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

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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.
