[1.09n] Populaation as a resource & build times

from Elemental Forums

So under 1.09n beta, population is a resource.

 

I get the idea conceptually, I fail to see the point as executed.

 

Presumably, I have X citizens available, able to work on building stuff.  If they are building, they can't be drafted.  Gotcha.

 

Every building takes a certain number of citizens to create.  Gotcha.

 

Why is it that buildings queued up, which aren't being built, tie up citizens?  That's nonsense.  Citizens are standing around looking at a vacant lot thinking "Hut goes here" but claiming "I can't build yet until those guys over there finish building theirs.  It's just not our turn yet."

 

Think about it.  Wherever you live, wherever you are, are buildings built one at a time, sequentially, when you have multiple work crews available?  I'd agree if there were only ONE construction company and ONE set of construction equipment.  But in that case, you wouldn't be tying up more people.  If people are tied up to the construction of a structure, it should be progressing - it's a separate structure whose construction in no way depends upon any other. That is what makes sense.  Buildings should be constructed simultaneously under this system, rather than in a queue.

 

If you are diehard about queues (which don't make sense in a real world fashion, but that's ok) and population as a resource, then a better implementation would be for a player to designate citizenry to construction - the more he designate, the faster a building gets built.  More complex buildings will have longer build times naturally, and so the player must choose between soldiers or carpenters.

 

there are multiple ways to implement this design:

 

1) basic work crew is 5/10 citizens.  each additional 1/2/5/10 citizens assigned to construction decreases build time by X%

2) Buildings have a Build point cost (25/50/150 etc).  Each citizen working on that building reduces the point cost by one per turn.  Building completes when cost is paid.

 

and so forth.  But, like my other recommendations and ideas, probably wont be given the time of day by frog & crew.  It's why i stopped posting (and caring/playing) for the past few months.  But something for the rest of you to think about.

elemental
8,621 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top


So under 1.09n beta, population is a resource.

 

I get the idea conceptually, I fail to see the point as executed.

 

Presumably, I have X citizens available, able to work on building stuff.  If they are building, they can't be drafted.  Gotcha.

 

Every building takes a certain number of citizens to create.  Gotcha.

 

Why is it that buildings queued up, which aren't being built, tie up citizens?  That's nonsense.  Citizens are standing around looking at a vacant lot thinking "Hut goes here" but claiming "I can't build yet until those guys over there finish building theirs.  It's just not our turn yet."
End of quote

Wasn't it like...?

Build city.

Population increases due to Prestige.

Buildings have a Specialist requirement, which is the number of citizens that are bound to work there (where Work <> Build), in addition to any materials it may need. Works like recruiting militar units, where you pay upfront whatever you need for your recruit (in case of buildings, the materials and the specialists to make it work once built).

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

You're misunderstanding the issue. There is in fact only one construction crew, and they work as fast as they can. Those people who are queued up are not the builders, they are the people who will work at the building after it's complete, and they're just waiting for the construction crew to finish. The reason they are removed from your resource pool immediately is so that you don't accidentally assign more people than you actually have to future tasks.

 

A store doesn't get built any faster just because there are 30 clerks standing around waiting for it to be finished. You can improve build speed by placing the Construction Yard improvement, which better organizes and expands your construction crew.

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

Why is it that buildings queued up, which aren't being built, tie up citizens? That's nonsense. Citizens are standing around looking at a vacant lot thinking "Hut goes here" but claiming "I can't build yet until those guys over there finish building theirs. It's just not our turn yet."
End of quote

The reason for this is rather obvious, it means they don't have to add in a new category for built but in active building and a more comnplex method of allowing you to allocate people later.....also who do you think is building it from an ingame point of view, zoom in you see those little people with the hammers aren't they members of your population?

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

There is in fact only one construction crew, and they work as fast as they can. Those people who are queued up are not the builders, they are the people who will work at the building after it's complete, and they're just waiting for the construction crew to finish
End of quote

I think your splitting hairs the fact is the mechanic works fine makes reasonable sense without over complicating things you seem to be almost alone in your thinking for a reason.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

I think it is a bit silly that you have all that population and they stand there looking at vast areas of empty land going "Damn, out of space.  Guess we can't build anymore.  Unemployment skyrockets and the people rebel.  Tile limits are silly when you can't use a tenth of your population without hitting them.

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top

I don't think any of this matters.

What does matter: The population cap is completely ineffective as implemented. Buildings need to require way more people. People as a local resource should be added too.

Reply #7 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting Sythion, reply 6
I don't think any of this matters.

What does matter: The population cap is completely ineffective as implemented. Buildings need to require way more people. People as a local resource should be added too.
End of Sythion's quote

There I tend to agree, however it a difficult balancing act because requiring too many people will slow the early game too much.

 

 

Reply #8 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting econundrum1, reply 4

There is in fact only one construction crew, and they work as fast as they can. Those people who are queued up are not the builders, they are the people who will work at the building after it's complete, and they're just waiting for the construction crew to finish
I think your splitting hairs the fact is the mechanic works fine makes reasonable sense without over complicating things you seem to be almost alone in your thinking for a reason.
End of econundrum1's quote

I was agreeing that it works. It was the OP who questioned it.