I'd like to propose an idea. Something to address the issues with resources (hoarders like me) and something to increase activity and allow a little competition in the game. I'd like to put forth the idea of a resource production competition. Broken down from smallest to largest; clan, server and then entire game. Not only individual players but clans.
The "event" would last 1 week. Every single resource that an island is able to produce can be "tested". Including population (not only the amount but the ability to produce the quickest). Each test would be in 6 hour brackets and the total produced in that six hours would be that players score (the actual amount produced). The "event window" would be a drop down that shows EVERY SINGLE production resource and a player can click on the ones that they want to start taking score at that time. A player can do this multiple times a day but whatever resource they pick can only be picked ONCE during the event. At the end of the week the scores will be broken down to which player produced the most in each resource and which clan produced the most.
The breakdown should (hopefully) be players/clans at the clan level, region level and then at the entire game level. After that, There SHOULD be level brackets (to give newer/smaller/casual players the ability to win something. Players can compete with anyone in their level bracket but inside their bracket, they will be competing not only against other clans but at the same time trying to insure that their own clan gets top production awards.
Prizes Should be something unique and broken down to not only level brackets but in brackets that reflect the level of the resource that they one in (showed in the building menu for the buildings that produce said resource OR an explorer of some type. Obviously the prize for Elite building production is going to be better than basic building production). The top three in each bracket for EACH resource would get a prize at the clan level, then the top three in each bracket for EACH resource would get a prize at the region level and the top three for EACH resource would get a prize at the game level. This would also apply to the clans. At the lower level brackets, Prizes should not be anything greater than certain buffs AND a building that is usually in the store that corresponds with the "tier" of the item that they won the production of. Each prize at said level would scale from clan to region to entire game and for individual players. A player could conceivably win A LOT of items (depending on how many resources they won in and at what levels and in what size "league" they won in (clan/region/game). This same system would also apply to clans. Entire clan base prizes will be smaller but an ENTIRE clan will receive the prize. These prizes can be something like a special color noble book binder tribute, a storage tower or even a new building (would be nice for a new water based population building or even something SIMILAR to the expedition water castle that can be upgraded using grout/magic bean stalks and/or tokens. yes it can and should be expensive to upgrade). Individual players would also have the same brackets but the awards can be different at the lower league levels but at region and game levels the prize should be something special.
Yes, it is possible for single players to win MULTIPLE prizes but this address the ability to have a resource sink not only DURING the event (buffs) but also after if you do create something similar to the expedition water castle. Also the top three players from each resource tier (and clan)/each "league" level (and clan) will be posted at the end of the event. This is something that allows friendly competition and not only helps smaller players fill out their island a bit more but gives bigger players the ability to "interact" with other players all over the world and lets us showcase our islands and our ability to max out our productions.