Capitalism is on the rise as wealth in some regions is being decentralized from a few wealthy nobles to a collection of landed farmers, artisans, and other professionals. In other regions, a powerful centralized government is still solely responsible for the well being and needs of all of its people.
In both cases, regional leadership needs to ensure that they and their citizens have access to common goods. Additionally, access to luxury goods attracts better citizens who are more loyal to their region and faction helping to build reputation for the region. Each region is able to produce a portion of what they need but they still need to acquire some amount of other necessities.
Meeting Basic Needs
Each region’s leadership has a commodity sheet. That sheet will list a minimum number of common goods that need to be acquired in order to sustain the current population and development in the region. If needs are not met, citizens can revolt and this can lead to government structure changes. This can also lead to an impairment in the production of things like art and science. Obtaining common goods in excess of the needed amount is superfluous as these items will simply spoil and go to waste.
Failing to meet Basic Needs will result in a Reputation Point loss for the region.
Luxury Goods
There are a number of commodity goods that are available in game. These commodities are what attracts citizens to reside and remain in a region. Some commodities can be obtained on quests. Most commodities arrive on trade ships and are sold by merchants. As such, merchants are very powerful and contribute directly to the success and failure of a region.
Owning Luxury Goods will result in a Reputation Point gain for the region.
Acquiring Trade Goods
During each game period, traders and merchants may purchase a single available trade bundle. The price of the trade bundles will vary. Each trade bundle will obtain some common and some luxury goods. These goods can be used within a region or traded amongst the population as desired to meet game goals and objectives.
Borrowing Money
Trade bundles cost money and sometimes merchants and traders do not have the cash on hand in order to purchase these bundles. There is a character in game, Maximo Ferranti, who is able to extend loans. Loans must be settled the game period after they are initiated or the debtor will incur a Reputation Point Loss for BOTH themselves AND their region.
There may be other individuals who are able to offer loans. These loans have the same repayment restrictions.
Who’s Who in Business
- Cicero Medici (Florence)
- Maximo Ferranti (Florence)
- Emanuela della Chiesa (Holy See)
- Lunetta della Chiesa (Holy See)
- Renzetto Riccardino (Milan)
- Nunzio Carmelo (Milan)
- Esmerelda Carro (Naples)
- Marco Cuoco (Naples)
- Veli Kader (Ottoman Empire)
- Matei Savasci (Ottoman Empire)
- Vannozzo Scorrazzare (Ottoman Empire)
- Henricus Pezzettino (Venice)
- Siyah Kedi (Venice)
- Pietro Piazza (Venice)