Yea that's because it was about the only thing "complicated" and thus interesting about it. Spore had cool tools for making 3D models but that was about it. I wish they had released the game they original advertised in early development where placement of parts mattered.

I like the idea though it could be really hard to implement effectively as well as raise issues with all the resources in game. In sport it was easy with only 3 building types. Currently we have Prestige, Food, Materials, Iron, Gold, Housing, Crystal, Research, and Spellpoint buildings. That is only the buildings I recall and still leaves out % increase buildings and ones that give access to other units, such as stables or harbor. Having a bunch of those buildings interact differently could become a real nightmare.

And just like in Sim City different residents could demand different things. For example Estates and Mansions might not like being next to commotion of the market. And odds are they really wouldn't like being next to slums. There is a whole world of possiblities but it's really just openning up a giant can of worms.

Exactly, what I more or less meant was that even in a complicated system like this, I think a 3 color system is simple enough to be used successfully.

Well, see if you can make such a highway ... but honestly, if its your land, you can do what you want. A greater degree of infrastructure, ect ... and Troy might be considered an example of this. If you want to wall of an area of land, then build yourself a wall ... and have "citizen scouts" to notify the Militia/Military Garrison where the enemy is approaching, so they can sally forth to meet them there. Alternatively, on the tactical map, the larger your city is, the easier it will be for the enemy to take it unless you have a strong enough military defense. Already 4 city tiles = 1 movement tile on the game map, so the effectiveness of "City Highways" is already halved.

While having 1 game tile = 9 building tiles would be cool, as Boogie said it would place too much strain on the engine (Even having only 1x1, 2x2, and 3x3?). When it comes down to it, having a larger city also means it is harder to defend. I like the idea of big cities, personally.

Or you could allow each building, after placed, to be assigned a color from an 8-bit pallete.

Bit   07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00
Data   R  R  R  G  G  G  B  B

You offered a 3 color idea. I offered an 8-bit pallete offer. Mockery? Did you even follow the Link?

Actually this idea would do a lot to discourage players from using their cities as walls or highways. To make the city a wall or highway, a player has to snake it into a long line. However doing so increases the "surface area" of the city, or in other words there are more tiles that border the outside. More building touching the outside means more building not receiving bonuses from neighboring buildings (with a few exceptions).

This idea encourages players to pack in building together radially from the town center, in order to decrease 'surface area' and get as many bonuses as possible.

waaay too complicated. This would force you to focus on building placement to a level that would be too much. The game should be focused on getting you out exploring.

I hereby request this to be modded in if it won't get official approval.

Well ... technically its *possible* that it could still be added into the core game, but unlikely.

I would like to see this modified into Elemental:Expanded Edition

I would like to see the actualy placement have consequences, obviously for defensive purposes but perhaps also synergies, housing next to a farm increases output but only huts for instance. So I do like this idea!