This AI-assisted content was systematically checked against the current game source code and corrected to match the implementation. It has not necessarily received an independent human editorial review, and it may become outdated as the game changes.
Watchfires
Watchfires are temporary king-of-the-hill objectives. Alliance members compete as an alliance faction; players without an alliance can claim and score as a solo faction.
The baseline cadence is a randomized 21–27 days divided by server speed, with at least a randomized 24–48-hour cooldown after the preceding event. That is roughly every 7–9 days on a 3× server, but it is not a universal weekly schedule. The event is announced 12 hours in advance and lasts 48 hours on 1×, 36 hours on the middle speed brackets, or 24 hours on 10×. Node count and placement are server-configurable; the default is six grey-zone Watchfires.
Claiming and combat
- A neutral Watchfire has no Ancient garrison. The first valid attack or reinforcement claims it for the sender’s alliance or solo faction.
- A new controller must wait through a 15-minute attunement before scoring starts.
- If attackers clear the defenders, the surviving attackers remain as the new garrison and control changes immediately.
- A Watchfire with no troops becomes neutral.
- Only Attack, Resource Scout, and Reinforcement missions are accepted. Raids and defense scouts are not.
- Rams, catapults, leaders, and settlers are prohibited. Cargo can be attached only to attacks and reinforcements.
- Only the controlling faction may reinforce a controlled Watchfire; that faction cannot attack or scout its own node.
- A reinforcement that loses the race to a different faction returns home.
- Beginner Protection players may participate, but a hostile attack on a controlled Watchfire ends BP when it arrives.
Supplies
Every resource is consumed at the garrison’s base Food upkeep per hour. Storage and mission cargo capacity for each resource equal six hours of that army’s base upkeep.
- Food keeps troops stationed. When it reaches zero, all troops return and the Watchfire becomes neutral.
- Lumber keeps scoring active. At zero Lumber, control remains but scoring stops.
- Stone maintains full infantry defense. Without it, the infantry defense multiplier falls from 1.0 to 0.9.
- Metal maintains full cavalry defense. Without it, the cavalry defense multiplier falls from 1.0 to 0.9.
Supplies remaining at a captured Watchfire transfer to the new controller.
Scoring and chests
After attunement, each continuously held, fueled Watchfire scores at these rates:
| Continuous control | Score rate |
|---|---|
| First 4 hours | 1 point per minute |
| From 4 to 16 hours | 2 points per minute |
| After 16 hours | 3 points per minute |
Faction score unlocks chest tiers at 720 / 1,440 / 2,880 / 5,760 points, equivalent to 12 / 24 / 48 / 96 hours of base-rate scoring. A qualifying participant receives one chest at the faction’s earned tier. Claiming or winning an attack qualifies immediately; a reinforcement must remain for 30 minutes; supply-only participation requires three deliveries.
Chests expire after 7 days and the selected blessing expires after 14 days. A player chooses one of these one-use blessings, with the value determined by chest tier:
| Blessing | Tier values |
|---|---|
| Ancient Commission | Next building/field upgrade costs 10% / 20% / 30% less |
| Master Builder’s Insight | Next building/field upgrade takes 10% / 20% / 30% less time |
| Festival Fervor | Next celebration gives 10% / 20% / 30% more CP |
| Research Breakthrough | Refunds 10% / 15% / 20% of the next research purchase |
| Quartermaster’s Token | 2 / 4 / 6 exchanges at 1:1 |
| Founder’s Momentum | Next founded village builds 20% faster for 12 / 24 / 36 hours |
| Ancient Rations | One village uses 5% / 10% / 15% less troop upkeep for 24 hours |
Casualty restitution
After the event, each qualifying participant receives resources for permanent Watchfire losses. The base restitution is 20% of troop training cost; units eligible as Herbalist wounded are excluded because they are not permanent losses. The control-score podium and PvP-score podium independently add 15% / 10% / 5% for ranks 1 / 2 / 3, so the maximum is 50%.
Restitution travels to each affected village from the Ancient Capital at 30 tiles per hour, adjusted by the server’s movement-speed bracket.