I'm not going to read all the notes here about this event, but I've noticed a distinct 'targeting' of smaller cities with certain quests. Sinya Arda is my smallest city. In all my other Live World cities I've NOT had so much as one request for 48 hour productions. Yet in the space of two days I've had two requests for 48 hour productions in my smallest city. This clearly feels like targeting. The only reason it's been in a two day period is because I used time boosts to speed it up and pick them up today- moments ago I received yet another request for 48 hour productions.
I have 6 cities - one is in Beta and it's in Sorcerors and Dragons and it only received 1 request for 48 hour productions during the entire event. None of the other 4 live cities have had so much as 1 request for 48 hour productions. Though I now have them setup 'in case'.
If you are targeting smaller cities, because they do tend toward desperation in advancement and you think you can force them to pay cash to move forward faster, the that is poorly done Inno. This is the one reason why standard quests - applied to everyone - is necessary. Targeting smaller cities is just wrong - and yes, I know there are those of you who will disagree and that's your right to do so. I know that money is what keeps this game going but this obvious money grab at smaller cities is really poorly done.
FYI - when I mentioned it in chat, one other player said that the same was happening to them in beta - their city in beta is much smaller than mine. Perhaps that is not enough to convince some, but it did prove to me that I'm correct.
Let's go back to standard quest lists - one size fits all works for me. I do my best and all my cities know what to expect - success in it is on me. This type of play is clearly on you and the desired outcome it beyond obvious. I don't have disposable income, so you lost out on me and pushed me one step closer to considering closing this city.
And so we are clear - my beta city has now (today) been hit with the 4th request (in a 5 day period) to clear 2 provinces. There is no other option with that quest, so the quests are clearly NOT taking into consideration the player - pretty much it's play Inno's way or miss out. I'll be missing out in Sinya Arda.