Synoecism

[gorbag]

lol gorbz, I love your humour, always lightens up my day

                        Your friend,
                                       Jordan

Thanks CJ!

[size=200]Replies[/size]

Interesting Update... Wonder where this is headed.

I think I have an idea where this will lead to. Thank for the update. I like your style of writing. Smiled a lot.

I think I now too.  I liked the way you made that conversation.  Quaint little village, by the way.

Lots of lolz Looking forward to more lolz

Thanks everybody.

I wish I knew where this particular storyline was going. I'm glad you know!

[size=200]Entry 24: Bringing home the Bacon[/size]



The villagers of Revis Island and Revisham, with their organised grid system, were by far the most successful farmers in the whole region. Their produce was shipped to the mainland as well as being consumed nearer to home.




The villagers were pleased with their productivity but wanted a better way to showcase and sell their wares. Jim Snouter, one of the local pig farmers, in particular wanted to display joints of ham alongside his neighbour's turnips, hoping to attract new customers who could have the convenience of purchasing different types of food in one place - albeit from different vendors.




A site was chosen between the villages, allowing relatively easy access for each farmer. Next to the market, opportunistic businesses sprung up. A garage to repair the tractors and a Battery Hut to provide, ostensibly, batteries. Actually the Battery Hut just a cover for a gambling syndicate. Why they need a cover is up for debate. It's not like there are laws prohibiting gambling or police to enforce them.

[marsh]

Great update Gorbz! I don't know why but seeing this makes me want to attempt natural growth again. Mabey because its the first one iI've seen for a while. 

,marsh 

[Kevin1a]

There's nothing like buying a whole bucket of turnips and the losing it while betting against some parsnips.   I love farmers markets.  I think it's a fantastic business model, and it really fits well with the communities you've created.  It's also nice to some auxiliary businesses like repair shops springing up.  How about a small diner that sources all it's produce directly from the farmers market?  Looking good.

[gorbag]

Replies

Great update Gorbz! I don't know why but seeing this makes me want to attempt natural growth again. Mabey because its the first one iI've seen for a while. 

Thanks. I see you have already. I love your Sault Ste. Marie. 

There's nothing like buying a whole bucket of turnips and the losing it while betting against some parsnips.   I love farmers markets.  I think it's a fantastic business model, and it really fits well with the communities you've created.  It's also nice to some auxiliary businesses like repair shops springing up.  How about a small diner that sources all it's produce directly from the farmers market?  Looking good.

Thanks Kevin. I try not to plop unless the situation calls for it. When it comes to businesses I tend to let the game grow the buildings and I see what comes up. Though I must admit it's tempting to plop some of these things. The farmer's market fits well in this community. I don't always plop the game rewards unless there is a reason to do so. I haven't plopped down any mayor's houses yet.

Entry 25: Grinding Axes



It was not just the settlers of the Oak River region that were interested in the land. Various big foreign businesses, and business minded individuals (who were also inclined to be big) had heard of the promise of the land. There were jewels to be had, great big pearls and lumps of gold just sitting by the road. This may or may not be true, but what was certainly true was the fact that there are a lot of trees. And trees mean lumber. And lumber means big profits.



So it was that Woody Woodson set up his logging company. The original inhabitants of Oak River were not even aware of the operation

He built a small docks, and houses for his workers. The docks were temporary and to be used for immediate dispatch. The plan was to set up a road to the main coast and build a substantial docks there, but this would take time.



The machinery was moved in. Men stood around looking busy and occasionally chopped down trees.



They utilised the steam donkey technology, though they had planned on trying to get or invent better technologies.



The massive swathes of oak that covered the region were not of great interest to Woody. He was after the pines and other rare trees because that wood was selling for great profit.



The question is would Woody Woodson's wood company grow to great heights or would it be felled in its prime?

[Shilka]

I'm so curious how you got that steam donkey in that shot. Is it an existing download, did you make it, did you let someone make it, or did you just photoshop it in?  for continuity!

[gorbag]

I'm so curious how you got that steam donkey in that shot. Is it an existing download, did you make it, did you let someone make it, or did you just photoshop it in?  for continuity!

Thanks Shilka. It's one of Pegasus' forestry scenes.


Entry 26: What have you done for me lately?



It's been 26 Game Years since the region started. In that time, since the first settler, the population grew to 39,790. Farming and industry have taken off. Mines have been found and trees have been chopped.

Let's have a look at how it's grown.

The first image is of the whole region in 1905. You can't see much, but it gives the whole context.



Now we zoom in to a close up of 1907.  In the first 7 years the region only grew to 627 people, and the villages are small and relatively isolated and surrounded by the forbidding forest. The first small industry appears on the banks of the Dart River.



