Mining in EBII: what makes it worth your while

[Septentrionalis]

Many of the regions in Europa Barbarorum 2 offer only modest income from mining due to a lack of mineral resources. For instance, if you spend 14,000 mnae on mining in a region that only produces +45, you can deduce that it theoretically takes ~310 turns for your mine to become profitable. However, mining has a penalty to happiness in your settlements that affects your taxation and general management as well, making mining even less desirable.

I looked for information in previous discussions and found some speculation that having a mine will increase trade in addition to the immediate income boost. What is the consensus today concerning the latest releases of the mod? Should one only build mines where there is a considerable bonus (e.g. +1,400) or is it worth it in mediocre regions as well (e.g. +220)?

[tentaku]

I am just guessing, but I thought trade bonus buildings that costs around $14000 usually gives net one extra trade compared to the last improvement, and one trade is around $150?? 5% happiness could be worth several thousand cross check with your temple, so there is your trade off I guess. I guess theoretically for mines anything from $400?? is a good start?

[Septentrionalis]

I guess theoretically for mines anything from $400?? is a good start?

I think that your estimate is a good one for considering cost and return of investment.

However, I just now found myself in a situation that my Roman republic is (temporarily) making more money than it can spend in a useful way. To avoid corruption, money should be spent more or less as it comes in, and even if the return of investment does not materialize very quickly for a mine producing say 220 a turn, having the mine still increases the money available after each end turn. For the purpose of sustainability, I think one should not think too much of the initial cost and instead try to increase the amount of money available each turn. We need to build *something* with the money, and at least the mine will not introduce new costs such as recruiting new units that you do not need would. A $45 per turn mine is still garbage, of course, but perhaps the $220 one is not.

[tentaku]

I think that your estimate is a good one for considering cost and return of investment.

However, I just now found myself in a situation that my Roman republic is (temporarily) making more money than it can spend in a useful way. To avoid corruption, money should be spent more or less as it comes in, and even if the return of investment does not materialize very quickly for a mine producing say 220 a turn, having the mine still increases the money available after each end turn. For the purpose of sustainability, I think one should not think too much of the initial cost and instead try to increase the amount of money available each turn. We need to build *something* with the money, and at least the mine will not introduce new costs such as recruiting new units that you do not need would. A $45 per turn mine is still garbage, of course, but perhaps the $220 one is not.

true. I just fear the happiness penalty a lot. 5% might not seem much but there are only a few buildings that help with happiness(and not by much), and most other economic buildings hurt happiness. If I am losing 5% happiness to make some cash, the cash better be good like more than $300 at least

[Cultist]

Is corruption still a thing in EB2?

[QuintusSertorius]

Is corruption still a thing in EB2?

Yes, and there's a new series of traits associated with the temptations of having lots of cash lying around.

[Septentrionalis]

Yes, and there's a new series of traits associated with the temptations of having lots of cash lying around.

Is that for EB 2.35?

I am playing 2.3 and starting to get some traits that are in some ways beneficial to the family member, not to spoil anyone's experience with details. Is that expected as well in 2.3?

[QuintusSertorius]

The "excess wealth" line of corrupting traits are in 2.35, not in 2.3.