Wow a necropost!
From the eyes of a fresh newcomer:
- LoA, CDM and ToR are must have. LoA is just "dirt" cheap (IA), easy to come by and worthy to have early, while you don't yet have your production up and running smoothly enough. And it comes with a decent supplies boost, they are harder to get in early ages. CDM is a lil harder to come by, but provides two of the most sought stuffz in game: attacker boost and FPs. ToR is just a standing lottery, but it's generating goods and FPs fast enough to justify its space.
- Once you've set these up, go for the big fish, but prepare to be very patient and have your advancement halted (which is quite a viable solution in this game!). Next set of must-have GBs are Arc, Chateau, AO and Alcatraz, and you might not get them all quickly enough and/or suit them all in your city. Arc - percentage on FP gains, and you'll be likely investing your entire income of FPs (plus occasional rewards) into others' GBs to acquire first blueprints, second FP packs, third medals. Just the game-breaking GB as it is. Chateau is at least good for recurring quests, which you will eventually discover being a great source of stuff, and really, even a level 1 Chateau grants +3 goods per quest (when it drops any), this makes you able to negotiate GE to higher levels, amplifying your ToR at the very least. If anything, trading up will also be easier. Arctic Orangery is a FP generator with extra power, and it's giving 1 FP/level compared to CDM at 0.6, although about the same FP reward per FP invested, and also it adds to combat in an independent way. Getting this placed will surely make you combat-oriented, emphasizing the need of Alcatraz (and a rogue hideout). The prison also serves a nice purpose, it allows you to transition to the glory of The Future in Iron Age...
- Next level is the highest so far, Innovation Tower and The Kraken. Both grant FPs, Inno grants population that lets you get rid of those small housing, and you already have Alcatraz (or Hagia, if you're strictly farming/questing) for happiness needed to sustain productivity. Kraken grants one man advantage in battles (albeit probabilistic, every little bit helps, and 8 vs 8 is way harder to fight than 8 vs 7), however it also pulls you further into Grand Combat. Here the Cape is also sitting waiting, but early on a black tower (heh) can replace CC, later you can expend more space to FP generation so you build that thing.
The rest of GBs are up to taste and personal preference, but still:
- If you fight, Zeus and CoA are also needed. However, it might be better to max out CDM first.
- If you do not fight, but build goods, create RAH and StM to get more coins and supplies, these might also help with faster completion of recurring quests.
- If you fight at the extreme, build Habitat, ToB, Capitol and a whole lot of army buildings, and just rush your enemies not regarding the losses. Sometimes Alcatraz is not enough! Add Voyager here if you want to be THE captain Jack Sparrow.
- If you want to help others, build Dynamic tower, Atomium or (and?) Seed Vault, making yourself quite an enigma with all of them. These will surely attract a lot of friends, maybe even from top people, and in turn allow you to bask in the glory and increased income of goods and BPs beyond your age.
- If you just want your city to be beautiful, build Gaea, Rain forest, Notre Dame, Colosseum and that museum from OF, and have it your way.
- If I missed a GB, feel free to place it wherever you think it will fit.
- Don't forget to enjoy the game, and whatever aspects you see most enjoyable.