Mine Complexes: Are they in the Game?

[Scipio Valorus]

Hello all. I was wondering if it is possible to upgrade mines to mine complexes. The official "Strategy Guide" (that I never normally buy, but EB had a deal and I got the game and the guide for $30 Cdn) says that nothing is required to build the complex other than already having a mine. This can't be true, since I've never had the opprtunity to build one. So I ask, do you actually need a certain castle level in the province to upgrade to the complex?

According to the technology tree you don't need any castle to build a mine complex. I don't remember clearly about this myself so I rely on the manual.

Remember that you have to have a mine in that particular province before upgrading it to a mine complex. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------
Honour to Clan No Fear.

Visit my resource centre at: http://terazawa.totalwar.org

[Tone]

It's been a while since I built one, but I seem to remember that the tech tree was wrong. I think you need a fortress in the province. (It may only be a large castle but I think it's a fortress. I'm not starting a campaign just to be sure.)

[Hosakawa Tito]

I believe Tone is correct,a fortress is needed for the mine complex.
Tito

[Forward Observer]

The tech tree is correct and does show the mine complex at the fortress level.

[This message has been edited by Forward Observer (edited 06-06-2001).]

[KumaRatta Yamamoto]

I played a whole lot of SP. IT IS a fortress that you need to build a mine complex.

KumaRatta (Emissary of the Ratta clan)

[Karhu]

I think what causes the confusion is that on the tech tree the mine complex is listed under upgrades you don't need a castle for, like farmland and watchtowers/border forts. If you ignore the castles for these upgrades, then it makes sense to assume you can ignore them for mine complexes too.

According to the tech tree you need a large castle to build a border post and superior farmland, which is definitely not the case: let alone the citadel you apparently need to build legendary farmland!

This raises the question of whether it really is worth building a fortress just to get a mine complex. It may be worth it for the gold in Dewa, but can it really be worth it for the copper in Iyo?

Just a guess, but perhaps the mine complex was supposed to follow the mine automatically like farmland in the early versions of the game, but it got changed later on.

[Steeleye]

I haven't worked out the exact cost/benefit analysis of these things (thank goodness!), but my impression was that mines, mine complexes and ports (where they're cheaper) are generally the best money spinners going. Farmland upgrades are only economically sensible on the few really good agricultural output provinces.

Kyodaispan

[Ratta Yamamoto]

Yes, you will need a fortress in the province to make a complex mine. I've done it and I am sure. http://www.totalwar.org/ubb/biggrin.gif

Ratta Yamamoto (Daimyo of Ratta Clan)