Resources

Resources

A powerful empire requires an effective economy, which is achieved through gathering and refining various resources. Although every map begins with a supply of basic resources, growing an economy relies on careful planning and wise investment of initial materials. From grinding Grain into Flour to the assembly of Cannons, every processed good begins with gathered resources that must be refined and supplied to specialized Workers. Whether an empire favors Trade, Technology, or Warfare, proper resource management is the surest route to victory.

Essential Resources

These resources serve as the basis for all production and should be gathered as quickly as possible. All resources in this category are collected from Forests, Mines/Stone Piles, or basic buildings available for construction at the beginning of play.

Wood

Wood is harvested from trees and is available in the town sector on most maps. Wood is necessary for various stages in production of many important resources, such as Plank, Tools, Weapons, Wheels, and Paper.
When supplied to a Coking Plant, Wood also can be used as an alternative source for Coal. If a Coal Mine is unavailable (or insufficient) to meet demand, make sustainable Wood gathering an early priority.

Stone

Stone is required for most construction and building upgrades. Once the appropriate Prestige option has been unlocked, Stone can be used to upgrade streets, speeding all resource deliveries. In the early stages of most maps, limited amounts of Stone can be gathered from Stone Piles. Eventually, Stone should be gathered by Geologists or secured through trade.

Grain

Early Grain supplies will likely be used for goods such as Bread and Beer, but this resource is also vital to many other production chains, including Horses and Animal (when produced from a Piggery). Grain Barns take up large amounts of Fertile Ground, however, so great care should be taken in the early stages of city planning.

Water

Water is produced by Wells and is usually available immediately upon starting a map. Primarily used in the production of Beer and livestock, Water is involved in most Grain production chains and should be made readily available to all appropriate work yards. Larger operations require more than one Well to keep up with Water demands.

Coal

Even in the early stages of expansion, Coal is needed for vital production chains. A basic resource in both Iron and Coin production, multiple units of Coal are required to create even low-level soldiers. Players relying on Warfare should work to establish strong Coal production as early as possible.

Iron Ore

Iron Ore is gathered from mines and must be processed by an Iron Smelter before it can be used in further production. Once refined, Iron is used in basic items like Tools and Weapons, and in more specialized goods like Jewelry and Wheels. Iron has an important role in all three expansion methods, but empires favoring Warfare will require much more Iron than those using Technology or Trade.

Gold

Gold’s primary use is Coin production, but it is also used to craft Jewelry required for clerics and traders.

Animal

Animal can be gathered by Hunters or produced at a Piggery. Once collected, Animal is processed by a Butcher and is the base resource for Meat production.

Production Goods

These are resources that have been refined by at least one work yard.

Plank

Plank is the most basic use for Wood, and it is primarily used for building construction and upgrades. A steady supply of Plank helps ensure that an empire is able to colonize new sectors.

Coin

Coin can be exchanged for a variety of goods, but it is primarily used to produce soldiers. Whether soldiers are hired from the Tavern or trained at the Stronghold, maintaining an effective army takes a steady supply of Coin.

Flour

Flour is used to produce Bread. Flour production is fast and inexpensive, but it requires large patches of Fertile Ground for the supporting Grain Barns.

Bread

Bread production is a sustainable source of Plain Food, which can be used to train clerics, hire Pikemen, and fulfill the Food requirement of Noble Residence work yards.

Fish

Fish are found off the shores of some sectors and are a convenient supply of Plain Food. However, a Lodge with one or more Fisher work yards can quickly deplete Fishing Grounds.

Meat

Meat is the only source of Fancy Food. A reliable source of Animal ensures that Fancy Food is always available.

Horse

Horses are required to produce Cavaliers and Merchants. Because Horses require large amounts of Grain, it’s best to anticipate demand and adjust production accordingly.

Beer

Beer production is simple and extremely useful to any economy. Aside from providing the foundation of all cleric training, Beer can be sold to Taverns in exchange for Coin. Beer requires only Grain, Water, and a Brewery, so production can be easily established very early. Because Tavern sales are handled by Carriers rather than traders, strong Beer production can be a great help to early development.

Paper

Paper is used in Book production and requires a supply of Water and unrefined Wood. Because of Paper’s limited applications, care should be taken to avoid overproduction of this resource.

Book

Books are used to train Brothers and Fathers. Books are essential to advanced Technology research. Bookbinderies must be attached to Noble Residences, and they consume Food in addition to the Paper required for actual Book production.

Wool

Wool is produced at the Shepherd work yard and requires only a supply of Water. Because it’s used in Garment production, Wool is an important component in Trade.

Cloth

Cloth is refined from Wool at the Weaving Mill and is an important part of Trade. Cloth is produced from Wool. Production requires Fertile Ground to be maintained and should be considered when developing an expansion strategy.

Garment

Garments are produced by the Tailor work yard and used in the production of all traders. Because the Tailor is a Noble Residence work yard, Garment production requires a supply of Food in addition to Cloth. Garments can be exchanged for Coin at all Marketplaces and Ports.

Jewelry

A Goldsmith refines Gold and Iron into the Jewelry needed for advanced clerics and traders. Although it is important to both Trade and Technology, Jewelry production relies on valuable Iron and Gold. Surplus Jewelry can be exchanged for Coin at all Marketplaces and Ports.

Weapon

Weapons are needed to hire new Generals and produce soldiers at the Stronghold. The Blacksmith is a Noble Residence work yard and will consume Food in addition to the Iron and Wood required for Weapon production. Even players favoring Technology and Trade should make use of specialized Generals, so Weapon production plays an important part in most economies. (Note that players favoring Technology must build a Stronghold or an Export Office in addition to their Church in order to recruit additional Generals in the Tavern.)

Wheel

Wheels are needed to produce Cannons and Merchants, making them particularly important to Warfare and Trade. Because a Wheelwright requires Wood and Iron, Wheel production should be carefully monitored.

Tool

The Tool is the only resource required to establish an operational work yard, making it an absolutely essential part of all production. Tools serve no other purpose, however, so overproduction should be avoided.  If required resources are unavailable for production, Coin can be exchanged for Tools at the Tavern.