Heart Of Darkness:
Auction Analysis:
There was much arguement and angst over the DG auction. So I thought it would be interesting to analyse the results.
In general it's pretty clear that the main determination of what people gained from the auction is the skill of the players submitting the bids. Tripoli, with the highest DG, has one of the worst payoffs. While Al-Andalus (Catalonia) with third lowest DG, has one of the best payoffs.
I've broken down the auction log down by the country who won each item, included the amount of starting DG for each country,the effects of the NDs won, and the DG left over at the end that wasn't spent on a valid auction item.
Tripoli : 87
Code:
TRP wins item more_central at price 43.4593 from reserve 87 (KTH had reserve 79.5455).
TRP wins item printing_industry at price 28.53 from reserve 43.5407 (KTH had reserve 26.5284).
TRP wins item religious_sacrifices at price 5.97419 from reserve 15.0108 (PUN had reserve 8.20011).
TRP wins item naval_tech at price 6.02289 from reserve 9.0366 (KTH had reserve 8.84722).
TRP wins item army_tradition at price 2.00863 from reserve 3.01371 (KTH had reserve 2.95055).
printing_industry = {
stability_cost_modifier = 0.05
production_tech_investment = 15
religious_sacrifices = {
badboy = -0.01
global_revolt_risk = 1
Unused DG=1.00499
Tripoli has the highest DG. It blows most of it on one move of the centralization slider. That'll save Ike about 10 years. It's not worth as much as Eight Banners or Thalassocracy, both of which would have easily been Ike's if he'd been on them as first choice.
Printing industry and religious sacrifices, while both have their place, are not great NIs for Tripoli's situation.
Persia : 82
Code:
PER wins item eight_banners at price 54.653 from reserve 82 (NOV had reserve 81).
PER wins item government_tech at price 18.2268 from reserve 27.347 (KTH had reserve 26.5284).
PER wins item more_quantity at price 0.456011 from reserve 9.12022 (CRO had reserve 7.22722).
PER wins item magistrate at price 5.7747 from reserve 8.66421 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
PER wins item magistrate at price 1.92586 from reserve 2.88952 (ENG had reserve 1.44079).
eight_banners = {
land_forcelimit_modifier = 0.33
discipline = 0.05
stability_cost_modifier = 0.1
Unused DG=0.963629
Persia spends most of its DG on Eight Banners. Who can blame them?
What I find really interesting is that Persia chose a slider move in the direction of more quantity.
Novgorod : 81
Code:
NOV wins item hofkriegsrat at price 4.18836 from reserve 81 (GUJ had reserve 78.0909).
NOV wins item green_standard_army at price 51.195 from reserve 76.8116 (KHA had reserve 74.4545).
NOV wins item extra_bt at price 1.96927 from reserve 2.95464 (QIN had reserve 2.68006).
NOV wins item extra_bt at price 4.75556 from reserve 7.7102 (JAP had reserve 3.99436).
NOV wins item more_merc at price 1.28083 from reserve 25.6167 (CRO had reserve 24.012).
NOV wins item more_land at price 16.2198 from reserve 24.3358 (ETH had reserve 21.4254).
NOV wins item more_aristo at price 0.4058 from reserve 8.11601 (CRO had reserve 7.22722).
green_standard_army = {
land_forcelimit_modifier = 0.33
hofkriegsrat = {
garrison_growth = 0.2
reinforce_speed = 0.2
Unused DG=0.98538
You can get a clear sense of von R's military focus from his bid choices. He comes out with a tidy package. I can well understand why Foels decided to go on the attack so early.
Japan : 80.2727
Code:
JAP wins item adler_von_lubeck at price 53.5018 from reserve 80.2727 (ENG had reserve 70).
JAP wins item habsburg_dominance at price 17.8428 from reserve 26.771 (KTH had reserve 26.5284).
JAP wins item extra_bt at price 2.66224 from reserve 3.99436 (NOV had reserve 2.95464).
