PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service 04/09/93 11:19 PM FRIENDS, ROMANS, TAXPAYERS Slumming Around the Ruins of My Caesar Cities by Alan "Taxpayer" Emrich Would be emperors need to know how to raise money. In my last installment, I pointed out how the local business model worked in Caesar. To my pleasant surprise, reader's enthusiasm for more have formed the base for this new column (forgive the pun). In it, I shall present solutions to the greatest plague in urban development -- raising property values. High property values are important for high income from the population, so it is critical that this be studied. Avoiding the "Filthy Lucre" Syndrome [NEXT] According to Suetonius, Emperor Vespasian, in an effort to raise revenues from the populace, instituted a very unpopular tax on public restrooms. When accused that this money was filthy lucre (a witty reference to where it came from), Vespasian was said to have held a coin under the accuser's nose and ask, "Does it smell, my son?" To keep your reputation from smelling and driving the people to riot, it is important that you raise property values, the de facto measure of the population's standard of living in Impressions' Caesar. The first thing I must explain, is how land values are improved. Raising Land Value From the Ground Up [NEXT] Each square on the city map begins with a property value of 0. The proximity of virtually everything improves it, except for fire, rubble and new housing starts. The best way to illustrate this is to present the information in a table: Map Symbol Val Rad Lim ---------- --- --- --- Baths +1 2 (Note that in Caesar Giant Baths +2 3 there is absolutely School +1 3 NO difference between Hospital +1 3 Schools & Hospitals!) Theater +1 3 Amphitheater +1 4 Hippodrome +1 5 Market +1 1 10 Rubble (on fire) -2 3 8 Rubble (cold) -2 1 8 Heavy Industry +1 2 3 Business +1 3 3 Barracks +1 3 5 Gates +1 2 8 Temple (size 1-4) +1 2 Temple (size 5-8) +1 3 Copyright 1993 Prodigy Services Company. All Rights Reserved. PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service 04/09/93 11:19 PM Oracle +1 3 Prefecture +1 2 8 Forum (size 1 and 2) +1 2 Forum (size 3 and 4) +1 3 Forum (size 5 and 6) +1 4 Forum (size 7 and 8) +1 5 Fountain (with water) +1 2 Well -- -- Reservoir -- -- T-Intersection +1 1 4-Way Intersection +2 1 Plaza +1 1 Housing (size 1 & 2) G-1 1 Housing (size 3 - 5) G 1 Housing (size 6 - 9) G+1 1 Housing (size 10-13) G+1 2 Housing (size 14-15) G+2 1 Housing (size 16) G+2 2 "Val" represents the increase added to the land value for each square of that tile. For example, each square of a school (which has a tile taking up 4 squares in a square shaped pattern) increases nearby property values by +1. Getting "Rad" [NEXT] "Rad" is the radius that each square of a tile projects its modifier on property values. For instance, a square next to a hippodrome, which occupies 8 squares in a pattern that is 2 squares high by 4 squares wide, has a +1 value over a 5 square radius. Thus, a square next to it would receive a +8 property value modifier. "Lim" is the limit, if any, that a square within its radius can reach. Most tiles come without limits, but business, in particular, limit the property values nearby. No matter how many other factors influence the neighborhood of industry and businesses, the maximum land value limit of 3 three means that they create slums. The "G" Factor [NEXT] The value of housing is modified by a variable known as "G." That stands for "growth" and is determined by one's tax rate and unemployment (the lower the better). Now, the effect of all of this information is less when an area is not serviced by the basic amenities described on page 29 of the manual (water, administration, etc.). Also, while land value has a direct effect on the growth of housing, there are other variables that effect the home Copyright 1993 Prodigy Services Company. All Rights Reserved. PRODIGY(R) interactive personal service 04/09/93 11:19 PM market (which is pretty realistic, as any homeowner will attest). Driving Down Property Values [NEXT] Naturally, one should always put out fires and clear rubble (using the shovel works for both). That will stop the immediate fallout to neighborhood land values. Rebuilding them, however, may not be as easy as it was to establish them in the first place. The big reason is new housing. Tent cities drive down property values at an amazing rate. People who paint whole areas with tents (new housing) are, according to this table, begging for trouble. Often, it is better to add them one at a time and let them improve a bit. Each has a negative effect on its neighbor, which is very bad indeed and drags down entire new housing developments. Radii [NEXT] Finally, all radii count diagonal squares. Remember that the influence is cumulative for each square of every tile within influencing range. In the future, I hope to cover housing values, administrative ranges and water distribution and some other tips and techniques. In the meantime, raise those land values and, therefore, your income from taxing the people! You can never have enough money in Caesar. Computer Gaming World can be reached on the Games Center bulletin boards at EXPT40B. Do not send us private E-mail. Copyright 1993 Prodigy Services Company. All Rights Reserved.