Empire Capital City

One city in each empire may be designated as the capital. To become the capital, a city must have a capitol building. Only the emperor or vice-emperor can designate a city to be the capital.

The capital city is an important and strategic part of an empire.

• An empire without a capital does not accumulate a treasury.
• An empire without a capital cannot levy taxes.
• Sensor consoles aboard spacecraft display a distinctive blip for a capital city.
• When players join the game, they are offered a list of empires to join. Only empires with a capital city and an open immigration policy are listed. Without a capital city, it is more difficult for new players to join an empire.
• The capital city has DNA implications for first-time players, as discussed on the page about Race.
• An empire must have a capital city to be tallied on the Empire Standings page of the Shores of Hazeron web site.

Cities levy taxes if the empire has a capital city. Taxes accumulate in the government account of local banks. Once per day, a portion of the government account is transmitted to the capital city.

Taxes are primarily used by the empire to pay for research and development. Higher technology levels must be developed at great cost. The government accumulates its wealth at the capital city. Technology research is often conducted at the capital due to the constant influx of tax revenue.

Taxes are also used to pay rewards to players. Rewards must be collected at banks holding enough money to pay the outstanding debt. The accumulation of money at the capital makes it an ideal location for collecting large government debts.

When a city is captured, the conquerers pillage the local banks of all their money and split the loot between themselves. The accumulation of money at the capital city makes it a juicy target for enemy empires.