Research

To build more advanced buildings and expand your city you need to do some research. This is your main and only way of unlocking new construction options as well as make new social policies available and obtain some nifty passive bonuses that are applied globally. Researching takes time and resources so planning ahead is always a good idea.

The various research topics can be roughly divided into several categories.

Town center upgrades

The central building in your town, in the beginning called the Townhouse, can be upgraded through the research tree. Researching the upgrade automatically upgrades the building to the next level, unlocking more bonuses and options.

Gathering hall Automatically upgrade the Townhouse to the Gathering Hall, which opens up more options regarding social policies. Additionally, allows the planting of Wheat fields and Apple orchards, and the construction of ranches to herd chickens. Cost 500 Coins 30 Lumber 30 Stone Duration 15 days	Townhall Automatically upgrade the Gathering Hall to the Townhall, which opens up more options regarding social policies. Cost 750 Coins 150 Lumber 100 Stone Duration 25 days
Council hall Automatically upgrade the Townhall to the Council Hall, which opens up more options regarding social policies. Cost 1000 Coins 300 Lumber 150 Stone Duration 35 days	Royal hall Automatically upgrade the Council Hall to the Royal Hall, which opens up more options regarding social policies. Cost 2000 Coins 500 Stone 150 Tools Duration 40 days

Construction unlocks

Some basic buildings can be constructed from the very start, but to really advance your population and build a thriving city, you’ll need to invest in research to unlock more advanced buildings and production options.

