I wrote the Tapestry board game simulator and added code to handle the first 4 spaces on each track. Since I was focused on resource gathering and not points, cards, etc, I opted to only write the code to handle choices relevant to that goal; I treated spaces and options to get cards, score points, etc, as not having those options. I also did not implement an A.I. and just had the code try every possible combination of moves. Here are some simulation results:
Took income
Track Locations: 0, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 1, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 0, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science
Track Locations: 1, 1, 1, 0
Resources: 1, 0, 1, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 2, 1, 1, 0
Resources: 1, 0, 1, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 1, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 1, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 0, 0
Advanced on track 2: Technology, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 2, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 1, 0
Took income
Track Locations: 2, 2, 2, 0
Resources: 1, 2, 2, 1
Income Levels: 0, 1, 1, 0
Total Distance: 6
Total Income Level: 2
Game ended after 5 turns
Took income
Track Locations: 0, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 1, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science
Track Locations: 1, 1, 0, 1
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 2, 1, 0, 1
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 0, 1
Resources: 1, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 0, 0
Advanced on track 3: Military, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 0, 2
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 0, 1
Took income
Track Locations: 2, 2, 0, 2
Resources: 1, 2, 1, 2
Income Levels: 0, 1, 0, 1
Total Distance: 6
Total Income Level: 2
Game ended after 5 turns
Took income
Track Locations: 0, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science
Track Locations: 0, 1, 1, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 1, 1, 1, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 2, 1, 1, 0
Resources: 0, 2, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 1, 0
Resources: 0, 1, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 0, 0
Advanced on track 2: Technology, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 2, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 1, 0
Took income
Track Locations: 2, 2, 2, 0
Resources: 1, 2, 2, 1
Income Levels: 0, 1, 1, 0
Total Distance: 6
Total Income Level: 2
Game ended after 5 turns
Took income
Track Locations: 0, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 1, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 2, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 0, 0, 2
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science
Track Locations: 2, 1, 1, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 2
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 1, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 1
Income Levels: 0, 1, 0, 0
Advanced on track 2: Technology, took bonus
Track Locations: 2, 2, 2, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 0, 1, 1, 0
Took income
Track Locations: 2, 2, 2, 0
Resources: 1, 2, 2, 1
Income Levels: 0, 1, 1, 0
Total Distance: 6
Total Income Level: 2
Game ended after 5 turns
Took income
Track Locations: 0, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science
Track Locations: 1, 1, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 2, 1, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 0, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration, took benefit 1
Track Locations: 3, 1, 0, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 1, 0
Income Levels: 1, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science, took bonus
Track Locations: 3, 2, 0, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 1, 1, 0, 0
Took income
Track Locations: 3, 2, 0, 0
Resources: 2, 2, 1, 1
Income Levels: 1, 1, 0, 0
Total Distance: 5
Total Income Level: 2
Game ended after 4 turns
Took income
Track Locations: 0, 0, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 1, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science
Track Locations: 1, 1, 0, 0
Resources: 1, 1, 0, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration
Track Locations: 2, 1, 0, 0
Resources: 2, 0, 0, 1
Income Levels: 0, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 0: Exploration, took benefit 1
Track Locations: 3, 1, 0, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 1
Income Levels: 1, 0, 0, 0
Advanced on track 1: Science, took bonus
Track Locations: 3, 2, 0, 0
Resources: 0, 0, 0, 0
Income Levels: 1, 1, 0, 0
Took income
Track Locations: 3, 2, 0, 0
Resources: 2, 2, 1, 1
Income Levels: 1, 1, 0, 0
Total Distance: 5
Total Income Level: 2
Game ended after 4 turns
The reason that every run of the game is not identical is that the science die rolls are random. I was going to add a loop to test all possible science die roll values but in the case of random rolls, the gameplay is not repeatable, and in the case of testing all possible rolls, the gameplay is again not repeatable since rolls are not predetermined. At least by using rando rolls, I can see what changes in the output between runs. For the last few times I ran the simulator, I skipped any advancement on the science track to see if there is any situation where I can get two income houses off the player mat; It never happened.
Something else is noticeable in the results: There is not one sequence of actions that results in the best result. The Science track advancement seems to work well 50% of the time (judging by a quick look at a few results, not a complete study and statistical analysis). If I had nothing else pushing me to make certain moves, I would probably roll the science die and half of the time get a result that will give me two more resources of income at the end of the era.
If you read my previous post on this subject, you will see that there are other factors involved besides the benefits, bonuses, and income buildings; The landmarks, especially the first on the Exploration track, can be a big benefit. The player civilization is also of enormous importance.
I will work more on this and see if I can simulate all possible moves to the end of one more era. That will require programming for another three to five spaces (more resource means more moves before taking income) and also more time to run the simulator. I suspect that what takes 15 seconds to run will turn into a few minutes given the exponential increase in the possible moves.