JKaen - please hold the save ( if you receive it in time ... however seems that it becames delayed in last 2-3 rounds, probably all teams do deep calculation :P ) until we will discuss more about strategy for next turns.
The main dilemma is that we could switch between
a. whales - which give us +2 commerce, -1 hammer;
b. forest - which give us +1 hammer, -2 commerce.
Both tiles give the same ammount of food - so impact on city increase is similar.
I switched to (a) - but actualy was during a revolt so doesn't matter yet - but this is likely to not be the correct approach.
So ... let's summarize :
Oracle - 61 hammers invested until now.
Pottery - 4 turns with (b), 3 turns with (a).
Now was T 46 - evolution will be like this in version (b) :
End of T 47 : Oracle 69 hammers. Pottery in 3.
End of T 48 : Oracle 77 hammers + 20 from chop = 97 hammers. Capital grow to 6. Pottery in 2.
End of T 49 : Oracle 105 hammers. Pottery in 1.
T 50 : Whip Oracle => 45 hammers = 150 + 8 produced hammers = 158. Pottery completed at EoT.
T 51 : ( if we are lucky ) Oracle will be built and we could choose Metal Casting.
Latter I'll try to add calculation for version (a).
Best regards - I need to hurry to work now.
Later edit : OK - let's check the evolution for version (a) - with whales worked instead of forest.
End of T 47 : Oracle 68 hammers. Pottery in 2.
End of T 48 : Oracle 75 hammers + 20 from chop = 95 hammers. Capital grow to 6. Pottery in 1. Allocate the extra citizen to work the forest.
End of T 49 : Oracle 103 hammers. Pottery researched - but we will be short of
[SIZE="3"]2[/SIZE] damn hammers to do the 3 population whip in T 50 !!
So - I'd say that version (
b) is better. But anyway - please check my math carefuly.
Best regards