Settlement qualities discussion

[Gintigael Gemweaver]

Dario brought up a good topic to talk about. What are the qualities that are important to use as the Keepers of the Circle. The easiest way is to talk about it through the three stats of the Development Index that each Settlement will have. goblinworks.com/blog/index.html#20130501
The Indexes

There are three development indexes: Security, Morale, and Civilization. Each of these is associated with a pair of ability scores, and each settlement structure is in turn associated with one of these indexes.

Security deals with the physical and spiritual security of a settlement, and covers things like fighter schools, guard towers, and cleric training facilities.

Morale deals with the well-being of the settlement, providing entertainment structures like theaters, buildings that provide bard and sorcerer training, and affecting the efficacy of the workforce.

Finally, Civilization is a reflection of a settlement's commitment to training and its economy. Wizards, rogues, and merchant classes benefit most from this index, and marketplaces, universities, and wizard's towers are purchased using it.

Eventually settlements will seek to maximize all of their indexes, but some will choose to specialize in just one, and indeed most settlements will have one index that is higher than the other. Specialization is efficient and may provide powerful bonuses in some areas, but it also has its weaknesses. Losing a small number of hex-holdings or suffering through a particularly brutal spate of assassinations may quickly suppress high-level specialist buildings, leave a specialist city extremely vulnerable.

[Gintigael Gemweaver]

As I see it, a main goal of ours is to have a neutral and peaceful place for people to come, trade and do diplomaty things. High Civilization scores and high Morale scores show that. The more positive connections with militaristic settlements we have, the less we'll have to focus on Security, but we shouldn't forget it completely.
I don't see us being incredibly expansionist. Maybe only taking over the surrounding hexes.

[Nymerias]

I really like the way you put it and very much agree.

[Huran]

I agree as well. My personal preference would be a high morale (maybe specialize in this one) with security and civilization being close to the same score as a secondary. Though I do agree between civilization and security - civilization should be slightly higher since that is what this guild seems to lean towards.

The only reason I would want a decent security score is to keep the evil baddies from coming in and taking over something good. But if PFO reflects real life in any way history shows a high morale can be a pretty decent force in terms of defense. AND as pointed out if we have done our diplomacy properly (which I have no doubt will happen) we will have other allies to aide us in the security area.

So to sum up the rambling my vote would be to pick a spot with scores in the following order (highest on top):

1) Morale
2) Civilization (as a close second)
3) Security

Though my other character, Dorin would most likely have the first two swapped being a merchant and all .