on port development a lot is already written in various threads.
let me try to put them al together here.
- embassies
- port defense structures
- structures that produce iron, cigars, rum etc
- buildings that provide boons to the owner and through which the port is controlled
- statues
- tavern
- guild halls
Some of these structures can be started by all players, like the 'mine', 'tobacco plantage', 'sugarcane plantage', distillery, cigar factory, iron smelter etc.
Some are overseen by the governor, with the nation council in a support role. port defense and the tavern would be good examples. (how the governor oversees, hands on or by contracting out is secondary)
others are started and operated by guilds or nations like the embassy and guild hall
of some there will be many; guild halls, farms etc. while others will be restricted to 1 per port; buildings that provide boons, port defense structures, tavern
as the game is now we have some structures that are somehow present in all ports or are above the ports. we all accept this as normal, but could these elements be brought down to the port level as well?
e.g. banks and gold coins have no physical presence in a port. it could be worked into a port system. a bank could gain a presence in a new port by leveling up. goldcoins could become local by having personal homes or trading houses (something CJ suggested) goldbars are the way to transport wealth from port to port. banks can be used to transfer wealth for a small fee (the bank owner has to do goldbar transfers himself if needed). when a player is short of coins in a port his ships there cannot be ransomed while they are perfectly safe in another port where that player has lots of gc. Such a change is huge! but it opens a lot of strategical thinking and opportunities
in a similar way the ship auction could be localized. 21 auctions instead of one. chaos, or opportunity. where to build your ships? which auction has the quickest turn around or the best prices?
Voodoo, in her magical way transcends the ports imo and should stay at the meta level.
to keep this thread a bit organized i like to see replies about the desirability of the proposed port elements without going into discussion how these specific elements should look like or function. most can be found in threads of their own already.
(unfortunedly i cannot open a poll for this. i thought about starting a new thread, but decided to continue this discussion here.)