Re: (Olympia) Civilization, Taxation, Markets and Society

From: jrives@tridom.uucp (Joel Rives)

Date: Tue, 19 May 1992 22:20:43 +0000

In article <1992May19.172146.27195@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>, gl8f@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl) writes:
|> In article <1992May19.144642.8286@tridom.com> jrives@tridom.uucp (Joel Rives) writes:
|>
|> >It might be valuable to introduce food and other pershable goods into the
|> >game system.
|>
|> What would be gained? I scanned through your thoughts on the subject
|> and couldn't see any thing which is gained other than complexity.

What specifically is gained by the introduction of perishables (ie. food)
into the game,i suppose, depends a lot on what aspects of the game interest
you.

For instance, if you happen to be interested in the strategic/military
aspect, supplies and supply issues become very interesting. An army can't
eat gold. They may be carting around a mountain of gold but if there's no
food to be bought, they'll starve. The outcome of besieging a fortification
can depend greatly on the forethought of the respective leaders with respect
to food supplies. Several strategic options become available only if food
is introduced into the system. Warring campaigns become restricted to
seasonal differences (winter is usually not a very good time to strike
out to attack an enemy fortification). This restriction is a strategic
issue for those concerned.

Great opportunities for merchants will present themselves with the
introduction of food. In particular, supplying food to some region
which has just undergone a severe drought or pestilance (perhaps,
an invading army :-) could prove exceptionally profitable. The position
of Baron, Lord, Governor or whatever becomes richer by having more
variables to play with. If one gets into the economic aspect of the
game, the introduction of perishables can add much depth to what might
otherwise be boringly simplistic.

The introduction of food into the game would also help eleviate some
of the irrational dependancy on gold in the game. If i have a character
wandering about in a forest region with absolutely no gold, i would
expect the unit to be able to hunt or gather berries, etc.... In other
words, wherever feasible, the unit could live off the land. True, given
the current game mechanics, i could probably have the unit WORK, earn
some gold and have that gold removed as maintenance at the end of the
month. I call THAT needless complexity.

--
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Joel M. Rives                           INTERNET: jrives@eng.tridom.com
O-O Analysis, Design & Implementation   UUCP:     joel@ad.UUCP
Avalon Designs, Inc.                    VOICE:    (404) 514-3398
Consulting with  AT&T Tridom                      (404) 377-0764
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References

Re: What's wrong with Olympia today (long)
Bill.Viggers@comp.vuw.ac.nz (Bill Viggers)
Tue, 19 May 1992 04:57:58 +0000
Civilization, Taxation, Markets and Society
jrives@tridom.uucp (Joel Rives)
Tue, 19 May 1992 14:46:42 +0000
Re: (Olympia) Civilization, Taxation, Markets and Society
gl8f@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl)
Tue, 19 May 1992 17:21:46 +0000
Re: What's wrong with Olympia today (long)
srt@aero.org (Scott "TCB" Turner)
Tue, 19 May 1992 04:35:20 +0000

Referenced By

Re: What's wrong with Olympia today (long)
Bill.Viggers@comp.vuw.ac.nz (Bill Viggers)
Tue, 19 May 1992 04:57:58 +0000
Civilization, Taxation, Markets and Society
jrives@tridom.uucp (Joel Rives)
Tue, 19 May 1992 14:46:42 +0000
Re: (Olympia) Civilization, Taxation, Markets and Society
gl8f@fermi.clas.Virginia.EDU (Greg Lindahl)
Tue, 19 May 1992 17:21:46 +0000
Re: What's wrong with Olympia today (long)
srt@aero.org (Scott "TCB" Turner)
Tue, 19 May 1992 04:35:20 +0000