JAP wins item extra_bt at price 4.93375 from reserve 8.92811 (NOV had reserve 8.11601).
adler_von_lubeck = {
bigship_cost = -0.02
naval_tech_investment = 2
global_ship_recruit_speed = -0.3
habsburg_dominance = {
diplomatic_skill = 3
Unused DG=8.9281
The reduced bigship cost and reduced shipbuilding time is going to be a big help to Japan. Considering Japan has the highest DG of the rest of the world, and one of the highest amounts of wasted DG (due to bidding on the extra basetax option that was for Europe only), Japan really should have come out of the auction with more.
Ceylon : 79.5455
Code:
KTH wins item ottoman_tolerance at price 53.017 from reserve 79.5455 (GUJ had reserve 78.0909).
KTH wins item manchu_alphabet at price 17.6812 from reserve 26.5284 (CAT had reserve 25.0843).
KTH wins item army_tradition at price 1.96654 from reserve 2.95055 (PUN had reserve 2.73474).
KTH wins item compagnies_ordonnance at price 5.89668 from reserve 8.84722 (PUN had reserve 8.20011).
ottoman_tolerance = {
tolerance_heretic = 3
tolerance_heathen = 3
stability_cost_modifier = 0.10
manchu_alphabet = {
government_tech_investment = 10
compagnies_ordonnance = {
mercenary_cost = -0.33
Unused DG=0.98408
Ceylon blows 2/3rds of its DG on ottoman tolerance, which is certainly more than it's worth. However, Ceylon is probably the best able to exploit the advantages of this ND. I'll be interested to see if the Ceylon player sees the same possibilities for it as I do...
Manchu Alphabet and the compagnies ordonnance are also decently useful.
That said, 3 decent NDs (one of them only being decent in limited circumstances, and pretty bad in all others) is not particularly good when you consider Ceylon's DG is the second best in the rotw, and 4th best in the world.
Brunei : 78.8182
Code:
BEI wins item thalassocracy at price 39.8352 from reserve 78.8182 (ENG had reserve 70).
BEI wins item more_pluto at price 8.23179 from reserve 12.3508 (JAP had reserve 8.92811).
BEI wins item more_narrow at price 0.650041 from reserve 13.0008 (CRO had reserve 7.22722).
BEI wins item stato_da_mar at price 25.9821 from reserve 38.9829 (KON had reserve 25.8008).
thalassocracy = {
navy_tradition = 0.01
army_tradition = -0.01
bigship_cost = -0.2
lightship_cost = -0.2
colonists = 0.5
naval_tech_cost_modifier = -0.025
stato_da_mar = {
global_trade_income_modifier = 0.10
Unused DG=4.119069
Brunei nets one of the best NDs in the game, a good ND and two useful slider moves. And still has enough DG left over that it could have bagged some magistrates, colonists, merchants, slider moves, prestige or any form of tradition.
Pretty impressive all in all.
And on a personal note, I see Brunei cost me Stato da Mar. Curses!
Gujrat : 78.0909
Code:
GUJ wins item indelningsverket at price 28.5262 from reserve 78.0909 (TRP had reserve 43.5407).
GUJ wins item cultural_tradition at price 3.67422 from reserve 5.5127 (ENG had reserve 4.32021).
GUJ wins item finnish_cavalry at price 33.0349 from reserve 49.5648 (TRP had reserve 43.5407).
GUJ wins item cultural_tradition at price 11.0171 from reserve 16.5298 (ENG had reserve 15.9043).
indelningsverket = {
global_regiment_recruit_speed = -0.1
global_manpower = 0.1
finnish_cavalry = {
cavalry_cost = -0.05
Unused DG=1.83848
Considering Gujrat's position, I think this is a decent haul of NDs to end up with. The +0.1 global manpower indelningsverket gives turns out to be less powerful than I had though.
