[Freeciv-Dev] Re: underused gameplay elements

[Per Inge Mathisen <per@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 20 Jun 2006, Curtis Warren wrote:
> Monarchy and Communism
> - reason: No advantages. The Republic and Democracy are powerful
> because science is powerful, this is understandable. The advantages of
> Monarchy and Communism aren't very useful at all--the slight increase
> in happiness is almost imperceptible after trade routes and other such
> trade boosters are factored in.
That is because trade routes are too powerful at present. You forgot to 
mention the added bonus to Palace in Monarchy. Communism at least used to 
be very popular and useful in the past, both in multiplayer and 
singleplayer.
> Eiffel Tower
> - reason: This has absolutely no use in multiplayer games. In fact, I
> wonder if it's even useful in single player games.
It is a single-player wonder.

> Courthouses
> - reason: There's no reason to use the republic when democracy is
> available. With the massive amount of trade brought in by trade
> routes, happiness is a non-issue.
>
> - possible solution: make them cheaper (40 shields?) and more useful
> in the early game. This means possibly removing corruption up to a
> certain limit, otherwise the benefit is only 1 or 2 trade, which isn't
> worth 60 shields during prime settling time.
I agree it is mostly useless.

> Fortifications
> - reason: Cities are faster to build. Not available soon enough for
> early combat. No anti-nuke capabilities.
Forts are now useful in extending borders and getting extra vision (more 
than cities), especially for largepoxers.
  - Per