AI built a Punishment Sphere

[bvanevery]

I don't remember ever seeing this happen before.  I took Morgan Industries several turns ago, near the end of the game as it turns out, because I've been researching like crazy.  Next turn looks like I'm getting Threshold of Transcendence, which in my mod is the very last tech.  I noticed that this city didn't have any yuppies, unlike everywhere else in my empire, which is enjoying a 40% PSYCH budget.  Part of the back my brain said, that's kinda like a Punishment Sphere, but I didn't actually check on it until just now.  Sure enough!

Details Morgan you rascal

Morgan you rascal

So the AI has put into practice, what I've pretty much believed in principle.  Punishment Spheres are only useful in late game when you have a lot of population in a city.  In the early game, it's cheaper and more productive to just build the happiness facilities your people are demanding.  Another thing I've noticed is that by late game, I really don't need to build "new big cities".  So the idea of turning some distant conquest into a slave production center, although attractive in theory, just isn't needed in the real world.  The game is only going to last for so much longer, for you to actually make use of them.

Maybe a PS would be useful for winning Diplomatic Victory with pop booming.  However the Empath Guild and Clinical Immortality are more important for that.  Hmm unless one could get cities to go into pop boom a lot earlier in the game.  And also get Hab Domes.  Or if not Hab Domes, spamming cities relentlessly / ridiculously, beyond anything I've ever imagined having the patience to do.  Without the AIs catching up, as they too can be rather spammy, and have bonuses that you don't.

I also notice the AI built a PS, after building some significant happiness facilities.  Well, I hope so!  Because if you already have a PS, a Tree Farm and a Research Hospital are not good investments.  Aside from having no beneficial happiness effect, a PS gives -50% research.  So I'd like to think the AI decided on this course of action after the fact.  Maybe still not the best plan, but at least it would be a response to growth.

[Iranon]

A Punishment Sphere may be an option for a military base under Free Market - support every single unit from it, Crawl in minerals for Support if necessary. It may still be more practical to have a specialist-only city (possibly Crawling in food). There are also shenanigans attempting to get independent units, but that requires considerably more effort and may feel quite gamey.