Kongo : 77.3636
Code:
KON wins item bank_of_amsterdam at price 51.5629 from reserve 77.3636 (QIN had reserve 76.6364).
KON wins item hangul_writing_system at price 14.7831 from reserve 25.8008 (PER had reserve 9.12022).
KON wins item gold_fleet at price 7.34327 from reserve 11.0177 (TRP had reserve 9.0366).
KON wins item magistrate at price 2.44898 from reserve 3.67439 (PER had reserve 2.88952).
bank_of_amsterdam = {
inflation_reduction = 0.05
global_trade_income_modifier = 0.1
hangul_writing_system = {
government_tech_investment = 5
stability_cost_modifier = -0.05
gold_fleet = {
global_tariffs = 0.05
Unused DG=1.22535
Kongo ends up with a decent haul. I managed to get my no. 1 priority for the auction - Bank of Amsterdam - that inflation reduction is absolutely vital to an efficient start when you have base tax (and thus census tax) as bad as mine. The trade income modifier is also very fine.
I probably assigned too high a value to Hangul. There's a couple better NDs I could have likely won if they'd been prioritized better.
Gold fleets I'm not sure I'll ever get any use out of, as I have no idea if I'll ever get any overseas territory. Though if I do, the returns will be now be quite substantial. That said, the benefit of this ND is perhaps mostly psychological, as it adds more encouragement to me to not over-expand in Africa so that I stand a chance at obtaining (and being able to effectively exploit) said overseas territory.
Interestingly, Kongo has in many ways ended up with better NDs than Georgia did in TWBW. This despite a less forgiving bidding system.
Qin : 76.6364
Code:
QIN wins item fugger_banks at price 51.0781 from reserve 76.6364 (ETH had reserve 75.9091).
QIN wins item colonist at price 1.14513 from reserve 7.33584 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
QIN wins item colonist at price 1.18783 from reserve 8.52367 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
QIN wins item colonist at price 1.14513 from reserve 6.1907 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
QIN wins item colonist at price 1.24685 from reserve 5.04557 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
QIN wins item colonist at price 1.11866 from reserve 3.79872 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
QIN wins item hall_of_worthies at price 17.0346 from reserve 25.5582 (KON had reserve 11.0177).
QIN wins item extra_mp at price 1.60782 from reserve 2.68006 (GUJ had reserve 1.83849).
fugger_banks = {
inflation_reduction = 0.05
interest = -0.02
hall_of_worthies = {
cultural_tradition = 0.01
Unused DG=2.6801
Qin hogs all the colonists in the auction. Taiwan is so part of China.
China also wastes DG trying to buy European manpower.
Fugger banks and hall of worthies, neither of which looks terribly good, will enable China to make a more efficient start.
Ethiopia : 75.9091
Code:
ETH wins item krantor_crane at price 50.5934 from reserve 75.9091 (CRO had reserve 72).
ETH wins item army_tradition at price 4.76239 from reserve 7.14536 (TRP had reserve 3.01371).
ETH wins item trade_tech at price 14.28 from reserve 21.4254 (KTH had reserve 8.84722).
ETH wins item land_tech at price 3.8903 from reserve 25.3157 (NOV had reserve 24.3358).
krantor_crane = {
trade_efficiency = 0.05
global_trade_income_modifier = 0.1
trade_tech_investment = 1
Unused DG=2.38301
Ethiopia only gets one ND, but it is a very good one. Go gettum African brothers!
Maya : 75.1818
Code:
USA wins item dutch_masters at price 17.6981 from reserve 75.1818 (KON had reserve 25.8008).
USA wins item venetian_arsenal at price 6.22147 from reserve 57.4837 (KTH had reserve 26.5284).
USA wins item more_inno at price 5.45519 from reserve 51.2623 (QIN had reserve 25.5582).
