Politician Archive
Thread: CITY COST TOO HIGH, HAS TO BE LOWERED
OkanoDroids wrote:I totally agree with Jaspor. Especially the part about the Sales Tax. It has the most potential for city revenue, and has never completely worked. If I remember correctly, when it did (kinda sorta) work, it only worked when you set it at 10%. How long does it take a team of SOE devs to fix this bug?
I know they've been busy with expansions and updates, but they should have been busy fixing what's broke before breaking what's not...broke.
(that's just me saying in a not so pretty way, "SOE, please fix these bugs that have been around for months and months".)
actually, it worked at one point. at publish 9 they messed around with the commodities market, and it broke.
the devs know that sales tax is a HUGE issue for us (especially after I almost jumped on them during the PC panel at fanfest), but as usual there's no ETA for a fix. it's not from a lack of trying on my part, I can assure you that
every week or two I go bug them abuot sales tax 
I agree that the costs should be lowered, I would also like to see that the Xp be either raised, or make it that every time someone comes through your city you get some sort of xp. It;s slow going, and very frustraiting. I just started my city a few days ago, and to find that I can't do anything but wait, just irks me to no end. My city is made up of very close friends, and we would like to see our city grow, yes, But...we are not going to just trust anyone, especially New commers to the came, to come in...we have been here since the launch of the game, and have had our run in to many times with the 'Bad Apples' that seem to ruin the trust factor. I think they should make the xp go faster, lower the costs of the city maintance, and make it to where your rank isn't dependent onten people per rank...next rank for my city istwenty people...if they have lowered the lots, why not lower the amount of players it takes to make it to your next rank...it takes only five people to start a guild, same thing should be for the towns, outposts, etc. Just my thoughts though, as I'm sure the devs won't even consider what most of us have to say... 
Farscape0ne wrote:
With New CU and money not as easy to come by city maint has to be lowered, Everything else is going doing in game and I play on most overcharged server of them all.
Khristen please address this issue.
FEH, ive ran Sweet Water, Dantooine on Bria and that town has made 1mil + a week 300+k a week profit regardless of what the devs have done. no sales tax property tax income taxes whatsoever. planted a few parking garages and a shuttleport and thats all. dont come in crying to nerf anything just becuase you made poor planning decisions or cant get a group up just to run a few combat missions to pay your expenses
Alright everyone. Guess we're all wrong because there's A city that can make good use of it's income. I guess we should all pull up stakes and move to Dantooine.
TxRoadDawg wrote:
FEH, ive ran Sweet Water, Dantooine on Bria and that town has made 1mil + a week 300+k a week profit regardless of what the devs have done. no sales tax property tax income taxes whatsoever. planted a few parking garages and a shuttleport and thats all. dont come in crying to nerf anything just becuase you made poor planning decisions or cant get a group up just to run a few combat missions to pay your expenses
My city costs 689k or thereabouts a week.
When I became mayor I instutited a series of taxes...Income tax, garage tax and shuttle tax ( because Sales and Property are broken and unreliable. ). A day later one of the guildleaders asked to speak to me. They arranged a meeting between the three guilds. They agreed to each pay 200k a week. I would in turn get rid of the income tax and leave the garage and shuttle taxes near minimums. I toss in the extra. It has worked well for our city. I do have to send a reminder out now and then, but they are quick to pay up when the reminder comes.
Beforehand they were relying solely on private contributors and around 4 or 5 people was paying it all. They had sales tax but I informed them it was broken and that the city wasn't really getting the money.
I agree that sales tax needs to be fixed. There is sometimes trouble with property tax working properly too.
There are several ways the city could raise funds:
1) They could increase the cap on the income tax.
2) They could institute civic structures where a series of the proceeds would go to the city:
Examples might be the Post Office idea and also Casino ideas.
3)A cut of the money from mission terminals.....say 3% goes to the city ( you'd be surprised that would add up)
4) Instutute a tax on training.....like the garage tax charges a little extra. Problem is that like with the entertainers and the /covercharge now, some souls will just go where they have no taxes or NPC cities to train rather than pay even the measely extra 100 credits...sad but true....
well I need to head to bed, some ideas 
none really new though.
Traie wrote:
Alright everyone. Guess we're all wrong because there's A city that can make good use of it's income. I guess we should all pull up stakes and move to Dantooine.
TxRoadDawg wrote:
FEH, ive ran Sweet Water, Dantooine on Bria and that town has made 1mil + a week 300+k a week profit regardless of what the devs have done. no sales tax property tax income taxes whatsoever. planted a few parking garages and a shuttleport and thats all. dont come in crying to nerf anything just becuase you made poor planning decisions or cant get a group up just to run a few combat missions to pay your expenses
Keep in mind, not everyone likes to group to make money, and should NOT have to be forced into playing in a groupo just so you can make enough money to put in your share of maintence into the city.
There are a good number of players who have massed a large amounts of credits pre-CU that they can help pay the difference, but sooner or later, that will change.
