The game's trade-off between taxation and growth is presented as true to life in broad outline. Taxes can finance more troops immediately, but a larger army creates continuing upkeep rather than a one-time purchase. Spending every available resource on soldiers can leave too little investment for the economy that must support them. The simulation compresses public finance, but it captures a central problem of state capacity: military power requires a revenue base that can keep paying for it.
Notable Point · 2:31:15-2:31:50
Taxation, growth, and the recurring cost of armies
The campaign economy makes the ruler balance immediate tax revenue and military strength against growth and the continuing expense of maintaining troops.