USA wins item more_trade at price 23.4983 from reserve 45.8071 (CRO had reserve 24.012).
dutch_masters = {
cultural_tradition = 0.02
trade_tech_investment = 4
global_trade_income_modifier = 0.02
global_tax_modifier = -0.04
venetian_arsenal = {
galley_cost = -0.40
Unused DG=22.30874
The Maya deny Kongo the dutch masters (cue curses, frothing and suchlike). They also get venetian arsenal, which is a good choice for them, considering that the Caribbean is one of the seas galleys aren't penalized on and that they are likely to need something that can harass European navies, but don't break the bank and stop them colonizing.
What interests me is that the Maya left a third of their DG unspent. There is alot they could have bought with that.
Mongol Khanate : 74.4545
Code:
KHA wins item swedish_steel at price 49.624 from reserve 74.4545 (PUN had reserve 73.7273).
KHA wins item cultural_tradition at price 5.24332 from reserve 7.86695 (GUJ had reserve 5.5127).
KHA wins item the_absolutism at price 15.7221 from reserve 23.5891 (ETH had reserve 21.4254).
KHA wins item more_offense at price 1.24153 from reserve 24.8306 (PUN had reserve 24.588).
the_absolutism = {
stability_cost_modifier = -0.10
swedish_steel = {
discipline = 0.05
Unused DG=2.62355
Main thing to note here is Swedish Steel - fear the deadly Mongol hordes!
Bavaria : 74
Code:
BAV wins item the_forbidden_city at price 18.4932 from reserve 74 (NOV had reserve 25.6167).
BAV wins item the_state_is_me at price 6.2263 from reserve 55.5068 (NOV had reserve 25.6167).
BAV wins item prestige at price 2.48152 from reserve 3.72321 (TRP had reserve 3.01371).
BAV wins item prestige at price 3.31519 from reserve 7.0384 (TRP had reserve 3.01371).
BAV wins item more_freedom at price 6.84483 from reserve 13.8832 (KHA had reserve 7.86695).
BAV wins item den_danske_lov at price 27.7456 from reserve 41.6289 (PER had reserve 27.347).
BAV wins item golden_fleece at price 7.65168 from reserve 49.2805 (QIN had reserve 25.5582).
the_forbidden_city = {
stability_cost_modifier = -0.1
prestige = 0.01
the_state_is_me = {
prestige = 0.01
den_danske_lov = {
global_revolt_risk = -1
golden_fleece = {
prestige = 0.01
Unused DG=1.24168
Bavaria snaps up all the prestige-boosting NDs, as well as ensuring that it has dirt cheap stability (they are the biggest traders and producers of wine as well) and gets a nice -1 rr ND. None of these are amazing decisions on their own, but Bavaria's strategic use of DG has ensured that it has a very fine combination of bonuses that together will make Bavaria noticeably more robust.
Punjab : 73.7273
Code:
PUN wins item vornedskab at price 49.1392 from reserve 73.7273 (TRP had reserve 43.5407).
PUN wins item army_tradition at price 1.8227 from reserve 2.73474 (KHA had reserve 2.62363).
PUN wins item army_tradition at price 5.46538 from reserve 8.20011 (ETH had reserve 7.14536).
PUN wins item the_societas_jesu at price 16.3879 from reserve 24.588 (KHA had reserve 23.5891).
vornedskab = {
global_tax_modifier = 0.10
the_societas_jesu = {
missionary_placement_chance = 0.005
Unused DG=0.91212
Main thing to note here is that I didn't expect the societas jesu to go for so much.
Those of you who have been following the game stats will notice that Punjab put the army tradition it bid on to good use.
Catalonia : 73
Code:
CAT wins item legacy_of_the_navigator at price 18.8872 from reserve 73 (ENG had reserve 70).
CAT wins item production_tech at price 13.1966 from reserve 25.0843 (NOV had reserve 24.3358).
CAT wins item british_merchant_navy at price 3.30872 from reserve 28.393 (KON had reserve 25.8008).
