Jim Frediani wrote:
> I had always thought that a % [and 15% is way too high] of every
> transaction should go to the city fathers. Say 2%-5%. If no one "owns"
> it, it goes "poof". Otherwise it goes to the castle owner.
My point was that the holder of the province should have the right to set
whatever tax rate they like. Whether someone wants to pay that is another
matter. If traders don't like the posted tax rate in a given city, they are
free to vote with their feet and go somewhere with a lower rate. This will
hopefully lead to competition between cities for trade revenue and if they
want people to pay the tax they will have to set the tax rate low enough to
make it worthwhile to trade there.
Conversely if a player controls a large area and all the cities within it,
there will be little competition which might leave traders at the mercy of the
landowner.
Another variation might be to allow the setting of a default tax rate for a
city, as well as additional rates for different factions. That way, the city
owner could choose to lower taxes for members of their own alliance or for
trade guilds.