Annhexation

v0.24.0

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Animation for science victory
Animation for nuclear attacks
Fixed an issue where the AI would stack units in some situations
Fixed an issue where combat highlights would be shown when not valid - generally involving naval units
Tightened AI for naval units to prevent “milling around”

v0.23.0

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tile buying for players (this got missed from the previous update)
Significant improvements to the hard and deity variants of the AI

Major update (July)

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Firstly apology for the absence - I was on holiday and then sick for a couple of weeks which combined meant a good time away from the keyboard. However… lots of progress has been made and I’ve pushed out a big update today that includes:

Tips / game guidance present themselves on a players first game
Production queues for cities
Player can now buy tiles around a city once they’ve researched currency
Automated workers
Improved visibility of empire borders
Reworked UI styling
(Optional) anti-aliasing
Many AI improvements particularly to the late game
Multiplayer support

All in it should feel like a big update and another significant step towards a proper release.

v0.22.0

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tips / game guidance present themselves on a players first game
Production queues for cities
Player can now buy tiles around a city once they’ve researched currency
Automated workers
Improved visibility of empire borders
Reworked UI styling
(Optional) anti-aliasing
Many AI improvements particularly to the late game
Multiplayer support

Early Access Begins

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I quietly slipped the game into early access about a week or so ago - no fanfare just wanted some early feedback on the basics. Which I got - thank you to those who got in touch.

Since then I’ve maintained a pretty steady release cadence - I went live with v0.16.0 and I’ve just pushed out v0.19.0. I create a release note each time and you can find them here . I’ve made some significant upgrades including:

v0.19.0

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Active unit list grouped by location
City management screen now, optionally, closes on build select
Added some personality into the diplomacy system
Fix for highlighting of combat targets when melee units are fortified
Fix for the AI oscillating units that it wants to upgrade but can’t move to a good location

v0.18.0

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Option to hide obsolete units from the production queue
AI can now utilise air power
Added aircraft carrier - high defence, limited offence, can house 3 planes
Improved interception of air attacks - can now choose what units to use to defend against an attack
Fixed various issues around player control of air units
Fixed an issue that could cause the AI to remain fixated on an essentially defeated enemy at the expense of more sensible objectives
Fixed an issue that could cause an AI to get locked into endlessly building an army for which it has no purpose
Fixed an issue that could cause an AI coastal city to be unable to build a settler

v0.17.0

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Gamepad support
Propose peace options in diplomacy systems
Simplified research tree view
Movement highlights now exclude enemy territory when not at war (engine previously blocked moves but the UI would indicate they were possible)
Added a “moving dots” approach to showing the path for a unit
Multi-turn movement is now more obvious (it was hidden behind a right click which also didn’t work on mobile). In the revised approach single turn tiles are shown in green and multi-turn moves are shown in red. You double click to confirm a multi-turn move (trying to get the balance between selecting things being easy and moving units being easy, feedback welcome).
Added a production focused map view

v0.16.0

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Initial early access release. Most game systems are in place. Still in progress:

Late game AI is incomplete - notably air combat and nuclear usage
Player initiated diplomacy is partially implemented
Some minor graphical glitches
The research tree isn’t clearly organised yet
No in game tutorial yet - the Annhexopedia contains gameplay details, and if you’re familiar with the genre it should be quick to pick up
Some sound effects are missing

Feedback is particularly sought on:

Early Access Update

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Quick update on early access - its going to be delayed another couple of days I’m afraid. No great drama behind this but the Steam store page is still in review (second pass after I made a bit of a beginners error on the first submission) and I don’t want to release the game until people can add it to their wishlists.

In the interim… here’s a screenshot of the ownership map. I actually took this in my AI testbed where the AI plays against the AI and I inpsect what the heck its getting up to.

Steam Deck Support

Fri, 22 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I love my Steam Deck. In many ways it got me back into PC gaming - well that and the constant shenanigans of the console platform owners. I did game on my Mac but the selection of games is somewhat limited in comparison. My current game of choice is Vampire Crawlers - a super addictive deck building / dungeon crawler game. Recommended!

But back to Annhexation. I’d really like this to be playable on the Deck too which basically comes down to implementing game controller support - so that will also work on PC and Mac. I’m adding that now - it will probably be one of the rougher things in the Early Access period but I’ll refine it as I test on my Deck.

Early Access Approaches

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Update: I’m pushing the early access date to Tuesday 26th - I’ve not been that well the last few days and as a result I’ve not managed to clear off some important tasks (things like the Steam store page, final play testing). Sorry about that.

I’m aiming to launch Annhexation into early access in the next few days - on Friday 22nd May to be precise. What a journey. Who’d have thought developing a 4x historical strategy game as a solo developer could be so much work…

Custom Games

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I suspect I’m like many historical 4X players in that I often want to play on a particular type of map, be that mountainous, islands, a desert etc. etc. On the other hand sometimes I just want to launch into a game.

That being the case I’ve made sure that Annhexation both lets you get into a game quickly with a bunch of presets but also that it has a comprehensive set of controls over the kind of map you play on and who you play against.

AI and End of Life

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

There are obviously super strong opinions around the use of AI in game development and so I want to be transparent about how and for what I have used AI during the development of Annhexation. I also wanted to speak a bit to the Stop Killing Games initiative because thats something I’m super supportive of.

So AI and Annhexation. Its pretty simple really: I’ve used AI for two very specific things.

Privacy Policy

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This policy explains what data Annhexation collects and what happens to it. The short version: as little as possible.

Who’s Responsible

Annhexation is made by James Randall, an individual based in the United Kingdom. I am the data controller for the limited personal data described below.

Contact: contact@annhexation.com

What I Collect

Your email address

When you create an account, I store your email address. That’s it. No name, no password, no profile.

Terms and Conditions

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

These terms govern your use of Annhexation (“the Game”), made by James Randall. By playing the Game, you agree to these terms. If you don’t agree, please don’t play.

1. The Game

Annhexation is a hex-based 4X strategy game. The browser version is free to play. A paid version may be available on Steam, the iPad App Store, or other platforms; those platforms’ own terms also apply to purchases made through them.

Progress Update

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

I’ve spent the last week or so mostly on the AI systems and its starting to play an OK game. It was functional previously but got stuck in various edge cases and rarely did interesting things. I expect to be spending more time on this in the coming weeks both from my own observations while playing and, hopefully, from others too.

I’ve also made a bunch of gameplay changes. The early game didn’t have enough variety in the units which led to a pretty mindless pumping out of a single unit type and I found after more playing that (most) resources and improvements just led to busy work so I streamlined that right back to a couple of key resources. That also forced some interesting tech tree tweaks.

Introducing Annhexation

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Never quite sure how to introduce a new project or product but I figure I’ll just dive into it with the what and why.

Annhexation is a historical 4X strategy game that is designed to be complex enough to have interesting choices but simple enough that you can hold it in your head and complete a game in an evening. A simple, complete game. Buy it. Play it. Done.

I think the 4X genre has lost its way. This idea seems to have taken hold that the direction of travel should be ever increasing complexity and levels of “simulation”. More systems. More numbers. Which, to me, ironically makes the whole thing feel less real and more like a spreadsheet.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Airport

“The air above us is not empty space. It is a highway.”

The Airport is a modern military and logistical facility featuring runways, hangars, control towers, and maintenance bays capable of supporting fixed-wing aircraft. With an Airport, a city gains the ability to base air units – fighters, bombers, and reconnaissance aircraft – projecting military power across vast distances. The Airport also enables the rebasing of air units between cities, creating a flexible aerial network across your empire.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Anti-Aircraft Battery

“If it flies, it dies.”

The Anti-Aircraft Battery is a dedicated air defence installation, bristling with rapid-fire guns and tracking equipment designed to engage and destroy enemy aircraft attacking the city. Positioned at strategic points around the urban perimeter, these weapons create a lethal umbrella of defensive fire that forces enemy pilots to think twice before committing to a strike run. A city protected by an Anti-Aircraft Battery can weather aerial bombardment that would devastate an undefended settlement.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Aqueduct

“Water is the driving force of all nature.” – Leonardo da Vinci

The Aqueduct is a feat of civil engineering that channels fresh water from distant sources into the heart of a city. Through carefully graded channels, tunnels, and elevated stone arcades, clean water flows reliably to public fountains, baths, and private homes. With abundant fresh water secured, a city can support a far larger population than its immediate surroundings would otherwise allow.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bank

“Money is the best diplomat.”

The Bank is a sophisticated financial institution that manages deposits, extends credit, and facilitates the flow of capital throughout a city’s economy. By pooling the wealth of merchants, landowners, and the state itself, Banks amplify the productive power of gold and generate substantial revenue for the treasury. A city with a Bank becomes a financial powerhouse.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	60 Production
Maintenance	0 gold/turn
Required Tech	Banking
Prerequisites	Marketplace
Special Requirements	None

Effects

+4 gold per turn in the city.

Strategy

The Bank is an exceptional economic building, providing +4 gold with zero maintenance. Combined with its prerequisite Marketplace (+2 gold, also zero maintenance), a single city generates +6 gold per turn from commercial buildings alone at no ongoing cost. This makes the Marketplace-Bank chain the most efficient gold generation in the game. Prioritise Banks in every city as soon as Banking is researched – the gold income funds unit maintenance, building upkeep, and rush purchases. In a large empire where maintenance costs scale with the number of cities, a strong banking infrastructure is the difference between prosperity and financial collapse.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Barracks

“Sweat in training saves blood in battle.”

The Barracks is a military installation dedicated to the training and drilling of new recruits. Within its grounds, raw conscripts are transformed into disciplined soldiers through rigorous exercise, weapons practice, and tactical instruction. Cities with Barracks produce units that enter service with hard-won experience their untrained counterparts simply do not possess.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	30 Production
Maintenance	1 gold/turn
Required Tech	Bronze Working
Prerequisites	None
Special Requirements	None

Effects

+1 XP for all newly trained military units in this city.

Strategy

Barracks are a worthwhile investment in cities you designate as military production centres. The +1 XP bonus means freshly trained units begin closer to their first promotion, giving them a meaningful edge in early engagements. This advantage compounds over the course of a game, as units that survive their first battles with a head start on experience snowball into veteran forces. Build Barracks early in frontier cities where you expect conflict, and in your primary military production city. In peaceful interior cities focused on economy or research, the 1 gold maintenance may not justify the benefit.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cathedral

“Let this house of God stand as a testament to what mortals can achieve when they reach for the divine.”

The Cathedral is a magnificent architectural achievement, a towering edifice of stone, glass, and devotion that dominates a city’s skyline. Far more than a place of worship, the Cathedral is a cultural landmark that inspires artists, attracts pilgrims, and projects the prestige of its civilisation across the known world. Its construction represents a monumental investment of resources and labour, rewarded with an outpouring of cultural influence.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Factory

“The age of muscle is over. The age of the machine has begun.”

The Factory is a sprawling industrial complex where mechanised production replaces manual labour, dramatically increasing a city’s manufacturing output. Steam-driven machinery, assembly processes, and organised labour combine to produce goods at a pace that would have been unimaginable to earlier generations. A city with a Factory becomes an industrial titan, churning out units, buildings, and wonders at formidable speed.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Granary

“A full storehouse is worth more than a full armoury.”

The Granary is one of the earliest and most important structures a growing civilisation can build. By providing organised storage for harvested grain, a Granary shields a city’s food supply from spoilage, pests, and the unpredictable swings of seasonal weather. With a reliable food surplus secured, population growth accelerates and the foundations for a thriving city are laid.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	30 Production
Maintenance	1 gold/turn
Required Tech	Pottery
Prerequisites	None
Special Requirements	None

Effects

+2 food per turn in the city.

