Buildings

Watchtower

A Watchtower widens the city's vision and gives a small gold income. It is unlocked by Exploration.

Its effects

• City vision +1
• Region income +1 Gold

The vision effect is an increment: a city sees 2 steps on its own, and the Watchtower adds to that range. It stacks with the vision of Walls in the same city — build both and both increments apply (Fog of war).

What it's for

In a border city, the fog means you see a rival's army only when it reaches your gates. The Watchtower stretches that warning: you see approaching troops a step earlier and set up your defense a turn earlier. The gold income makes the building worth something beyond lifting the fog.

When to build it

• In border cities facing a rival — especially one that has, or will get, Walls: the two buildings' vision stacks.
• In inner cities the vision has little to offer; the slot is usually better spent on an income building.

The opposing AI builds the Watchtower once its city quota is full; unlike the other development buildings it does not hold back when an enemy is near, because the Watchtower is precisely a border city's building (The AI opponent).

The numbers on this page are read from the game’s balance tables.