Settlement Overview - Morale
This is a very important area for the Officials to keep track of, but it is also the most difficult area to control. If a population is unhappy harsh measures may be required to enforce the laws, or drastic compensation may be required to appease the citizens. Unhappy citizens could cause all manner of problems for the Officials, ranging from Production hiccups, riots and even attempting to overthrow the Officials.
Morale has an effect on production that is difficult to take into account. Citizens that are quite happy could be more inclined to work hard, but a population that is too happy could have citizens that are too busy enjoying themselves to do the work that is needed. Ironically a population that is not happy may have citizens that are more likely to work hard in the hope of helping to improve their situation, but is more likely to grudgingly carry on working for a while.
Throughout history numerous debates have resulted between people with different ideas on what is the best approach to governing a settlement. Some people unsurprisingly use different Gods ideologies as an example of what to base a government on: -
Is it better to live in a settlement run in the spirit of Phyloqure or Baldor where it can take time to get anything resolved as numerous debates are held and a low military presence just invites invasion. Citizens may be happy, but they can easily grow complacent.
How about living in a settlement run in the spirit of Fleyshur. Roving bands of Fleyshur followers constantly causing problems for everyone, including themselves, and everything - but then who would want to invade a settlement over-run with so many violent people? The average citizen would live in constant fear of being beaten, or worse, but they might be inclined to get on with their work and keep themselves out of any Official matters, that is until they rise up and attempt a coup.
The main problem with keeping a settlement's citizens happy is that you can not please everyone any of the time, and it seems that many citizens can be happy one minute and miserable the next.
Crisis: A settlement with citizens who are having a morale crisis is likely to suffer greatly in many areas. After a while at this low level the chances of a coup occurring in the settlement is very high and thus the Officials should try and improve morale with all haste.
Poor: At this level the majority of settlement citizens are not happy with their situation. Citizens with low morale tend to make slow workers and they can create problems for every area of a settlement.
Satisfactory: A settlement where the majority of its citizens are content with their situation is normally a settlement that is in a reasonable order.
Good: A settlement where the majority of its citizens are happy is a settlement that is likely gaining bonuses to its other categories like production areas and maintenance.
Outstanding: A settlement that has so many citizens so incredibly happy is a very unusual place to be, and often the situation doesn't last long, whilst the situation does last the affects can be staggering with mammoth projects being completed ahead of schedule with improved efficiency.
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