Strategy

The Granary should be among the first buildings you construct in every city. The +2 food bonus directly accelerates population growth, and a larger population means more tiles worked, more production, and more of everything else. Since Pottery is typically one of the first technologies researched, Granaries become available early enough to shape your empire’s growth trajectory from the very start. The 1 gold maintenance is trivially offset by the economic gains of a larger population. Prioritise Granaries especially in cities with limited food tiles or those you intend to grow into production powerhouses.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Harbour

“The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the globe. Its breath is pure and healthy.” – Jules Verne

The Harbour is a developed port facility that transforms a coastal city into a maritime trading hub. Wharves, warehouses, docks, and chandleries line the waterfront, accommodating merchant vessels from near and far. Fishermen bring in their catches, traders unload exotic goods, and the wealth of the sea flows into the city’s economy. A well-built Harbour makes a coastal city vastly more prosperous than its inland counterparts.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Library

“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

The Library is a centre of learning and scholarship, housing collected texts, scrolls, and the accumulated knowledge of a civilisation. Scribes, scholars, and curious citizens alike gather within its walls to study, debate, and advance the frontiers of understanding. A city with a Library contributes meaningfully to the empire’s research output, accelerating the march of technological progress.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Marketplace

“Where merchants gather, gold follows.”

The Marketplace is a bustling commercial district where goods change hands, prices are set, and the economic pulse of a city beats strongest. Stalls, shops, and trading houses fill its streets, attracting merchants from across the region and channelling wealth into the city’s coffers. A well-run Marketplace transforms a modest settlement into a thriving centre of commerce.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	40 Production
Maintenance	0 gold/turn
Required Tech	Currency
Prerequisites	None
Special Requirements	None

Effects

+2 gold per turn in the city.

Strategy

The Marketplace is one of the most cost-effective buildings in the game, providing +2 gold with zero maintenance. This makes it a universally worthwhile construction in every city, regardless of your strategic focus. The Marketplace also serves as the prerequisite for the Bank, which doubles the gold bonus. Prioritise building Marketplaces in cities with strong existing gold output to maximise returns, and consider rushing Currency as a technology if your empire is struggling financially. Since there is no maintenance cost, there is never a reason to delay or skip this building once the technology is available.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Palace

“From this seat we shall govern all that lies before us – and all that lies beyond.”

The Palace is the administrative heart of an empire, the seat from which a ruler commands their civilisation’s destiny. Every empire begins with a Palace in its capital, a symbol of sovereignty and centralised authority. Should the capital fall to an enemy, the machinery of government relocates to the next largest city, ensuring that no single military defeat can extinguish the flame of governance.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Temple

“We build temples not because the gods need them, but because we do.”

The Temple is a sacred space dedicated to worship, ritual, and the spiritual life of a city’s inhabitants. Whether honouring a pantheon of gods, venerating ancestors, or contemplating philosophical truths, the Temple serves as a cultural anchor that binds a community together through shared belief and practice. Its presence elevates the cultural output of a city, spreading the influence of its civilisation to neighbouring lands.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

University

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” – Aristotle

The University is an institution of higher learning where the brightest minds of a civilisation gather to push the boundaries of human knowledge. Theologians, natural philosophers, mathematicians, and scholars of every discipline engage in structured study, debate, and experimentation. A University dramatically accelerates a city’s contribution to the empire’s research output.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	60 Production
Maintenance	2 gold/turn
Required Tech	Education
Prerequisites	Library
Special Requirements	None

Effects

+4 research per turn in the city.

Strategy

The University is the backbone of any serious science strategy, providing a substantial +4 research bonus that dwarfs the Library’s contribution. Since it requires a Library, ensure every city has one built before Education is researched so you can begin constructing Universities immediately. The 2 gold maintenance is a real cost, but the research payoff is worth it in virtually every city. Falling behind on Universities means falling behind on technology, which cascades into military, economic, and cultural disadvantage. In a science race, the player who builds Universities in the most cities the fastest will almost certainly reach critical late-game technologies first.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Walls

“Let them come. Stone does not flinch.”

Walls are massive fortifications encircling a city, transforming it from a vulnerable settlement into a defensible stronghold. Thick stone ramparts, watchtowers, and reinforced gates force attackers to commit vastly greater resources to any siege, buying precious time for defenders and deterring all but the most determined aggressors.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	35 Production
Maintenance	1 gold/turn
Required Tech	Masonry
Prerequisites	None
Special Requirements	None

Effects

+100% city defence bonus.

Strategy

Walls are a critical defensive investment for any city that faces a realistic threat of attack. The +100% defence bonus effectively doubles a city’s combat strength when defending, turning even a modest city into a formidable obstacle for invading armies. Prioritise Walls in border cities and any settlements within striking distance of aggressive neighbours. Interior cities can safely delay Walls in favour of economic buildings, but frontier cities should build them as soon as Masonry is researched. At 35 production and only 1 gold maintenance, Walls are remarkably cheap insurance against the catastrophic cost of losing a city.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Watermill

“The river works so that we do not have to.”

The Watermill harnesses the relentless energy of flowing water to grind grain, saw timber, and power bellows and hammers. A marvel of mechanical engineering, the waterwheel converts the river’s current into rotational force, multiplying the productive labour of an entire city. Where a Watermill turns, food is processed faster and workshops operate with greater efficiency.

Stats

Stat	Value
Cost	40 Production
Maintenance	1 gold/turn
Required Tech	Engineering
Prerequisites	None
Special Requirements	City must be adjacent to a river

Effects

+2 food per turn in the city.
+1 production per turn in the city.

Strategy

The Watermill is a strong building that provides both food and production, but its river adjacency requirement limits where it can be built. When founding new cities, river access should already be a high priority for fresh water bonuses, and the Watermill adds another compelling reason to settle alongside rivers. The combined +2 food and +1 production make the Watermill one of the most efficient buildings for its cost, and cities that can build one should do so promptly after researching Engineering. If you have multiple river cities, building Watermills across all of them creates a meaningful empire-wide boost to both growth and industry.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Workshop

“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” – Archimedes

The Workshop is a centre of skilled craftsmanship and industrial ingenuity, where artisans, smiths, and engineers labour to produce goods with greater speed and efficiency. Forges roar, hammers ring, and the raw materials of the land are shaped into finished products. A city with a Workshop produces buildings, units, and wonders at an accelerated pace.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Aztecs

“Where the eagle stands upon the cactus, devouring the serpent, there shall your city rise.” – Huitzilopochtli, prophecy of the founding of Tenochtitlan

The Aztec Empire rose from the marshes of Lake Texcoco to dominate Mesoamerica through a combination of military skill, sophisticated statecraft, and remarkable engineering. In barely two centuries, the Mexica people transformed themselves from wandering migrants into the rulers of millions, building the magnificent island city of Tenochtitlan – threaded with canals, ringed by chinampa gardens, and crowned by pyramids whose alignments tracked the sun and stars.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Egypt

“I will not be triumphed over.” – Cleopatra

Egypt, the gift of the Nile, was one of the earliest and most enduring civilisations in human history. For over three millennia, Egyptian pharaohs raised monuments of staggering ambition – pyramids, temples, and colossal statues that still inspire awe today. Under Cleopatra, the last of the Ptolemaic rulers, Egypt played a decisive role in the power struggles of the late Roman Republic.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

England

“I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.” – Elizabeth I

England rose from a rain-swept island on the edge of Europe to command the largest maritime empire in history. Through naval supremacy, shrewd diplomacy, and commercial enterprise – and at considerable cost to the peoples and lands it claimed – England projected power across every ocean. The Elizabethan age marked the flowering of English culture and the beginning of its dominance of the seas.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

France

“Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

France has been at the heart of European civilisation for over a millennium, a nation of philosophers, artists, and soldiers. From the medieval splendour of its cathedrals to the revolutionary ideals of liberty and reason, France has shaped the course of Western history. Under Napoleon, French military science reached its zenith, as the Grande Armee redrew the map of Europe through a combination of tactical brilliance and relentless aggression.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Greece

“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander the Great

Ancient Greece was the crucible of Western thought, art, and warfare. From the disciplined phalanxes of Sparta to the philosophical academies of Athens, Greek city-states produced innovations that would echo through millennia. Under Alexander the Great, Greek culture and military power swept across the known world in one of history’s most breathtaking campaigns of conquest.


Leader	Alexander the Great
Personality	Aggressive Expansion
Unique Bonus	+1 movement for melee units
Unique Unit	Companion Cavalry (replaces Knight)

Civilisation Bonus

Hellenic March – All melee units receive +1 movement. This bonus transforms Greece into a relentless offensive power, allowing infantry and melee forces to cover ground faster than any opponent expects. The extra movement enables aggressive early rushes, rapid repositioning during battle, and the ability to chase down retreating enemies. Combined with Alexander’s aggressive personality, Greece is built to conquer.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mongolia

“Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.” – attributed to Genghis Khan

The Mongol Empire was the largest contiguous land empire in history, forged by the genius of Genghis Khan and sustained by the finest cavalry the world has ever known. From the vast steppes of Central Asia, Mongol horsemen swept across continents, toppling kingdoms and reshaping the political map of Eurasia in a single generation.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rome

“I came, I saw, I conquered.” – Julius Caesar

The Roman Empire stands as one of history’s greatest civilisations, renowned for its military discipline, monumental engineering, and an unrivalled network of roads that bound a vast empire together. From a small city on the Tiber, Rome grew to dominate the Mediterranean world and beyond, leaving a legacy that shapes Western civilisation to this day.


Leader	Julius Caesar
Personality	Military / Infrastructure
Unique Bonus	Roads cost 50% less production to build
Unique Unit	Legion (replaces Swordsman)

Civilisation Bonus

Via Romana – Roads cost 50% less production to build. Rome’s legendary road-building programme is reflected in dramatically cheaper infrastructure. This allows Roman players to connect their cities and territory faster than any rival, improving trade income and enabling rapid military redeployment across the empire. The savings compound over the course of a game, freeing up production for military units or buildings.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Russia

“I shall be an autocrat: that is my trade. And the good Lord will forgive me: that is His.” – Catherine the Great

Russia is a civilisation shaped by vastness itself – an empire stretching across eleven time zones, from the Baltic to the Pacific. Forged in the crucible of Mongol domination and tempered by centuries of harsh climate and foreign invasion, Russia learned to survive through expansion, absorbing territory and peoples into an ever-growing state. Under Catherine the Great, Russia became a major European power and a force of cultural and scientific achievement.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Democracy

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” – Winston Churchill

The ultimate expression of popular sovereignty, democracy places power squarely in the hands of the citizenry. Free elections, protected liberties, and the rule of law create an environment where commerce and innovation flourish to an extraordinary degree. The democratic state is wealthy, technologically advanced, and deeply resistant to tyranny – but its people will not tolerate wars of aggression, and a leader who wishes to march armies across foreign borders must first abandon the democratic covenant.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Despotism

“The state is myself.” – attributed to Louis XIV

Every civilization begins under the iron grip of a single ruler whose word is law. Despotism is the crude but effective default form of government – a strongman at the top, a handful of loyal enforcers beneath, and everyone else toiling in the fields. It requires no great philosophical tradition to implement, only the willingness to seize power and hold it.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Monarchy

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” – William Shakespeare, Henry IV Part 2

Where despotism relies on brute force and personal charisma, monarchy wraps authoritarian rule in the robes of legitimacy. A monarch reigns by divine right, hereditary succession, or ancient tradition – and that legitimacy buys something raw power cannot: the willing service of a professional military class. Knights, samurai, and feudal levies fight not because they are compelled, but because their oaths and honour demand it.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Republic

“The good of the people is the supreme law.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

When power is shared among elected representatives rather than concentrated in a single pair of hands, something remarkable happens: ideas begin to flow more freely. A republic channels the ambitions of its citizens away from court intrigue and toward civic contribution. Scholars debate openly, merchants trade without fear of arbitrary seizure, and the sum of human knowledge grows faster than any despot could decree.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Air Combat

“He who controls the skies controls the battlefield.”

