Citadelum News

In the latest stages of development we were debating how the camera should work in Citadelum. Did we want a classic look that reminds players of some of the greatest games in the genre or go for a more modern approach that takes advantage of the game engine and detailed graphics?

In Citadelum, players can expect a camera system designed to give them as much freedom and customization as possible, featuring two different camera angles that are both functional and get the most of our 3D map. We mean the isometric view and a closer, “perspective” camera.

This is the game’s isometric camera mode:


This is the game’s modern camera mode:



Aside from selecting one of the two aforementioned options, players will have complete freedom to move the camera around to their heart’s content, having the ability to rotate it in any direction and more importantly, zoom inside the game’s buildings.

When the latter happens, walls and roof will become transparent to show the details found inside, giving a more realistic and personal look at the game’s various buildings, decorative items, furniture, and also the people inside.



Players, though, will not find themselves limited to zooming inwards, as they will have the opportunity to do so backward as well, allowing them to have a much clearer view of the entire city they have built from the ground up.

And not just of the city, but of the territories around it.

When players zoom out, they will be presented with the map of the game’s regions and other cities, which will be crucial in helping them throughout the process of developing their own. Players will be able to explore new territories, removing the mist, establish trade routes with other cities, discover unique relics and even deploy their legions to fight their enemies, but this is a topic for a future devlog.



But there’s more! If players zoom even further out, they will reach the Pantheon, and meet the ancient gods.

Overall, players will have total control of the game’s camera, using different configurations: mouse (use the wheel for zooming in and out), menu options to jump from the settlement to the map and the Pantheon or keyboard shortcuts.

You can tell us which is your preferred default POV in a strategy/ city building game in the comments below. And worry not, you can expect new devlogs and updates to come, and until then, stay safe Romans.

The glory of Rome depends on production, organization and trade of resources, some elements we are implementing in Citadelum. From the extraction of resources to their refinement, and turning them into valuable materials, we challenged ourselves to achieve a perfect balance that will satisfy our players.

When considering the needs of our villagers and military for the development of our city, we have divided the resources into the following 3 groups

[h3]Food: Nutrition and Happiness[/h3]

Food is the cornerstone of our city sustenance. It nourishes and brings happiness to the citizens. As we have already discussed in previous devlogs, we will unlock new resources and needs of our villagers through our progression, starting with wheat and ending with grape orchards that we will need for making wine.

[h3]Construction: Foundations of Strength[/h3]

Starting from stone, iron and wood, natural resources we will find close to our settlement, we will be able to transform them in order to obtain materials such as planks or bricks, essential for the creation of buildings and improvements to our city. As each natural resource has a specific location, the player must have a strategy when it comes to the urban planning of his city and the industrial zones.

[h3]Armament: Protection and Power [/h3]

Military resources are a different category in Citadelum. Iron and flax, that can be transformed into cloth, will offer us the tools to create both weapons and armor for our fearsome legions. These resources not only sustain us for defense and support the economy but also pave the way for the prosperity and expansion of our city.



[h2]Product Refinement[/h2]

At the heart of Citadelum lies the essence of innovation, where raw materials are refined into valuable goods. Here, we showcase the process by which simple resources are transformed into coveted goods that drive the prosperity of our Roman city.

[h3]Food Goods[/h3]

Bakery
The bakery is where the sustenance of our population is crafted. Here, wheat is transformed into fragrant loaves of bread that satiate hunger and provide energy to our citizens. Beyond nourishing our people, the bakery promotes happiness and community well-being.



Butchery
The butchery is an essential establishment in our community, where fresh meat is carefully prepared for human consumption. Here, expert butchers select the finest cuts of meat. In addition to providing nutritious sustenance, processed meat is one of the most important and valued foods.



Fishmonger
The fishmonger is a vital enclave in our coastal city. Fishmongers transform fish into fish portions. They handle and prepare fish for sale. Prepared fish is a highly coveted food for the inhabitants of Citadelum.



Wine maker
Here, spirits are produced to uplift the hearts and celebrations of our city. Using traditional methods and the finest ingredients, distillers create aromatic wines that will be enjoyed at festivities and banquets. The workers at the distillery handle the grapes with skill, allowing for the creation of wines that are authentic masterpieces under their philosophy: “In Vino Veritas”.



[h3]Raw Goods[/h3]

Sawmill
The sawmill is a pivotal point in the transformation of raw timber into lumber. A refined resource that enhances the quality of constructions and furniture. It also maximizes the use of timber by converting it into planks, increasing its value as a finished product.



