Right. I've actually given this quite a bit of thought in a general
plan for increased economic development in Oly that I intend to someday
propose to Rich. In essence, I think creation of a city ought to be a
three step process, starting with the creation of a village with 500(?)
wood and 200 peasants. The village has no market, no structures can be
built inside, but does produce an addtional 10 peasants per month (they
do breed, don't they, those peasants: Almost think they were all named
Clinton or something) and doesn't contribute to civ level. Adding a
certain amount of stone and some more peasants makes a town, which still
has no market, but can have structures built in it and contributes .5 to
civ level. Then, adding more stone, more peasants, and some pikemen
makes a city. All this would require a new construction skill, and
perhaps a noble point to build the city just to make it harder.
My economic system also includes roads, farms, etc. Probably never be
implemented, but I enjoy thinking about this sort of thing as a long
time amateur game designer.
Rob