Gem Stones

[Maha]

i just read the whole discussion.
i cannot but see gems as similar to goldbar and credits. redundant and not adding to the game; it will devalue the goldbar imo like salvaging devalued shipbuilding. in the witch hut proposal it says that goldbars should be part of the recipe (not plain gc). the goldbar addition to the game is still underdeveloped because their isn't enough around to use them for. (happy me, they're cheap because there are too many of them this way)

gems need a place uniquely for them self, not just another expression of the same (gc = goldbar = credit= gem) with slightly different purposes. we have goldbars for the hideout elements and for shipbuilding.

therefore i was happy to read this:

gem stone vary in type - rubies, emeralds, sapphires, pearls, diamonds

there is a gem buyer it is automated not player run
- options from the gem buyer
- sell for gc
- convert to jewelry - requires gold bar also - increases fame
- convert to amulet - require gold bar also - carry for protection - possibly better skirmish escape chance - maybe battle defense -can be lost in
battle - it may require you collect more than 1 type of gems
-convert to talisman requires gold bar also - used in the witch hut to access better voodoo - has a value that can be used up
it may require you collect more than 1 type of gems

gems to be used as jewelry, amulets or talisman.
raw gems cannot be traded!
new hideout building: gemsmith
gemsmiths can offer services to customers for a fee; however each service requires a few turns (from the stone cutter!) per action.

level1-5 can cut raw gems (chose 1 per level) so that they can be used.
level 5-10 can make "battle gems" again each level for one kind of gem. (each gem has different function)
. . . . . . . . (in combination with "bank" at level 5) can change cut gems into gc)
level 11-15 (in combination with "goldsmith" level 5) can make "Jewelry" that enhances fame or influence
level 15-20 (in combination with "Witch hut" at level 15) can make talisman that carries voodoo cards that become active when needed (e.g. a mindbar in a talisman will be activated when voodo is cast upon the player who wears the talisman)

how these uncut gems are to be found? mining! food, rum and tobacco ports produce the most common gem, and the other gems are related to the other supplies. mining would be a bit similar to treasure hunt. mining should be done by "crew"; so that it is port bound and needs to be shipped.

Gems should imo not to be traded for GC (once manufactured into stuff, that stuff should be trade-able) nor should it be store-able in banks or warehouses. to store it is to bury it with all the risks of treasure hunters
uncut and cut gems can be sold in an auction like the ship auction, once in never out. (this will prevent that gems become a replacement of the goldbar etc.)

So; uncut gems can be found through mining, can beshipped (with notice on gossip page), can be sold on an auction, can be stored by burying and can be transformed by gemsmiths for various purposes.

[William one eye]

Maha, that is a very nice integration of a lot of ideas.

[Slindur]

For the significant reason that Maha said (basically that gems would devalue gold bars, which need more and not less use), I do not support gems being added to the game. I feel like the main push for gems is that they are used in other games that people like and can be used in building stuff. I do not see adding gems being valuable to the game or adding anything of value. The Witch Hut, Ship Specialization, and a new battle engine for a different kind of battle (including group battles) add value and should be the focus of development at this point, in my opinion.

Slindur

[Donald Trump]

I think they could hold a place in voodoo and ship buffs.

Too much emphasis on gold bars (which is another form of gold coin) and gold coins. Too little on anything else.