I like the graphic of FOE and I really appreciate an realistic look.
I like the graphics, too!
But there always should be some balance between visual aspects & usability. Just think of the bouncing icons when some production has finished or taxes from your houses are to be collected.
While it might be ok to pick up a tank in front of your battle tank factory, would you like to search for a pouch of money or a cheque at the front doors of your houses, pliers on the anvil of your blacksmith, a gingerbread man in the shop window of your confectionary - all only 1 pixel or even less in size, to be realistic?
Coins and supplies should not be in these events as rewards. Most now have a good supply of both.
The same goes for watch fires, single rogues,
blueprints and, well, nearly every reward.
It depends heavily on the individual needs what has to be considered as useful or as crap.
When I was a child, we had a RL summer event (I think they still have it) where you could play games to collect points, and with your points you could get differently priced rewards. You could get the things
you wanted.
That was a fair, transparent system and everybody was happy (except for those who didn't manage to collect enough points for their desired reward ^^)
The main difference is - that RL event was a non-profit event, prices were donated by local shopkeepers & companies. And the main goal was distraction & happy people.
The main goal for FoE events is generating more income for Inno and to bind players (
I must collect my apples every day, before they decay! I must play daily or I could miss event X and special building Y!)
Inno doesn't live on happy people, they live on frustrated ones who spend real money to get the things they really want.