CAT wins item divine_faith at price 25.7198 from reserve 54.1128 (KHA had reserve 24.8306).
CAT wins item more_defense at price 0.877023 from reserve 11.8877 (ETH had reserve 7.14536).
CAT wins item cultural_tradition at price 7.33861 from reserve 11.0107 (KHA had reserve 7.86695).
CAT wins item merchant at price 0.192124 from reserve 3.67206 (BAV had reserve 1.24169).
CAT wins item merchant at price 0.192124 from reserve 3.47993 (BAV had reserve 1.24169).
CAT wins item merchant at price 0.192124 from reserve 3.28781 (BAV had reserve 1.24169).
CAT wins item merchant at price 0.192124 from reserve 3.09569 (BAV had reserve 1.24169).
CAT wins item merchant at price 0.161068 from reserve 2.90356 (BAV had reserve 1.24169).
CAT wins item extra_bt at price 1.82787 from reserve 2.7425 (QIN had reserve 2.68006).
legacy_of_the_navigator = {
trade_efficiency = 0.05
range = 0.25
british_merchant_navy = {
global_tariffs = 0.05
divine_faith = {
technology_cost = -0.06
missionary_cost = 0.06
Unused DG=0.914613
Al-Andalus, with the 3rd lowest DG, gets two of the best NDs, as well as a whole pile of other good stuff (including all the merchants, for dirt cheap prices). Legacy of the Navigator and Divine Faith I am quite surprised at being valued so low. Also, Al-Andalus denies British Merchant Navy to Kongo. But it's Kongo's own fault. (But still, one must curse for the sake of form.)
Croatia : 72
Code:
CRO wins item afonsine_ordinances at price 47.988 from reserve 72 (KON had reserve 25.8008).
CRO wins item elector at price 1.2006 from reserve 24.012 (ENG had reserve 16.7414).
CRO wins item emperor at price 1.14057 from reserve 22.8114 (ENG had reserve 16.7414).
CRO wins item more_quality at price 14.4436 from reserve 21.6708 (ETH had reserve 21.4254).
afonsine_ordinances = {
production_efficiency = 0.1
Unused DG=7.22723
Croatia gets Afonsine Ordinances, beating Kongo by a country mile. I was honestly quite surprised to even number 2 in this one. It is one of the better NDs.
The real story here is how Croatia manages to nab the HRE for a pittance. The HRE has some very powerful effects, and they're worth all the more for Croatia having a monopoly on them.
Croatia also has the 3rd largest lump of unspent DG left at the end.
England : 70
Code:
ENG wins item britanna_rules_the_waves at price 19.801 from reserve 70 (JAP had reserve 26.771).
ENG wins item the_wooden_wall at price 33.4577 from reserve 50.199 (USA had reserve 75.1818).
ENG wins item navy_tradition at price 0.837069 from reserve 16.7414 (JAP had reserve 8.92811).
ENG wins item navy_tradition at price 0.795215 from reserve 15.9043 (JAP had reserve 8.92811).
ENG wins item navy_tradition at price 0.755455 from reserve 15.1091 (JAP had reserve 8.92811).
ENG wins item navy_tradition at price 0.717682 from reserve 14.3536 (JAP had reserve 8.92811).
ENG wins item navy_tradition at price 0.681798 from reserve 13.636 (JAP had reserve 8.92811).
ENG wins item cultural_tradition at price 8.63395 from reserve 12.9542 (KHA had reserve 7.86695).
ENG wins item magistrate at price 2.87942 from reserve 4.32021 (KON had reserve 3.67439).
britanna_rules_the_waves = {
leader_naval_manuever = 1
the_wooden_wall = {
global_ship_recruit_speed = -0.1
Unused DG=1.440711
England comes in last, but still manages to get two rather shiny decisions out of the auction. I am wondering what mischief Golle can use all that naval tradition he won for.
fasquardon