It may seem fair now, especially if players pull together to play in a group to support the city, BUT, many players have thier own goals in playing thier chars, and most are NOT into grouping together just for hte sake of keeping a city going. The ecomomy has changed from the pre-SWG2 (SWG), because its harder to kill mobs , harder to solo, and there are still a good number of players still trying to get used to the new combat system, that individal players are not making the credits they used to make, because of the bugs in the combat system, and players having trouble adjusting to the SWG2, and some, like myself, havn't been able to make money yet because of the difficulty I am having trying to play with the professions I have in trying to play in SWG2.. Not everyone will be online all the time to be convienent to group either. Grouping should not be the only option on supporting a city.
Also, someone said about cities with no taxes, and there is a GOOD reason for that, as many players are either new, don't have much money, and trying to hangon to what they got in order for them to buy thier armor, weapon upgrades, and with a city with taxes, less likely to attract the players into wanting to be in a city at all, as some or most players are having hard enough time paying maintenence for thier own houses, and buying weapons, armor, etc, that players would rather not live in the city, then to staying broke.
Players would rather leave the city then pay taxes, and thus the city will fall under, or lower rank, and that could make a negative impact of other prosspective players in joining a city that isn't stable.
I think I said enough for you all to get a clearing idea what needs to be done in order to get new ideas or adjustments from SOE to make it more fair in keeping a city going.
Also consider that the SWG economy is not balanced due to previous credit duping, and buying credits from websites, and keeping expenses high in order to make money get expended off more in hopes to balance the economy is a bad idea, because it just brings more financial hardships on those players that don't buy credits, doesn't use exploits, those that earn thier credits fairly.
Opt
The city I run has a weekly cost of 770K. We have 106 citizens with a 2K income tax. We have property tax, though it has been mentioned that it may not be working properly. We charge 100cr on top of your ticket to anywhere out of our shuttle, and we have a garage. We are currently just barely below breaking even at our current level. Before a series of gardens were added to the city a short while ago, we were around the 640K a week mark and were making money.
From my experience, the city costs seem about right. A city, particularly a large and well appointed one, should present some form of challenge in funding. I'm not trying to call anyone lazy or anything, but I simply do not agree that a drastic cost reduction is needed.
TxRoadDawg wrote:
Traie wrote:
Alright everyone. Guess we're all wrong because there's A city that can make good use of it's income. I guess we should all pull up stakes and move to Dantooine.
TxRoadDawg wrote:
FEH, ive ran Sweet Water, Dantooine on Bria and that town has made 1mil + a week 300+k a week profit regardless of what the devs have done. no sales tax property tax income taxes whatsoever. planted a few parking garages and a shuttleport and thats all. dont come in crying to nerf anything just becuase you made poor planning decisions or cant get a group up just to run a few combat missions to pay your expenses
gee am i the ONLY one outta 20+ servers to get their town self sufficient ROFL, almost makes me feel godly thinking about that. my points simple, you KNOW a town cost money to run when you start one, if you dont plan out how to pay for it its YOUR fault. ive spent enough time strolling these forums to know by now begging for a nerf only leads to trouble. when was the last time cites got ANYTHING new? parking garage maybe? instead of asking for new ways to EARN income for a city like having billboards to rent out for advertising pr some type of casino/hotel for gaming profits someone just wants the devs to give us something for nothing again.
last 2 major issues this proffesion had i recall involved skill points versus benefits to be a master politician and electing mayors. the devs chose to follow the faction that wanted skill points nerfed instead of adding value to the points spent. being the only 0 point profession are you really surprised that any city enhancement are planned for "some time down the road"? Same problem with elections, people wanted it changed and ill agree totally it did need changing. Problem being once the devs nerfed abstained votes going to the incumbent they also nerfed the xp gain from them. is anyone trying to master politician now really enjoying having to get everyone in their town to remember to vote so you can get your xp every three weeks?.
Play the game within the framework we have now and save crying nerf for the issues that are REALLY a problem. need cash see the sticky about grinding an hour top of this forum. dont like grinding kill some npc's for loot. donthave combat skillsfly a few destroy missions in jtl and sell all the parts to the chassis dealer, thats a few hundred k there counting the credits and attack wave bonuses. no jtl,stick a parking garage close by the mission terminals, add 1-2 more near the merchant area, catina/med centers, or routes you know people will travel alot ie to the nearest shuttle/spaceport. be surprised how fast 3-4k a repaiar adds up over 7 days.
maybe i sound a bit harsh but it irks me when people want things always handed to them instead of taking the time to EARN it for themselves
well, I for one am glad that you Aren't...with an attitude like that...No one would have anything if you were in charge.
Now, just because your city is doing good, congrats, some cities Aren't because of the location and or the server. You are on a prime planet for your city because so many people go there for the FS guys and what not...there are some others that chose quiet and remote spots...doesn't give you the right to come on here and post your 'Art thou so holy attitude and make others feel even worse about themselves, their abilities and their towns/cities. If people want to Post their concerns and what not, they have the right to...they aren't Crying or whining as you seem to think, they are upset at the fact that the costs ARE in fact too high. as for them wanting something handed to them, that's NOT what they are asking...they are saying Lower the costs. All of us ARE EARNING it because you CAN'T Grind this profession. Step down off your high pedistal there that you placed yourself on and make a suggestion...NOT bash people and call them names and make fun.
Maybe I sound a bit Harsh, but it really irks me when people come onto threads and totally flame others for their concerns and rub into others faces the fact that they are doing better than someone else.