Air power arrives in the late game with the research of Flight and Advanced Flight, introducing a new dimension to warfare. Fighters and Bombers operate differently from land and naval units – they are based at cities rather than positioned on the map, project force at long range, and are countered by a dedicated air defence network of interceptors and anti-aircraft systems.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cities

“A great city is not to be confounded with a populous one.” – Aristotle

Cities are the engines of your civilisation. They produce food to grow, hammers to build, gold to fund your empire, and research to advance through the ages. Every unit, building, wonder, and spaceship part is produced in a city. Mastering city placement, growth, and management is the single most important skill in Annhexation.

Founding Cities

Cities are founded by Settlers (60 production, no tech required). Move a Settler to the desired location and use the Found City command. The Settler is consumed, and a new city of population 1 appears on the tile.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Combat

“In war, the moral is to the physical as three to one.”

Combat in Annhexation is resolved through a deterministic formula that weighs attack and defence strength, modified by terrain, fortifications, promotions, civilisation bonuses, and unit health. Understanding these mechanics is essential for winning battles efficiently and minimising losses.

Attack Types

There are two fundamental attack types:

Melee Attack (Range 0)

Melee units – Warriors, Swordsmen, Horsemen, Knights, Tanks, and others with range 0 – must be adjacent to their target to attack. After a successful melee attack that destroys the defender, the attacker advances into the defender’s hex.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Getting Started

“A journey of a thousand hexes begins with a single Settler.”

Annhexation is a turn-based 4X strategy game played on a hexagonal grid. You lead a civilisation from its humble beginnings – a single Settler standing on an unexplored map – through thousands of years of expansion, warfare, scientific progress, and cultural development. The goal is to outlast and outmanoeuvre rival empires through one of three victory conditions: military domination, scientific achievement, or the highest score when the final turn is reached.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Governments

“That government is best which governs least.” – attributed to Thomas Jefferson

Your choice of government shapes the economic and military character of your entire civilisation. Each government type provides different bonuses, imposes different constraints, and supports different strategies. Choosing the right government at the right time – and weathering the anarchy of transition – is a critical strategic decision.

The Four Governments

Despotism


Required Tech	None (starting government)
Free Units Per City	2
Bonuses	+1 gold per city
Restrictions	None

Despotism is the default government all civilisations begin with. It provides a modest +1 gold per city and supports 2 free military units per city before maintenance kicks in. There are no special restrictions.

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Movement

“An army marches on its feet – but the wise general marches on roads.”

Movement is the foundation of everything in Annhexation. Exploring the map, settling new cities, repositioning armies, and launching attacks all depend on understanding how units move across the hex grid. The movement system uses an internal scale factor to handle varying terrain costs without fractions, rewarding players who plan their routes carefully and build road networks early.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Multiplayer

“No empire rises alone.”

Annhexation can be played against human opponents as well as the AI – in the same game, at the same time, or days apart. Multiplayer is a single seamless experience: when you and a rival are online together you watch each other’s turns unfold live, move by move; when your rival is away, the game waits for them, lets them know it is their turn by email, and replays everything they missed when they return. Human and AI empires can be mixed freely in one game.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Naval Warfare

“Whoever commands the sea commands everything.”

Naval power determines who controls the waters, protects trade, and projects force across oceans. From the humble Galley to the mighty Battleship, warships evolve through the ages to become increasingly potent instruments of military and economic power. On maps with significant water, naval dominance can be the difference between victory and isolation.

Naval Unit Types

Unit	Attack	Defence	Movement	Range	Cargo	Cost	Required Tech
Galley	4	3	3	0	1	25	Sailing
Frigate	12	8	4	1	2	45	Navigation
Destroyer	14	10	5	1	0	50	Sonar
Battleship	24	18	4	3	3	75	Steel
Submarine	18	6	4	1	0	70	Submarine Warfare

Galley

The earliest naval unit, available with Sailing. The Galley is weak in combat but essential for early exploration and transport. Its single cargo slot can ferry a Settler or Warrior to a nearby island. Critical limitation: Galleys can only operate in coastal water – they cannot enter open ocean tiles. A coastal water tile is any water hex adjacent to at least one land tile. Galleys hugging the coast can explore surprisingly far, but open-ocean crossings require more advanced ships.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Unit Promotions

“The raw recruit sees the enemy. The veteran sees the terrain, the angle, the moment.”

Promotions are permanent upgrades earned by military units through combat experience. Each promotion enhances a unit’s capabilities, transforming raw recruits into hardened veterans. A fully promoted unit is dramatically more effective than its base stats suggest, and managing your experienced units – keeping them alive, choosing the right promotions, and deploying them effectively – is a key skill in Annhexation.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Research & Technology

“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” – Immanuel Kant

Technology is the engine of progress in Annhexation. Every new unit, building, improvement, government, and ability is unlocked through the tech tree. A civilisation that falls behind in research will find itself fighting swordsmen with warriors, besieging cities without siege engines, and watching its rivals launch spaceship parts while it struggles to discover gunpowder.

How Research Works

Each turn, every city generates research points that accumulate toward the technology you are currently studying. When the accumulated research equals or exceeds the technology’s cost, the tech is completed, its unlocks become available, and you choose a new technology to study.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Using a Gamepad

“The hex cursor is yours to command – everything else follows.”

Annhexation has full gamepad support alongside mouse and keyboard. You do not need to choose between them: pick up a controller and the game switches to gamepad mode automatically; touch the mouse or press a game key and it switches back. Glyph hints and the on-screen hex cursor follow the active device. Xbox button names are used below; PlayStation users should read A = ✕, B = ○, X = □, Y = △, and the bumpers/triggers map by position.

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Victory Conditions

“Victory belongs to the most persevering.”

Every game of Annhexation ends with one civilisation triumphant. There are three paths to victory, each rewarding a fundamentally different playstyle. Whether you conquer the world by force, ascend to the stars through science, or simply build the greatest civilisation in history, the game provides a clear framework for measuring success.

The Three Victory Paths

Domination Victory

Condition: Control all enemy capital cities.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Villages & Exploration

“Beyond the horizon, the ancients said, there are wonders. They were right.”

Scattered across the unexplored map, villages are small settlements left by peoples who never grew into full civilisations. Entering a village with any unit triggers a random reward that can dramatically alter the course of your early game. A free technology, a handful of gold, or even a new city can launch your civilisation ahead of its rivals – but not every village is welcoming.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Chop Forest

“A century of growth, felled in an afternoon. But the city needed walls before the enemy arrived.”

Chop Forest is a special Worker action that permanently removes a forest from a tile, granting an immediate burst of +10 production to the nearest city. Unlike building a Lumber Camp, which provides ongoing production, chopping is a one-time, irreversible action that sacrifices long-term value for short-term gain. Used wisely, it can accelerate critical projects at pivotal moments. Used carelessly, it strips your territory of valuable terrain.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Farm

“Before the first farm, we were wanderers. After it, we were civilisation.”

The Farm is the most fundamental tile improvement in the game, converting the raw potential of land into the food that sustains a growing population. By cultivating crops on suitable terrain, farms provide the food surplus necessary for cities to grow, specialists to emerge, and empires to expand. No civilisation can thrive without them.

Stats


Yield Bonus	+1 Food
Required Tech	Agriculture
Built By	Worker (or Legion)

Valid Terrain

Terrain	Base Food + Farm
Plains	1 + 1 = 2 Food
Grassland	2 + 1 = 3 Food
Desert	0 + 1 = 1 Food
Tundra	1 + 1 = 2 Food
Hills	(base terrain) + 1 Food

Strategy

Farms are the first improvement you should build and the improvement you will build most often throughout the game. Food drives population growth, and population growth drives everything else – more citizens means more tiles worked, more specialists employed, and more tax revenue collected. A city without farms is a city that stagnates.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fishing Nets

“Cast your nets where the water is shallow and the fish are plenty. The sea will feed your people.”

Fishing Nets are a water-based tile improvement that dramatically boosts the food output of coastal tiles. Deployed in the shallow waters near shore, these nets harvest the abundant marine life of coastal ecosystems, transforming otherwise modest water tiles into some of the best food sources available. For civilisations with coastal cities, Fishing Nets are a critical early improvement.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Lumber Camp

“The forest gives freely to those who know how to take without destroying.”

The Lumber Camp is a tile improvement that harvests timber from forest tiles without removing the forest itself. Unlike the Chop Forest action, which destroys the forest for an instant production windfall, the Lumber Camp provides a sustained production bonus while preserving the forest’s defensive value and base yields. It is the patient, long-term approach to exploiting woodland resources.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mine

“Dig deep enough and the earth gives up its secrets – ore, stone, and the foundations of power.”

The Mine is the primary source of production from tile improvements, extracting ore and minerals from the rocky terrain of hills. While farms feed your people, mines arm them – production is the currency of military units, buildings, and wonders, making mines essential for any civilisation that intends to build rather than merely survive.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Quarry

“Cut the stone right and it will outlast the civilisation that quarried it.”

The Quarry is a specialised improvement that extracts stone and marble from rocky terrain. Quarries provide production and are required to access certain stone-based resources. The heavy, durable materials extracted from quarries form the literal building blocks of monumental architecture – walls, temples, and wonders that endure for millennia.

Stats


Yield Bonus	+1 Production
Required Tech	Masonry
Built By	Worker (or Legion)

Valid Terrain

Terrain	Notes
Hills	Specific hill tiles with stone or marble resources

Strategy

Quarries are a more specialised improvement than mines, restricted to specific resource-bearing tiles. When available, they provide a solid production bonus and – more importantly – unlock access to stone or marble resources that may be required for certain wonders or buildings.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Road

“All roads lead to Rome – and that is precisely the point.”

The Road is a tile improvement that dramatically reduces movement cost across any land terrain, enabling rapid troop deployment, trade between cities, and the efficient administration of a sprawling empire. Roads do not provide yield bonuses to the tile, but their strategic value in connecting your territory is immense.

Stats


Yield Bonus	None (movement improvement only)
Movement Cost	Reduces tile movement cost to 2 (from 6 or 12)
Required Tech	The Wheel
Built By	Worker (or Legion)

Valid Terrain

Terrain	Normal Cost	With Road
Plains	6	2
Grassland	6	2
Desert	6	2
Tundra	6	2
Forest	12	2
Hills	12	2

Note: Roads crossing river edges still incur the +6 river crossing penalty. Roads cannot be built on water tiles or mountains.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Stable

“A well-bred warhorse is worth more than a dozen foot soldiers. Treat them accordingly.”

The Stable is a tile improvement built on horse resources, enabling the capture, breeding, and training of horses for military and economic use. Without a stable on a horse tile, the resource remains wild and inaccessible. Building a stable connects the horse resource to your empire, unlocking the production of mounted military units that can dominate the battlefield.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Horses

“A man on foot sees the world one field at a time. A man on horseback sees the whole horizon.”

Horses are a strategic resource essential for building mounted military units. Hidden until Animal Husbandry is researched, horse deposits represent the wild herds and pasture lands needed to breed warhorses. Access to horses transforms your military options, unlocking fast, powerful cavalry units that can outmanoeuvre and overwhelm slower infantry-based armies.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Iron

“With bronze we built kingdoms. With iron we built empires.”