Stonecutter
The stonecutter is where raw stone is refined into blocks for construction. These blocks allow for the construction of buildings of greater significance and quality. Additionally, it optimizes the use of stone by converting it into blocks, which gain higher value as a final product.



Loom
The loom is the specialized workshop where threads are meticulously woven to create fabrics of exceptional quality. Here, skilled artisans use linen to produce a wide range of textiles. Their work is based on producing high-quality clothing and other textile products, which will be valued by the population.

Furniture Workshop
In the furniture workshop, furnishings that adorn and beautify our homes and buildings are constructed. Expert carpenters work with wooden planks with skill and precision, creating furniture of high quality and durability that will be appreciated by the highest level of the population.



[h3]Military Goods[/h3]

Armor Workshop
In the armor workshop, skilled craftsmen shape and assemble metal pieces to create armor. During their creation, cloth and iron are used as primary materials. These armors provide protection to our soldiers during combat.

There will also be one type of forge for each type of weapon needed in the legion, being Swordsmith, Bow workshop and Shield workshop.

The blacksmith forge in the workshop where finely crafted high-quality weapons are made, using wood and iron in their crafting. This establishment is essential for equipping our soldiers with the best weapons, ensuring their effectiveness on the battlefield.



[h2]Storage[/h2]

In Citadelum, storage and trade hold great importance. They can drive the economy forward, ensuring that resources flow smoothly throughout the city. For this, certain functions are required, which are divided into 3 buildings:

Granary
The granary is essential in our food supply chain, serving as a central storage point for our agricultural products. Here, freshly harvested crops are preserved, ensuring their freshness and safety until distribution and consumption.

The task of its workers is to make the granary the epicenter of food distribution and movement throughout the base, ensuring accessibility for all.

Warehouse
The warehouse plays a crucial role in our city as a central storage and distribution point for a wide variety of products and materials. Here, goods are securely stored and efficiently managed for use in construction, manufacturing, and consumption.

Its function is essential to maintain an uninterrupted flow of resources and products in our economy, ensuring a constant and timely supply.

Armory
The armory plays a fundamental role as a strategic center for the storage and distribution of weapons and military equipment in our city. Here, weapons and armor that will equip our troops for defense and combat are safeguarded and maintained.

Its function is essential to keep our military force ready and prepared for any military action.



[h2]Additional Considerations[/h2]

Chain Expansion
Unlock new buildings to expand and enhance production chains. As you unlock these, you'll have more options to refine production lines.

Supply Chain Optimization
Place storage facilities near production centers for maximum efficiency. Also, position buildings requiring external resources, such as a sawmill needing wood, near storage facilities.

Trade goods
Commerce allows you to import and export goods.This provides flexibility in your base by prioritizing certain materials for sale, fostering the economy, expanding your economic reach, taking advantage of the price fluctuation depending on supply and demand and ensuring you always have access to any resource you need. Although this is a topic we will discuss in detail in a future devlog.

With all this information, here is a chart showing the complete production chain that will be available at Citadelum.



Master all these systems to turn your settlement into a true urbe. With a solid production and trade system, the glory of Citadelum awaits you!

In this devlog, we will discuss how population arrival works in our city and the housing system we have designed to offer an authentic and rewarding experience to our players.

Since the beginning of our game development, our goal has been to faithfully recreate the atmosphere and evolution of a city in Ancient Rome, from its humble beginnings to becoming a great metropolis that has nothing to envy to the capital itself. With all this, we aim to convey that feeling to the player.
When designing this, we have focused our efforts on creating a system that reflects a progressive and organic growth of the population regarding what you can offer to your citizens and how the inhabitants who are already part of it feel.
Thus, the player will feel that their city is alive and slowly prospering due to organization, rewarding the player's feats at all times.

At the core of the system is a population growth indicator that determines when new inhabitants arrive at the camp, who may arrive individually or in pairs and can settle if there are housing spaces available, contributing to the demographic growth of the settlement.

So, how does this indicator determine when the population arrives? To do this, we will consider three main aspects:

1. Availability of housing spaces.
   
2. Unemployment level of current inhabitants.
   
3. Overall happiness of our population.
   

The rate of arrival of new families will naturally increase as long as there are available living spaces and we have a prosperous settlement. You must ensure to provide the basic and necessary resources at all times to have a general infrastructure in continuous operation where the needs of your citizens are met as they increase.



After building a housing area that will serve as the construction base for the first houses, access to food and water is their basic and fundamental requirement. With this, the newly arrived villagers will build their houses.

