Micromanagement and the 1880 economy

[vaalen]

Though I have played this game a lot, it seems that I spend most of my time in the 1880 scenario turning factories on and off, and micromanaging the economy. I started a game as the US, and one as Great Britain. I can deal with it, but it is not a great deal of fun, and unlike the 1850 scenario, I cannot get to a point where I can just relax and check the economy every three months or so while focusing on the parts of the game I enjoy most, war, colonization, etc.

The problem is that the world is glutted with most products, except for luxuries, gold, gems, tropical fruit, and a very few others. Prices for everything seem quite low, because of the immense supply, and tiny demand. Both Britain and the US are in danger of going bankrupt in a few turns unless you turn off a great deal of their industry, which does not seem to make sense.

Anyone else having a similar experience, and does anyone have any ideas about how do deal with it?

[PhilThib]

The situation improves after a few months when the world economy picks up. In our World in Conflict 1880 game, we are in 1882 now and the situation has improved much...it's a bit of a hassle initially, but things will adjust a bit over time.
For sure, the WinC 1880 setup is slightly "better" economically than the 1880 official scenario...we shall probably port the improvements into the next official patch.

[vaalen]

The situation improves after a few months when the world economy picks up. In our World in Conflict 1880 game, we are in 1882 now and the situation has improved much...it's a bit of a hassle initially, but things will adjust a bit over time.
For sure, the WinC 1880 setup is slightly "better" economically than the 1880 official scenario...we shall probably port the improvements into the next official patch.

That is good to hear, and I am eager to see the patch.

I think the WinC 1880 setup may be more than slightly better than the 1880 official scenario. I am five years into my US game, and the world economy is still in very sad shape, though I am able to make money by selling luxuries, gold, and tropical fruit, I still have to keep a lot of other factories turned off, and the market for the once rare commodities is starting to weaken. and there have been no less than three economic crises, which seem to have permanently reduced demand, certainly in the US, where I am able to get a detailed view of that. Of course, once demand goes down, it hurts everything.

To be more specific, in the US, demand went down after each economic crisis, and stayed down even after the first two crises ended. Frustrating.

[Jim-NC]

So you know, in our WIC game, as America, after 2 years, I still have approximately 2/3 of my starting factories shut down, and 1/2 of my farms/mines. So there is a large overproduction capacity available in the game.

[vaalen]

So you know, in our WIC game, as America, after 2 years, I still have approximately 2/3 of my starting factories shut down, and 1/2 of my farms/mines. So there is a large overproduction capacity available in the game.

Jim, thank you for sharing that information. I guess if you play the 1880 scenario, you just have to get used to playing with a lot of your factories, mines, and farms turned off. Your information confirmed that I am not alone in this, and helped me to adjust to the situation.

Very much appreciate the helpful comments you make so often. Thanks!

[Jim-NC]

Your welcome.

It is a different game (vs. starting at 1850 and reaching 1880), where most of your industry has to shut down for years due to too much stuff. The good news is that at the start of the 1880 campaign, the US has not researched a lot of the consumption increase technologies yet. Learning these should help increase consumption, requiring some more factories/farms to be open.

[Pocus]

Then it probably means that the national markets coefficients should be even higher than they are.

[vonRocko]

I have the matrix version and I don't see an 1880 scenario. May I ask where do I find this 1880 scenario?
Thanks

[Taciturn Scot]

The 1880 scenario/alternative campaign is available as DLC so it doesn't ship with the original game.

[vonRocko]

I see. Thank you.

[Jim-NC]

Then it probably means that the national markets coefficients should be even higher than they are.

That may be needed. I currently have 48 of my 78 farms closed (61.5%), 24 of my 48 mines closed (50%), and 59 of my 91 factories closed (64.8%). Most have been, and will continue to be closed for a while. This is as of the Early July 1882 turn.

[PhilThib]

Then it probably means that the national markets coefficients should be even higher than they are.

Can this be modded?

[Pocus]

you need to alter the values of the current faction modifiers DB. For example 'Le Bon Marché' FM Set does that:

Modifier0 = $fmdConsumptNatFdPerc|10
Modifier1 = $fmdConsumptNatGdPerc|10
Modifier2 = $fmdConsumptNatLxPerc|10
Modifier3 = $fmdConsumptColFdPerc|10
Modifier4 = $fmdConsumptColGdPerc|10
Modifier5 = $fmdConsumptColLxPerc|10

Just change it to 20 ... do so for some others FM Set, but don't get overboard either