Iron is a strategic resource that unlocks the most powerful military units of the ancient and classical eras. Deposits of iron ore are hidden on the map until Bronze Working technology is researched, at which point they become visible and can be exploited. Control of iron is essential for any civilisation with military ambitions – without it, your armies are stuck with weaker bronze-age units while your rivals field armoured swordsmen and mounted knights.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Advanced Flight

“The bomber will always get through.” — Stanley Baldwin

Advances in aeronautical engineering — more powerful engines, all-metal construction, and refined aerodynamics — produced aircraft capable of carrying heavy bomb loads over strategic distances. The bomber extended warfare beyond the front lines and into the industrial heartland of nations.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	230
Prerequisites	Flight

Unlocks

Units: Bomber

Historical Background

The idea of aerial bombardment predates powered flight — balloons were used to drop bombs on Venice in 1849. But it was the rapid development of aviation technology in the 1920s and 1930s that made strategic bombing a reality. Italian general Giulio Douhet and American general Billy Mitchell championed the theory that bombers could win wars by destroying an enemy’s industrial capacity and civilian morale, bypassing the need for costly ground campaigns.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Agriculture

“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man.” — George Washington

The discovery that seeds could be deliberately planted and cultivated marked the single greatest turning point in human history. With agriculture came surplus, settlement, and the first stirrings of civilisation itself.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	15
Prerequisites	None

Unlocks

Improvements: Farm

Historical Background

The Agricultural Revolution, beginning roughly 10,000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent, transformed humanity from nomadic hunter-gatherers into settled farmers. The domestication of wheat, barley, and other crops in Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley, the Indus Valley, and the Yellow River basin occurred independently across the globe, suggesting that the shift to farming was less an invention and more an inevitability once climatic conditions allowed it.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Animal Husbandry

“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” — Mahatma Gandhi

The taming and breeding of wild animals for human use provided labour, food, materials, and — most transformatively — mobility. Domesticated animals reshaped economies, warfare, and the very landscape of civilisation.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	25
Prerequisites	Agriculture

Unlocks

Resources: Horses (reveals on map)
Improvements: Stable

Historical Background

Dogs were likely the first domesticated animal, tamed from wolves as early as 15,000 BCE for hunting companionship. But the true revolution came with the domestication of sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs between 10,000 and 8,000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent. These animals provided meat, milk, wool, leather, and — critically — manure for fertilising crops, creating a symbiotic relationship between farming and herding.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Archery

“An army of deer led by a lion is more to be feared than an army of lions led by a deer.” — attributed to Chabrias

The bow and arrow gave humanity its first true ranged weapon — the ability to strike at a distance, whether hunting game or defending against enemies. This simple technology of bent wood and taut string remained a decisive military instrument for millennia.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	15
Prerequisites	None

Unlocks

Units: Archer

Historical Background

The bow appears to have been invented independently across multiple continents, with the earliest definitive evidence dating to around 10,000 BCE in Europe, though stone arrowheads from Africa may push that date back to 70,000 years ago. Initially a hunting tool, the bow was quickly adapted for warfare, offering the critical advantage of killing at range — before an enemy could close to striking distance.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Astronomy

“Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls the adventure Science.” — Edwin Hubble

The systematic study of the stars and celestial bodies transformed navigation, challenged ancient beliefs about humanity’s place in the cosmos, and laid the foundations for modern science.


Era	Renaissance
Research Cost	100
Prerequisites	Education

Unlocks

Abilities: Ocean Navigation

Historical Background

Humans have watched the skies since prehistory — Stonehenge, the Egyptian pyramids, and Mesoamerican observatories all align with celestial events. Ancient astronomers in Babylon, Greece, India, and China mapped the movements of stars and planets with remarkable precision, developing calendars, predicting eclipses, and constructing cosmological models. Ptolemy’s geocentric model, placing Earth at the centre of the universe, dominated Western thought for over a thousand years.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ballistics

“Artillery adds dignity to what would otherwise be a vulgar brawl.” — attributed to Frederick the Great

The science of ballistics — the study of projectile motion — refined artillery from an art of guesswork into a discipline of mathematical precision. Modern artillery could deliver devastating firepower at ranges of many kilometres, dominating battlefields from the First World War onward.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	210
Prerequisites	Metallurgy, Combustion

Unlocks

Units: Artillery

Historical Background

Ballistics as a science traces its origins to the work of Niccolo Tartaglia in the 16th century, who applied mathematics to the trajectory of cannonballs. Galileo further developed the understanding of projectile motion, establishing that trajectories follow parabolic curves. However, it was not until the Industrial era that the science was fully applied to military weapons, combining improved propellants, precision-machined barrels, and mathematical firing tables.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Banking

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.” — attributed to Albert Einstein

The formalisation of banking — lending, credit, and financial instruments — transformed money from a simple medium of exchange into a productive force. Capital could now be accumulated, invested, and multiplied, funding ventures that would otherwise be impossible.


Era	Medieval
Research Cost	90
Prerequisites	Currency, Education

Unlocks

Buildings: Bank

Historical Background

Banking in its modern form emerged in medieval Italy, where the great merchant families of Florence, Venice, and Genoa developed sophisticated financial instruments. The word “bank” itself derives from the Italian “banca,” the bench upon which moneylenders conducted their business. The Medici Bank, founded in 1397, became one of the most powerful financial institutions in Europe, funding popes, kings, and the Renaissance itself.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bronze Working

“Men are not made for safe havens. The fullness of life is in the hazards of life.” — Edith Hamilton

The discovery that copper and tin could be alloyed into bronze — harder, more durable, and more versatile than either metal alone — ushered in a new age. Bronze weapons, tools, and armour gave those who mastered the alloy a decisive edge over their rivals.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	30
Prerequisites	Mining

Unlocks

Buildings: Barracks
Wonders: Colossus of Rhodes
Resources: Iron (reveals on map)

Historical Background

The Bronze Age began around 3,300 BCE in the Near East when metalworkers discovered that adding tin to copper produced a far superior alloy. Bronze was harder than copper, held a sharper edge, and could be cast into complex shapes. It quickly became the material of choice for weapons, armour, tools, and prestige goods. The bronze swords, spearheads, and shields of the ancient world were the cutting-edge military technology of their era.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Chivalry

“A knight is sworn to valour. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His might upholds the weak.” — The Old Code (traditional)

Chivalry formalised the code of the mounted warrior into an ideal of honour, duty, and martial excellence. It produced the heavily armoured knight — the dominant battlefield force of the medieval world — and the disciplined pikeman who could counter him.


Era	Medieval
Research Cost	80
Prerequisites	Horseback Riding, Iron Working

Unlocks

Units: Knight, Pikeman

Historical Background

The chivalric code evolved from the practical needs of early medieval warfare. Frankish heavy cavalry, equipped with stirrups (adopted from the steppe nomads around the 8th century), lances, and chain mail, became the decisive arm of European armies. The feudal system grew up around the knight: land was granted in exchange for military service, creating a warrior aristocracy bound by obligations of loyalty and martial duty.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Combustion

“Nothing behind me, everything ahead of me, as is ever so on the road.” — Jack Kerouac

The internal combustion engine — compact, powerful, and fuelled by petroleum — liberated machinery from the rails and the factory floor. It put power on wheels and treads, creating the automobile, the truck, and ultimately the tank.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	200
Prerequisites	Industrialisation

Unlocks

Units: Tank

Historical Background

The internal combustion engine was developed through the contributions of numerous inventors across the 19th century. Nikolaus Otto built the first practical four-stroke engine in 1876, and Karl Benz patented the first true automobile in 1886. Rudolf Diesel’s compression-ignition engine, patented in 1893, offered greater efficiency and torque. Within a generation, the internal combustion engine had transformed transportation, agriculture, and warfare.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Construction

“Architecture is the learned game, correct and magnificent, of forms assembled in the light.” — Le Corbusier

Advanced construction techniques — arches, vaults, and engineered foundations — allowed civilisations to build structures of unprecedented scale and complexity. Grand public works became both symbols of power and practical engines of prosperity.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	60
Prerequisites	Masonry, Mathematics

Unlocks

Buildings: Workshop

Historical Background

While basic building techniques are as old as civilisation itself, the Classical era saw the development of construction as an engineering discipline. The Romans, above all, elevated construction to an art and a science. Roman concrete (opus caementicium), invented around 300 BCE, was a revolutionary material — stronger, more versatile, and more durable than cut stone. The Pantheon’s unreinforced concrete dome, completed in 125 CE, remains the largest of its kind nearly two thousand years later.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Currency

“Money is the barometer of a society’s virtue.” — Ayn Rand

The invention of standardised currency replaced the cumbersome barter system with a universal medium of exchange. Coins, tokens, and later paper money lubricated trade, enabled taxation, and made diplomacy between distant powers practical for the first time.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	50
Prerequisites	Writing

Unlocks

Buildings: Marketplace
Abilities: Diplomatic relations, Unit upgrading

Historical Background

Before currency, trade relied on barter — a system that required a “double coincidence of wants” and made large-scale commerce impractical. The earliest known coins were minted in Lydia (modern Turkey) around 600 BCE, stamped from electrum, a natural alloy of gold and silver. King Croesus of Lydia later introduced pure gold and silver coins, and his legendary wealth entered the language: “rich as Croesus.”

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Democracy

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” — Winston Churchill

The principle that political power derives from the consent of the governed — rather than divine right, hereditary privilege, or military force — reshaped the political landscape of the modern world. Democratic government unleashed the creative and economic potential of free citizens.


Era	Industrial
Research Cost	140
Prerequisites	Printing Press

Unlocks

Governments: Democracy

Historical Background

Democracy has ancient roots — Athenian democracy, established around 508 BCE under Cleisthenes, allowed male citizens to vote directly on laws and policy. But Athenian democracy was limited: women, slaves, and foreigners were excluded, and the system did not survive the Macedonian conquest. For nearly two millennia afterward, democratic ideals lay dormant, kept alive in philosophical texts but rarely practised.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Education

“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle

The formalisation of education — dedicated institutions for teaching, learning, and the preservation of knowledge — multiplied the intellectual output of civilisations. Educated populations generated innovations faster, governed more effectively, and adapted more readily to change.


Era	Medieval
Research Cost	80
Prerequisites	Mathematics

Unlocks

Buildings: University

Historical Background

Formal education has ancient roots — the Academy of Plato (387 BCE), the Lyceum of Aristotle, and the great library-schools of Alexandria and Nalanda all sought to systematise the transmission of knowledge. But the medieval period saw the rise of the university as a distinct and enduring institution. The University of Bologna (founded 1088), the University of Paris (c. 1150), and the University of Oxford (c. 1096) established models of organised higher learning that persist to this day.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Electronics

“The science of today is the technology of tomorrow.” — Edward Teller

The harnessing of electrons — first in vacuum tubes, then in transistors and integrated circuits — created machines that could compute, communicate, and control with a speed and precision no mechanical device could match. Electronics amplified human intellect as profoundly as steam power had amplified human muscle.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	200
Prerequisites	Industrialisation

Unlocks

Abilities: +1 research per city

Historical Background

The electronic age began with the discovery and manipulation of electrical phenomena in the 19th century. The invention of the vacuum tube (thermionic valve) in the early 1900s enabled the amplification of electrical signals, making radio communication, radar, and early computers possible. Alan Turing’s theoretical work on computation in the 1930s and the wartime code-breaking machines at Bletchley Park demonstrated the potential of electronic calculation.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Engineering

“Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been.” — Theodore von Karman

Engineering is the practical application of scientific and mathematical principles to solve real-world problems. It turned theoretical knowledge into aqueducts, watermills, and the infrastructure that sustained growing cities.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	60
Prerequisites	Construction, The Wheel

Unlocks

Buildings: Watermill, Aqueduct

Historical Background

The ancient world produced engineers of remarkable ingenuity. Roman aqueducts carried fresh water across tens of kilometres using nothing but gravity and precisely calculated gradients — the Pont du Gard in southern France, standing nearly 50 metres high, delivered water to Nimes with a gradient of just 1 in 3,000. The system of aqueducts supplying Rome itself carried an estimated one million cubic metres of water daily, supporting a population of over a million people.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Flight

“For once you have tasted flight, you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” — attributed to Leonardo da Vinci

Powered flight conquered humanity’s oldest aspiration — to take to the sky. Within decades of the first flights, aircraft transformed warfare, commerce, and the very perception of distance.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	220
Prerequisites	Combustion

Unlocks

Units: Fighter, Anti-Aircraft Gun
Buildings: Airport, Anti-Aircraft Battery

Historical Background

On 17 December 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first sustained, controlled, powered heavier-than-air flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Their Flyer covered just 37 metres in 12 seconds — within 66 years, humans would walk on the Moon. The pace of aviation development was breathtaking: by the First World War, barely a decade later, aircraft were being used for reconnaissance, bombing, and aerial combat.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Gunpowder

“The day when two army corps can annihilate each other in one second, all civilised nations, it is to be hoped, will recoil from war.” — Alfred Nobel

The discovery that a mixture of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal could produce a violent explosion changed warfare forever. Gunpowder rendered castles vulnerable, armoured knights obsolete, and placed devastating firepower in the hands of common soldiers.