Mine Cost 30 Coins 20 Lumber Duration 7 days	Fisherman's hut Cost 25 Coins 20 Lumber Duration 7 days	Quarry Cost 30 Coins 15 Lumber Duration 8 days
Decorative hedge Cost 20 Coins 5 Lumber Duration 5 days	Toolsmith Cost 100 Coins 10 Lumber 10 Stones Duration 9 days	Clothes shop Cost 75 Coins 35 Lumber 15 Iron Duration 10 days
Clay pit Cost 125 Coins 25 Lumber 15 Stones Duration 12 days	Stone road Cost 250 Coins 35 Stones Duration 10 days	Pottery workshop Cost 125 Coins 20 Lumber 20 Stones Duration 12 days
Apiary Cost 350 Coins 20 Lumber 20 Iron Duration 15 days	Warehouse Cost 350 Coins 30 Stones 20 Iron Duration 18 days	Gazebo Cost 250 Coins 40 Lumber 20 Stones Duration 8 days
Market Cost 400 Coins 75 Lumber 50 Stones Duration 20 days	Candle shop Cost 350 Coins 30 Lumber 15 Iron Duration 10 days	Stone house Cost 200 Coins 100 Stones 25 Tools Duration 15 days
Brickworks Cost 350 Coins 120 Lumber 30 Tools Duration 23 days	Windmill Cost 300 Coins 120 Lumber 40 Iron Duration 25 days	Bakery Cost 325 Coins 150 Stones 50 Tools Duration 31 days
School Cost 500 Coins 200 Lumber 30 Tools Duration 30 days	Inn Cost 450 Coins 300 Lumber 50 Tools Duration 30 days	Guardhouse Cost 350 Coins 150 Lumber Duration 30 days
Mint Cost 650 Coins 300 Lumber 50 Tools Duration 30 days	Tailor's shop Cost 400 Coins 250 Lumber 80 Tools Duration 32 days	Church Cost 1000 Coins 60 Lumber 75 Stones Duration 27 days
Quay Cost 1000 Coins 200 Lumber 100 Stones Duration 15 days	Healer's house Cost 1000 Coins 200 Lumber 100 Tools Duration 33 days	Harbor Cost 1000 Coins 200 Iron 65 Tools Duration 30 days
Cathedral Cost 1000 Coins 400 Stones 50 Tools Duration 35 days	Gold mine Cost 1000 Coins 300 Lumber 60 Stones Duration 30 days	Fishery Cost 1000 Coins 70 Lumber 60 Stones Duration 15 days
Oil lamps Cost 1000 Coins 40 Iron 10 Tools Duration 10 days	Oil mill Cost 1000 Coins 100 Lumber 30 Tools Duration 14 days	Perfume shop Cost 1000 Coins 200 Lumber 40 Tools Duration 25 days
Mushroom farm Cost 1000 Coins 15 Lumber 20 Herbs Duration 10 days	Cemetery Cost 1000 Coins 25 Lumber 25 Stones Duration 10 days	Field I Cost 200 Coins 15 Lumber Duration 10 days
Field II Cost 250 Coins 20 Lumber 50 Herbs Duration 12 days	Field III Cost 1000 Coins 100 Lumber 60 Herbs Duration 25 days	Field IV Cost 1000 Coins 100 Lumber 100 Herbs Duration 30 days
Sunflower field Cost 1000 Coins 100 Lumber 20 Tools Duration 12 days	Ranch I Cost 250 Coins 40 Lumber Duration 10 days	Ranch II Cost 300 Coins 40 Lumber 30 Iron Duration 15 days
Ranch III Cost 350 Coins 200 Lumber 50 Tools Duration 20 days	Carpenter I Cost 125 Coins 70 Lumber 10 Tools Duration 10 days	Carpenter II Cost 300 Coins 75 Lumber 30 Tools Duration 10 days
Orchard I Cost 200 Coins 50 Lumber Duration 12 days	Orchard II Cost 250 Coins 80 Lumber Duration 18 days	Orchard III Cost 1000 Coins 200 Lumber Duration 36 days
Distillery I Cost 300 Coins 20 Iron 5 Tools Duration 12 days	Distiller II Cost 300 Coins 50 Lumber 20 Iron Duration 10 days	Distillery III Cost 1000 Coins 100 Lumber 40 Bricks Duration 10 days
Jewelry store Cost 500 Coins 150 Lumber 25 Stones Duration 32 days	Jewelry store II Cost 1000 Coins 150 Lumber 30 Bricks Duration 30 days	Stone well Cost 200 Coins 40 Lumber 40 Stones Duration 10 days
Two-story house Cost 400 Coins 300 Lumber 100 Stones Duration 30 days	Peasants guildhouse Cost 1000 Coins Duration 35 days	Laborer's guildhouse Cost 1000 Coins Duration 37 days
Merchants guildhouse Cost 1000 Coins Duration 30 days	Gentry guildhouse Cost 1000 Coins Duration 30 days	Patron's mansion Cost 1000 Coins 500 Lumber 500 Stones Duration 50 days
Small statue Cost 50 Coins 15 Stones Duration 6 days	Medium statue Cost 300 Coins 60 Stones Duration 8 days	Large statue Cost 300 Coins 150 Stones Duration 11 days
Small fountain Cost 50 Coins 10 Stones Duration 6 days	Medium fountain Cost 150 Coins 30 Stones 20 Iron Duration 9 days	Large fountain Cost 1000 Coins 150 Stones Duration 11 days
Small pond Cost 65 Coins 15 Stones Duration 8 days	Medium pond Cost 400 Coins 50 Stones Duration 8 days	Large pond Cost 1000 Coins 250 Lumber 50 Stones Duration 11 days
Small park Cost 60 Coins 10 Lumber 10 Herbs Duration 6 days	Medium park Cost 300 Coins 100 Lumber 50 Stones Duration 9 days	Large park Cost 1000 Coins 250 Lumber 150 Stones Duration 12 days
Garden Cost 1000 Coins 150 Lumber 100 Herbs Duration 11 days	Decorative trees Cost 100 Coins Duration 9 days	Plaza Cost 1000 Coins 300 Stones Duration 10 days

Global bonuses

Along the building unlocks noted above, the research tree also provides a series of various upgrades that offer global bonuses, applied on your entire town from the moment they are researched. Check them out and invest in the research!

