Overview
Each Settlement pays its conqueror Tribute in one of the three main types of Resources: Gold, Iron, or Food. Settlements may also pay using Special Resources such as Sapphires or Maranian Amulets.
There are three types of Settlements: Large, Medium, and Small.
The amount of Resources received from the Settlement per hour and the total amount of the Tribute available depends on its size. The larger the Settlement, the more Resources it can collect per hour, and the greater its total worth. When all of the Tribute at a Settlement has been collected, or its time limit expires, it will disappear from the Map.
The time remaining until a Settlement disappears is displayed on the pop-up Map menu and at your Command buildings (Keep and Eagle's Nest).
Go to the Eagle's Nest to detect new Settlements. Every new Settlement starts off vacant and unguarded, so be the first to find new ones!
Any player can view the amount of Resources stored in the Settlement by placing their cursor over it.
Settlement Menu (from the Map)
Place your cursor over a Settlement on the Map to view its info. You will be able to view the amount of Resources remaining at a Settlement, its status (whether the Settlement is vacant or captured), and choose from a set of possible actions. You can get more information at your Eagle's Nest. Once you've captured a Settlement, go to your Keep and open the "Settlements" tab. It provides info about:
- The total amount of Resources at the Settlement
- Time remaining until the Settlement is depleted
- The Settlement's Tribute storage capacity
- The amount of Resources currently awaiting collection
- Time remaining till you can collect Resources again
- Time remaining until the Settlement's collection capacity is full
- Type and number of Units currently garrisoned
- Type and number of friendly Reinforcements.
The maximum travel time to any Settlement on the Map is 1 hour for all players.
Building the House of Lords allows you to conquer 1 Settlement. Once you've upgraded the House of Lords to Level 6, you'll be able to control 2 Settlements. Go to the Obelisk of Power and use the required Skull Runes to control 3 Settlements at a time.
Spying
To spy on a Settlement, build the House of Lords and the Hall of Shadows, and locate the Settlement from the Map or Eagle's Nest. Choose the "Dispatch Spies" option, select the number of Silent Ones you want to send for the mission and click "Send". Successful Spying missions allow you to detect all Units defending a Settlement - including its owner's Units and other players' Reinforcements. Recruit and station as many Silent Ones as you can to protect your Settlement from being spied upon.
Conquering Settlements
Building the House of Lords allows you to conquer 1 Settlement. Select the "Settlements" tab, then choose the type and number of Units you want to send on the mission and click "Send". If you succeed, your force will conquer the Settlement, and you'll be able to view its info under the "Settlements" tab at the Keep. Once you've captured the Settlement, it starts collecting Resources.
You can claim Resources from Settlements once an hour. If you don't collect Resources for more than 12 hours, they cease collecting.
If a Settlement is conquered by another player, the new owner doesn't get any of its previous owner's collected or claimed Resources. The Settlement starts collecting Resources again, but the total amount of Resources in the Settlement continues to deplete regardless of how many times it changes hands. You may wish to maintain a large garrison of Defensive Units at your conquered Settlements to keep them under your control. But be careful - other Lords may see this as an opportunity to destroy your armies!
You may also dispatch spies and conquering armies to your Allies' Settlements but do so at your own risk. Sometimes, short-term profit isn't worth losing a valuable Ally! If your Settlement is captured by an Enemy force, all surviving defenders and Reinforcements will return to their respective owners.
Reinforcements
To send and receive Reinforcements, you need to discover the 'Art of War' and build the Keep.
Select the number and type of Units you want, and then dispatch them as Reinforcements to your or your Allies' Settlements.
Sending Reinforcements to other Settlements does not allow you to collect Resources from that Settlement, but if you help your Friends control their Settlements, they might return the favor or pay you a percentage for protection.
If you recall all of your Units from one of your Settlements, all Reinforcements belonging to other players will automatically be returned to their respective Castles. If all your Units at a Settlement are destroyed, all surviving Reinforcements automatically return to their owners.
To control your Reinforcements in other Settlements, go to the Keep, open the "Garrisons" tab, and choose the "Settlements" filter.
Counselor Reports
You will receive information on your Settlement battles in your Grand Marshal's reports. Your Lord Steward will send you information about any Resource deliveries.