Richest Economic Simulations out there

[Calandale]

I'll tout SPI's Star Trader quite a bit - it includes the Executive decision type bidding
supply and demand design, along with transporting (and producing) goods. If anything,
it gets a bit too ambitious by working in piracy and secret agents. These chromey rules
probably should have been left out - though they are well enough done.


Silverton is another outstanding choice. Markets are more variable - but player actions has
a huge effect: enough so that if you can corner a market you have it made. Add to this
the competition for track placement, and mine prospecting, along with passenger routes,
and you have a really nice mix of options. The only real gripe is that domains get carved
out, so competition becomes less fierce once tracks are established.

Finally, the Lords games. I've only played Sierra Madre and Rennaissance (though
High Frontier started out as one, and does show some similarities).SM is the most
economic-based of the bunch. Income is based more on how far (and where) you transport
stuff rather than any supply & demand system, but you have to hook up multiple links
to get your mines processed and working effectively. Same thing with cattle ranches.

[stemcider]

Silverton is the first game I thought of. Still the best economic simulation I've played. I need to play it again soon.

I've been tempted by Lords of the Sierra Madre many times. Phil Eklund scares me though, and I have yet to be able to get High Frontier a playthrough.

[Calandale]

LotSM is a LOT more intuitive.

It's got some really wanky **** though, with control of the police and military
having more to do with who succeeds than just running good rails and industries.

[stemcider]

I wonder if that's actually a feature, considering what its simulating.

[usrlocal]

I'd like to try 'Lords of the Spanish Main' - that one looks interesting.

[Calandale]

I wonder if that's actually a feature, considering what its simulating.

It certainly is. It drives revolutions. If anything, it's too hard to get anywhere
with banditry in the game.

[stemcider]

I wonder if that's actually a feature, considering what its simulating.

It certainly is. It drives revolutions. If anything, it's too hard to get anywhere
with banditry in the game.

I've been playing around with the concept of a two-player asymmetrical train game where one player plays the railroad company and the other a gang of train robbing bandits.

[Calandale]

I wonder if that's actually a feature, considering what its simulating.

It certainly is. It drives revolutions. If anything, it's too hard to get anywhere
with banditry in the game.

I've been playing around with the concept of a two-player asymmetrical train game where one player plays the railroad company and the other a gang of train robbing bandits.

You can totally do that in LotSM. But it is most profitable when the gang is made up of the local military.

It's so hard to get guns into Mexico.

[usrlocal]

I wonder if we can use this place to get a play-by-forum game of LotSM going? I'd totally be into that.

[stemcider]

I'd be down to try that out as well.

[Calandale]

Sounds like a hell of a hard thing to do. A lot of the game is
very interactive (bidding as well as movement rounds).