New building and functions
Along with the new science system, the manuscripts, tomes, and codices will come.
I see a few potential problems with these books. One, some players may think, that the specialists' skills aren't worth the resources. Second, some people have one or two specialists, and after upgrading them, the bookbinder will be another useless building on their island. Third, some players (including me) have tons of specialists but they will not have the need of training each one to the highest level.
So here's my idea, what the books may be used for:
It's a new building, let's call it Shrine that uses books to produce a random effect. Alternatively, if you think that the religious context is not a good idea (although there are a few things reffering to the subject in TSO) the Shrine may be replaced with the Laboratory (or Scientists Workshop).
Rules:
1. May be built after completing the tutorial.
2. One Shrine/Lab on the island.
3. Upgradable to level 5.
4. The maximum level of the Shrine/Lab can’t be higher that the maximum level of the Mayor’s House.
How it works:
First, you have to train Priests/Scientists. The maximum number of Priests/Scientists is the Shrine/Lab level. You train the Priests/Scientist in the same way that you recruit other Specialist in the Tavern.
Training Priests/Scientists costs:
First: 100 coins, 10 settlers, 500 sausages (or paper in case of scientists?)
Second: 250 coins, 25 settlers, 1750 sausages
Third: 500 coins, 50 settlers, 2500 sausages
Fourth: 1000 coins, 100 settlers, 5000 sausages
Fifth: 5000 coins, 500 settlers, 10000 sausages
After training the Priests may raise the invocations (or Scientists make mad/secluded ;) experiments).
The Priests/Scientists are accesible from the star menu.
All the Priests/Scientists may act at the same time, but one Priest/Scientist may raise the invocations/make experiments once every 24 hours using the Manuscript, once every 12 hours using the Tome or once every 6 hours using the Codex.
In other words, using the Manuscript and after the effect of prayer/experiment the priest/scientist has to wait 24 hours before he can proceed to the next attempt.
Perhaps an Inspired Priest/Mad Scientist should be available in the store for gems. They would need half as much time to rest. I think that the number of Specialists available for gems should be limited to a maximum of 2.
Cost of the Invocations/Experiments: (player level x 10 bread) + (player level x 10 water) + 1 Book (Manuscript, Tome or Codex). Perhaps (player level x 1 saltpeter) + (player level x 10 coal) + 1 Book should be the cost in case of Scientists.
Waititing for the efect at levels of the building (1/2/3/4/5): 60/30/20/15/12 minutes
Effects and chances (at levels 1/2/3/4/5):
- Nothing: 60%/30%/20%/15%/12%
- Gives the player 45 gems (100?): 1% (regardless of the Shrine/Lab level)
Other effects and chances are (more or less): 3.25%/5.75%/6.58%/7.00%/7.25%:
- doubles the output of all buildings of a kind for 8 hours (if the buildings are buffed, the buffs sum up)
- reduces the time of all active adventure search to 1/3 (e.g. reduces 18hrs to 6hrs)
- reduces the time of all active treasure search to 1/3
- resets resources in all active mines of a kind (incl. wheatfields and wells) to the original amount*
- gives the player random drop from a single player adventure**
- gives the player random drop from a two players adventure (only possible with the Tome)**
- gives the player random drop from a three players adventure (only possible with the Codex)**
- upgrades one building to a higher level (except mines and wells; active buildings only)
- halves the output of all buildings of a kind for 4 hours
- doubles the time of all active adventure search
- doubles the time of all active treasure search
- changes the priest/scientist into 1/10 settlers used for training
* This would not work on mines boosted by the player.
** Only adventures available in the Shop and without the experience points.
There is another function of the building – it could meet the need of gambling, requested by a couple of players (the list shown above contains positve and negative effects).
Perhaps the result of invocations (experiments) could be artifacts stored in the star menu, so that players could use them when they want.
Thanks for reading, feel free to comment.