gold output

[Jasper]

I've never found being next to Ermor to be a disadvantage, and several times have found it to be a boon. You should defend yourself against hostile dominion pushes -- they're very common. IMHO it's unusual to have Ermorian dominion hold sway over your lands.

Also, Ermor doesn't really want to push his dominion into your lands, as that's simply diplomatic suicide. Making his lands worthless to you and going no further is much more attractive -- and I don't see how this is significantly different than Dom 1.

[Keir Maxwell]

Previously the complaint I read about castles was that Admin was overpowered and that would decide your choice. Now I read that admin is underpowered and castles are not an effective economic investment.

Er, um, are we playing monopoly? I thought you built castles for defence, a base for offence, and control? I'm not sure that the economics being desired makes much sense in the environment we are playing. The castle allows you to hold the lands and gather taxes effciently - its not a factory designed to produce more factories.

I quite like the idea that the defense strength might affect the choice of stonghold. Remember what you wrote on this subject re Dom I race design Alex?

The impact of gold shortages is something we should be cautious about. Magic is weaker so golds stronger, golds less available so in built magic is stronger, air is weaker so blood is stronger but blood is weaker unless you are . . . in which case . . . blah, blah, blah . . . on no my brains turned to mush.

So, so, much has changed. Alex don't react to every change based upon the impact it has upon the Dom I play balence because its not that relevant. The old world is gone and the new one is only just unfolding. I don't know how it will be but I can see glimpses and they contain many rich hues and deep, deep, shadows. Fear the Dark, oh yes, fear the Dark for its is rising!

Don't worry, be happy . . .

Keir

[Pocus]

I run some testbeds on castles storming. Nobody play with the intent of loosing, but still I think taking into consideration how your castle handle an assault can be a factor to be considered.

Just try the hill fortress : You will get 32 arrows fired each round into the inner yard, a yard so small that enemies will stay here a long time before being able to break into the inner area.
We need to test this with additional effects like staff of storms or arrow fend, but I dont think castle arrows will be useless anyway, as even with low precision, they will hit often when fired at point blank.

An by the way, the hill fortress is not that bad, when you only take design points cost and admin level.