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Risky and Safe Businesses

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Fri, 05/28/2010 - 07:46
infocorn
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While getting the kinks out of Quarantine (see my other posts), I have another iron in the fire.

I'm looking for names here more than mechanics.

The game has an investment-theme. You have to balance solid, shaky or risky investments to most-increase the bottom line overall. There are 24 total squares up for ownership. More risk means more d6s rolled...and so on. The setting is anything but modern, and really open to suggestion. I actually had the idea from, of all things, Matthew 25: 14-18 in the Bible, where a master portions his estate and has his servants take the "Talents" and do something with them to earn more money. The game hasn't any specific religious overtone beyond its inspiration, however.

Basically, as I suck with anything financial, I was having trouble thinking of what would be reliable, not-so-reliable and outright risky investing.

I figured a Gold Mine was pretty much always going to be a solid investment, a Farm somewhat iffy (though, honestly, I could see Farms going into any of the three categories), and a High-end anything being pretty risky.

ANYTHING welcome!

Thanks.

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Fri, 05/28/2010 - 10:07
#1
seo
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I would say a gold mine could

I would say a gold mine could be more risky than a farm, given that you might need a huge initial investment (buying the land and equipment, hiring staff, etc.) and you never know for sure how much gold it is going to produce, while the farm would probably involve a smaller investment and, natural disasters aside, produce a relatively predictable income afterward.

Another idea that comes to my mind is linking the investments to shops: something like a bakery or a grocery store or a hardware store could be a reasonable safe investment, an expensive clothing or jewelry or fancy car place could be riskier, and a very niche shop (like a boardgames shop or a place selling just some novelty product) might be pretty risky.

Just my 2 cents.

Do you have any specific idea regarding era and/or location for the game theme? That might help narrowing the options down.

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Fri, 05/28/2010 - 14:28
#2
saluk
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Er, without some kind of

Er, without some kind of "happiness" element I don't see many people betting on the board game shop ;)

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Mon, 05/31/2010 - 10:03
#3
infocorn
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Timeframe..

I don't know that I necessarily WANT to go modern, but I guess I could start there. At the least, I could talk with my banker friend about investing, I guess :-D

I had envisioned the game being more at least colonial in feel. As I said the initial inspiration was Biblical, but that's not a needed mechanic for the finished game itself. While proud of my beliefs, I certainly wouldn't want a religious undertone to turn off potential players.

I'm planning on Game Journalling this as well. I'll bump when I do so.

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Mon, 05/31/2010 - 10:49
#4
hulken
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Are you looking for things

Are you looking for things for the game to invest in that fits, risky-, safe- and moderet riskyinvestments of the colonial era, or have I got it compleatly wrong?

Then maby somthing like this, atleast thats how i have imagin it:

Risky: Invest in an overse expedision/colony (america), Invest in mining/goldmine, Invest in a trading company (the once going to asia)

Moderet: Invest in a european contry (if it is concerd in war you loose so it should be moderet risk), Start a bank

Safe: Farm (onley if it is missgroth it fails and that did not hapend to often), a smal stor selling goods,

Well thats about what I could come up with, I hope it was what you where lokng for...

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Mon, 05/31/2010 - 23:35
#5
infocorn
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The Current List...

Really must create that journal...

OK, for the time being, we're dealing with a "days of yore" feel.

SAFE:
I thought "Basic needs that you'd pay someone for" would be a decent jump-off...I took these: Bakery, Butcher, Greengrocer, Tailor, Tavern, Inn, Mill and Blacksmith

MODERATE: So your basic needs are met. Now what? Ore Mine; Timber Farm; Orchard; Boat Yard; Tanner; Trading Outpost; Casino; Armory

RISKY: Luxury items, mostly. Bank; Arena; Jeweler; Gourmet; Health Farm; Hired Hand; Theatre; Toy Store.

OK, uploading current run of rules. I also have a "board" nearly ready, which would put me ready to present print-and-play for beta if people are interested.

EDIT: Added Journal for "Talents." Please have a look at the current rules and let me know what you think here, there, or PM. ALL COMMENTS-- even "please stop posting this crap" are welcome.

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Mon, 05/31/2010 - 23:37
#6
genericm
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overhead

Overhead is risk, the more up front cost to a business the riskier it is.

based on that:

in a colonial setting

low risk:
smith, taylor, painter, carpenter, tanner

medium risk:
farm, livestock, timber, furniture maker,

high risk
general store, construction, railroad

just a thought
Eric M

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Mon, 05/31/2010 - 23:39
#7
genericm
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...

you beat me to it...

;-)

EM

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Mon, 05/31/2010 - 23:45
#8
infocorn
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Thanks, guy... That's a

Thanks, guy...

That's a gender-neutral guy there...just saying. As I mentioned in the Game Journal, I wanted to try out German Gaming design on this, and I figured that if I went extra-super basic, it'd make things easy to translate later on for wider distribution.

See? Always thinkin. Not deep stuff. Just like "I bet I could hornswoggle someone into printing a book of mine with stick figures in it."

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