That is a clear analysis from Sir Henry. I have a few comments.
Sir Henry Morgan wrote:If 2000 gold coins is the starting price for a gold bar, as it stands, a simple solution would be to use 1000 coins to make a gold bar. That would be say, a level one Goldsmith.
If the starting rate for a level one Goldsmith was to be 1000 gold coins per gold bar, it would only make sense for everyone to build their own goldsmiths. It would be basically doubling your money.
Sir Henry Morgan wrote: For each level advancement, the number of gold coins needed is reduced by say .5% of the original 1000 coins, and the production per hour goes up by 100 bars an hour.
Here's a quick chart:
Level 1: 1000 coins needed, 100 bars an hour
Level 2: 995 coins needed, 200 bars an hour
Level 3: 990 coins needed, 300 bars an hour
Etc
Level 20. 900 coins needed, 2000 bars an hour
Perhaps as one goes up a level they must chose, either reducing the coins needed or improving the production per hour, but not both, especially at level 10.
I find the 0.5% reduction in gold cost too low. I estimate the cost of building a level 20 Goldsmith to be over 500~600 mil in gold and gold bars plus the cost of materials. I doubt anyone would invest that much for a savings of 100 gold coins an hour. And I do not find it necessary to choose between gold cost and production rate.
Imho, gold bar cost for a level 1 Goldsmith could start at higher than 2000. At 2100 or 2200 per gold bar, it would discourage everyone from making gold bars for their own consumption with their own level 1 factory. Anyone who wants to make gold bars for themselves would have to upgrade their goldsmiths a level or two to be cost effective. The gold cost reduction per level could be set at 5% of the previous cost which would mean....
Level 1: 2200 coins needed, 100 bars an hour
Level 2: 2090 coins needed, 200 bars an hour
Level 3: 1986 coins needed, 300 bars an hour
Etc
Level 20. 830 coins needed, 2000 bars an hour