic, which are for all intents and purposes equally valued units.
Results:
- The 2 trade carts took exactly three minutes to cross the map and return with their gold. In this time they gathered 160 gold.
- In that same three minute time-frame, the 1 relic gathered 90 gold.
So, on face value, the Trade Carts are a far better deal unless you can scrounge together multiple relics! What are your thoughts, and the results of your own tests?