Future millstones

Assuming that Capitalisation (or control of Capitalisation) remains the most attractive early action in the game (an argument I’m having difficulty supporting):

• (E7/D5/C3)
• P1-C3/3 P2/C3/3 P3-C3/2 P4-D1/1 P4-D1/2¹ P4-E2/4² (E6/D3/C0)
• P1-D1/4³ P2-D1/4³ P3-D1/4⁵ (E6/D0/C0]

Total actions performed: 9

Total actions per player: P1:2 P2:2, P3:3, P4:3

Now let’s assume that P1 recognises the action race and changes tempo:

• (E7/D5/C3)
• P1-C3/3 P2/C3/3 P3-C3/2 P4-D1/1 P4-D1/2⁶ P4-E2/4 (E6/D3/C0)
• P1-E2/5⁷ P2-E2/5 P3-E2/5 P4-E2/6 ⁸ (E1/D4/C0)
• P1-E2/7⁹ (E0/D4/C0)

Total actions performed: 11

Total actions per player: P1:3 P2:2, P3:2, P4:4

Interesting.

Let’s assume that P4 wins one of the early share auctions with his cash lead and thus has more he can develop:

• (E7/D5/C3)
• P1-C3/3 P2/C3/3 P3-C3/2 P4-D1/1 P4-D1/2 P4-D1/3 (E7/D2/C0)
• P1-E1/5¹⁰ P2-E2/5[^111] P3-E2/5¹² P4-E2/5 (E3/D2/C0)
• P1-D1/6¹³ P2-D1/6¹⁴ (E3/D0/C0)

Total actions performed: 12

Total actions per player: P1:3 P2:3, P3:2, P4:4

Now let’s assume that P1 is cash poor, diluted on both sides and that P2 in similarly incented towards a fast dividend:

• (E7/D5/C3)
• P1-C3/3 P2/C3/3 P3-C3/2 P4-D1/1 P4-D1/2 P4-D1/3 (E7/D2/C0)
• P1-D1/4 P2-D1/4 (E7/D0/C0]

Total actions performed: 8

Total actions per player: P1:2 P2:2, P3:1, P4:3

This is fascinating. The players have no choice but to focus on Expansion next turn as there’s just no opportunity for any more Development. What interesting rhythms!