Your Thoughts on Food and the Marketplace

[Gustav Kuriga]

That won't tell us the whole story though. Check the I Hate Food thread where I talked about the major differences between Dwilight and Atamara. One problem isn't just food production, it's food distribution.

[Penchant]

Well, can we calculate that?  Total island population divided by daily food production?

I feel like I am doing something wrong but its 2200000/37500 or roughly 60 bushels. Also, this is not total island for either but total part of island that is not Zuma or rogue.

[Penchant]

Yes well, 30k pop is 360 bushels every 6 days. Which is under 400. (excluding militia for simplicity)

Meanwhile, my city consumes at least 115 bushels of food a day.

Fine, most cities I see are above 33333 pop.

[Azerax]

That won't tell us the whole story though. Check the I Hate Food thread where I talked about the major differences between Dwilight and Atamara. One problem isn't just food production, it's food distribution.

It's just a systematic approach identifying/isolating/eliminating variables.

[Chenier]

Well, can we calculate that?  Total island population divided by daily food production?

Which gives a biased number, as it assumes the absence of seasons and therefore downplays the importance of rot. The production fluctuations means that the warehouses' capacities are met in greatly varying levels through the seasons.

[Penchant]

Which gives a biased number, as it assumes the absence of seasons and therefore downplays the importance of rot. The production fluctuations means that the warehouses' capacities are met in greatly varying levels through the seasons.

That is true. Production of food is currently twice that of its standard production

[Foundation]

Rot is not an issue. Every island experiences it. Unless you.can give me data and calculate how much it affects you it is simply hyperbole to say rot is a significant factor due to seasons.

[vonGenf]

Rot is not an issue. Every island experiences it. Unless you.can give me data and calculate how much it affects you it is simply hyperbole to say rot is a significant factor due to seasons.

In islands without seasons it may be sufficient to stockpile only a small safety margin if you can trust politically that your neighbours will keep selling you food.

In islands with seasons you must stockpile more as you know that very little food is available during winter. That's where rot kicks in.

[Azerax]

That is true. Production of food is currently twice that of its standard production

Actually, this is incorrect.  With the results of the survey there will be another will more defined questions.  As it stands now, it appears that Dwilight has an issue, though I would like votes.

Assuming that Dwilight has an issue and Atamara doesn't, we then begin to look at what's different about these islands.  Seasons is one of those.

The conversation outside of the survey (ieL in this thread) provides valuable insight, not specifics.

[Azerax]

How is food production affected by seasons? (for example: -50% to +50%)

And again, this is just conversation.  If the island itself generally has a surplus of food, regardless of season, then seasons can be eliminated.

We don't happen to track historic food levels?  Not that there would be any reason to, but a comparison of food levels vs food demand over the last 6 months would be interesting.

[Penchant]

winter its 1/4, spring3/4, summer 1, autumn 2. What I said in the other thread is not false, Dwilight does currrently have twice the standard food production atm.

[Indirik]

Autumn high production produces large stockpiles. Winter low production rates demand large stockpiles to make sure you can survive. Large stockpiles rot faster than small stockpiles. Therefore, rot hurts more on islands with seasons.

[Anaris]

Large stockpiles rot faster than small stockpiles.

Only in absolute terms, unless your stockpile is too large for your granaries.

All food that fits in the granaries you have built in your region rots at exactly the same rate.

[Indirik]

With autumn high production, you're producing food that has to sit around for, essentially, three to six weeks before it is consumed. (Some food produced in autumn lasts through late spring to support the cities before higher production kicks in and starts supporting them.) This means the food is subject to anywhere from 20-40 days of rot and shrinkage. On non-season islands, that large stockpile and extended rot cycle doesn't happen. You can manage food on a weekly basis, and generally don't need to stockpile for 6 weeks of consumption.  Therefore you don't get hit with all those extra rot cycles.

[Azerax]

With autumn high production, you're producing food that has to sit around for, essentially, three to six weeks before it is consumed. (Some food produced in autumn lasts through late spring to support the cities before higher production kicks in and starts supporting them.) This means the food is subject to anywhere from 20-40 days of rot and shrinkage. On non-season islands, that large stockpile and extended rot cycle doesn't happen. You can manage food on a weekly basis, and generally don't need to stockpile for 6 weeks of consumption.  Therefore you don't get hit with all those extra rot cycles.

This is a very interesting point.  In essence, rot is higher on Dwilight due to the seasons.  Considering technology back then, rot should be reduced during the winter since granaries don't have heat and the food would simply freeze, thus less rot.

Along those lines, should rot mirror the food production cycle?