Comments on: Designing an Economy

By: Troy

Troy — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:15:50 +0000

That was on my short list of topics, actually, and I may go back to it.

By: Michael A.

Michael A. — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:14:01 +0000

There’s an idea for a future feature series. The diversity in how these are implemented in grand strategy games is – I think – quite interesting (as opposed to Sørens more general discussion). Just looking at Paradox’s games on the EU engine for instance, you find a handful of different models for an in-game economy.

One ever-present problem, of course, is how to avoid players building up enormeous (and unrealistic – except for Norway) money reserves. I thought the inflation system introduced in EU (first time I saw that used, I think) was quite ingenious, even if it didn’t work properly. Reasonable trade systems are another big issue, IMO; I rarely feel they work well in the “closed” game worlds of strategy games.

You know you want to write about this… ;-)

By: Troy

Troy — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:20:44 +0000

That was a bigger problem in Civ 3 than 4, Alan, too. There were many times where I would start a Civ 3 game having to rely on a warrior/archer rush because the nearest iron or bronze was too far away. Civ 4 made these resources more common – I don’t think you can have a continent with neither.

By: Alan Au

Alan Au — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 17:42:14 +0000

Civ 3 and Civ 4 are funny about that, where it’s completely possible to start without the resources to counter your opponents. Late-game resources can also be rare, giving you casus belli against your blustering rival sitting on the local oil deposit.

By: JonathanStrange

JonathanStrange — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:49:10 +0000

Can’t even afford pointy sticks for spearmen? You have bigger problems than enemy horsemen. I suggest hitting “Restart”.