The weekly newsletter for Fed2 by ibgames

EARTHDATE: November 9, 2008

Inside Scoop page 1


WHAT SHOULD I BUILD? (AGRI/FOUNDER LEVEL)

by Trilleth

It wasn't too long ago that Joe asked me if I was ever planning to promote out of Founder. I looked at him blankly. "Promote? Why would I want to do that?"

Patiently he explained that if you don't promote, there's no progress. Still not understanding the significance but wanting to not argue this early in our marriage, I agreed to promote. "What do I need to build?"

He rattled off a list off the top of his head and I just stared at him. "Never mind. I'll figure it out."


TRANSPORTATION

I wanted to build an airport. I've always had dreams of flying. Sometimes they even included an airplane. But my planetary manager patiently explained that our level of technology wouldn't support an airport. "Well, that's just silly. So now I have to worry about technology levels?"

I went to the people instead. Siryn is full of mermaids and they really wanted a way to go from one ocean to another without going all the way around. Well, I could do that! I went back to the planetary manager.

"I want to build a canal."

"Very good," he nodded. "You can build up to five."

Filled with power, I built all five of them. The mermaids were so happy with my efforts that they stepped up production... everything agricultural was suddenly producing 5% faster. I was starting to like this building stuff. Not to mention watching all the tanned, muscled workers... never mind.


EDUCATION

Next, I thought I should get educated on all this build stuff... but I had no schools. Well, that's easy enough to fix. I built four schools, then my planetary manager suggested building a college. A college! Wow... I could /really/ learn something. Unfortunately, my little workers all wanted to learn about farming, so I build an agricultural college. Even though I was sulking, the workers were happy, so they started working even faster. Okay, maybe not so sulking now.

"All done," I announced triumphantly. "I can promote."

The planetary manager gave me the same patient look Joe does... I seem to get it a lot. "You need more builds than this to get your planet ready for promotion." Sighing, he continued, "You need 30 builds total."

Well, alright then. What else could I build?

I debated a Heliograph (COMM), but I couldn't see much use in signal fires on a planet with very few high spots and lots of water. True, they do add to the efficiency somehow, but they just didn't make sense for Siryn. But it might for someone else. Like... well, a planet with mountains. Likewise, I really didn't see the need for any Planetary Defense (DEF). Maybe it keeps my workthings productive because they're not afraid of someone from space killing them. I choose to just make friends with all my neighbors. I'm not naming any names, but there are a few planets out there that definitely need some planetary defense.

The mermaids were starting to get upset about all the stuff I was building. Apparently there was some pollution both in the water and in the atmosphere. Rather than have angry mermaids (have you ever seen what an angry mermaid can do?), I added a few ATMOS and POLLUTION builds. The mermaids calmed down almost immediately. A salesman tried to convince me to bring in new species to Siryn and increase the BIODIVERSITY, saying this would make the mermaids even happier, but I think they like being the dominant species on the planet, so I declined.

I was assured I didn't need any HEALTHcare, but people somehow keep drowning on Siryn, so first I put in a few clinics. That seemed to make people happier... and it let me build a hospital, too. I liked the hospital. Once there was a hospital, the planet started having babies! Then there were more workthings running around sweaty, shirtless...

Where was I? Oh, right. Most people on Siryn either live underwater or in treehouses and such, but I started saving money up to build real HOUSING after Joe and I got married (3 are required immediately upon promotion). Guess a girl shouldn't marry an architect if she doesn't want real housing.

We didn't really need any SECURITY on Siryn to start out, but my planetary manager assured me that we'd have more tourism when we hit resource, so we added two policemen to the force. Cletus and Enos do an excellent job of keeping people happy, too.

Of course, you can build anything YOU want to on your planet, as long as your technology levels support it. You don't have an over-achieving husband, irate mermaids, or a balding, greying planetary manager to worry about. But those builds got me past Founder, so I'm a bit partial. Now I'm off to see about building a shopping mall in the middle of a pristine, untouched forest...

TOTAL REQUIRED BUILDS: 30


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