Your empire cannot grow without building materials and tools. These chains should be prioritized during the early to mid-game transition. Building Modules (Woodcutter & Stonemason) 1 Woodcutter's Hut (Requires surrounding trees). Bricks: 1 Quarry →right arrow 1 Stonemason's Hut.
Transforms raw materials into goods (e.g., Weaver’s Hut, Food Processor).
Wood is your primary construction material. Ensure the Forester has enough green space to replant trees, or your lumberjacks will run out of timber. Ratio: 2 Sheep Farms →right arrow 1 Weaver’s Hut Output: Cloth anno 1701 production chains
Tools are the most critical resource in the game. Build this loop early to stop buying tools from free traders. Flour and Bread (The Grain Loop) Ratio: 2 Grain Farms →right arrow 1 Flour Mill →right arrow Output: Food (Bread)
: Keeps your citizens satisfied and provides significant tax revenue. Ratio : 2 Hop Plantations (or 2 Sugar Cane Plantations) →right arrow 1 Brewery (or 1 Distillery) . Your empire cannot grow without building materials and tools
Cattle Farms could produce "Hides" as a by-product of food production. These hides could then be funneled into a new Leather Works chain to provide "Luxury Boots" for Merchants and Aristocrats.
Before you declare war on the Duchess or try to build that massive Cathedral, run this audit: Bricks: 1 Quarry →right arrow 1 Stonemason's Hut
This chain mimics the cloth chain but requires southern, tropical island fertility. It is essential for pushing your population into the upper-middle class. Ratio: 1 Clay Pit →right arrow 1 Brickworks Output: Bricks
Example:
: Notice that Tools , Weapons , and Cannons all share the same precursor (1 Ore Mine + 1 Smelter), which supports 2 final production buildings (e.g., 2 Tool Makers or 2 Weapon Smithies) .
These chains are the foundation of your colony's expansion. Unlike consumer goods, these can be turned off manually once your warehouse is full to save on upkeep costs. Octopus Overlords Required Buildings (Ratio) Efficiency 1 Lumberjack's Hut 3t per minute 1 Clay Pit → 2 Brick Factories 3t per minute 1 Lumberjack + 1 Ore Mine + 1 Ore Smelter → 2 Tool Makers 3t per minute 1 Marble Quarry → 2 Marble Stonemasons 3t per minute