By 1915 the farms had started to spread and shipping had become an industry, leading to the founding of new port villages.





By 1920 the first railway line had been built.





Finally, by 1926 farming has expanded so rapidly, that cornfields were more common than trees in some areas.

[kodlovag]

I like natural development, these are very interesting region shots.

[RickD]

Great development. Looks very natural.

[gorbag]

Replies

Thanks everybody. I try to keep things natural.

Entry 27: A Walk in the Woods



This is Bill Featherstone. He's the Oak River region's premier hiker and cartographer.




He's been travelling the region for years, charted hills and dales, mountains and valleys. He's sailed to islands to view lonely beaches and converse with stranded whales.

Let's join him on his latest journey, heading north from the village of Cakebread, the edge of known civilisation.

He starts out from the farm tended by his son, Geoff.



He travels through distant forests.


 
He hikes by ponds and steams.



He boldly goes where no man has gone before. Except they have... What's this road doing here?



Bill followed the road and found a bustling port. This is the port that the mine and the lumber yard truck all of their goods to, before shipping it overseas.



There's only one thing for Bill to do. Get back to Oak River as quickly as possible and let people know...

[canyonjumper]

Can't have you going reply-less over here, now can we?

Naughty, naughty, building a secret port.

Great stuff gorbz!

           Your friend,
                          Jordan

[gorbag]

Reply

Thanks CJ.

Secret ports. This is what you get when you have a large area and no centralised government. We'll solve that soon enough.

Entry 28: School's In



This is Broadoak. Broadoak was founded in the year 1914. It has grown a lot in that time. Today, it is a small riverside farming community.



This is Broadoak's school. It was built a year after the founding of the village to keep the young 'uns occupied during the day. Unfortunately, it has only one classroom and can no longer support the educational needs of the village. Not only are there more students to teach, they are starting to need more than primary education.



It was decided that a new, larger school be built to accommodate the needs of the village. This school had to be much larger than the original one. Given the build time, it was decided that the new school should be on a different site to the old one, so that the students could continue being taught while the building was taking place. A site was chosen on a radial road near the centre of the village.



First, the area was cleared of trees.

L]

After that, the ground was levelled so construction could begin.



The school was made simply, being just a wooden framed building featuring a few classrooms. The build still took a few months to complete however.

[scott1964]

Nice update 

[malibu_man]

Great MD you have started here, just read through the whole thing. I remember natural growth and i thought it was very interesting. You can bet I'll be looking back for a new update, keep it up

[gorbag]

Replies

Nice update 

Thanks.

Great MD you have started here, just read through the whole thing. I remember natural growth and i thought it was very interesting. You can bet I'll be looking back for a new update, keep it up

Thanks. Nice to have you reading. I'm going to be away over Christmas, but I hope to pick up the pace after New Year. I've been quite busy recently.

Entry 29: Pitchforks and Pyromania



When Bill Featherstone discovered the secret port he rushed back as quickly as he could to his home in Anorien. When he got home, he rested for four days (whilst helping out on the farm) before setting off for the village of St. Raphael.

When he got there he found a crowd of people that was hanging around the gates of the church with nothing better to do.

`Oi, listen up every body!'

` `ere it's that ole Bill Featherstone. Wonder what `e up to?'

` Prolly `arpin on about his latest guide book o' `is. Loik anyone wants to go trampin' about in them forests getting sat upon by drop bears.'

General laughter from the rough crowd ensued.

`Now, don' you go laffin' at me. Oi've got sum terrible noos.'

` O, my my, terrible noos, that does sound bad.'

More laughter.

`You don' understand. There's a port up north. An' factries an' e'rythin'. Way up pas' Enbourne.'

`Up pas' Enbourne? I tell ya there's nowt up there but a load a trees.'

`Seriously. `m tellin' ya.'

`Roight Bob. `E sounds like he's serious. It's toime to get your `ome made explosives out. It looks loik we've got some work to do.'

And so they did.









What would happen to the industries, now that the pitchfork crowd had gained control?

[Kevin1a]

They really oughta 'ave paid their taxes, donchasay?

Northport looks like a really good spot for a community though.  Lots of waterfront property.  I wonder what'll happen to the people who lived there now that the industry has been...removed.

[malibu_man]

  Not a pitchfork carrying mob of angry villagers!!!!!! Awesome update, cant wait to see what will happen to Northport now that the villagers know. Have a merry christmas and see ya next year.   

[CSGdesign]

I lol'd.
The accent and the "home made explosives" haha.

[Terring7]

I like what i see