Game Economy Simulator

Scenario inputs

Simulate scenario Export CSV

Results

Method and worked example

Base balance at turn t = starting resources + t × (production − upkeep). The upgrade scenario pays the cost at the beginning of the selected turn if sufficient funds exist, then receives the bonus from that turn onward. Negative net production is allowed; a negative resource balance is shown instead of silently clipped.

With 12 production and 4 upkeep, the net gain is 8 per turn. A 60-resource upgrade granting 6 additional production has simple payback of 10 turns (60 ÷ 6), ignoring financing, capacity and opportunity cost. Compare both scenario columns rather than treating simple payback as profit.

Example: start 120, production 12, upkeep 4, cost 60, bonus 6, buy at turn 3. At turn 1 both balances are 128; at turn 3 the upgraded balance is 90 and the baseline is 144.

Limits: no randomness, inflation, capacity, maintenance escalation or dynamic prices. Verify assumptions with playtests. CSV is generated locally.

Related: Economy balance guide · QA Matrix