[jimbob]

RE: how to make an Arrakis type planet, that is incredibly valuable and central to the game.

Like SJ said, start with the map. I'd suggest making the organics rating for ALL planets very low, near or at zero. Except of course Aarrakis! It should be 200% or more for organics (read: spice). Make the warp point manipulation devices organics expensive, and give the technology tree for warp point manipulation only to the Trade Guild.

However don't give the Guild the ability to mine the organics/spice!! In this way, all the organics/spice mining must be done by one of the other players, and only by one at a time (because there is only one organics rich planet, Arrakis) The Guild, and so all space faring races could then be hostage to that one house/empire for their supply of organics/spice... at least until someone else takes control of Arrakis. Let the politics begin!

(if you try these ideas, you'll need to use the racial traits "Is Normal", "Is a Guild Member" in the same way SJ did in Pirates and Nomads. "Is a Guild Member" would block the player from ever getting Farming/Organic extraction technologies. If you don't use this exclusion method, Guild members could potentially trade for this tech, which would imbalance the game)

[ June 12, 2002, 08:57: Message edited by: jimbob ]