HFoG Is Killing Me!

[Orionator]

HFoG is at 2.8 and going nowhere but UP ... some of my high-maintenance planets (such as those with specials Rapid Rot and Global Storms) have completely stalled out!

Is there any way to reduce HFoG besides discovering new technologies? I'm pretty far down the tech tree ... am I screwed?

Exactly which actions have a chance of increasing HFoG? What things am I allowed to do and what am I not allowed to do?

Does just looking at something, like planet infrastructure, cause me to take a hit, or is information "free"?

Can I modify ship designs? Am I allowed to change the Military Build Queue, or to keep a low HFoG must I accept all the crap it builds which I don't need?

[Orionator]

Err, just read a post from QSI that seemed to suggest HFoG isn't a "micromanagement punisher" but simply a "growth tax".

It's still a huge problem ... how do I drive it down?

[Zyphyr]

There are 2 ways to lower HFoG ;

1)Get the techs that lower it.

2)Lose a chunk of your empire.

As a temporary measure, lower your Empire and/or System taxes so that the viceroy can raise planetary taxes putting more money directly into the individual worlds budgets. That should help the stalled worlds resume production

[RobNelson]

3) Random events can lower HFoG.

I prefer to rely on techs (not just for HFoG, it's a weakness :D ), but in some games I get many of the random events that lower HFoG.

Also, it seems that gov DEAs reduce the cost of things on a planet. Not sure if this is directly related to HFoG, but thought I'd throw it out just in case.

[Strifeguard]

I remember reading that lowering the oppresometer is *supposed* to reduce HFoG, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer on the boards as to whether or not it was implemented.

[DavidByron]

I've had > 1.0 HFoG before I have had 24 population or 4 planets so something more than a "growth tax" is going on.

[Kyle Katarn]

Originally posted by Strifeguard
I remember reading that lowering the oppresometer is *supposed* to reduce HFoG, but I can't seem to find a definitive answer on the boards as to whether or not it was implemented.

In my latest game I had HFoG 2.7 (turn 300). Then I lowred the oppresometer from 6 to 4. The HFoG became 2.5.
Not too much, but with more than 250 planets in my empire it is still significant.

Cheers!

[LazyViking]

In my game where i had over 500 (getting cloese to 600) planets, my HFoG was 4.1!! :bulb:

But it didn't really matter, cuz i was mopping the floor with the others. :D

[Nolondil]

I've reached turn 215 in a Meklar game and I've got HFOG 2.5 -- the highest in the game but then I'm also the largest empire in planets and population. I make a habit of using the 'Exchange Items' diplo dialog to search my neighbors tech trees for HFOG reducing technologies. If they won't trade what I want, I send in the Science spies. :) I've also got the 'Antaran Outlook' X being researched right now, which will give me some spy related advantages which will let me reduce my Oppressometer. We'll see if that helps.

I wish there was some clear report on what HFOG is costing. How many AUs are wasted?

[Strifeguard]

Originally posted by Nolondil
I make a habit of using the 'Exchange Items' diplo dialog to search my neighbors tech trees for HFOG reducing technologies.
Uh...you know you can actually see their tech trees under the "matrix" tab on the technology screen, right?

This makes it easier, since you can see not only which technologies they have now, but also which technologies they are about to get, in order to give your spies time to "insert".

[Beamup]

Exchange is easier because it automatically filters out all the techs you have, letting you focus on what they have and you don't. Basically if you really want to know you either have to do a lot of cross-checking in the Matrix, remember all the techs you have or will get, or use both Exchange and the Matrix.

[Orionator]

My real problem is with certain planets having really bad upkeep modifiers ... does HFoG apply to upkeep costs or just builds?

[Kralizec!]

Orionator wrote:
My real problem is with certain planets having really bad upkeep modifiers ... does HFoG apply to upkeep costs or just builds?

I have actually run into this in my current game. When my HFoG increased to its current 2.8 some of my planets started slipping backwards. Now every turn I get messages about buildings being scrapped due to NCF. :(

[hoof1]

HFOG is heavily dependant on population, from what I've seen. So if you're playing a species that has a large population (like the GasBag species), you are going to have to live with a high HFOG, unfortunately.

IMO this can be seen as a good thing, as species that prefer the smaller planets can be just as effective, due to their lower HFOG levels.

[Kralizec!]

hoof1 wrote:
HFOG is heavily dependant on population, from what I've seen. So if you're playing a species that has a large population (like the GasBag species), you are going to have to live with a high HFOG, unfortunately.

Ah. I am playing Eoladi. :D

[tiger00]

Build Gov DEAs, especially on problem planets. They increase tax revenues so your rapid rot/global storm planets get more tax money and they don't start demolishing buildings.

[tiger00]

btw, HFOG is dependent also on the number of planets/systems you have, not just population

[Orionator]

Can anyone confirm whether HFoG affects upkeep cost?

I've tried to find detail reports of upkeep costs, but apparently they were never included in the game. There's just a big lump sum called "upkeep" on the income statement.