Era	Renaissance
Research Cost	110
Prerequisites	Iron Working, Engineering

Unlocks

Units: Musketman

Historical Background

Gunpowder was invented in China, most likely during the 9th century CE, by Taoist alchemists searching for an elixir of immortality. The earliest known formula appears in a Chinese text from 850 CE, and by the 10th century, the Song Dynasty was deploying gunpowder weapons — fire arrows, bombs, and primitive firearms — against invaders. The technology spread westward along the Silk Road, reaching the Islamic world by the 13th century and Europe by the 14th.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Horseback Riding

“A man on a horse is spiritually, as well as physically, bigger than a man on foot.” — John Steinbeck

Learning to ride a horse — rather than merely harness it to a cart — gave warriors unmatched speed and mobility on the battlefield. Mounted cavalry became the shock troops of the ancient world, and the cultures that mastered horsemanship dominated their neighbours.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	50
Prerequisites	Animal Husbandry

Unlocks

Units: Horseman

Historical Background

Humans domesticated the horse around 4,000 BCE on the Eurasian steppe, initially for meat and milk. Riding likely began shortly after, though the earliest clear evidence of mounted warriors dates to around 1,000 BCE among the Scythian and other steppe nomad peoples. The invention of the bit and bridle gave riders control over their mounts, transforming the horse from a beast of burden into a weapon of war.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Industrialisation

“The factory system, in its maturity, is the most complete expression of human ingenuity.” — Andrew Ure

Industrialisation — the shift from hand production to machine manufacturing, from cottage industry to the factory floor — multiplied human productive capacity beyond anything previously imaginable. It created wealth on an unprecedented scale, and reshaped societies from the ground up.


Era	Industrial
Research Cost	160
Prerequisites	Steam Power

Unlocks

Buildings: Factory

Historical Background

The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the mid-18th century, driven by a convergence of factors: abundant coal, a strong banking system, stable governance, a culture of innovation, and access to global markets through the British Empire. Textile manufacturing led the way — the spinning jenny, the water frame, and the power loom mechanised an industry that had relied on hand labour for millennia. Cotton production, which took a skilled worker a full day by hand, could be accomplished in minutes by machine.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Iron Working

“Strike while the iron is hot.” — proverb, attributed to various sources

The mastery of iron — harder, more abundant, and more durable than bronze — democratised warfare and agriculture alike. Iron tools cleared forests and ploughed heavy soils; iron weapons armed entire populations rather than just elites.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	50
Prerequisites	Bronze Working

Unlocks

Units: Swordsman

Historical Background

Iron smelting developed gradually from around 1,200 BCE, coinciding with the collapse of the Bronze Age trade networks that had supplied tin. The Hittites of Anatolia were among the first to work iron on a significant scale, and for a time they guarded the secret jealously. But iron ore is far more abundant than copper and tin, and the technology eventually spread across the Near East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Longbow

“Let your bows be ready, and your arrows sharp.” — attributed to Edward III of England

The longbow — a tall, powerful bow requiring years of training to master — gave English and Welsh archers the ability to deliver devastating volleys at ranges exceeding 200 metres. In skilled hands, it could pierce armour and shatter cavalry charges.


Era	Medieval
Research Cost	80
Prerequisites	Archery, Construction

Unlocks

Units: Longbowman

Historical Background

The English longbow, typically made from yew and standing nearly two metres tall, evolved from Welsh and Anglo-Saxon traditions of archery. Edward I, after encountering devastating Welsh longbow fire during his conquest of Wales in the late 13th century, adopted the weapon for English armies. He and his successors mandated archery practice across England, creating a pool of skilled bowmen unmatched in Europe.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Masonry

“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.” — Winston Churchill

The art of cutting, shaping, and assembling stone into permanent structures gave civilisation its first truly enduring architecture. Walls, temples, and fortifications built of stone could stand for millennia — and many still do.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	30
Prerequisites	Mining

Unlocks

Buildings: Walls
Wonders: Great Wall
Improvements: Quarry

Historical Background

Masonry is among the oldest construction techniques, with dry-stone walls dating back to the Neolithic period. The great leap forward came when builders learned to cut stone into regular blocks and fit them together with or without mortar. The precision of ancient Egyptian masonry — the Great Pyramid’s limestone blocks fitted with gaps of less than half a millimetre — remains astonishing even by modern standards.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mathematics

“Mathematics is the queen of the sciences.” — Carl Friedrich Gauss

The formalisation of number, measurement, and logic into a systematic discipline gave civilisation the tools to engineer, to predict, and to understand the world with precision. Mathematics turned intuition into certainty.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	50
Prerequisites	Writing, Archery

Unlocks

Units: Catapult

Historical Background

Mathematical thinking is ancient — tally marks on bone date back 30,000 years — but mathematics as a formal discipline emerged in Mesopotamia and Egypt around 3,000 BCE. Babylonian mathematicians developed a base-60 number system (which still gives us 60 minutes in an hour) and could solve quadratic equations. Egyptian mathematicians calculated the volumes of pyramids and the areas of fields for tax assessment.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Metallurgy

“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” — Archimedes

Advanced metallurgy — the science of extracting, refining, and alloying metals at industrial scale — produced the stronger, more reliable materials that made modern weapons and machinery possible. The cannon, cast in bronze or iron, became the ultimate arbiter of siege warfare.


Era	Industrial
Research Cost	150
Prerequisites	Gunpowder, Steam Power

Unlocks

Units: Cannon

Historical Background

While metalworking is ancient, the Industrial Revolution transformed metallurgy from a craft into a science. The development of the blast furnace in the late medieval period allowed iron to be produced in large quantities, but it was Abraham Darby’s use of coke (derived from coal) rather than charcoal for smelting in 1709 that made cheap, abundant iron a reality. Henry Bessemer’s converter (1856) and the Siemens-Martin open-hearth process later enabled the mass production of steel, the material that built the modern world.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mining

“The desire of gold is not for gold. It is for the means of freedom and benefit.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The extraction of stone, metal, and minerals from the earth gave civilisations the raw materials to build, to arm, and to adorn. Mining transformed the landscape and, in time, transformed the balance of power between nations.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	15
Prerequisites	None

Unlocks

Improvements: Mine, Lumber Camp

Historical Background

The earliest mines date to the Neolithic period, around 4,000 BCE, when humans dug into hillsides to extract flint for tools and weapons. The mines at Grimes Graves in Norfolk, England, and the flint mines of Spiennes in Belgium reveal surprisingly sophisticated operations with shafts, galleries, and ventilation systems thousands of years old.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mysticism

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” — Socrates

From the earliest days of human consciousness, people looked beyond the material world for meaning. Mysticism — the belief in forces, spirits, and realities beyond ordinary perception — gave rise to organised religion, ritual, and the first sacred spaces.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	15
Prerequisites	None

Unlocks

Buildings: Temple

Historical Background

Evidence of mystical and religious thought stretches back to the very dawn of human culture. The cave paintings of Lascaux and Altamira, dating to around 17,000 BCE, likely served ritual or spiritual purposes. Burial practices involving grave goods — food, tools, and ornaments placed with the dead — suggest belief in an afterlife as early as 100,000 years ago among both Homo sapiens and Neanderthals.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

“Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.” — Christopher Columbus

Advanced navigation — the ability to cross open ocean with confidence and return safely — unlocked the Age of Exploration. Nations that mastered oceanic navigation gained access to new continents, trade routes, and resources that reshaped the world order.


Era	Renaissance
Research Cost	110
Prerequisites	Sailing, Astronomy

Unlocks

Units: Frigate
Wonders: Magellan’s Expedition

Historical Background

For most of maritime history, sailors hugged coastlines, navigating by landmarks, depth soundings, and local knowledge. Crossing open ocean was terrifying and frequently fatal. The development of reliable navigation instruments — the magnetic compass (adopted from China around the 12th century), the astrolabe, the cross-staff, and later the sextant — gave mariners the ability to determine their position far from land.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Nuclear Fission

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” — J. Robert Oppenheimer, quoting the Bhagavad Gita

The discovery that splitting an atomic nucleus could release vast quantities of energy changed the course of human history. Nuclear fission offered the promise of limitless energy and the terror of total annihilation — twin legacies that continue to shape global politics.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	240
Prerequisites	Electronics

Unlocks

Wonders: Manhattan Project

Historical Background

Nuclear fission was discovered in 1938 by German chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, with the theoretical explanation provided by Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch. The realisation that a chain reaction of splitting uranium atoms could release enormous energy — and that Nazi Germany might be pursuing such a weapon — prompted Albert Einstein’s famous letter to President Roosevelt in 1939, warning of the military implications.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pottery

“The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

Once humanity learned to grow food, it needed a way to store it. The shaping and firing of clay into durable vessels solved this problem and opened the door to long-term food preservation, trade, and the accumulation of wealth.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	25
Prerequisites	Agriculture

Unlocks

Buildings: Granary
Wonders: Hanging Gardens

Historical Background

The earliest known pottery dates to around 20,000 BCE in East Asia, where clay figurines were fired in open bonfires. However, the widespread adoption of functional pottery vessels coincided with the rise of agriculture around 7,000-6,000 BCE, when farming communities needed reliable containers for storing grain, fermenting beverages, and cooking food.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Printing Press

“The printing press is the greatest weapon in the armoury of the modern commander.” — T.E. Lawrence

The invention of movable-type printing made the mass production of books possible for the first time. Knowledge that had been the preserve of monks and scholars became accessible to the literate public, fuelling religious reform, political revolution, and the rise of republican ideals.


Era	Renaissance
Research Cost	100
Prerequisites	Education

Unlocks

Wonders: Shakespeare’s Theatre
Governments: Republic

Historical Background

While block printing originated in China as early as the 7th century and movable type was invented by Bi Sheng in Song Dynasty China around 1040, it was Johannes Gutenberg’s development of the printing press with metal movable type around 1440 in Mainz, Germany, that transformed European civilisation. Gutenberg’s press combined several innovations — durable metal type, oil-based ink, and a screw press adapted from winemaking — into a system that could produce books quickly and cheaply.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rifling

“God created men; Colonel Colt made them equal.” — American frontier saying

The practice of cutting spiral grooves inside a gun barrel — rifling — imparted spin to the projectile, dramatically improving accuracy and range. Rifled firearms transformed infantry warfare, making every soldier a potential marksman.


