"in pw we are used to randoms smile just make the best of it i guess...use the random and hope he isnt newb.  "

Cos you don't have any drafts.

lol... Thats not saying much

Oops, missed this thread.

Yea, will be playing.

true but im giving u free bumps at least!

-_-

ok, i'll stop spamming ur thread then -_-

Artic!

Big names are overrated.  And main role ...ya ...but these can't do with just 1...gets a bit boring after a while.  Need healthy intrafam competition!

Give us an update then?

Or is your war over?

God...this thread upsets me :s ...I love pop banking...been following it for a while now, So I'll finally post my thoughts.  From someone who's pop banked a lot and sucessfully.

In a top fam, I'd want my pop bankers to go something like this + This is how I pop bank when I do:

-----

Population growth: 10%
Income: 50%
Research: 50%
Attack: -30%
Magic: -30%
   
Spells
Vision
Space Amazement

Operations

Specials
Tax Office

-----

I never go Revalons.  The Bonus I get to Research (and ops I want) far outweigh the extra 10% in +Income.  My research at end game will outweigh the benefit and I'll get more.  Plus the help I can do with ops in a Fam is crucial in a top fam.

Op wise,
- Space Amazement is imperative to get off to a great start to the round.  I'll always start CF/RC and research construction in the beginning.  Then later switch to LQ/TO eventually (How I do the switch isn't relevant to this thread - but there are plenty of strats around).
- Vision - This is an amazing op for recon in top fams, I always use it.
- Losing 10% research for 2 more ops, is also possible.  This is good in slightly less coordinated fams.  This way you can go for PI/Infil if needed.  Or if you are fine on agent ops, my preference would be to go for CPFF (this is insanely useful, as even with -30% magic, the sheer amount of wizzies the pop banker should have, means you get through a LOT) and Destroy Iron (can work out VERY handy), or can replace Destroy Iron with Kill Scientists.

The research helps me in this race because I go construction early.  Means I usually have enough in it, to give me cheaper buildings (very handy for pop), and cheaper Wizards, so that I can have more.  Keep in mind, when I say I have cons, this is only initially (and fund it heaps just before big pop jumps).  Otherwise, cons research is not my main focus.  What I do is 100% Eco, till about 50% and then once I have enough pop to make it worthwhile (where the food payback is good too) then switch to Welfare too.

The idea that Primo keeps hamering on about, about the -30% Magic is somewhat true.  It's definitely bad obviously.  However the idea is to just have more wizzies (Cons research aids this, plus the fact you'll have a higher income, so you can essentially build more).  It's not ideal - but it's my preference as a pop banker for the trade offs given.
The idea is, you should have a lot of wizzies, to stop the average Tom, Dick or Harry opping your pop.  Obviously though, (even if you had 50% magic) ...you're never going to stop someoen jumping more wizzies with you, with a +50% magic (or +70% even) and opp away your pop if you're at war or something.  You'll never really be able to stop that, unless your fam is a huge eco powerhouse.  But even taking that into consideration, a pop banker should already be giving more value to the fam than not being there at all.

I love this race, cos I really believe it maximises income by way of income AND research and has dedicated ops as needed.  Be sensible with your opp defense, and if in a relatively decent fam - you're bound to bring in the dough.

lol naci