Regarding their design, we have introduced a new concept: desirability, in which houses will evolve and improve as we provide them with new required services and elements that increase desirability. However, urban planning must be carefully considered, as there are some buildings considered nuisances that decrease the desirability of the area. Therefore, a balance between them is necessary since they can block the possibility of leveling up, despite having the necessary services.



Here we can see an area of the city where the houses are very humble due to the fact that it is an industrial area.

There are ten levels of improvement for houses, in which the number of inhabitants who can live in them increases, as well as the minimum and maximum amount of taxes you can demand as a requirement for inhabiting them. The first necessary requirement to level up the housing area once built is access to a market and various types of food, leading to new gameplay dynamics such as ensuring to maintain an efficient market network where all kinds of necessary food can be supplied. The last requirement to reach the maximum level of them is specifically having a library nearby, access to wine, and a high level of desirability, combined with all the requirements of all previous levels. Only then can your citizens enjoy housing worthy of a true patrician.



But there is still an important leveling factor within the game design to consider. As a player, you cannot provide a housing area with all the necessary requirements to reach the maximum level, as these buildings will unlock as your city grows as you advance in prestige. But this is already a new system we will talk about another day.



This would be an example of a wealthy area of the city, where its inhabitants enjoy all possible comforts and have the best housing.

In summary, the population arrival and housing system in Citadelum not only seeks to offer a realistic experience of building and managing a city in Ancient Rome but also provides players with a dynamic and rewarding challenge. From planning urban distribution to caring for the well-being of your citizens, every decision you make will have an impact on the growth and prosperity of your city. From the development team, we are very excited to see how players will face these challenges in Citadelum.

Ave citizens, it's time to discover the treasures that our land has to offer and how to obtain them for the benefit of our glorious republic. Wise management of natural resources is key to success and prosperity.

[h3] Animal Farms [/h3]
In the Animal Farms, we breed a variety of livestock to supply our food needs and more. From pigs and chickens to cows, these farms are the source of various essential products for our population. By caring for our animals, we obtain food such as meat, milk, and eggs.



[h3] Sawmills [/h3]
Sawmills are the heart of our lumber industry. Here, we transform sturdy trees into wood, providing the raw material necessary for construction and other projects throughout Citadelum. To benefit from them, we will find forests scattered across the map where, by placing our sawmills nearby, our lumberjacks can efficiently collect and deposit the gathered wood.



[h3]Quarries[/h3]
In the Quarries, we extract stone and iron. These resources are crucial for building solid structures and manufacturing weapons and tools for our defense and progress. On the map, we will see natural deposits of stone and iron where, similarly to the sawmills, we should place our quarries so that miners can deposit the collected material.



Thanks to the tireless work of our lumberjacks and miners who collect all this material in our city, you will be able to create epic buildings, result of our ingenuity and vision. From insulas adorned with intricate decorations to majestic temples dedicated to our gods, our architectural creations serve as inspiration and grandeur of our population. Through the utilization of our natural resources, we can erect monuments that endure the passage of time and inspire the next generations of citizens to come.



[h3]Wells, watermills and aqueducts[/h3]
You must take advantage of the natural reserves in your surroundings, whether they are underground water deposits or lakes and rivers, to extract the source of life. Wells and watermills are our vital source of water and irrigation for our lands, maintaining them in good condition is crucial to ensuring a water supply for our population or crops. Many buildings in Citadelum will require access to water, so as managers, we must ensure that water reaches most locations in our city. To do this, we must create an intricate network of aqueducts that start from the watermills.



[h3]Mills[/h3]
Mills are the agricultural production centers, where we seed and harvest crops. Our farmers work into keeping the crops healthy and strong. From wheat, which will later be used to make bread, flax for making clothes, to a variety of vegetables like cabbages, fruits like grapes for wonderful wine, and medicinal plants. Through meticulous cultivation Roman techniques and farming practices, we not only ensure an ample food supply for our citizens, but also cultivate produce for trade and export.



[h3]Docks[/h3]
Our Docks are gateways to the riches of the sea and rivers. Here, we fish a variety of fish that provide fresh food for trade or the consumption. In order to place them, you will need to expand your city until you reach a water area, because you will not be able to place it on dry land.



Let's not forget that once all the food goods have been extracted, they will be stored and distributed to our local markets where citizens will be able to enjoy fresh produce of the highest quality. Another of the main uses is to be able to refine the raw materials for later use. We have already mentioned a few of them above, but we will leave this topic for another devlog, the production chain. As we supply the population with a greater quantity of goods, the happiness of our citizens will improve and with it will increase the prestige of our city.

