by sfox
It isn't possible to win against a competent opponent without taking loans. The cost to avoid loans early in the game is far higher than the cost to pay them off late game even when accounting for the interest. Ignoring food and instead picking up resources to build buildings is inherently more efficient. Food is worth a tiny bit over 1 point each early game whereas wood/clay/coal/etc is worth somewhere between 1.5 to 4 points for each one you pick up. That isn't even counting the fact that many buildings have a food cost to use if you don't own them, so building a building that you use once or a more times also saves you food (points) and when others use it you get food from them (even better, - points from them and + points for you).↧