Tile value is determined by yield, travel time, reinforcement access, and exposure rather than yield alone. Evidence
Rank a target on four axes:
- Yield: production/terrain bonuses and rare-metal table.
- Reach: travel time from a real shipyard, not visual distance.
- Support: who can reinforce and supply it?
- Exposure: how many hostile launch bases can reach it before your faction can?
A modest tile inside a reinforcement triangle is often worth more than a spectacular tile hanging alone in enemy space.
Why it works
The best tile is the one that improves the empire’s network. Raw yield matters, but reach, support, and exposure determine whether that yield remains usable during war.
Execution
- Record the tile’s displayed effects and allowed settlement type.
- Measure routes from current production bases and allies.
- Count hostile launch options inside the response window.
- State the tile’s role before spending the colonization hull.
Risks and counterplay
- A high-yield isolated tile can become a permanent escort burden.
- Visual proximity is unreliable on a wrapped map.
- The wrong settlement type can block the infrastructure the plan expects.
Assumptions and ruleset
This is strategic analysis, not a guaranteed outcome. It assumes the linked mechanic pages still match the active build and that current-world roster, modifiers, travel times, intelligence age, and opponent response have been checked before commitment.