With intelligent management and diligent work, we can make the most of the natural resources of Citadelum to ensure our growth and prosperity! Let's unite and make our city an unstoppable power. The abundance of materials available makes it a demanding management experience with a high level of detail that guarantees fun for all types of players who love the genre.

As leaders, it is our responsibility to organize all aspects of the city to achieve prosperity and ensure the glory of Rome. Among the crucial elements, the military stands out as one of the most vital. At Citadelum, the integration of military affairs with the construction and management of the city is seamless. We will efficiently stock up on weapons and equipment, conduct military training, deploy legions, and combat enemy threats.

The recruits are drawn from the unemployed citizens who arrive at your settlement. As their leader, you'll be responsible for conducting military levies to enlist them and oversee their training before deploying them on the battlefield when you consider they are ready. Let's talk about the different classes of soldiers at our disposal.

[h3]Infantry[/h3]
Legionnaires are the backbone of our ground forces. Armed with the fearsome gladius and protected by the iconic scutum, these soldiers form the impregnable turtle formation, an impenetrable wall against any attack. After the Marian reforms, legionnaires served up to 25 years in the Roman army, a lifetime of war. We are all familiar with how Roman infantry looks, but few have seen how they train. At Citadelum, we can witness how our soldiers prepare by refining their sword technique against poor dummies and using an intricate rock-throwing mechanism where these rocks will fall directly onto our soldier, who is ready to block them with their large shield.



[h3]Archers[/h3]
Archers are marksmanship experts, capable of taking down their targets with deadly precision from long distances. Whether against moving or static targets, their rain of arrows is swift and devastating. They played pivotal roles in battles such as the Siege of Jerusalem. Due to the need for marksmanship to be trained in various circumstances, the engineers at Citadelum have designed a mechanism where archers can climb onto a carriage that will move swiftly while they must shoot at their targets. Be very careful of your comrades' heads!



[h3]Cavalry[/h3]
Swift and lethal, the Cavalry is the mobile vanguard of our forces. Mounted on powerful steeds, they surprise unsuspecting enemies and annihilate them with their sharp gladius. After the Marian reforms, the infantry needed the support of a cavalry corps called Auxilia. In their training, we will witness how they improve their mastery on horseback, both in controlling jumps and galloping. At the end of the training, each soldier becomes one with their mount.



[h3]Centurions[/h3]
Centurions are the master strategists of our legions. With their profound knowledge of military arts, they lead our troops to victory. They are the cornerstone upon which our military might stands, as through them, we can create the regiments of our legion. The rank of Centurion is one of the oldest, dating back to the first army of Rome. Within our army, they are a key piece, as we will need one of them to deploy each legion. You will easily recognize this elite troop by the gallant and distinctive horizontal red crest they wear on their helmets. During their training, you can observe the centurions improving their use of the gladius, throwing the pilum, or enhancing their technique in blocking heavy blows with their shields.



[h3]Defense Soldiers[/h3]
Our protective guard, the Defense Soldiers, watch over the walls of Citadelum and protect our city from any external threats. Additionally, they maintain internal order and ensure peace among our citizens. If you encounter any problems in your city, do not hesitate to quickly turn to the troops wearing armor combined with elegant purple garments; the safety of our city and villagers depends on them. You must train an excellent defense force if you don't want your city to become a complete disaster.



[h3]Explorers[/h3]
They are the pioneers of our territorial expansion. Tireless in their search, they explore the surrounding territories for new locations and opportunities for the growth of Citadelum. According to the Marian reform of the military structure in the legion, 15% of the total number of soldiers were non-combatant personnel. This peculiar type of soldier must train their endurance and agility like no other and has a great capacity for survival and orientation since they will have to cover extremely long distances, adapt to all kinds of environments, and go unnoticed in hostile lands in order to later communicate their findings (as long as they don't fall into the terrible hands of the enemy). In the camp, we can see them mapping and performing various tests of agility and physical endurance.



With several of these soldiers, we can later make combinations and create our legions to send them into battle, but that is a topic we will discuss in the future. And this is how a possible military training area in our city would look like.



Even though is not a soldier, the role of the blacksmith is fundamental for creating your arsenal. The equipment of your burgeoning legion depends on their work, using mined iron, you can forge a variety of essential weaponry:

• Gladius: The iconic short sword, perfect for close-quarter combat.
  
• Scutum: The large, rectangular shield for infantry defense.
  
• Pica: A long spear ideal for mounted cavalry units.
  
• Archery Equipment: Bows and arrows for your ranged attackers.
  
• Armor: Various types of armor to outfit your soldiers for maximum protection.
  

What do you think about our soldiers and their training? Do you miss anyone? We'll be listening.