EarlPembroke -> RE: Any way to combat Waste ? (7/14/2005 5:20:21 AM)
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: ericbabe In my way of thinking about the economy, waste represents "diseconomy of scale" in addition to difficulties in transportation and the other more physical explanations that were mentioned. The equations for diseconomy of scale that I've seen suggest that it dominates economic systems that become sufficiently large... and that in addition to the other (more directly physical) sorts of waste that waste in COG is meant to represent. I'm strongly considering three tweaks regarding waste: (1) Courts lower waste overall. (2) Developments lower waste in their area of expertise: factories lower labor waste, farms lower horse waste, etc. (3) Trade income is subject to only 50% the normal maximum waste (which can get as high as 90%). I like Uncle Joe's ideas on limiting labor from conquered provinces also. Opinions? Eric I think those are good ideas and would be quite helpful. Gives more reason to build courts, helps give more purpose to higher level improvements, and goes along with the fact that trade, if there are markets, would seemingly not run into the same diseconomies of scale. Tying efficiency to specific developments is good in that it encourages higher levels of the developments. To some degree we may want "the more factories I build the more I can build," but don't want to make it an extreme. I would not only reduce the labor of conquered provinces, but to some degree the resources. If an occupying power is taking all production, the people are less incented to produce. Helps to slow steamroller effect. Other things I'd like, though maybe in a future release [;)] are: A) Tweak lower the development costs in some areas (roads at higher levels seem impossible to build because of waste on labor, but it could just be the way I play). Makes them more attractive options vs. current option of just building armies which are noticeably cheaper. It may make sense to increase the costs of some other things (factories perhaps?). The costs for some items isn't in line with their benefits, as it seems most players note they are building factories, farms, and barracks. B) Could extend the base development time if you want to slow down economic development / make it more difficult to reach higher levels of development. C) Make it more that average barracks level impacts how many upgrades you get - or something other than total # of barracks (this is what it seems to be?). Small nations could be advanced in military development, but it just couldn't have as much impact if they didn't have the resources (e.g. Hanoverian infantry was quite good). Now the more lands and barracks you take, the better your army becomes, so the more you can take. Would help reduce steamrolling. D) In production screen, please show me what I'm going to actually be able to produce. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I don't get exactly what I planned! But to be off by a factor of 60% every single time because of waste ... Can we build the waste amount into what is displayed? So that if I increase my labor assigned to something by a factor of 2x, it doesn't show that I will product 2x - it shows a mean of what I will produce, then that is affected by weather, etc. Makes it much easier without trying to do math in my head. As the ruler of a nation, I'd have paid someone to calculate it for me. [:D] E) Finally, something of an aside, but while we're discussing waste. [:'(] I'd make militia not take as much labor as infantry, etc. - we're simulating well the removal of population, and I don't believe as much labor goes into getting a militia unit ready as does an infantry unit. But as it is, if I've got 50 gold, there is no reason to build militia, even for garrison duty. Maybe this is how we want it ... ? Uncle Joe - I agree with you, and I think you phrase very well the real issue we're discussing: we want to make the economic model a more viable portion of the game. As an example, Napoleon made great strides in developing France's infrastructure (not talking bridges, per se, but laws - Napoleonic Code, etc.). His accomplishments in reform & development were contributing factors to France's ability to function so well in a prolonged period of war, and at a higher level than other nations. And last, thanks for listening and being open to tweaks, Eric! Great game!!! (Otherwise I wouldn't bother with being on the forum. I'd just pack it up and move on to something else.)
|
|
|
|