Fundamental Food Sources and Base Efficiency
Food. It’s the lifeblood of any thriving civilization in Age of Empires IV. Without a steady supply of this vital resource, your villagers will starve, your armies will dwindle, and your dreams of conquest will crumble faster than a badly placed wall. Food fuels unit production, unlocks crucial technologies, and allows you to progress through the ages. Understanding how to maximize your food income is not merely a suggestion; it’s a necessity for achieving victory on the battlefield.
This article delves deep into the mechanics of food gathering rates in Age of Empires IV, providing a comprehensive guide for players of all skill levels. We’ll explore the various food sources available, analyze the impact of technologies and civilization bonuses, and discuss proven strategies for optimizing your economy. By the end of this guide, you’ll have the knowledge you need to transform your food production from a bottleneck into a powerful engine for expansion and domination. This in-depth look at Age of Empires IV food gathering rates will help you climb the leaderboards.
In Age of Empires IV, food comes from several sources, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Mastering them is crucial for adapting to different maps and situations. The gathering rates of these foods often dictate the flow of early gameplay.
Sheep are a reliable early-game source. Villagers assigned to sheep will continuously gather food until the flock is depleted. The further the sheep are from your Town Center, the longer it takes for the villagers to deposit food, impacting your overall food gathering rates.
Berries provide another initial food source. Like sheep, villagers gather food from berry bushes until they are exhausted. Berry gathering rates are consistent, but the finite nature of this source necessitates a transition to more sustainable options. Some civilizations like the Rus gain additional bonuses to gathering from berries.
Deer hunting requires a Hunting Camp to be built nearby. The distance between the camp and the deer herd significantly affects the food gathering rates, so strategic placement is critical. Hunters require a bit of extra protection from wolves, and early harassment.
Boar hunting is a riskier, but potentially more rewarding, venture. They require military units to bring down, but offer a significant food source. This provides a great bonus in terms of raw food gathering rates, but also requires an investment in military earlier.
Farms represent a long-term, sustainable food solution. Built around Mills, farms provide a continuous food supply, but require an initial investment of wood. Farm placement near Mills is vital for maximizing efficiency and worker travel time. Fertility of the farms also changes over time.
Fishing offers a unique alternative for coastal maps. Building a Dock and producing Fishing Ships allows you to tap into the ocean’s bounty. Fishing gathering rates can vary depending on the type of fish and whether you’re fishing in deep sea or coastal waters.
Technologies Enhancing Food Production
Advancing through the ages unlocks various technologies that drastically improve food gathering rates. Investing in these technologies is essential for maintaining a strong economy as you progress through the game.
The Dark Age and Feudal Age offer crucial early upgrades. Wheelbarrow increases villager carrying capacity and movement speed, directly impacting food gathering rates. These upgrades help the villagers move food from the source faster, and store more food in one trip. This is especially useful in the early game to get a booming economy going faster.
Castle Age introduces further enhancements. Hand Cart further increases villager carrying capacity and movement speed. These upgrades, while costing resources, greatly enhance food gathering rates.
Reaching the Imperial Age opens up even more powerful options. Heavy Plow dramatically increases farm yields. Horse Collar also increases farm yields. These technologies represent significant late-game investments, transforming farm-based economies into powerhouses.
Civilization Strengths in Food Gathering
Each civilization in Age of Empires IV possesses unique bonuses and units that influence food gathering. Understanding these differences is crucial for tailoring your strategy to your chosen civilization.
The English excel with their farm placement. Farms placed near Mills gather food more efficiently. This bonus allows the English to establish a strong, farm-based economy, especially with their network of castles.
The French benefit from cheaper technologies. This makes food gathering upgrades more accessible, allowing for faster economic development. Faster villager production is also helpful.
The Holy Roman Empire leverage religious units. Prelates can inspire villagers, boosting their gathering rates and increasing their survivability against wolves.
The Mongol civilization differs significantly. They can double their production of pastures, and freely move their buildings including mills. This makes them less reliant on traditional food sources.
The Rus rely on hunting and fishing. Their hunting cabins are cheaper and provide additional benefits, making them formidable hunters. Bonus bounty on hunting deer increases their food production.
The Chinese civilization boasts faster building construction. They also start with more villagers. This gives them an advantage in establishing early food production.
The Delhi Sultanate focus on technology. Scholars can improve the research rate of technologies that boost food production.
The Abbasid Dynasty get faster age-ups, and gathering bonus when villagers gather near the TC. This allows for rapid advancements.
Strategies for Optimized Food Production
Effective food management requires a combination of strategic planning and tactical execution. Here are some best practices to consider:
In the early game, focus on securing readily available food sources like sheep and berries. Scout aggressively to locate sheep and position your Town Center near berry bushes for efficient gathering. Prioritize researching Wheelbarrow to improve villager efficiency.
As you transition to the mid-game, start building farms near your Mills. Manage your hunting parties effectively, balancing the risk of boar hunting with the potential reward. If on a coastal map, utilize fishing boats in deep sea to gather food.
In the late game, maximize farm production by strategically placing Farms around Mills and researching relevant technologies like Heavy Plow and Horse Collar. Establish trade routes to supplement your food income.
Be prepared to defend your food sources from enemy harassment. Build towers near Farms and Hunting Camps, and patrol your fishing waters with military units. Consider raiding enemy food production to disrupt their economy.
Examining Food Economies: Practical Application
Let’s explore some examples to illustrate how these concepts apply in real games.
Imagine an English player facing early aggression. They need to quickly transition to farms near their mills. Determine how many villagers to allocate to each farm to maintain constant unit production.
Consider a Mongol player who is denying the Rus players deer with scouts. How do you alter the playstyle for the Rus to switch to fishing or farms?
These scenarios demonstrate the importance of adapting your food gathering strategy based on your civilization, your opponent, and the map.
In Conclusion: Food is the Fuel of Victory
Understanding food gathering rates in Age of Empires IV is a fundamental aspect of mastering the game. By effectively managing your food sources, researching relevant technologies, and leveraging civilization bonuses, you can fuel your economy and pave the way for victory. Experiment with different strategies, adapt to your opponent’s tactics, and strive for continuous improvement. Mastering food gathering rates provides a solid foundation for success in any Age of Empires IV match. So go forth, gather your villagers, and build a thriving empire! The key to success in any match is the ability to gather food, and build armies. These Age of Empires IV food gathering rates are the foundation to success.
