Castles are player's settlements, producing and accumulating material goods and military resources. Castles exist in 3 categories: villages, towns and cities (metropoleis).

Establishing a village

Heroes having settlers in their inventory can establish villages. Much of their future development depends on the quality of the chosen geographic site.

Main criteria when choosing a construction site:

• Main building resources (woods/timber, mountains/stone) should be in your settlement's access range, as close as possible. It is preferable to find timber in a 2 cell range and stones in a 3 cell range around your castle. Otherwise, its development will be much more difficult.
• It is a good aspect, if your castle is surrounded by water, mountains or woods: it becomes difficult for your enemies to get to you.
• Access to adjacent roads will grant your units the possibility to move faster, but at the same time enemies will be able to get quicker to you.
• Proximity to rivers and sees offers you the chance to develop your own fleet. (Yet don't forget that seas are full of dangers)

Developing settlements

Settlements have 3 stages of their development: village -> town -> city (metropolis). Every new level offers new building sites, allowing new types of buildings and increasing the number of serfs at your disposal.

Free building sites can be used to construct machinery, craf artifacts and magic scrolls and raise buildings.

Every city, depending on its level, has its own number of serfs. Serfs are householding units, that can me moved and controlled, swapped from one job to another. The number of workers is fixed. They cannot be killed. The radius within which they can work is limited by the level of their settlement.

Characteristics

• Village
  Workers: 3 / Worker’s operational radius: 3 cells. / Construction sites: 6 / Storage: 13 slots. / Karma: 10
  
• Town
  Workers: 5 / Worker’s operational radius: 5 cells. / Construction sites: 12 / Storage: 26 slots. / Karma: +10 = 20
  
• City (Metropolis)
  Workers: 6 / Worker’s operational radius: 6 cells. / Construction sites: 18 / Storage: 39 slots. / Karma: +10 = 30