Citizen input needed: budget for May 26 turn chat

[donsig]

Our treasury is currently at 866 gold. The NSD has 100 gold in its account leaving 766 to allocate for the next turn chat.

Programs competing for funds (in no particular order):

PUFD (Pikemen Upgrade for Defence): We currently have 40 pikemen that need muskets. Cost 60 gold each. We also have 2 spearmen, 11 musktetmen and 9 knights. We are at war with the Aztecs.

FPC (Forbidden Palace Construction): Rushing a market would cost 256 gold now. Cost declines at the rate of 20 gold/turn for waiting to rush. Note that rushing JS Bach's Cathedral reduces the need for a market and that a market may require the lux rate to be increased to be effective.

CAP (Cultural Assault Program): We still must build our new province 5 city and it will need improvements rushed in order to further CAP.

Other military: Rushing a barracks in Justinian wold cost 152 gold with the cost declining by 4 gold/turn for waiting. Rushing a barracs in Macao would cost 80 gold and the cost declines by 12 gold/turn if we wait. These two cities are closest to the Aztec lands.

Other CAP: We have taken Tlaxcala from the Aztecs. It is not near Aztec proper so should be safe from the Aztecs. It is in resistance now but it may be worth expanding Tlaxcala's borders since there are gems nearby. Funds would be needed to rush a library and possibly a temple.

We must also consider our tax/sci/lux rate. It is currently set at 5.3.0 to give us a surplus of about 100 gold/turn. We are currently one turn away from economics and can lower the sci rate for a turn without jeopardizing this. We could also set sci down to 10% and get economics in two turns. I suggest doing so since getting economics next turn is not critical. After that we can go back to 30% sci or higher if need be. We must also reconsider the lux rate at 0%. Whether we rush Bach's cathedral or not impacts this choice.

Citizens, please offer some direction on these matters!

 

[Lecky]

Here's a few thoughts on donsig's suggestions - as yet pretty sketchy:

1. Get a quick peace with Aztecs - and use Leader to rush JSB Cath. (the following depends on these prerequisites):
2. forget rushing the market re FPC
3. barracks in Justinian & Macao dont need rushing
4. give strong consideration to rushing a Lib. and/or Temp. in Tlaxcala (altho. not necessarily in the early few turns of next session - ie. could perhaps wait until turns 7/8/9
5. Economics in 2 turns (not 1) is fine

JSB Cath will help keep Lux low, hopefully the 'savings' or delays outlined above will permit continued spending on military upgrades which themselves can be staggered if we get peace with Aztecs. I guess what I am suggesting is that we keep pretty flexible at the moment - if we get lucky with Peace, then there should be plenty of funds for CAP2.

 

[Shaitan]

What he said!

I agree with Lecky's analysis, with one exception. I'd like to see the market rushed in Thebes. After that, spend spend spend for CAP I & II, with the emphasis on CAP I.

 

[Cyc]

I too believe Lecky called it right. I would like to see some figures on the efficiency of the marketplace in Thebes. Some say it's not needed.

 

[donsig]

Originally posted by Cyc
I too believe Lecky called it right. I would like to see some figures on the efficiency of the marketplace in Thebes. Some say it's not needed.

I'm not sure but I think the efficiency of the market depends on what we set the lux rate at. Governor Eklektikos suggested that markets will not make unhappy people happy but will only make content citizens happy. Raising the lux rate does both.

In any event, we should look at the efficiency of the market after we build Bach's cathedral - if that is what we decide to do!

 

[eyrei]

I suggest that a large amount of the treasury be allocated for military upgrades, as these will have to be done eventually anyway.

 

[Daaraa]

I would agee with most of the posts here. We need to upgrade. We have 42 upgradeable defense units. That will take a lot of money.

 

[Justus II]

First, I vote to rush the market in Thebes. I am not sure about the discussion of Markets not affecting unhappy people. I believe (it has been a while since I tested this) that the happiness generated will make one content happy, or one unhappy content. The problem is that a second happy face will then make that new content happy, rather than another unhappy content. Let me try to use an example:

Standard city: (One content, plus temple (1), 5 luxuries)
Population 7

Normal: C U U U U U U
Temple: C C U U U U U
Luxuries: H H H C U U U
(First two make the content happy, third makes unhappy content, fourth makes #3 happy, fifth makes #4 content).
Luxuries move enough people into happy to avoid disorder.

Add Marketplace (5 Lux turns into 9 happy faces)

Normal: C U U U U U U
Temple: C C U U U U U
Luxuries: H H H C U U U
(First two make the content happy, third makes unhappy content, fourth makes #3 happy, fifth makes #4 content).
Market: H H H H H C U
(4 bonus, first makes #4 happy, second and third make #5 happy, fourth makes #6 content).
Still not WLTKD because of last unhappy, but could now grow to population of 11 without disorder.

I hope that made sense, so a market can still be useful in reducing unhappiness, but without other content-producing improvements, it is hard to eliminate all the unhappys and get to WLTKD.

 

[Justus II]

Almost forgot, the real reason I posted was as Culture Minister I would want funds budgeted for a library in Tlaxcala (priority), and then for the new city (secondary). Normally would cost 156 after the city puts one shield on it, slightly less if we wait.

 

[donsig]

Thanks for the input on markets Justus II! What you say makes sense and does not really conflict with what Governor Eklektikos said. Your explanation does cover more ground. I think what I said about the lux rate affecting the efficiency of the market is also consistent with your explanation. (Higher lux rate gives less unhappy/content faces for the luxuries to make happy.)

Your request for about 300 gold for two libraries is noted. There is demand for an increased military budget as well. I'll try to have a budget proposal up tomorrow for discussion before Sunday night.

 

[donsig]

The domestic department is hosting a poll to accept or reject the proposed 5/26 budget.

Please vote!