Moving a capital

from Sins Forums
I have one main question about this. Is it worth it in the long run to move your capital? The improvment to move the capital itself costs a bit more than a cap ship if I remember correctly (which I probably don't). So people who have used this, how does it help your civ in the long run?
strategy
6,211 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
Its easy to get enough credits in most medium maps or larger. The limit is crystal or metal. By centralizing your HQ you can maximize resource outputs. This is especially true in multi-star empires where the phase jumps can really add up. Now, when does it pay off? I think you'd have to calculate like this: Sum (#mines (each mine weighed against allegiance)) in original layout vs (#mines (each mine weighed against allegiance)) in alternate layout. Then delta(output difference) x (X) = cost of changing HQ, where X is solved for how long to 'pay' for the upgrade.

Eyeballing it, the improvement often seems 'worth' it to me ~ 20 planets, especially across multiple stars.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Lord Almighty Smacksim, did you just whip that up off the top of your head? lol

Yes, though I haven't used it one could assume that on large maps during the late midgame or late game, it might be prudent to centralize the capital.

I wonder how designating an asteroid as a your capital would change things...
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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
If you had 5 planets in an X shape , moving the HQ from a limb to the center would raise your total max allegiance from 480 to 510, which isn't much.

9 planets in an X shape, moving the HQ from the edge of a limb to the center would raise it from 750 to 870. (16% bonus on average to each resource collection)

Obviously an X would be rare, but this gives an idea of the kind of gains it can bring.

There's a few factors to determine if it's a good idea: The the size of the galaxy, the vulnerability of said planet (If your hq gets sacked without another one being built, it will do a lot of income damage), and the intended length of the game. If you plan to attack aggressively and have the battle end in 30 minutes, it may not be a good idea, but if you're playing at a leisurely pace, and maybe aim for a several hour game, then you should definitely move your hq around.
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
That's actually a really good question, Dante - what effects would moving your capital to an asteroid have? Does it matter what kind of planet your capital is on (other than ease of destroying it)?
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
The capital gives a tax bonus, but I forget if it's percentage based or just straight added in.
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Culture can also influence whether or not it's a good idea to move your capital. Moving the capital changes the max alllegiance value for each colony, leaving the actual values to slowly shift to the new equillibrium.

If you've flooded your empire with culture, however, you get to cheat a little: the allegiance values that are lower than their new caps rise quickly (.05% / s), whereas the allegiance values of your old core-worlds float downward more slowly (.02% / s). So with culture, moving your capital gives you a temporary "golden age" where all of your worlds are producing either at their allegiance cap or above it.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
That's actually a really good question, Dante - what effects would moving your capital to an asteroid have? Does it matter what kind of planet your capital is on (other than ease of destroying it)?
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The capital gives a tax bonus, but I forget if it's percentage based or just straight added in.
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I believe the capital gets a tax bonus based on the type of planet it is (or possibly based on its population cap) . . . I've seen Terran worlds get a 4.0 credit boost for being the capital, whereas asteroids and volcanic worlds get something like a 1.0 or 2.0 credit boost.

(Also, I don't think it's linked directly to population, because I've seen someone bomb my Terran capital down to 0 population and have it still be producing 4 credits/s.)
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Culture can also influence whether or not it's a good idea to move your capital. Moving the capital changes the max alllegiance value for each colony, leaving the actual values to slowly shift to the new equillibrium.If you've flooded your empire with culture, however, you get to cheat a little: the allegiance values that are lower than their new caps rise quickly (.05% / s), whereas the allegiance values of your old core-worlds float downward more slowly (.02% / s). So with culture, moving your capital gives you a temporary "golden age" where all of your worlds are producing either at their allegiance cap or above it.
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I've noticed this as well, which presents an interesting possibility: At some size empire X, constantly moving your capital is a good idea! I'm not going to offer the math on that though ;)

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
That's actually a really good question, Dante - what effects would moving your capital to an asteroid have?
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I don't think you actually *can* make an asteroid your Capital. Or am I thinking of a dead asteroid?
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
I think you're thinking of a dead asteroid. I can make an asteroid my capital.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
This obviously depends on the situation.
The main reason to move the capital should be for the increase in mineral income. Credit is not as much as a concern because you can always build trade posts that give lucrative income without limit. Refineries, in contrast, are not as effective.

But there is a map that i always move my capital. In Entanglement where you always start at the end of an arm of the solar system, players are forced to expand quite linerly,so alligence drop by almost 50% after a few planets.No choice but to make a move