Era	Industrial
Research Cost	160
Prerequisites	Metallurgy

Unlocks

Units: Rifleman, Sniper

Historical Background

Rifling was known as early as the 15th century, when German and Swiss gunsmiths cut grooves into barrel interiors. However, early rifles were slow to load — the tight-fitting ball had to be hammered down the barrel — making them impractical for battlefield use where rate of fire mattered more than accuracy. Rifles were initially relegated to specialist roles: skirmishers, sharpshooters, and hunters.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rocketry

“The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle forever.” — Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

Rocketry — the science of propelling vehicles using the reaction principle — broke the final barrier: gravity itself. Rockets carried weapons across continents and, eventually, carried humanity beyond the atmosphere and into space.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	250
Prerequisites	Electronics, Advanced Flight

Unlocks

Wonders: Apollo Program
Units: Mobile SAM

Historical Background

The Chinese invented gunpowder rockets as early as the 13th century, using them as weapons and signals. But modern rocketry began with three visionary pioneers working independently: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in Russia (who derived the rocket equation in 1903), Robert Goddard in America (who launched the first liquid-fuelled rocket in 1926), and Hermann Oberth in Germany (whose theoretical work inspired a generation of engineers). Their ideas were realised on a terrifying scale during the Second World War, when Wernher von Braun’s V-2 rocket became the first long-range guided ballistic missile, striking London and Antwerp from launch sites hundreds of kilometres away.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sailing

“He that would learn to pray, let him go to sea.” — George Herbert

The mastery of wind and water opened the world beyond the horizon. Sailing transformed rivers and coastlines from barriers into highways, enabling trade, exploration, and the projection of power across vast distances.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	15
Prerequisites	None

Unlocks

Units: Galley
Buildings: Harbour
Improvements: Fishing Nets
Abilities: Workers can enter coastal water

Historical Background

The earliest boats were simple rafts and dugout canoes, used for river crossings and fishing. The crucial innovation was the sail — a means of harnessing wind to propel a vessel without human effort. The earliest evidence of sailing vessels comes from Mesopotamia and Egypt around 4,000 BCE, where reed boats with simple square sails plied the Nile, the Tigris, and the Euphrates.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sonar

“The sea is everything.” — Jules Verne

Sonar — the detection of objects underwater using sound waves — opened the hidden depths of the ocean to human awareness. Originally developed to counter the submarine threat, it gave naval forces the ability to hunt beneath the waves and protect surface fleets from unseen attack.


Era	Industrial
Research Cost	160
Prerequisites	Steam Power, Metallurgy

Unlocks

Units: Destroyer

Historical Background

The principles behind sonar were understood long before the technology was developed. Leonardo da Vinci noted in 1490 that sound could be detected through water by pressing an ear to a submerged tube. However, practical underwater detection systems were not developed until the early 20th century, spurred by two catalysts: the sinking of the Titanic by an iceberg in 1912 and the devastating effectiveness of German U-boats during the First World War.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Steam Power

“I sell here, sir, what all the world desires to have — power.” — Matthew Boulton

The harnessing of steam to drive machinery broke humanity’s dependence on muscle, wind, and water. Steam power industrialised production, revolutionised transport, and set in motion the greatest economic transformation in human history.


Era	Industrial
Research Cost	150
Prerequisites	Engineering, Banking

Unlocks

Enables other Industrial-era technologies

Historical Background

The principle that steam could produce mechanical motion was understood in antiquity — Hero of Alexandria described a simple steam-driven device in the 1st century CE — but practical steam engines did not appear until the early 18th century. Thomas Newcomen’s atmospheric engine (1712) was designed to pump water from coal mines, solving a critical industrial problem. James Watt’s refinements in the 1760s and 1770s — the separate condenser, the double-acting cylinder, the governor — transformed the steam engine from a specialised pump into a versatile power source for factories, mills, and eventually locomotives and ships.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Steel

“What is steel compared to the hand that wields it?” — Thulsa Doom (fictional, but the question is ancient)

Steel — iron refined to precise carbon content — combined strength, flexibility, and durability in a single material. Mass-produced steel built the railways, the skyscrapers, the warships, and the bridges of the modern world.


Era	Modern
Research Cost	200
Prerequisites	Industrialisation, Metallurgy

Unlocks

Units: Battleship

Historical Background

Steel has been produced in small quantities since antiquity — Indian wootz steel and Damascus steel were prized for their quality — but mass production was impossible until the mid-19th century. Henry Bessemer’s converter (1856) blew air through molten pig iron to burn off excess carbon, producing steel cheaply and in vast quantities for the first time. The Siemens-Martin open-hearth process, developed shortly after, offered even greater control over the final product’s composition.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Submarine Warfare

“The only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril.” — Winston Churchill

The development of practical military submarines introduced a new dimension to naval warfare — the ability to strike from beneath the surface, unseen and often undetected until it was too late. Submarine warfare challenged the dominance of surface fleets and threatened the maritime supply lines upon which industrial nations depended.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

The Wheel

“The wheel is come full circle.” — William Shakespeare, King Lear

Deceptively simple in concept, the wheel was one of the most transformative inventions in human history. It enabled overland transport of heavy goods, revolutionised pottery production, and formed the basis of countless mechanical devices for millennia to come.


Era	Classical
Research Cost	40
Prerequisites	Animal Husbandry

Unlocks

Improvements: Road
Abilities: Road Building

Historical Background

The wheel was invented around 3,500 BCE in Mesopotamia, though early examples also appear in the Caucasus and Central Europe around the same period. Crucially, the wheel was not initially used for transport — the oldest known wheel is a potter’s wheel from Ur. Wheeled vehicles appeared shortly afterwards, combining the wheel with animal draught power to create carts and chariots that could move goods and warriors overland at unprecedented speed.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Theology

“I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe in order to understand.” — Anselm of Canterbury

Theology — the systematic study of the divine — refined raw mysticism into organised doctrine. It provided the intellectual framework for organised religion and, with it, new forms of governance where authority was sanctioned by heaven itself.


Era	Medieval
Research Cost	75
Prerequisites	Mysticism, Education

Unlocks

Buildings: Cathedral
Governments: Monarchy

Historical Background

Theology as a formal discipline emerged when religious communities began applying rigorous intellectual methods to questions of faith, morality, and divine nature. In Christianity, the Church Fathers — Augustine, Aquinas, and others — built elaborate philosophical systems that defined doctrine for centuries. In the Islamic world, scholars like Al-Ghazali and Ibn Rushd debated the relationship between reason and revelation. Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions developed their own sophisticated theological frameworks.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Writing

“What is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” — Samuel Johnson

The invention of writing transformed human memory from something fragile and mortal into something permanent and transmissible. Laws could be codified, knowledge preserved, and the accumulated wisdom of generations passed forward without loss.


Era	Ancient
Research Cost	30
Prerequisites	None

Unlocks

Buildings: Library
Wonders: Great Library

Historical Background

Writing emerged independently in at least three locations: Sumerian cuneiform in Mesopotamia around 3,400 BCE, Egyptian hieroglyphs around the same period, and Chinese script around 1,200 BCE. In each case, the earliest texts were prosaic — inventories, receipts, and tax records — reflecting writing’s origins as a tool of administration rather than literature. The clay tablets of Uruk catalogued grain stores and livestock; poetry and myth came later.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Coast

“Where the land meets the sea, fortune awaits – for those brave enough to cast their nets.”

Coast represents shallow waters near land, teeming with marine life and offering access to maritime trade. These tiles produce a modest combination of food and gold, and can be significantly improved with Fishing Nets once Sailing technology is researched. Coastal tiles are only workable by cities within range, and only naval units can enter them.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Desert

“Nothing lives here. Nothing grows. And yet empires have fought and died for this sand.”

Desert is barren, arid terrain that produces no yields of any kind in its natural state. These scorching wastelands of sand and rock offer nothing to a civilisation without the technology and effort to transform them. However, with irrigation through farms, even the most desolate desert can be made to bloom.

Yields

Yield	Base Value
Food	0
Production	0
Gold	0

Movement


Movement Cost	6
Defence Bonus	None

Valid Improvements

Farm – +1 food (requires Agriculture)
Road – Reduces movement cost to 2 (requires The Wheel)

Strategy

Desert tiles are, bluntly, terrible. With zero base yields across the board, an unimproved desert hex contributes absolutely nothing to your empire. Cities founded in desert regions will struggle to grow, struggle to build, and struggle to generate income. Avoid settling in the desert unless you have a compelling reason – a strategic resource, a defensive position, or no better alternative.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Forest

“The trees stand like silent sentinels. They give shelter, timber, and a thousand places to hide.”

Forests are dense woodland terrain that provides balanced yields alongside significant tactical advantages. The thick canopy and tangled undergrowth slow movement considerably but offer excellent defensive cover. Forests present a strategic choice: preserve them for their ongoing yields and defensive value, or chop them down for an immediate burst of production.

Yields

Yield	Base Value
Food	1
Production	1
Gold	0

Movement


Movement Cost	12 (double normal)
Defence Bonus	+25%

Valid Improvements

Lumber Camp – +1 production (requires Mining)
Chop Forest – Removes forest permanently, grants +10 production to nearest city
Road – Reduces movement cost to 2 (requires The Wheel)

Strategy

Forests are among the most strategically interesting terrain types in the game. Their +25% defence bonus makes them excellent defensive positions – a fortified unit in a forest hex is significantly harder to dislodge than one on open ground. This makes forests natural chokepoints and fallback positions during wartime.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Grassland

“The earth here is dark and rich. Plant a seed and it practically leaps from the ground.”

Grassland represents the most fertile terrain available, with lush vegetation and abundant rainfall producing excellent food yields. However, the soft soil and lack of hard materials mean grassland offers no natural production, forcing cities to look elsewhere for the raw materials of industry.

Yields

Yield	Base Value
Food	2
Production	0
Gold	0

Movement


Movement Cost	6
Defence Bonus	None

Valid Improvements

Farm – +1 food (requires Agriculture)
Road – Reduces movement cost to 2 (requires The Wheel)

Strategy

Grassland is the premier terrain for rapid city growth. With 2 base food per tile, a city surrounded by grassland will balloon in population far faster than one built on plains or tundra. This population advantage translates into more citizens working tiles, more specialists in buildings, and a larger tax base.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hills

“High ground wins battles. Every general knows it. Every soldier feels it in their legs.”

Hills are a terrain feature that can appear on top of any base land terrain – plains, grassland, desert, or tundra. They add elevation and rocky outcrops to the landscape, doubling movement cost and providing a significant defensive bonus. Most importantly, hills are the primary location for mines, making them essential for production-focused cities.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mountains

“No army crosses these peaks. No plough breaks this stone. The mountains answer to no one.”

Mountains are impassable terrain that no land unit can enter and no improvement can be built upon. These towering peaks of bare rock and perpetual snow serve as natural walls on the map, channelling movement and shaping the strategic landscape. While they produce nothing and cannot be used, their mere presence can define the course of wars and the borders of empires.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ocean

“Beyond the horizon lies nothing but water, wind, and the unknown. Only the bold dare cross.”

Ocean represents the deep, open waters far from any coastline. These vast expanses produce no yields and cannot be improved, but they must be crossed to reach distant continents and explore the full extent of the map. Early naval vessels cannot venture into ocean tiles – only with the discovery of Astronomy can civilisations navigate the open sea.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Plains

“An ocean of grass, stretching to the horizon in every direction. Here, anything can be built.”

Plains are the most common and versatile terrain type, offering a balanced mix of food and production. Neither lush nor barren, these flat expanses of grassland and scrub support both agriculture and industry, making them the backbone of most empires.

Yields

Yield	Base Value
Food	1
Production	1
Gold	0

Movement


Movement Cost	6
Defence Bonus	None

Valid Improvements

Farm – +1 food (requires Agriculture)
Road – Reduces movement cost to 2 (requires The Wheel)

Strategy

Plains are the workhorse terrain of any empire. Their balanced yields make them adequate for nearly any purpose – not exceptional at anything, but never a liability. A city surrounded by plains will grow steadily and produce units at a reasonable pace, though it will lag behind a grassland city in food and may need mines on nearby hills to boost production.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rivers

“The river gives life, but it does not give passage freely. Cross at the wrong moment and it will take everything.”

Rivers are a terrain feature that appear on the edges between tiles rather than on tiles themselves. They do not occupy a hex but instead mark the boundary between two hexes, affecting movement and combat for any unit crossing from one side to the other. Rivers provide fresh water to adjacent tiles and are required for certain buildings, making them strategically important features on the map.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Tundra

“The ground is frozen for eight months of the year. The people who live here are harder than the land itself.”

Tundra represents the cold, windswept landscapes at the margins of the habitable world. Permafrost and short growing seasons limit agriculture to the most cold-hardy crops, producing minimal food and no production or gold. Tundra territory is generally undesirable, but sometimes geography leaves you no choice.

