Am I understanding Population correctly?

from Elemental Forums


Not sure if I entirely understand the value of Population.

IIUC, production, research, gildar, and mana production are based off yields inherent in a city's placement tile, modified by the structures built within the city and enchantments cast upon the city. I don't actually see population size factoring into taxation, production, or research output. Am I wrong?

If so, then population seems to serve only 2 purposes: (a) ability to produce pioneers, (b) leveling a city. The latter (b) seems to net you one free bonus per level (if you also count the bonus granted to base conclaves, towns, and fortresses).

I'm kind of hoping I'm mistaken, since it seems counterintuitive to me to have taxation, production, and research be independent of population, and it also seems to make growth much less important than I had originally felt it to be.

Your constructive feedback is greatly appreciated, thank you.

13,424 views 10 replies
Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

The key to note is that the bonuses from leveling are not insignificant. The bonus you get at level 2 you get at every level thereafter, in addition to the specific bonus you choose.

 

Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Stalker0, reply 2

The key to note is that the bonuses from leveling are not insignificant. The bonus you get at level 2 you get at every level thereafter, in addition to the specific bonus you choose.

 

I don't understand this. Are you saying the bonus I get at level 2 (the bonus from selecting city specialization) is cumulatively added at level 3, 4, and 5?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

The city hub gives research, production and gildar (I think all three are given at different amounts for each city type) for every level, so I think yes, that is the case.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting onomastikon, reply 3


Quoting Stalker0, reply 2
The key to note is that the bonuses from leveling are not insignificant. The bonus you get at level 2 you get at every level thereafter, in addition to the specific bonus you choose.

 

I don't understand this. Are you saying the bonus I get at level 2 (the bonus from selecting city specialization) is cumulatively added at level 3, 4, and 5?

 

Correct. So a level 2 town gets +4 Gildar. A level 3 town gets +8 total, 4th level +12, 5th level +16.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top


That spell is not available to all factions, I believe.

Sadly, then, there still does not seem to be an incentive for increasing population once a city has reached level 5. A small bonus to taxation would be nice.

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

The spell is available to all factions; it's Scripted Goodie Hut Reward from one of the Wildlands.

 

The issue is that the AI typically clears those Wildlands out and leaves the monsters for you to clear (And never uses the spell; otherwise there would be bug reports from players about Sovreigns with 500+ hit points)

Reply #9 from Elemental Forums Top

The Sacrifice spell converts population to Mana.  Once you hit level 5 you can use it without penalty.  Magnar had it once when I acquired him as a vassal.  Also used it just before razing a city I'd captured.

The Imperial wildland has the spell that converts population to hit points for your sovereign.

 

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

I also wish population was a bit more meaningful. Seems odd that a city is producing the same with 30 population than with 3,000.