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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WayneLigon" data-source="post: 344173" data-attributes="member: 3649">FOODMaybe the large and old empire exists in an area with little good farmland, but rich in other resources that are scarace elsewhere. They would need to import food once the cities get a certain size. They'll also conquer nations with good farmland, or attempt to subvert them economically.LUXURIESSuddenly the ladies of the Empire are seized with a desire to wear purfume. Really good perfume only exists when you have ambergris to make it with. The Northern nation of Thule suddenly finds themselves with leverage over the largest known nation, simply because they are the only whalers.SPICESEmpires in the real world have been built on the ability to import spices. Fortunes that would begger the imagination have been made and lost in this trade. Most food without spices tastes like crap, so people will riot to get spices if they know they exist. Suddenly the nation of Sumara finds itself in a position of power, because they have peppercorns. Sumara has to find a balance between squeezing the Empire for every little consession it can, and not triggering an invasion.Whatever It is, It has to be in a place where it's not practical for the empire to simply invade and take what they want. Most empires got to be that way through just that practice. Maybe there is a powerful Good priesthood in control of key government positions? It would make it very difficult for the Emperor to wage war for purely economic reasons.</blockquote>

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