Yields

Yield	Base Value
Food	1
Production	0
Gold	0

Movement


Movement Cost	6
Defence Bonus	None

Valid Improvements

Farm – +1 food (requires Agriculture)
Road – Reduces movement cost to 2 (requires The Wheel)

Strategy

Tundra is slightly better than desert – its single point of food at least prevents starvation – but it remains among the weakest terrain types. Cities built on tundra grow slowly and produce little. Like desert, the primary virtue of tundra is often strategic: its remote location means you are less likely to face early military pressure, buying you time to develop in peace.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Aircraft Carrier

“She carries no great guns. She does not need them – her guns have wings, and they fly a hundred miles to find you.”

The Aircraft Carrier is a floating airbase: a mobile flight deck from which Fighters and Bombers operate far out at sea. It mounts almost no offensive armament of its own – its striking power is the air wing it carries. Heavily armoured and equipped with long-range reconnaissance, the Carrier extends an empire’s air reach across oceans that no land-based airport could ever cover.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Anti-Aircraft Gun

“Let them come. The sky above this position is closed.”

The Anti-Aircraft Gun is a specialised ground unit designed to deny enemy aircraft control of the skies. Mounted on a wheeled or tracked chassis, it provides a mobile air defence umbrella for your ground forces, punishing any enemy aircraft that ventures within range.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	8
Defence	12
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	45 Production
Required Tech	Flight
Required Resource	None

Special: +75% attack bonus vs Fighters, +50% attack bonus vs Bombers.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Archer

“Loose! Let them know the sky itself is our weapon.”

The Archer represents the first ranged military unit, marking a fundamental shift in the nature of warfare. Armed with simple bows and a quiver of arrows, these soldiers can strike enemies from a distance while remaining safely behind the front line.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	6
Defence	3
Movement	2
Range	2
Cost	25 Production
Required Tech	Archery
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Ranged Attack – Can attack enemy units up to 2 hexes away without exposing itself to melee retaliation.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	–	–
Upgrades to	Longbowman	20 gold

Full chain: Archer –> Longbowman –> Musketman

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Artillery

“We do not see the enemy. We do not need to. Mathematics does our killing.”

Artillery represents the pinnacle of ranged ground warfare – long-range, high-calibre guns capable of devastating targets kilometres away. With unmatched range and fearsome destructive power, Artillery shapes the Modern Era battlefield from positions far behind the front line.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	22
Defence	8
Movement	2
Range	3
Cost	65 Production
Required Tech	Ballistics
Required Resource	None

Special: +50% attack bonus vs cities (siege bonus).

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Battleship

“Fourteen-inch guns, thirty knots, and a will of iron. We are the fist of the empire.”

The Battleship is the most powerful surface warship, a floating fortress bristling with heavy guns capable of devastating coastal cities and obliterating enemy fleets. With massive armour, long-range firepower, and the ability to transport units, the Battleship is the capital ship that commands the seas.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	24
Defence	18
Movement	4
Range	3
Cost	75 Production
Required Tech	Steel
Required Resource	None

Special: Cargo capacity: 3 units.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bomber

“From this altitude, cities are geometry. From this altitude, we redraw the map.”

The Bomber is a heavy strike aircraft designed to deliver devastating payloads against ground targets and cities. With greater range and firepower than the Fighter, the Bomber is the premier offensive air unit, capable of crippling enemy infrastructure and softening up defenders for ground assault.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	24
Defence	8
Movement	0 (air unit)
Range	8
Cost	70 Production
Required Tech	Advanced Flight
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Air Strike – Can attack ground units and cities within range.
Strategic Bombing – Can target city improvements and infrastructure to reduce enemy production.
Rebase – Can relocate to any friendly city or aircraft carrier within range.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Siege – +50% attack vs cities.

Upgrade Path

The Bomber has no upgrade path. It is the primary strategic bombing unit.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cannon

“When diplomacy fails, we speak in iron and fire.”

The Cannon represents the maturation of gunpowder siege technology, replacing the crude hurling mechanisms of earlier ages with precision-forged metal barrels that fire heavy iron shot with terrifying force. No city wall can withstand sustained bombardment from a battery of well-served Cannons.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	16
Defence	6
Movement	2
Range	2
Cost	55 Production
Required Tech	Metallurgy
Required Resource	None

Special: +50% attack bonus vs cities (siege bonus).

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Catapult

“Walls are merely suggestions to those who command the engines of war.”

The Catapult is the earliest siege weapon, a lumbering war machine capable of hurling heavy stones at enemy fortifications from a safe distance. Though slow and vulnerable, it fills a role that no other Classical Era unit can: breaking down city walls.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	8
Defence	3
Movement	2
Range	2
Cost	40 Production
Required Tech	Mathematics
Required Resource	None

Special: +50% attack bonus vs cities (siege bonus).

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Companion Cavalry

“We ride with Alexander. We ride into legend.”

The Companion Cavalry is Greece’s unique unit, replacing the standard Knight. These elite horsemen, inspired by the legendary hetairoi who formed the hammer of Alexander the Great’s army, combine exceptional mobility with devastating charge power, striking faster and harder than any other Medieval cavalry.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	14
Defence	6
Movement	4
Range	–
Cost	50 Production
Required Tech	Chivalry
Required Resource	Horses

Unique Unit: Greece. Replaces Knight.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Cossack

“The steppe is our mother, the sabre is our father, and freedom is our creed.”

The Cossack is Russia’s unique unit, replacing the standard Horseman. Born of the wild frontier lands of the southern steppe, Cossacks are fierce, independent horsemen who combine exceptional mobility with a warrior spirit forged by generations of borderland warfare.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	7
Defence	3
Movement	4
Range	–
Cost	30 Production
Required Tech	Horseback Riding
Required Resource	Horses

Unique Unit: Russia. Replaces Horseman.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Destroyer

“Fast, deadly, and always hunting. We are the wolves of the sea.”

The Destroyer is a fast, heavily armed warship designed for anti-submarine warfare, fleet escort, and surface combat. Combining speed, firepower, submarine detection, and the ability to ferry troops, the Destroyer is the most versatile naval combatant of the Modern Era.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	14
Defence	10
Movement	5
Range	1
Cost	50 Production
Required Tech	Sonar
Required Resource	None

Special: +100% attack bonus vs Submarines. Cargo capacity: 2 units.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Fighter

“The sky belongs to those with the courage to claim it.”

The Fighter is the first air superiority unit, a fast, agile aircraft designed to control the skies and protect ground forces from enemy air attack. Armed with machine guns and later with missiles, Fighters are the guardians of the airspace above your armies and cities.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	20
Defence	12
Movement	0 (air unit)
Range	6
Cost	60 Production
Required Tech	Flight
Required Resource	None

Special: +75% attack bonus vs Bombers.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Frigate

“Full canvas! We shall run them down before nightfall.”

The Frigate is a fast, versatile sailing warship that combines decent firepower with excellent speed and the ability to traverse deep ocean. Carrying a broadside of cannons and room for transported units, the Frigate is the workhorse of Renaissance-era naval warfare.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	12
Defence	8
Movement	4
Range	1
Cost	45 Production
Required Tech	Navigation
Required Resource	None

Special: Cargo capacity: 2 units. Can traverse deep ocean.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Galley

“Row, you dogs! The wind has abandoned us but our arms have not.”

The Galley is the earliest naval vessel, a shallow-draught warship propelled by banks of oars and fitted with a bronze ram or simple weapons. Limited to coastal waters, the Galley represents the first tentative steps of a civilisation upon the seas.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	4
Defence	3
Movement	3
Range	–
Cost	25 Production
Required Tech	Sailing
Required Resource	None

Special: Cargo capacity: 1 unit. Restricted to coastal water tiles.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Horse Archer

“We ride as the wind and strike as the storm. Try to catch us – we welcome the chase.”

The Horse Archer is Mongolia’s unique unit, replacing the standard Archer. Combining the mounted warrior’s mobility with the archer’s ranged lethality, the Horse Archer is a fast, elusive skirmisher that can strike from distance and gallop away before the enemy can respond.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	5
Defence	2
Movement	3
Range	2
Cost	30 Production
Required Tech	Archery
Required Resource	Horses

Unique Unit: Mongolia. Replaces Archer.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Horseman

“Speed is armour. Speed is a weapon. Speed is everything.”

The Horseman is the first mounted unit, representing the revolutionary moment when warriors first took to horseback and transformed the pace and scope of warfare. Fast, hard-hitting, and capable of outrunning any infantry, Horsemen excel at flanking manoeuvres, raiding, and running down retreating enemies.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	10
Defence	5
Movement	3
Range	–
Cost	35 Production
Required Tech	Horseback Riding
Required Resource	Horses

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Flanking – Bonus when attacking units already engaged with another friendly unit.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
March – Extra movement point.
Blitz – 2 attacks per turn.

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	–	–
Upgrades to	Knight	30 gold

Full chain: Horseman –> Knight –> Tank

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Jaguar Warrior

“We do not fear the jungle. The jungle fears us.”

The Jaguar Warrior is the Aztecs’ unique unit, replacing the standard Warrior. Clad in the spotted pelt of the jaguar and armed with an obsidian-edged macuahuitl, the Jaguar Warrior is a fearsome early-game fighter with enhanced combat ability compared to the basic Warrior it replaces.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	5
Defence	3
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	15 Production
Required Tech	None
Required Resource	None

Unique Unit: Aztecs. Replaces Warrior.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Knight

“For honour, for glory, for the charge that shatters nations.”

The Knight is the pinnacle of Medieval mounted warfare – a heavily armoured warrior atop a powerful warhorse, trained from childhood in the arts of combat. Combining devastating offensive power with respectable resilience and exceptional mobility, the Knight is the most feared unit on the Medieval battlefield.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	16
Defence	10
Movement	3
Range	–
Cost	50 Production
Required Tech	Chivalry
Required Resource	Horses + Iron

Abilities

Melee Attack – Devastating melee combat against adjacent units.
Charge – Bonus damage on the first attack after moving.
Flanking – Bonus when attacking units already engaged with another friendly unit.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
March – Extra movement point.
Blitz – 2 attacks per turn.

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Horseman	30 gold
Upgrades to	Tank	40 gold

Full chain: Horseman –> Knight –> Tank

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Legion

“We march, we build, we conquer. The roads we lay today will carry our legions for a thousand years.”

The Legion is Rome’s unique unit, replacing the standard Swordsman. More than mere soldiers, Legionaries are trained engineers as well as warriors, capable of constructing roads and other improvements in the field – a dual capability that makes the Legion one of the most versatile units in the game.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	8
Defence	6
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	35 Production
Required Tech	Iron Working
Required Resource	Iron

Unique Unit: Rome. Replaces Swordsman.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Longbowman

“We shall darken the sky, and they shall fight in the shade of our arrows.”

The Longbowman represents the evolution of archery into a devastating battlefield weapon. Armed with a powerful yew longbow capable of piercing armour at extraordinary distances, these highly trained archers can decimate enemy formations before they ever reach melee range.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	12
Defence	5
Movement	2
Range	2
Cost	40 Production
Required Tech	Longbow
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Ranged Attack – Can attack enemy units up to 2 hexes away without exposing itself to melee retaliation.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Archer	20 gold
Upgrades to	Sniper	30 gold

Full chain: Archer –> Longbowman –> Sniper

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Mobile SAM

“Tracking. Locked. Fox one. Splash.”

The Mobile SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) is the modern evolution of ground-based air defence – a vehicle-mounted guided missile system capable of engaging aircraft at greater range and with far higher accuracy than its gun-based predecessor. It represents the cutting edge of anti-air technology.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	6
Defence	14
Movement	4
Range	–
Cost	60 Production
Required Tech	Rocketry
Required Resource	None

Special: +100% attack bonus vs Fighters, +75% attack bonus vs Bombers.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Musketeer

“All for one, and one for all – and woe to those who stand against us.”

