financial dire straits and upkeep

[Ygramul]

How is the upkeep of a unit determined?
I know that supply depends on size.

Does a Shambler thrall [gold 35, res 1]
has more upkeep or a meteorite guard [g 10, r 30]?
How much?

Are the units the only source of deficit?
[If so this makes Province Defense a better
deal to a certain breaking point which
depends on the nation.]

While you are at it:
what are your finance strategies?
Order/Tax Rate/Patrol combinations? etc.

Thanks,

Ygramul

[gibson]

I believe upkeep is equal to 1/15th of a unit's purchase cost in gold. Resource cost does not affect upkeep. Sacred units do not cost upkeep, nor do provincial defenses. Most summons do not cost upkeep either, but there are some (trolls) that do.

I like to take a fairly high order scale (2-3) if I'm playing a gold hungry nation. I keep my tax rates around 100 usually, as any more results in unrest, even though I should be able to tax at 130 with order 3, if I understand things correctly. I don't usually patrol unless a province is getting out of hand, as it kills population and I personally feel that the work and cost of getting a unit of patrollers developed takes too much out of my war machine and gives too little back in though. I'm no expert though, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

[ January 28, 2004, 22:04: Message edited by: gibson ]

[Arryn]

Originally posted by Ygramul:
How is the upkeep of a unit determined?
I know that supply depends on size.

Does a Shambler thrall [gold 35, res 1]
has more upkeep or a meteorite guard [g 10, r 30]?
How much?

Are the units the only source of deficit?

Upkeep is 1/15 of the original cost of the unit in gold, paid per turn. Sacred units cost 1/30 rather than 1/15.

Supply is essentially (size-1) with a minimum cost of 1.

The Shambler will cost more to upkeep. Remember that upkeep is based upon the gold cost, not the resource cost.

Gold represents pay and training, while resources represent the unit's gear. It's actually quite realistic. Units cost a lot to assemble (initial pay, outfitting, etc.). After that the lord only needs to concern himself with pay and food, as the units take care of their own gear (sharpening swords, hammering out dents in armor, and suchlike).

[Graeme Dice]

Originally posted by gibson:
[QB] I believe upkeep is equal to 1/15th of a unit's purchase cost in gold. Resource cost does not affect upkeep. Sacred units do not cost upkeep, nor do provincial defenses. Most summons do not cost upkeep either, but there are some (trolls) that do.

Mostly correct. Upkeep is 1/15th the purchase price of a unit. Sacred units have an upkeep of 1/30th of their purchase price. Any summons that has a gold price associated with it from purchasing at some site (and likely from mods now that those are available) will have an upkeep of 1/15th of its purchase price.

I like to take a fairly high order scale (2-3) if I'm playing a gold hungry nation. I keep my tax rates around 100 usually, as any more results in unrest,

It does not just result in unrest, it also results in population death that is exponentially dependant on the overtax rate.

even though I should be able to tax at 130 with order 3, if I understand things correctly.

This would be true in Dominions 1. In Dominions 2 the order scale is +-7% gold per turn.