I've read where people won't tip a goody until they are at least researching Monarchy, as a non-critical advance will delay getting there. (Except if you already have 2 of alphabet, code of laws and poly(?) and are researching the third, as you must get one-non critical advance before Monarchy becomes available.

I've also read where people (Ming) are reluctant to even found a city until they have tipped a hut and gotten a non-unit.

I prefer having the unit alive and out there exploring, tipping huts.

In MP, I'll tip any hut I find early... Even If I have placed a city down. An early non unit (or even an attached one) can make all the difference in exploring quickly and finding more huts or city locations, or if it is money, you can buy up the first rack on your first settlers.
Even if you get a science, it could be one on the path to Monarchy, or that "one" science you need off the path so that you can go straight to monarchy.

However, once I'm past that "non path" science (via research or one from a hut already) I may not open a hut until I'm working on Monarchy. There are some situations where I will, but I will usually hold off if I know I can cash it later.

quote: Originally posted by The Mad Viking on 09-27-2000 07:30 AM (Deity Question) (Except if you already have 2 of alphabet, code of laws and poly(?)

I think the one to which you're referring (instead of Poly) is Ceremonial Burial.

As to the question at hand, I tip over everything in sight. There've been a couple of times when the AI beat me to a hut and it drives me crazy. Although I should be smarter about the two move terrain aspect mentioned by Carolus. That drives me crazy, too.

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Frodo lives!

I think you get the idea. At most I will delay tipping a hut for a turn or two, but I will tip it quickly. The rewards far outstrip the negatives.
Tip hut Tip hut Tip Hut

ANALYSIS
Good

Money to help speed up round of settlers.
Free city to expand faster.
Non-settler to expand faster and smarter
Military unit, Non unit/two movement. to go out an explore future city sites and tip more huts. If you get an attached archer you can send it back to your capital and put the extra row of shields that you would have used to build a warrior towards a settler to help you expand a little quicker.

sometimes good/sometimes not so good.

Tech, may slow you down, but may speed you up. And even if it's the dreaded warrior code, you can still go for feudalism and the war academy. There are worse things.
And I can think of many times that I've gotten the science that I was researching and helped me get to monarchy by 3250.

BAD
Barbs. Ok, early in an MP game when you are resetting if the host gets techs, it usually takes awhile before you see legions from huts. Sometimes you survive the barb attack (if on good terrain which is likely if you're playing a small map and sometimes vet status) and if not, oh well, Sh*t happens.

In MP the best players expand expand expand. Huts can jump start that faster than anything else. My question is why wouldn't you tip a hut?

In SP, it doesn't matter what you do, the AI will lose anyway.

I agree with most everyone here, tipping far outweighs the risks, and i have yet to experience with my limited playing, the barb killing my second settler thingy i guess its only a matter of time

But MP? For all the extremely eloquent and perfectly logical theories posited above, the memories of tipping Warrior Code, followed by Iron Working, followed by The Wheel - prior to Monarchy - are burned into my psyche. I make pacts with myself not to tip a hut before I'm at least researching Monarchy. I threaten to fine myself exorbitant amounts - or punch myself in the nose at the very least - if I tip before Monarchy.

Like the kid in the proverbial chocolate shop, sometimes I can resist the urge. Until, one day, my inherent, ingrained lack of willpower - that which has me playing Civ when I swore I wouldn't because I had a pressing work deadline - takes over. The internal conversation is the same every time:

+ "Gawn! Tip the hut. Just that one. It'll be a freebie Horseman. Imagine the exploration, the defence against barbs, the 150 gold. Just this one hut. Just this one ... "

+ "Bugger off! I've been burned before!"

And so on, back and forth. Of course, good old curiosity wins out. The hut is tipped. And it's a freebie Horseman. And he cleans up a barb leader.

+ "Told you so! Coward!"

+ "Bugger off! Smartarse!"

Next time around, the internal conversation is shorter.

+ "Well? Coward?"

+ "Okay then ..."

It's Iron Working.

+ "Win some, lose some"

+ "Go to hell! I'm never listening to you again!"

And I don't. For a while. Until next time.

To tip or not to tip, that is the question. Actually, that's what Shakespeare originally wrote. It's a little known fact that he was a Civ player ahead of his time.