The Musketeer is France’s unique unit, replacing the standard Musketman. Representing the elite royal musketeers who served as the crown’s personal guard and shock troops, the Musketeer brings superior offensive capability to the Renaissance battlefield while maintaining the versatility of gunpowder infantry.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	16
Defence	10
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	45 Production
Required Tech	Gunpowder
Required Resource	None

Unique Unit: France. Replaces Musketman.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Musketman

“The thunder of our volleys shall herald a new age of war.”

The Musketman marks the arrival of gunpowder on the battlefield, rendering centuries of armoured warfare obsolete in a single technological leap. Armed with a smoothbore musket capable of punching through plate armour, the Musketman requires far less training than a longbowman or knight yet delivers devastating firepower.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	14
Defence	10
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	45 Production
Required Tech	Gunpowder
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
Siege – +50% attack vs cities.
March – Extra movement point.

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Swordsman (20g), Pikeman (30g), or Longbowman (30g)	varies
Upgrades to	Rifleman	20 gold

Full chains:

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Pikeman

“Eighteen feet of sharpened ash – that is the distance at which we settle arguments.”

The Pikeman is the Medieval evolution of the Spearman, armed with a pike up to six metres long and drilled to fight in dense, disciplined formations. Where Spearmen held the line, Pikemen create an impenetrable thicket of steel points that no cavalry charge can breach.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	8
Defence	16
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	40 Production
Required Tech	Chivalry
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.
Anti-Cavalry – Strong bonus against mounted units.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Spearman	30 gold
Upgrades to	Musketman	30 gold

Full chain: Spearman –> Pikeman –> Musketman

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Rifleman

“At four hundred yards, I can put a ball through a man’s heart. At two hundred, I never miss.”

The Rifleman represents the culmination of infantry evolution – a disciplined soldier armed with a rifled musket that trades the smoothbore’s inaccuracy for deadly precision at range. With proper training and modern tactics, Riflemen form the backbone of Industrial Era armies.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	20
Defence	16
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	50 Production
Required Tech	Rifling
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
Siege – +50% attack vs cities.
March – Extra movement point.

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Musketman	20 gold
Upgrades to	–	–

Full chain: Warrior –> Swordsman –> Musketman –> Rifleman

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Scout

“I have seen lands beyond the horizon that would make you weep with wonder.”

The Scout is a lightly equipped explorer, trained to move quickly through rough terrain and report back on what lies beyond the borders. Carrying little more than provisions and a simple weapon for self-defence, Scouts trade combat ability for unmatched speed and vision.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	4
Defence	2
Movement	3
Range	–
Cost	15 Production
Required Tech	None
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Weak melee combat against adjacent units.
Rapid Movement – 3 movement points allow the Scout to cover ground faster than most early units.
Exploration – Reveals fog of war as it moves.

Available Promotions

March – Extra movement point.

Upgrade Path

The Scout has no upgrade path. It becomes obsolete as the map is revealed.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Settler

“We shall build a new home here, where the rivers meet and the land is generous.”

The Settler represents the brave pioneers who venture beyond the safety of established cities to carve out new centres of civilisation in the wilderness. Comprised of families, craftspeople, and labourers, a settler party carries everything needed to establish a functioning settlement from scratch.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	0
Defence	0
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	60 Production
Required Tech	None
Required Resource	None

Special: Costs 1 population from the producing city.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Ship of the Line

“Seventy-four guns on two decks, and every one of them speaks the King’s English.”

The Ship of the Line is England’s unique naval unit, replacing the standard Frigate. A massive, heavily armed warship designed to stand in the line of battle, it combines superior firepower, extended range, and robust construction to dominate the seas during the age of sail.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	14
Defence	10
Movement	4
Range	2
Cost	50 Production
Required Tech	Navigation
Required Resource	None

Special: Cargo capacity: 2 units. Can traverse deep ocean.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Sniper

“One shot, one kill. The rifle does the work; the patience does the killing.”

The Sniper is the modern descendant of the longbowman and the marksman tradition: a single rifleman trained to engage at long range with precision rather than volume. Where a Rifleman holds the line, a Sniper picks targets from cover – thinning enemy formations before they can close, and crippling officers and crew-served weapons before the main attack arrives.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Spearman

“Let them charge. The points of our spears will answer.”

The Spearman is the earliest dedicated defensive unit, armed with a long thrusting spear and a simple shield. What they lack in offensive punch they more than compensate for with exceptional defensive capability, forming the immovable anchor around which early armies are built.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	5
Defence	10
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	25 Production
Required Tech	None
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.
Anti-Cavalry – Bonus effectiveness against mounted units.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	–	–
Upgrades to	Pikeman	30 gold

Full chain: Spearman –> Pikeman –> Musketman

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Submarine

“Silent. Patient. Invisible. The sea hides us, and the sea delivers our justice.”

The Submarine is a stealth naval unit that operates beneath the waves, invisible to most enemy forces until it strikes. Armed with torpedoes, the Submarine specialises in ambushing enemy warships and severing supply lines, exploiting the element of surprise to overcome its fragile construction.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	18
Defence	6
Movement	4
Range	1
Cost	70 Production
Required Tech	Submarine Warfare
Required Resource	None

Special: Stealth unit – invisible to most enemy units until it attacks or is detected. Cannot attack land units.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Swordsman

“Iron in hand, iron in heart. We are the blade of civilisation.”

The Swordsman represents a quantum leap in military technology: the forging of iron into deadly blades and the training of professional soldiers to wield them. Better armed, better armoured, and better disciplined than their Warrior predecessors, Swordsmen are the dominant infantry of the Classical Era.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	12
Defence	8
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	35 Production
Required Tech	Iron Working
Required Resource	Iron

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
Siege – +50% attack vs cities.

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Warrior	30 gold
Upgrades to	Musketman	20 gold

Full chain: Warrior –> Swordsman –> Musketman –> Rifleman

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Tank

“The ground shakes. The treads sing. Nothing stands before us.”

The Tank is the ultimate evolution of mounted warfare – a steel-clad behemoth powered by internal combustion, carrying devastating firepower and crushing armour across any terrain. Combining the shock power of the medieval knight with the protection of a mobile fortress, the Tank dominates the Modern Era battlefield.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	28
Defence	18
Movement	4
Range	–
Cost	70 Production
Required Tech	Combustion
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Devastating melee combat against adjacent units.
Charge – Bonus damage on the first attack after moving.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)
March – Extra movement point.
Blitz – 2 attacks per turn.

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	Knight	40 gold
Upgrades to	–	–

Full chain: Horseman –> Knight –> Tank

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

War Chariot

“The thunder of our wheels heralds the wrath of the Pharaoh. Flee or be crushed beneath our glory.”

The War Chariot is Egypt’s unique unit, replacing the standard Horseman. A light, fast vehicle drawn by a pair of horses, the War Chariot provides mounted mobility without requiring access to a Horses resource – a significant economic advantage that allows Egypt to field cavalry earlier and more freely than other civilisations.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Warrior

“We fight with what we have. Clubs, stones, bare hands if we must.”

The Warrior is the most basic military unit, representing the earliest armed fighters of any civilisation. Armed with crude weapons – clubs, stone axes, and sharpened sticks – these fighters lack the training and equipment of later soldiers but make up for it with raw determination and the desperate need to defend their homes.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	8
Defence	5
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	20 Production
Required Tech	None
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Melee Attack – Standard melee combat against adjacent units.
Fortify – Digs in on the current hex for a defensive bonus.

Available Promotions

Combat I – +10% attack (5 XP)
Combat II – +10% attack (15 XP, requires Combat I)

Upgrade Path

Direction	Unit	Gold Cost
Upgrades from	–	–
Upgrades to	Swordsman	30 gold

Full chain: Warrior –> Swordsman –> Musketman –> Rifleman

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Worker

“Give me stone and I shall build you roads. Give me seed and I shall feed your people.”

The Worker embodies the tireless labour force that transforms raw wilderness into productive terrain. These skilled engineers, farmers, and builders construct the improvements that turn a fledgling settlement into a thriving empire.

Stats

Stat	Value
Attack	0
Defence	0
Movement	2
Range	–
Cost	40 Production
Required Tech	None
Required Resource	None

Abilities

Build Improvement – Constructs terrain improvements on the current hex:
- Farm – Increases food output of the tile.
- Mine – Increases production output of the tile.
- Road – Connects tiles for faster movement and trade routes.
- Lumber Mill – Harvests forest tiles for production.
- Quarry – Extracts stone resources.
- Plantation – Works luxury resource tiles.
- Pasture – Improves animal resource tiles.

Upgrade Path

The Worker has no upgrade path. It is a unique civilian unit available from the start of the game.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Apollo Program

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” – Neil Armstrong

The Apollo Program represents the pinnacle of a civilisation’s scientific and industrial capability – a coordinated national effort to conquer the final frontier. Thousands of engineers, scientists, and technicians work in concert to design, test, and build the spacecraft, propulsion systems, and life support technology needed to reach beyond the Earth. Completing the Apollo Program does not win the game by itself, but it unlocks the path to the stars.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Colossus of Rhodes

“To you, O Sun, the people of Dorian Rhodes set up this bronze statue reaching to Olympus.”

A towering bronze figure standing astride the harbour entrance, the Colossus is a marvel of ancient engineering and artistic ambition. Gleaming in the Mediterranean sun, the statue proclaims the wealth and confidence of the civilisation that erected it. Merchants arriving by sea gaze upward in awe, and the commerce that flows through the harbour beneath its shadow enriches the city beyond measure.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great Library

“All the knowledge of the world, gathered under one roof.”

The Great Library is a monument to the pursuit of knowledge, a vast repository housing the collected wisdom of civilisations near and far. Scholars travel from distant lands to study within its halls, translators labour to render foreign texts into the common tongue, and scribes work ceaselessly to copy and preserve works that might otherwise be lost to time. To possess the Great Library is to hold the intellectual wealth of the known world in your hands.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Great Wall

“He who controls the Wall controls the empire.”

A colossal barrier stretching across the horizon, the Great Wall is the most ambitious defensive construction ever attempted. Mountains, deserts, and river valleys are linked by an unbroken chain of stone and rammed earth, manned by garrisons and punctuated by signal towers that can relay warnings across vast distances in hours. To build the Great Wall is to declare that your civilisation will endure – and that those who would threaten it will find no easy passage.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Hanging Gardens

“In the midst of the desert, she built paradise.”

Terraces of lush vegetation cascade down monumental stone walls, a breathtaking oasis of green rising above the dust and heat of the surrounding landscape. Ingenious irrigation systems lift water from the river below to nourish exotic plants, flowering trees, and fragrant gardens suspended in the sky. The Hanging Gardens are a triumph of human ingenuity over nature – proof that civilisation can create abundance even where the land offers none.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Magellan’s Expedition

“The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore.” – Ferdinand Magellan

The commissioning of a great expedition to circumnavigate the globe represents a civilisation’s mastery of oceanic navigation and its ambition to chart the unknown waters of the world. Ships are outfitted, crews are assembled, and the accumulated knowledge of generations of mariners is brought to bear on the greatest voyage ever attempted. The lessons learned transform an empire’s entire naval doctrine, making every vessel faster, more efficient, and more capable on the open sea.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Manhattan Project

“Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” – J. Robert Oppenheimer

The Manhattan Project is the most terrible scientific achievement in the history of civilisation – the unlocking of the atom’s destructive power. Behind layers of secrecy, the brightest physicists and engineers of a generation work to harness nuclear fission, transforming theoretical physics into a weapon of apocalyptic force. Once completed, the Manhattan Project opens a door that can never be closed, granting the ability to produce nuclear weapons capable of annihilating cities in a single blinding flash.

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Shakespeare’s Theatre

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” – William Shakespeare

A magnificent theatrical playhouse rises in the heart of the city, a cultural beacon where the greatest dramatic works of the age are performed before enraptured audiences. Playwrights, actors, and poets flock to its stage, and the works premiered within its walls spread throughout the empire and beyond, shaping language, thought, and artistic expression for generations. Shakespeare’s Theatre transforms a city into the undisputed cultural capital of the known world.