"Depletion" of resources??

[john heidle]

I would like to see a modifier for mining strategic resources.

If you mine it, you could get 2 quantities with an increased chance of it running out (exploitation).
If you don't mine it, it should never run out.

Given that the distribution of strategic resources is often very bizarre (I had a game with just 2 coal only seven hexes apart, meaning that one civ controlled the industrial age), there should be some way to conserve scarce resources besides not building a road or cutting a road to them when they pop up.

 

[Heffalump]

I like the idea of depletion dependent on use. When we discover a resource we should be able to see that this resource represents "x tons of iron ore", or more simply in game terms "x units of iron".

We can then do anything with those "x resource units" we want. We can use them to build units, or trade them. They might even be useful to spice up deals, e.g. "Here's x amount of gold and 8 units of iron ....... how about giving me x technology?"

As resources are used up and depleted there would still be new ones that appear somewhat randomly across the map. (I still like the idea of clustering them to an extent.)

I think this approach is far less frustrating than the sudden random extinction method currently in place.

The strategic benefits of resources are maintained in the game, and also made a little more realistic. (Who would go to war over an almost depleted oil field?). Also an alternative approach to conquest for more resources is added to the game: resource conservation.

 

[Benjamin Miller]

I don't mind resource depletion, as the resource often reappears in my terrirory. Once, as Germany, one of two sources of iron (that I had just secured) was depleted, only to reappear just next to itself.

 

[romelus]

i took the easy way out, i just set the disapperance ratio to 0. i'll keep it that way until resource depletion is based on actual usage and not some random number. usage would add a strategic dimension to the game too - you know you have to start a war once your reserve of oil runs out, just like japan and ww2.

 

[escl]

A question- When a resource depletes does it just reappears anywhere on the map? or does it have to be terrain controlled by another civ? Can you have one of your resources deplete only to have it reappear elsewhere in your own territory?

 

[etj4Eagle]

Originally posted by escl
A question- When a resource depletes does it just reappears anywhere on the map? or does it have to be terrain controlled by another civ? Can you have one of your resources deplete only to have it reappear elsewhere in your own territory?

The resource will appear in any terrain that can have that resource, without respect to which civ controls that terrain. And yes, you can get the resource back the turn that you lose it

 

[Alc0p0pz]

Heffalump, I like your thinking ...

But instead of arbitrary new 'units' of a certain resource, though, I would go for each resource spot having a finite (and random) N shields worth, which, when exhausted, did not reappear elsewhere.

Also, when a resource spot having a terrain bonus of one or more shields is worked by a citizen, I would subtract the number of bonus shields from that of the resource spot's available N shield total.

Realistic, simple, not nearly as frustrating as the current system ...



Edit to add - having said it would be simple, I've just thought of a few complications already. Doh.
If I had two hooked up sources of Iron, how would the game decide which source was being drawn on when building a Pikeman?
If I'm building a Knight worth N shields, how many of those need to be 'Horse' shields and how many need to be 'Iron' shields?
Perhaps it wouldn't be so simple.