Water = Resource?

[Chief of Staff]

I should point out that water has historically been important throughout the human history since before and after advent of civilization and still is today. There is certainly a such concept as water politics. Some of the wars throughout the history has certainly been fought as result of fresh water access disputes in the past. There were handful of diplomatic activities with regards to fresh water access throughout the history. So it might make some sense to consider water (specifically fresh water) as resource in water tiles in Civilization game.

The question is, though, how to integrate that into Civilization V, especially considering that now resource is finite in Civilization V according to some sources. I mean, wouldn't you like to play one turn with a prospering city only to find it abandoned in next few turns once water that sustains them along with food runs out in, say, desert region? Such sudden abandonment of a prospering city due to decline of water source near them isn't unusual in early human civilizations, especially in Mesopotamia.

So, the question is how to integrate fresh water as resource itself without impacting the balance between convenience (and hence playability without anything putting drag on it) and challenge. The addition of fresh water as extremely important resource in Civilization V should be interesting. But, again, I suppose they can always build a water well anywhere, right? Maybe, with right technology and technique...

Any thoughts on this?

[Auncien]

Neat idea, although I was under the impression that it is somewhat present on a sort of meta-level. After all, river tiles grant extra food and irrigation is present later in the game. Some of my 'global warming' games end up placing a premium on real estate that hasn't turned to desert.

[Ahriman]

Some of the wars throughout the history has certainly been fought as result of fresh water access disputes in the past

Go try the Dune Wars mod :-)

[MethanalCHO]

Originally Posted by Auncien

Neat idea, although I was under the impression that it is somewhat present on a sort of meta-level. After all, river tiles grant extra food and irrigation is present later in the game. Some of my 'global warming' games end up placing a premium on real estate that hasn't turned to desert.

Yes, water has been important throughout history. However, throughout the Civilization series, all rivers and all lakes, nothing else, are an "unofficial strategic resource", or USR, for freshwater.

In the case of Freshwater (in Civ3):

Location: All rivers and lakes
Bonus(es): +1 Commerce (rivers provide +1 commerce, and lakes are coast with 1 more commerce than normal coast)
Requires: None
Allows:
*Worker Action: Irrigation
*Replaces: Aqueduct (in case of river)

Freshwater is an important "resource" in the game, though you have to admit it does sound a little stupid, having over half the world provide free commerce and irrigation. That would make even Deity sound easy. Thus, an USR would be the best choice for Freshwater.