Basically, the Koreans are the only civ besides the Saracens who can dump their stone without taking a bath. However, the Koreans cannot cost-effectively sell stone and buy food like the Saracens can. The market rates are just too exhorbitant for that.

Bottom line: A Korean gold miner can dig up about $91.64 in gold in the time it takes a Korean stone miner to dig up 100 stone. So, the stone is “worth” $91.64, or thereabouts, if you don’t worry about the limits on the supply of stone and attempt to account for those limits.

So, the Koreans can dump their 200 starting stone, pay the market fee and still get just about exactly what the stone is worth: $91 for the first 100 stone, $90 for the second.

Even civs that take a loss on dumping stone can do it to attain a fast Castle Age. The KLEW is a famous example. Many pre-flush fast Castle strategies relied on it. Stone dumping fell far out of favor with Feudal warfare and its towers, and with the expansion pack's requirement of stone for town centers.

Buyer beware: Yes, you can dump your stone and fast castle, but that has been tried before. It contains many grave risks. Not the least of those risks is that Koreans are, in my opinion, one of the most Unique Unit-dependent civs. War wagons come from castles. Castles require stone.

If a Korean builds a market for a “stone dump,” he might as well use the market to get some food. Farm food “costs” $151.94 per 100 by the time you account for the wood and labor costs. Food at the market starts out at $130. Koreans can buy 900 food before driving the price up past $152.

[This message has been edited by Doug Thompson (edited 01-22-2002 @ 03:30 PM).]