Introduction to Applewhite: The Victorian Population Challenge

I started the Victorian Population Challenge because it seemed like a reasonably short (ha!) challenge that could help me get a better feel for historical neighbourhoods. I've been stunned by how accurate it felt right from the start. I've tried a lot of challenges in the 16 years that I've played this game, but the VPC is absolutely my favourite. 

I am, however, a BACC player at heart, so over time I've been tweaking the challenge here and there to fit my playstyle. I've broken a lot of rules and added a few where they seemed to be missing. I've also run into a lot of questions and issues that I haven't been able to find answers to because this challenge is ancient, and other Victorian blogs and stories are so rare. 

That's why I decided to chronicle my trials and tribulations here, just in case anyone else finds themselves in the same situation. Hopefully it'll also help me keep track of things and stay motivated. 

Applewhite is a town that has flourished in trade thanks to its busy port and easy connection to other settlements along the river. Once upon a time it was a farming community, but now most of the land has been repurposed for the growing population.

This picture is from rotation 6, so there are a fair bit more buildings than at the start of the challenge, but the town is constantly changing as it grows.

The docks on the bottom right is where the the working poor live. Directly above them is the commercial district and the church. The top right holds several farming households and a park. To the left of them is the old town, with some shops and middle-class residential housing. The middle class residential area takes up most of the middle of the map.

The left side of the map is reserved for larger, more affluent estates, with Applewhite Manor in the top right.

The challenge starts with nine families from six different socioeconomic classes. I decided to make the ninth family servants, so I'm starting with eight couples rather than nine. The challenge ends when the fourth generation is born. 

You can find more information about the rules here, but to put it shortly, the challenge revolves around continuous pregnancies and social progression, with different restrictions on money-making in every social class.

Poor - The Colwaters, a ruthlessly ambitious working-class family willing to do anything to climb the social ladder. How far can they make it in three generations?

Poor - The Darktides, a simple working-class family doing their best to survive under the harsh conditions that the working poor were subjected to. 

Subsistence Farmer - The Akers family. Rather against the rules I decided I wanted livestock, so they will be breeding pets as well as making money off their farm. Will Patrick and Daisy be able to keep up with their breeding llamas on top of their own rapidly multiplying family? (Spoilers: no they won't!)

Trade - The Harrows are the apothecaries of the town, which means they're witches in order to be able to brew potions. They'll be selling remedies and tonics and respectively working as the town's healer and midwife as well.

Trade - The Waits. Tinkerers and Clocksmiths. With all the technological advancements of the Victorian and Edwardian era, I wanted a family that represented the ingenuity of the age. Let's hope he doesn't sell any radium-painted clocks. 

Professional - The Wormwells. Eric worked hard to pull himself out of the lower middle class and make it to partner in his law firm. Now he's married to a judge's daughter and living in a fancy house, but will he be able to keep them, and keep his wife in the comfort she's accustomed to?

Gentleman Farmer - The Meadowsweets. Robert's great-great-grandfather worked his fingers to the bone to purchase his plot of land from the Applewhites. Now the Meadowsweet Orangerie has stood for generations and it's Robert's job to pass it on to his children. But does he possess the business head to keep his farm from going under?

Noble - Lord and Lady Ashbury, the Count and Countess of Applewhite. Over time the Ashburys have been forced to sell off most of their ancestral land to keep up with the costs of the main house. Will they change with the times and flourish along with the growing town, or allow their fortune and heritage dwindle?