When to switch to Iron/Steel-Frame Buildings?

[AnthraxDaveUK]

Thanks to everyone who gave me help in my previous "help a noob" thread. Much appreciated. I'm finally working out how the mechanics of the game take place and had a nice few runs with smaller nations.

Main question for this thread is as per the title; What is your ideal time to switch to Iron (then Steel Frame Buildings? I like to try and get Iron Frame asap, mostly for the construction bonuses, but the cost can be prohibitively expensive for developing nations. I suppose I can use the Road Maintenance Decree as a stand-in.

How about you guys?

Are the upgrades from Iron to Steel to Arc worth the investment immediately in your opinion?

 

[Dman1791]

As I see it, you want to switch as fast as your budget can handle. Upgrading to iron framing is particularly impactful because it's a x2.5 increase in capacity, all the others are x2. The newer PMs are also more efficient: Wooden framing costs £1000 plus wages for each construction point, iron framing is £720, steel framing is £540, and arc welding is £425. Each level does increase the wages you're paying the workers as well (adding machinists, and arc welding adds engineers), but it's never by enough to reduce efficiency. It's always going to be cheaper per construction point to upgrade ASAP unless you have no way to avoid a shortage of the new goods, such as being isolationist with no iron mines.

As for smoothing the transition, there are three main avenues. You can have multiple similarly-sized construction buildings, which allow you to ease into the new PM by keeping some on the old one, you can import the new necessary goods to cut prices while you build out domestic supplies, or you can downsize the construction sectors to a level you can afford. Since the newer PMs are always more efficient, I'd recommend swapping everything over and trying to import your way out of any shortages, and then downsizing if you need to cut your deficit. Construction sectors are so cheap that what you lose by downsizing is going to made up for by being able to build more on the same budget.

The only time this wouldn't apply at all is if you're playing something like late game Qing, at which point there may literally not be enough iron available for you to switch to arc welding, for example.

 

[Sbrubbles]

Yeah, dman hit it on the the head: upgrade it as budget allows, one province at a time.

 

[Fawr]

For researching the technology, I aim for other technologies to build a bit of a budget surplus, but once I have that surplus then I go for construction technologies as a good place to use it.

I'd also suggest increasing your supplies of the relevant building materials and the raw materials they need while your research is in progress.

 

[Gort11]

For the jump to iron I usually wait until I have the Atmospheric Engine tech. Making the switch before that tends to be a bit painful because iron mine production is so low prior to Atmospheric Engine.

 

[AnthraxDaveUK]

Thanks for all the excellent advice guys. Will help me a lot in future runs.
Got a few days off now for Christmas, so going to try some bigger nations rather than OPM/2PM ones

 

[MfgLuckbot]

For the jump to iron I usually wait until I have the Atmospheric Engine tech. Making the switch before that tends to be a bit painful because iron mine production is so low prior to Atmospheric Engine.

Import iron instead, and then use the added production to build many many iron mines (replacing the imports). Once you got athmospheric engines you can use the excess iron to make your first steel wich you will need soon enough for engines.

 

[BPZ1941]

Whenever you can. The later tiers are more cost-effective, and using manufactured goods is much better than using raw materials unless you'd have a goods shortage by switching. For example, Iron is a big scarcity problem for most large country playthroughs.

But by using Steel to build, not only do you get more Construction per unit, but you also get one unit of Steel by consuming both Iron and Coal. Making Steel alone cuts total Iron demand by 20-33% depending on the exact Production Method used.

Iron-Frame to Steel-Frame Construction in total would use 40-67% less iron per construction point.

I always make sure to switch all possible industries from iron to steel as soon as possible.

 

[DukeLeto42]

I think we've probably said it in the past thread, but keep in mind that you can upgrade one Construction Sector PM at a time. This can reduce the shock of the transition, both for your market and your finances.

Generally, I'd say don't take the tech until you can use it (aside from techs taken to clear out that tier of the tree / get to a lower one, it's a mistake to take a tech when its PMs / benefits will be unused). As for when to transition the PM, assuming I have a decent gold reserve I'm happy to let my Construction Sectors create a minor deficit when jumping up a PM, on the assumption that the buildings I'm going to make with them will fix the issue in the long run (and that the cost will lower once the input goods get cheaper).

 

[Secret Master]

so going to try some bigger nations rather than OPM/2PM ones

Good luck, but I will give a warning about construction sectors and major powers:

 

[AnthraxDaveUK]

Good luck, but I will give a warning about construction sectors and major powers:

View attachment 931298

My word, the most I've ever had in any of my games is 92!

 

[FryFroFella]

My word, the most I've ever had in any of my games is 92!

Pretty standard to be up into at least 400-600 range by mid-game

 

[TSD]

Yeah, dman hit it on the the head: upgrade it as budget allows, one province at a time.

The problem with doing things a province at a time etc. Is the interface is woefully bad at managing anything using multiple methods. It's practically designed to only do things en masse.

There needs to be an outliner for each individual building/resource etc. that is viewable in a condensed list with all the production methods. As it stands it is very tedious.

 

[TSD]

My word, the most I've ever had in any of my games is 92!

Assuming you've only played as small minors then or really really neglect your construction sector, lol.

 

[BPZ1941]

There needs to be an outliner for each individual building/resource etc. that is viewable in a condensed list with all the production methods. As it stands it is very tedious.

I still haven't gotten used to doing this, but you can click on the building headers in the Buildings menu. That gives you every such building in the nation and what PMs its using. The list could certainly still be condensed a bit, but it isn't awful by any means.

 

[Ir0nSlug]

As soon as you can is the answer. Steel frame, I take immediately on research completion. Iron frame is more tricky, since if you start without it, you probably also start without tools or iron, so you got to time it well.

Or, since if you start without it you are probably not a Great Power, find a Protective GP and join their market, so switching a single construction sector won't ever xause an input shortage. This plus Corn Law is the best play I found for fast growth.