Cleared path Increase Herbalist's hut efficiency if near a Gatherer's shelter (+20%). Cost 90 Coins Duration 7 days	Deep mine Increase the production of Coal mines if nearby an Iron mine (+15%). Cost 600 Coins 30 Stone Duration 8 days
Tracking prey Increases Hunting lodge efficiency if near a Herbalist's hut (+20%). Cost 85 Coins 5 Tools Duration 10 days	Quarry Pool Increase the production of Quarries if near and Iron or Coal mine (+10%). Cost 550 Coins Duration 10 days
Ice fishing Increase Fisherman's hut efficiency during the Winter (+30%). Cost 90 Coins 20 Lumber Duration 9 days	The little things Increase Peasant general happiness in the Clothes shop radius. Cost 250 Coins Duration 13 days
Pottery Apprentice Increase production of Pottery workshop if near another Pottery workshop (+15%) Cost 700 Coins 20 Lumber 40 Herbs Duration 15 days	Cooperation Increase Ranch production if near a Field (+15%). Cost 1000 Coins Duration 18 days
Research drafting Reduces the time it takes to conduct research by 30%. Cost 1000 Coins Duration 25 days	No-waste approach Increase Carpenter's hut production if adjacent to another Carpenter's hut (+20%). Cost 900 Coins Duration 20 days
Market Radius Increase the effective radius of Markets (+15%). Cost 750 Coins Duration 24 days	Market availability Increase Happiness of Laborers living near a Market. Cost 950 Coins Duration 28 days
Pollination Increase Orchard production if near an Apiary (+12%). Cost 1100 Coins Duration 25 days	Maximize potential Increase Windmill production if near a field (+15%). Cost 1200 Coins Duration 31 days
Optimized route Increase Candle shop production if near an Apiary (+18%). Cost 1300 Coins Duration 31 days	Optimized distilling Increase Distillery production if adjacent to an Orchard (+16%). Cost 1100 Coins Duration 30 days
Neighborhood school Increase School efficiency by 1% for each house in the vicinity. Cost 1150 Coins Duration 30 days	Loitering tax Inn produces 0.1 Coins for every adult settler living in the Inn's radius. Cost 1000 Coins Duration 35 days
High society Increase Happiness of the Gentry living near a Jewelry store. Cost 1300 Coins Duration 32 days	Fine garments Increase Happiness of the Gentry living near a Tailor shop. Cost 1250 Coins Duration 32 days
Religious zeal Increase Church effect if it overlaps with the effective radius of a Cathedral or another Church (+15%). Cost 1300 Coins Duration 33 days	Good times Increase Happiness of Merchants living near an Inn. Cost 800 Coins Duration 35 days
The healer's route Increase Healer's house efficiency if adjacent to a Herbalist's hut (+20%). Cost 1150 Coins Duration 34 days	Natural Immigration Increase immigration for every Church and School in your town (+2%). Cost 1000 Coins Duration 37 days

Social policies

As noted in the Social dynamics section, your Citizens will react to what you do differently, depending on their view of some key social issues. Your most direct lever to influence social issues in your city is the enactment of Social policies. Keep in mind that, much like in the real world, treating one group as your favorite, will inevitably cause another group to become aggravated. Your best tactics is to navigate that fine middle line. Before you can enact a social policy, you have to research it first.

One other important thing to consider is that enacting and keeping social policies active always come with actual costs, mostly in Coins.

