Not a topic for the faint of attention-span...
I know there are a few around here who are doing some serious research into the SP game's mechanics. Would anyone like to share tips of the data-generation and interpretation trade? A couple of specific questions:
1. How do you define the variables that could be skewing your numbers? That is, for battlemap unit research, we know about unit size, fatigue, armour & weapon upgrades, elevation, tree cover, morale, and flanking. Understanding those eight factors and neutralising them helps to keep unit battles even and makes the data meaningful.
Economy, on the other hand, is proving a tough new nut. There's building upgrades, port/road upgrades, squalor, Trade Rights agreements, blockades & brigand-age... but there must be others because those five don't explain the number's I'm coming up with. Diplomacy is the one I'm focused on, and the same problem applies there.
2. How do you limit the environmental variables that MIGHT be influencing your data? (and yes, I already tried writing a Perl script that goes something like { for each $env in @ENV } :clown: ) For diplomacy, for example, the number of factions involved and the possible "moves" each side can take is making a big jumble out of what might or might not be good data.
Err, thanks. Kind-of a hefty question, and I don't expect anyone to give the entire answer. But thoughts from those who are active will be very appreciated.
