Simulating the decline of an empire...

[Riesstiu IV]

So I've been working on a MGE scenario based on the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov off an on for a while now, and one of the biggest design hurdles is trying to simulate the decline and eventual fall of the Galactic Empire.

Here are some ideas I have so far:
- Set the government to Despotism to simulate rampant corruption and economic decline.
- Remove the ability to build courthouses and other buildings that reduce corruption. Remove the ability to rebuild Aqueduct/Sewer improvements after they are lost.
- Have random turns frequently generate barbarian units throughout the empire to simulate civil wars and rebellions.
- Have events that deliver techs which give weaker ships and obsolete more powerful predecessors at the same time.
- Set the Empire's AI to be non-expansionist and non-militaristic.
- Have events that render important wonders obsolete.
- Remove diplomatic contacts via events and be at war with everyone.
- Defenders with poor stats.

Any other suggestions?

[McMonkey]

Limit available food to the point where large cities decline in population. You could then stop the rot at any time by giving the Refrigeration tech (allowing double irrigation) and the supermarket wonder.

Certain techs (Navigation, Flight and Invention) reduce trade payoffs. Would impact a human controlled nation more that an AI controlled one.

Set the limit (# of cities) before cities riot quite low. Make happiness wonders obsolete at a chosen point by event gifting the obsoleting tech.

Hope that gives you some more ideas

[Harry Tuttle]

Check out this thread for some ideas.

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthread.php?t=69477&highlight=decline

[Riesstiu IV]

Excellent link. Thank you Mr. Tuttle!