Construction goods Enacting the policy increases the production in Quarries, Coal mines, Iron mines, Forester huts, Toolsmiths and Brickworks. (+20%) Cost 90 Coins Duration 7 days	Food production The Food Production policy increases the efficiency of Fields, Orchards, Ranches, Gathering huts, Hunting lodges and Fisherman huts. (+20%) Cost 200 Coins Duration 8 days
Essential budgeting Enacting the policy reduces the Upkeep of Fisherman huts, Hunting lodges, Herbalist huts, Mines, Quarries, Clothes shops, Toolsmiths and Sawmills. (-15% / -2 Basic goods) Cost 200 Coins Duration 11 days	Immigration incentive Spend Coins to urge immigrants to travel from the old world and join your town. (+30% Immigration rate / +2 Immigration) Cost 350 Coins Duration 14 days
Essential goods Enacting the policy increases the production of Gatherer shelters, Forester huts, Fisherman huts, Hunting lodges, Herbalist huts, Mines, Quarries, Clothes shops, Toolsmiths and Sawmills. (+20%) Cost 500 Coins Duration 13 days	Basic budgeting Enacting the policy reduces the Upkeep of Apiaries, Carpenter huts, Pottery workshops and Clay pits. (-15% / -2 Basic goods) Cost 500 Coins Duration 15 days
Tariff Enacting the policy increases taxation on Peasants and Laborers. (+15% / -2 Taxes for Peasants and Laborers) Cost 800 Coins Duration 15 days	Duties Enacting the policy increases taxation on Merchants. (+15% / -2 Taxes) Cost 800 Coins Duration 20 days
Market toll Enacting the policy increases income from Markets. (+20%) Cost 850Coins Duration 28 days	Trade customs Enacting the policy reduces the Royal fee when conducting trade via the Docks or the Harbor. (-17% / -1 Loyalty) Cost 1000Coins Duration 22 days
Housing contribution Enacting the policy grants Coins income for every House. (+3 Coins per House / -2 Taxes) Cost 850 Coins Duration 25 days	Basic goods Enacting the policy increases the production of Apiaries, Carpenter huts, Pottery workshops and Clay pits. (+20%) Cost 800 Coins Duration 28 days
Advanced budgeting Enacting the policy reduces the Upkeep of Bakeries, Distilleries, Candle shops, Windmills and Brickworks. (-15% / -2 Luxury goods) Cost 900 Coins Duration 28 days	Education focus Enacting the policy funnels more resources into education and increases School efficiency. (+60% efficiency / +2 Education) Cost 700 Coins Duration 25 days
Food restrictions Enacting the policy restricts food rations for all of your citizens. (-17% consumption / -2[SI_Health] / +2 Loyalty) Cost 650 Coins Duration 25 days	Luruxy budgeting Enacting the policy reduces the Upkeep of Tailor shops, Jewelry stores and Mints. (-15% / -2 Luxury goods) Cost 750 Coins Duration 25 days
Tribute Enacting the policy increases taxation on the Gentry. (+15% / -2 Taxes for Gentry) Cost 900 Coins Duration 28 days	Tax cut Enacting the policy reduces taxation on Peasants and Laborers. (-15% / +2 Taxes for Peasants and Laborers) Cost 900 Coins Duration 30 days
Secular society Enacting the policy reduces the effect and the Upkeep of Churches. (-30% Upkeep / -2 Religion) Cost 850 Coins Duration 30 days	Garrison Enacting the policy increases the efficiency of Guardhouses. (+30% / +2 Safety) Cost 900 Coins Duration 25 days
Luxury tribute Enacting the policy grants Coins income for every Two story house. (+3 Coins per Two story house / -2 Taxes) Cost 950 Coins Duration 30 days	Property dues Enacting the policy grants Coins income for every Stone house. (+3 Coins per Stone House / -2 Taxes) Cost 1000 Coins Duration 30 days
Natality Enacting the policy increases the birthrate in your town. (+60% / -2 Immigration) Cost 1000 Coins Duration 35 days	Wealth rebate Enacting the policy reduces taxation on Merchants and the Gentry. (-15% / +1 Taxes for Merchants and Gentry) Cost 1000 Coins Duration 30 days
Church and State Enacting the policy increases the effect of Churches and Cathedrals. (+30% efficiency / +2 Religion) Cost 850 Coins Duration 30 days	School budget cuts Enacting the policy reduces the effect and the Upkeep of Schools. (-30% efficiency / -2 Education) Cost 700 Coins Duration 28 days
Advanced goods Enacting the policy increases the production of Bakeries, Distilleries, Candle shops, Windmills and Brickworks. (+20%) Cost 850 Coins Duration 28 days	Celebrations Enacting the policy increases overall Happiness of your townsfolk, at a hefty cost. (+12 Happiness) Cost 1000 Coins Duration 30 days
Luxury goods Enacting the policy increases the production of Tailor shops, Jewelry stores and Mints. (+20%) Cost 900 Coins Duration 30 days	Home schooling Enacting the policy increases Education. (+2 Education) Cost 350 Coins Duration 15 days
Propaganda Enacting this policy increases Loyalty. (+2 Loyalty) Cost 350 Coins Duration 15 days