Despotism
Monarchy
Republic
Democracy

Social Engeneering

Capitalism
Communism
Feudalism (would only work for Monarchy)
Facism

Im not quite sure though.

Going to the right would decrease taxes, but perhaps boost trade, while going to the left would raise higher taxes but do worse with trade. More people would be content under a more liberal gov't, but a conservative gov't would make some very happy and some unhappy through more luxuries. Science would tend to take a hit at both extremes, working best near the middle. The possibility for revolts and riots would also increase slightly as you approach the extreme ends of the scale.

quote: Originally posted by Lawrence of Arabia on 04-25-2001 07:25 PM Governments: Despotism Monarchy Republic Democracy Social Engeneering Capitalism Communism Feudalism (would only work for Monarchy) Facism Im not quite sure though.

I think we should have SE but construct the governments (Parliamentary Monarchy, Absolutist Monarchy, Soviet Republic, whatever you want) out of several social aspects that are often mixed up with actual governments...

Feudalism, Christianity and Tyranny could be 3 social factors that make the Absolutist Monarchy... Electoral System instead of Tyranny would make it a Parl. Monarchy (const., you get the point)...

Class Free Society, Marxism and Electoral System would make a Soviet Republic etc...

quote: Originally posted by cyclotron7 on 04-26-2001 12:14 PM Perhaps all governments would have a slider, that goes from socialism to laisse faire capitalism... Each gov't would have a certain area on the slider that was permitted, for example a democracy could be anywhere from about -3 to 10 (on a 10 point scale, negative being leftist and positive meaning right) and a communist gov't could be -10 to -5 and a monarchy would be -4 to 1, etc. Going to the right would decrease taxes, but perhaps boost trade, while going to the left would raise higher taxes but do worse with trade. More people would be content under a more liberal gov't, but a conservative gov't would make some very happy and some unhappy through more luxuries. Science would tend to take a hit at both extremes, working best near the middle. The possibility for revolts and riots would also increase slightly as you approach the extreme ends of the scale.

Cyclotron, this is right on the money! (No pun intended.) I love this idea! Say, are you really my college macroeconomics professor? Oh, no you can't be. He would say that decreasing taxes would decrease trade. You have it right, I think. (He always called me "an evil supply-sider.")

I don't know how realistic this assumption is, but I haven't got any word that Firaxis was significantly changing the gov't system, but they might be... Anyway, I've never played SMAC so I don't know what SE is, but from what I hear it sounds similar to this and I hope Firaxis uses a more elastic gov't system such as this. CTP made some good progress with productivity/food/wages settings, but lost the unique benefits of Civ2 gov'ts. I think the ideal system would combine the sliders and settings of CTP, the special situations and benefits of Civ2, and the replay value and open-endedness of SE.

Most of you seem to think that being rightwing and capitalist is "correct" and preferrable. Is it really the position of a gaming company to be biased in this way? Would they really want to let a political debate over their government model detract from all the cool new features? In very crass terms, rightwingers substitute personal freedom for economic freedom for politically and socially accountable corporations, while leftwingers prefer to regulate big business to prevent exploitation and pollution, while granting more social and spiritual freedom for the ordinary man and woman.

Now you see the endless debates this would lead to?

I say Firaxis should just keep it simple like it was with Civ2--Communism means big armies and production at the expense of economic freedom, democracy means a more politically active people and more trade. Perhaps add some new models, theocracy and fascism. But please, let's not have this "Oh, but Firaxis must make capitalism the best economic model in the game!" rubbish....

quote: Originally posted by David Murray on 04-29-2001 05:29 PM I say Firaxis should just keep it simple like it was with Civ2--Communism means big armies and production at the expense of economic freedom, democracy means a more politically active people and more trade. Perhaps add some new models, theocracy and fascism. (edited for the last time, hopefully) [This message has been edited by David Murray (edited April 29, 2001).]

NO, NO, NO. Goddamn it DO NOT at all costs keep governments simple: simple SIMPLY sucks. Make as many tweaks as yyou can, FIRAXIX, make the governments stand out from each other in EVERY ASPECT!!!

quote: Originally posted by David Murray on 04-29-2001 05:29 PM But please, let's not have this "Oh, but Firaxis must make capitalism the best economic model in the game!"