Ara: History Untold News

Ara: Story Untold was originally announced at last year’s notE3 Xbox Games Showcase, but the game has been missing in action since then. Until now, that is. During tonight’s Gamescom announceathon show, Microsoft released the first in-game trailer for Oxide Games' turn-based grand strategy game, which spans, checks notes, ah yes, the whole of human history. Here it is:

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Grab your safety goggles and chainsaws because this week we’re clearing the way for Logging Camps in Ara: History Untold!

Logging Camps are one of the most important harvesting Improvements in the game, providing your Nation with a steady supply of Wood each turn. This resource is essential for growing your Nation, which is why players can start construction on these Improvements as soon as the game begins.

A screenshot of a Logging Camp improvement in the temperate forest of Ara: History Untold.

The yield for Logging Camps can range from 1 to 6 Wood, contingent upon the region and the Improvement level. And that's just the beginning – the potential for a higher Wood harvest isn't solely confined to your Logging Camps. Other Improvements, Triumphs, Traits, and Technologies can increase the amount of Wood harvested each turn.

Unlike other harvesting Improvements, there are no additional resources to collect from Logging Camps. Upgrades will provide a higher yield and an additional worker slot, giving you access to more Wood every turn!

But why is Wood so crucial? Well, it isn't just a simple resource in Ara – from construction to upgrading Improvements and Triumphs, Wood is the backbone of your Nation's advancement. It’s also essential for crafting various goods and equipment used to create new armies and enrich your cities.

A screenshot of all the regions a Logging Camp can be placed in.

Did you know the origins of Logging Camps trace back to ancient times? A Roman water-powered sawmill dating back to 280 CE was unearthed at Hierapolis in modern-day Turkey. These early lumber mills were often constructed beside rivers and harnessed the power of water to drive their saws, offering a glimpse into the ingenuity of civilizations past.

Tune in next week for another look inside the world of Ara: History Untold!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

This week, we'll dive into another fascinating harvesting Improvement: Camps, which harken back to the era of prehistoric hunter-gatherers.

So, what exactly are Camps? They operate similarly to Trading Posts, providing your nation with Coin each turn. But these Improvements focus on hunting wild game, which bring in additional food or textile resources every few turns. Double win! Like other improvements, you can upgrade Camps or supply them with workers to increase their output.



The intricate details of Ara's Living World are on display when viewing Camps. Even before construction begins, these regions thrive as animals roam freely in their natural habitats. Once camps are strategically placed, citizens actively engage with the Improvements, becoming hunters who skillfully extract resources from the bountiful wilderness.

Resources gathered from Camps, such as Leather or Fur, can be crafted into Goods and Equipment for your Nation, provided that you've built the necessary crafting Improvement. Fur Coats and Fine Clothing can boost your Prosperity and add bonuses to the city of your choice, so it's best to gather these resources as soon as possible.



Did you know the oldest known hunting camp was unearthed in Israel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee? The site itself consisted of several well-preserved huts with evidence of hunting and fishing gear and was dated to be 23,000 years old!

We're excited to see how players incorporate these Camps into their Nation. Stay tuned for more information on Ara: History Untold in the coming weeks!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Today, we set our sights on the fascinating aspect of city growth, a pivotal element in growing your vast Nation. As a leader in Ara, you'll witness the birth of new settlements, including your initial city, starting with a small group of citizens. But fear not; with each passing turn, your population naturally grows, igniting the spark of progress in your fledgling nation. With a growing population comes an increase in workers, the driving force behind your city's productivity. Harness this labor pool by assigning workers to various Improvements, magnifying their yields and efficiencies.

Migration plays a significant role in city growth, with the goal of attracting more people than seeing them leave. By maintaining happiness and health, enacting sensible policies, and occasionally pampering your citizens, you can entice people from distant lands to join your nation. As your cities grow, you will notice various changes to the landscape, including additional homes and infrastructure being built. These tiny details breathe life into Ara’s Living World, allowing each city to feel unique in its design.

Players can build specific Improvements to help manage population growth. For instance, a newly constructed City Hall will raise your immigration level, while Granaries and Hospitals increase your city's birth rate. For ambitious players seeking rapid population growth, the power of crafting comes into play. Crafted goods, such as Wine or Jewelry, can temporarily elevate a city’s birth rate, providing a strategic advantage in shaping your empire's trajectory.

A screenshot of the available buildable zones in Ara: History Untold.

Resource management is the cornerstone of an enduring Nation. Larger cities will consume more food per turn, and newly established cities demand well-planned improvements to avoid excess emigration. As expanding cities require ample room to grow, players must balance the need for more land (and more improvements) with the need to upgrade and enhance their existing Improvements. Striking the right balance between expanding and upgrading is a delicate dance of resource management and the key to ensuring your Nation's long and healthy existence.

A screenshot of a large and prosperous city in Ara: History Untold.

Stay tuned as we reveal more about Ara: History Untold in the coming weeks!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/

Throughout history, nations have employed scouts to expand their knowledge of the world around them. In Ara, players can accomplish this task by sending scouts to explore new regions, uncover hidden resources, collect loot caches, and hunt dangerous wildlife.

When you establish your first settlement in Ara, you gain access to a single scout unit. Send them forth to explore nearby regions, peeling back the fog of war that shrouds the map. As your scout ventures further, they may stumble upon Independent Settlements or make first contact with other nations, presenting new prospects for alliances or rivalry.



The path of exploration is paved with possibilities, but one scout can only do so much. For those eager to accelerate the exploration process, the solution lies in the workshop. By crafting a scout staff, you can enlist additional scout units to expand your reach and gather information rapidly.



Beyond exploration lies the potential to harvest hidden resources and collect valuable loot caches. Your scouts can survey regions, revealing precious resources, such as salt or copper, that can be used to craft goods once harvested. Loot caches can provide precious resources and equipment, but you must act fast! Every nation is racing to claim these caches, so swift action will be required to secure them before the competition.

Certain zones are inhabited by dangerous wildlife, fiercely guarding their territory and preventing players from building improvements. However, where danger lurks, opportunities also arise. Your brave scouts can engage in wildlife hunting, which grants you valuable furs and opens up the ability to construct new improvements within these zones. For more info on Dangerous Wildlife, check out our previous post here: https://steamcommunity.com/games/2021880/announcements/detail/5319358487445882911.

Scouts are essential for early-game exploration, and we’re excited to see how players utilize them in Ara: History Untold. Stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2021880/Ara_History_Untold/