I think the RPG economy should be based on the Demogame economy. I know I've said this before.
(same holds true for techs and resources.) Don't let a bad economy/no resources/techs spoil your fun, be creative!
Ok, the economy.
Before hand, we need a set value on resources. These forums allow for PHP to be included in the messages (I think), so that's a way to adjust prices. What we need is a resource file. The Demogame Webpage is still up and running, and has an RPG section. The resource file can be located there.
Ok, to get out of the technical details, each resource will have a set value. For example:
Iron = 500g per pound
Horses = 50g per horse
Saltpeter = 1000g per pound
Coal = 250g per pound
rubber = 100g per pound
Aluminum = 100g per pound
Oil = 20g per 1 gallon
Uranium = 5000g per pound
Gold = 2500g per pound
Spice = 75g per pound
dyes = 100g per pound
furs = 25g per pound
incense = 100g per pound
silks = 125g per pound
gems = 125g per pound
wines = 25g per pound
ivory = 100g per pound
(game, cattle, fish and whales might be handled differently)...
Now, the base value can change depending on where the resource is.
If the resource is in...
our territory and connected = base value
our territory and not connected = base value + 25%
in neutral territory = 50%
we must trade for it = 75%
in another civ's territory (not connected) 100%
in another civ's territory and connected 200% (you gotta steal it from them.
)
Now, this is how the varibles will work. To keep it simple, we'll do this:
0gpt (ingame) = base value
1 - 10gpt (ingame) = base value * 10%
11 - 100gpt (ingame) = base value * 100%
101 - 1000gpt = base value * 1000%
and so on. negative gpt would have the opposite effect.
Example:
Say it's the modern era, and we're making 1500gpt. Now, we want oil, which is 20g per gallon. The resource is now worth 220g per gallon. But, It's also in the Iroquois' territory and connected let's say.. That doubles the price to 440g per gallon.
It might sound confusing and complex (hey, the CURRENT RPG is confusing and complex!
), but with the game economy tied it, it might spur discussion like "Hey, we REALLY need to get that oil! It's so expensive!". I'm hoping this spurs on more citizen's groups in the citizen forum. While the RPG should be seperate, it should act more like the "community", where outside events affect the RPG.
How will this affect things? Well, for one, you wouldn't be able to have knights until we get the tech for it. If we don't have horses, then no horseracing. BUT... You might find other creative contests. How do you think real life civilizations coped? "Oh, there's no horses, this isn't fun!"
Bartering/Currency/Banking
There should be 3 stages, just like real life. Before currency, people bartered for goods. There was no standard. Dare I say it, even Apolyton :gasp!: was creative in having Banana leaves.
We could pick an item near our surronds as a psuedo "currency" (true currency is metalic or stone coins). Maybe, trading sea shells for goods. (i.e., one might pay 500 shells for 15 cattle. Another might take 20 cattle for 1 hut, but another might pay 2000 shells for that same hut.) It doesn't have to be standard at this level. With currency, the above (way above) mentioned economy becomes more prevaliant.
Banking and Stock Exchanges. This is something we seem to be doing very well with now.
Technology
It's ABSURD to have future buildings/ideas when you don't have the techs for it. It kind of defeats the purpose of a RPG. We have stock exchanges, corporations, and now knights, and castles! We should be able to find a way to create events within the techs that we have. I propose that we stick with the techs we have, and use those to determine RPG events.
Cities and Improvements
This is something I sort of see lacking (something I hoped would be in the RPG). Any improvement built, or being built would affect the RPG. For example, if we're building a Wall in Valhalla (for whatever reason), one of the government officials might come in and post a "Valhalla Wall Project" where you sign up to help build the wall. A more interesting example would be barracks. The barracks in Morgana might be hiring new recruits. Those in there can write "War Stories", such as when they were fighting the Aztecs, or if they're "stationed" in another city (say, Tlaxcala).
Again, this sort of thing can bring up discussions in the citizen forum. Say everyone in the RPG wanted a harbor in Morgana because they wanted fishing contests. They could come to the citizen forum and 'petition' for a harbor - i.e., bring up the discussion.
(I hope everyone sees my points.. And don't say no.
)
