We'll likely get an honorable mention even if we lose. Sweeping all categories until the winner arrives is pretty damn good.
And you know the 4S engine is to them a curiosity, perhaps a challenge, but not industry. Our engine will redefign the Empire if we can produce 100 of it.
Looking over the list I noticed
[ ] Engine Assembly
The Tree is not suited for the industry needed to build your Fuur-Engine in any appreciable quantities, neither the forges nor the smelters. Norqod, on the other hand, can easily support such an assembly, allowing you to produce the engines cheaper while selling ordered ones. Well, once people are living in Norqod anyway.
(Requirement:
Prepare Quarters,
Dig Out A Marketplace
Turns: 8
Cost: 35
Materials, Upkeep: 12.75
Materials
Reward:
Massive reduction to
Assemble An Engine, 6d12 Materials to Technology Sales, massively increased prosperity in Norqod.)
I like the idea of "Massive reduction". We are a ways off, but we should totally go straight to this. Honestly I think we should not build steam engines yet. There are cost reductions to do first.
[ ] Metalsmiths Abode - (Expanded)
Humanity was born without claws or scales. So we forged them in the fire, hardened by iron and oiled by our blood. It's a good saying, but some Mutated with claws and scales find its implications insulting. At least you now have a smithy, so having to wait days for a new tool is a thing of the past. Adding smelters, various tools, and more space for some more smiths would allow you to work with more materials and intricate creations.
(Cost: 20
Materials, Upkeep: 7
Materials
Turns: 4
Reward: Lowered costs for all equipment, increased chances for all research, rolls with advantage for all melee weapons/equipment made of metal, can be upgraded.)
[ ] Learning: To Melt and Pour - (Metallurgy)
Another Artefact that, while not directly useful, can still teach much. In this case, how to make better molds to create tools and weapons. Things built like this won't be as detailed or of high quality as when made by a blacksmith but could help develop simpler parts or mass-produce items.
(Needed Artifact: Molds Of Binoculars
Chance: 75/65/55% for 1/2/3 Successes, Successes Needed: 2
Reward: Reduced Upkeep of the Blacksmiths Abode, Reduced costs for equipment.)
We should do both of these first
- also, can we potentially get a "hire workers" action to spend materials to build the Tree faster? A lot of the work seems like it could go faster with hired hands. Maybe something like the ability to run a second tree expansion for 10 materials per turn or something.
