# Celtic vs Romanized Population in Albion

When your Waders are ready to upgrade, you must choose between the Celtic path (Smiths) or the Roman path (Mercators). This choice affects your city's economy, diplomacy, and available technologies. Importantly, this is not a permanent decision - once you reach Tier III (Elders or Nobles), you can house both population types in your Albion cities.

## Quick Comparison

| Aspect | Celtic Path | Roman Path |
|--------|-------------|------------|
| Tier II | Smiths | Mercators |
| Tier III | Elders | Nobles |
| Resource Availability | Native to Albion | Requires Latium imports |
| Construction Materials | Wattle & Daub, Granite Blocks | Standard |
| Main Bonus | Belief bonuses | Knowledge bonuses |
| Diplomatic Impact | Emperor reputation decreases | Voada raids increase |

## Celtic Path

The Celtic path involves housing Smiths and meeting their needs to progress to Elders. Economically, this is the easier choice because Smiths and Elders primarily require resources naturally found in Albion.

### Key Fertilities

Look for these fertilities when following the Celtic path:
- **Dye Plants** - For clothing production
- **Tin** - For metalwork
- **Saltwort** - For food production
- **Ponies** - For transportation and Chariots

### Advantages

- **Resource Availability:** Can produce Cheese, Beer, Cloaks, and Chariots - all using Albion resources
- **Export Opportunities:** Celtic goods can be shipped to Latium to meet citizen needs there
- **Belief Bonuses:** Public service buildings and Marvels provide increased Belief
- **Living with the Land:** Follows traditional Celtic ways, utilizing marshlands

### Challenges

- **Construction Materials:** Requires producing two additional construction materials (Wattle & Daub and Granite Blocks)
- **Double Worker Requirement:** Need roughly double the workers and space for material production
- **Emperor Relations:** Rome values Roman ways over Celtic traditions, making it harder to maintain positive Emperor reputation
- **Marshland Dependency:** Many buildings can only be placed in marshlands
- **Road Building:** Connecting roads in marshes require Timber in addition to Denarii

### Celtic Technologies

| Discovery | Effect |
|-----------|--------|
| Replanting | Charcoal Burners can use Meadows |
| In Case of Emergence* | Can place City Watch buildings on Marshland |
| Hushing | Aqueducts can boost mines |
| Beaver Brother | Beaver Trapper +25% Productivity and can use forests & meadows |
| Gobannus-Model Bellows | +30% Fuel Efficiency for Coal-dependent buildings |
| Imperial Parades | Barracks gain a +2 prestige area of effect |
| Cult of Cernunnos* | Can worship Cernunnos |
| Funeral Games of Tailteann | All islands +20% effect of Recreation Ground |
| Cult of Epona* | Can worship Epona |
| Axe-Bearers* | Unlocks this melee troop with high attack |
| Chariots | Unlocks this maneuverable troop type |
| Tuagh De Danaan | Enhances Axe-Bearers with +100 Morale, +1 Toughness, +1 Melee Offense |
| Equicurrian Chariots | Improves Chariots with +25% attack range, +1 Ranged Offense, +10% Movement Speed |

*These technologies are part of the [Hall of Fame system](../systems/hall-of-fame.md).

## Roman Path

Upgrading Waders to Mercators begins the Roman path. This is the more economically challenging route, as Mercators and Nobles demand goods only produced in Latium.

### Key Fertilities

Look for these fertilities when following the Roman path:
- **Silver** - Can be shipped back to Latium
- **Resin** - For production chains
- **Small Birds** - For Bird Tongue in Aspic
- **Sea Shells** - For luxury goods

Also seek sources of **Soap**, **Olive Oil**, and **Wine** - these are tied to Latium fertilities but may be obtainable through NPC trade (like Tarragon).

### Advantages

- **Knowledge Bonuses:** Roman buildings provide knowledge based on buildings in radius (Grammaticus, Fanum)
- **Aqueducts:** Once you unlock and house enough Nobles, gain access to Aqueducts providing Health and Fire Safety while boosting industry productivity
- **Advanced Buildings:** Can build Temples or Baths for additional bonuses
- **Valuable Exports:** Produces Brooches and Bird Tongue in Aspic - highly valued in Latium

### Challenges

- **Import Dependency:** Mercators and Nobles require goods only produced in Latium
- **Trade Reliance:** Must establish trade routes or NPC relationships for essential goods
- **Voada's Hostility:** Higher Romanized population angers Voada, increasing raid frequency
- **Athr Lorgwyn Relations:** The NPC becomes more wary with higher Romanized populace

### Roman Technologies

| Discovery | Effect |
|-----------|--------|
| Better Bellows | +20% Fuel Efficiency for Coal-dependent buildings |
| Drainage | Drainage channel and Sluice gate |
| Aqua Arborica | Aqueduct boost: plantations |
| Raising Sluices | +80 Drainage Channels per Sluice Gate |
| The Flight of Birds | Bird Charmer +25% productivity, can use forests and meadows |
| Artificer Intelligence | Siege Workshops gain a +2 Knowledge area of effect |
| Cult of Mercury-Lugus* | Can worship Mercury-Lugus |
| Lingua Romana | Effect range of Grammaticus +20% |
| Aleatoria | Unlocks the Gambling House public service building |
| Legionnaires | Unlocks this heavily armored troop |
| Manipular Manoeuvres | Improves Legionnaires with +100 Morale, +1 Toughness, +1 Shield Protection |
| Praetorians | Unlocks Praetorian Cavalry (Legionnaires on horses) |
| Spathas | Enhances Praetorian Cavalry with +50 Morale, +1 Melee Offence, +4 Charge Offence |

*These technologies are part of the [Hall of Fame system](../systems/hall-of-fame.md).

## Which Should You Choose?

| Situation | Recommendation |
|-----------|----------------|
| Easier progression | Celtic Path |
| Using native Albion fertilities | Celtic Path |
| Wanting a challenge | Roman Path |
| Large Latium trade network | Roman Path |
| Want Brooches and Bird Tongue in Aspic | Roman Path |
| Prefer Belief bonuses | Celtic Path |
| Prefer Knowledge bonuses | Roman Path |

### Important Note

**This is not a permanent choice!** Once you reach Tier III (Elders or Nobles), you can promote your Waders to either Smiths or Mercators, regardless of your initial choice. This allows you to:
- Focus some cities on Celtic populations
- Focus other cities on Romanized populations
- Blend both based on available fertilities
- Customize based on aesthetic preferences

## Related Guides

- [Albion vs Latium: Choosing Your Starting Province](./albion-vs-latium.md)
- [Brutus vs Gaius: Gemini in the Rough](./brutus-vs-gaius.md)

## See Also

- [Population Tiers](../population-tiers/_index.md)
- [Tier II - Plebeians / Smiths](../population-tiers/tier-ii.md)
