# Settlement

**Entity Type:** SystemEntity

## Description

Settling new cities on distant islands allows you to expand your empire, obtain new resources based on the unique fertilities available on each island, and build a province-spanning empire.

## Requirements

To settle a new island you need:

1. **A Ship** - Your Flagship works well early game, but any seaworthy vessel is fine
2. **Construction Materials** - Load the ship with resources (especially Timber) via the Trading Post's Transfer Menu
   - 20-30 Timber is sufficient if resources are scarce
   - More materials make building the new city easier

## How to Settle

1. Load your ship with construction materials at your Trading Post
2. Select the vessel and click the "Transfer Menu" button to load goods
3. Sail to the target island and locate a beach area
4. **Important:** You cannot build a Trading Post on cliff areas - look for beach zones
5. Click the Trading Post plan that appears to place it
6. Pay the settlement fee in Denarii to the Emperor
7. Materials on the ship are automatically transferred to the new Trading Post

## Settlement Costs

The cost to settle a new island depends on:

- **Island Size** - Larger islands cost more
- **Imperial Standing** - Better reputation means lower costs
- **Number of Islands Settled** - Each additional island in the province increases cost
- **Difficulty Settings** - Adjustable in Game Setup menu

### Cost Examples (Normal Difficulty, Neutral Standing)

| Settlement Cost | Large Island (Silvanium) | Small Island (Aurealis) |
|-----------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
| Low             | 22,500                  | 5,000                  |
| Medium (+50%)   | 33,750                  | 7,500                  |
| High (+100%)    | 45,000                  | 10,000                 |

**Tip:** Settlement costs can be changed at any time from the game menu.

### Settlement Strategy

Since all cost increases are multipliers on the base cost, it's more efficient to:
- Settle **larger islands first** when you can afford them
- Move to smaller islands later when multipliers are higher

## Imperial Standing

Your reputation with the Emperor affects settlement costs:

- **Higher Reputation** = Lower settlement costs
- **Lower Reputation** = Higher settlement costs

### Increasing Imperial Standing
- Complete Imperial Requests when offered
- Choose event options marked as "Favored" by the Emperor

### Decreasing Imperial Standing
- Starting wars
- Failing or refusing Imperial Requests
- Making treaties with Raiders

### Rebellion State

If your reputation reaches -100 with the Emperor:
- Your cities enter **Rebellion** status
- **Benefits:** Exempt from land settlement fees and land taxes
- **Penalties:**
  - Cannot host games at your Amphitheatre
  - Cannot trade with Traders
  - Imperial ships will attack your islands

## Land Tax

Each settled island incurs ongoing Land Tax based on island size. This is relatively small compared to the initial settlement fee.

### Land Tax Examples

| Land Tax      | Large Island (Silvanium) | Small Island (Aurealis) |
|---------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
| Low           | 100                     | 25                     |
| Medium (+50%) | 150                     | 37                     |
| High (+100%)  | 200                     | 50                     |

**Tip:** Land taxes can be changed at any time from the game menu.

## Related Systems

- [Trade Routes](./trade-routes.md) - Set up supply chains between islands
- [Diplomatic Trade](./diplomatic-trade.md) - Trade with other factions
- [Warehouse Cloud](./warehouse-cloud.md) - Island storage management

## See Also

- [Fertilities](../goods/_index.md) - Resources available per island
- [Starting City Layouts](../buildings/_index.md) - Layouts for new settlements
