Reading the discussion born in the playtest I had this idea:

Differentiate tradable calamities between East and West.
This doesn't mean we have to find another set of calamities, just that the face of the calamity has an "E" or a "W" or any symbol we would like to use to differentiate them.

The change is that a calamity took from the "other side of the world" is undoubtly harsher than a calamity you are familiar with.

The classic example of Epidemic means that an epidemic coming from far away. Thus this kind of epidemic would be more destructive (say 5 more damage to your own tokens, and 10 more damage to distribute between other cultures).

Each calamity should be of course studied singularly.

Having, at the end of trade phase, two calamities of the same type makes you discard the less destructive.

Thoughts?

Raffaele

I think a lot of the hubub in the forum over the two calamities was a tempest in a teapot. One thing we (Velusion/I) are watching is the effects of cross-deck trading. If it is too powerful, something like you suggest could be used to discourage it. That really remains to be seen.