Tunawars

As with most simulations, the description rarely covers all possible questions. This means the rules are complex, there is room for creativity, or there are subtle aspects to the simulation that you need to consider. To solidify the rules even more, here is a list of some of the more frequently asked questions regarding aspects of the Tunawars simulation.

Ok, I just want to be sure I am correct — we start out with 10 ships and 10,000 US dollars.

Yes.

I tried to calculate the cash on hand manually, but I am coming up with different numbers than you have. What is wrong?

Remember that ships are counted as $500 in calculating your state’s net worth, regardless of how much you actually paid for it. Thus, had you paid $750 for a ship, you will have immediately reduced your net worth by $250. Had you paid only $100 for the same ship, you would have immediately increased your net worth by $400.

Warning: One year, there was a state who sold all of it ships in order to make things easier. Unfortunately, they sold the ships at too low of a price each. The unintended result was their immediate and permanent bankruptcy.

About the ships we buy from you, when are they done being built?

The United States is a fast ship builder. In fact, they are like McDonalds in that respect — a whole bunch, ready-made, and sitting around. You order a ship from us, and it is ready to send out the same year. So, if you now have 10 ships and you build 4 more, you are responsible for dealing with 14 ships this year. This is an important point.

What determines how many tuna we catch?

There are two types of determinants: predictable and stochastic (random). The predictable determinants are the total number of ships sent out, the number of ships your state sends out, and the number of fish in the ocean.

The two stochastic determinants are the annual weather and the efficiency of your crew. The weather values uniformly range from 0.500 (really bad weather) to 1.500 (really efficacious weather). The crew efficiency values range between 0 (completely incompetent crew) to 100 (completely competent crew).

Each of the four determinants acts as a multiplier to the actual tuna catch for the year. Thus, a weather value of 0.500 indicates you caught half of the tuna you would have caught had the weather been average (1.000), all other things being equal.

Future editions of this simulation will allow you to invest in crew training, thus increasing the efficiency of your ships. Until that time, however, the crew efficiency values increase and decrease randomly (and slightly).

If two teams each send 10 ships, then do both catch the same, or how does that work?

That is correct. Only the total number of fish caught in the year is calculated. Those fish are equally split those amongst the ships sent out. Thus, were 500 tuna caught in a year in which 10 ships were sent out, each ship would catch 50 tuna fish.

If we all send out the same number of ships every day and catch the same number of tuna every day for the entire time of this project then essentially we all would finish first and we all then would share the 10 extra-credit points and everyone benefits and no one suffers or loses or comes up short.

Yes, Comrade Marx, this is absolutely true, except for the fluctuating exchange rates and the states who decide to defect on the last year. If you notice, those states who pursue identical fishing strategies and who are members of a monetary union (like most, but not all, of the European Union states) will place identically in the standings. However, not every state in this simulation is a part of the Eurozone.

Are there any fees for sending a ship out?

No, fees are charged only for docking them.

The price for a fish population survey is rather steep. Can several countries share the cost?

Yes, as long as all of the countries involved are explicit about their willingness to be involved and explicit about the amount of money they wish to be charged for the population survey. I will give the fish population information only to those countries who are members of the consortium. The fees are usually divided evenly among the states involved; however, this does not have to be the case. As long as a total of US$10,000 is spent towards the fish survey, the states can divide the cost as they see fit.

How do we know how many ships to send or buy? If we send too many — we can deplete the supply, but not enough and we do not catch as many tuna as other states.

Good question.

Ok, should we get together with other groups and come up with restrictions on what we can catch?

Should you? Beats me.

Can you give us any suggestions?

Do not forget to send in those annual reports.