Rise of the Settlement News

[p]
Settlers, the time has come to prepare your axes, gather your kin, and sharpen your survival skills! After months of hard work I am excited to officially announce that Rise of the Settlement will enter Early Access on Steam on September 29th, 2025.[/p][p]This is not just a date—it’s the beginning of your journey to build, survive, and thrive in a living, breathing settlement shaped by your decisions.[/p][p][/p][p]On day one, you’ll get access to:[/p]

• [p]🌾 A dynamic production system to gather, craft, and sustain your village[/p]
• [p]👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A living population with birth, aging, and family dynamics[/p]
• [p]🧑‍🏭 Evolving professions, skills, and personalized villagers[/p]
• [p]📚 Research and technology trees that unlock new eras of development[/p]
• [p]🔄 A trading system with barter mechanics and evolving market dynamics[/p]
• [p]📜 Progression challanges offered by starting with a small group of settlers carving a home in the wilderness[/p]

[p]This is just the beginning. With your feedback, I’ll expand content, polish mechanics, and shape the roadmap together.[/p][hr][/hr][p]If you haven’t yet, wishlist Rise of the Settlement now to get notified on release day:[dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Also, help us spread the word! Every wishlist, share, or comment helps this village grow.[/p][hr][/hr][p]Meanwhile, I am happy to announce that Rise of the Settlement now features a progression system that guides you through key milestones while you expand your settlement. You’ll be rewarded for achievements like constructing essential buildings, completing specific research, or reaching population milestones — giving direction without limiting your freedom to manage and grow your village your way.[/p][p]
[/p][p][/p][hr][/hr][p]A heartfelt thank you to everyone who’s followed our journey so far. Whether you’re a city builder veteran, a production management fan, a trading enthusiast, or simply love the medieval setting, I can’t wait to welcome you to Rise of the Settlement.[/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned — there’s much more to uncover in Rise of the Settlement.[/p][p]🎮 Please consider joining our community: [/p][p]👉 https://discord.com/invite/WSdrFVX9Ys[/p][p][/p][p]See you on September 29th! — Luki[/p]

[p][/p][p]I am excited to share big strides made in shaping the heart of your settlement: the people who live, work, and grow within it. The world is no longer empty—your villagers now have names, faces, stories, and needs![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]👪 A Living Population[/h2][p]Villagers are now born, grow up, age, and eventually pass on. Your settlement is no longer static—it’s alive with generations.[/p]

• [p]🍼 Children go through distinct life stages: baby, toddler, teen, and adult. Each stage affects their appearance, behavior, and abilities.[/p]
• [p]🧒 Only adults can work, while teens may help in limited ways in future updates.[/p]
• [p]📸 Every villager has a unique hand-drawn portrait that reflects their age and identity, helping you connect with the people you’re guiding.[/p]

[p]These life cycles add depth to your village, and you’ll start to feel the story of each family unfold over time.[/p][p][/p][h2]❤️ Relationships & Families[/h2][p]Villagers now form couples and start families, allowing your population to grow naturally over time through generations.[/p]

• [p]💑 When two adults pair up, they may eventually have children, beginning the next chapter in your village’s story.[/p]
• [p]👶 Pregnancies, births, and birthdays now trigger meaningful changes—from new villagers entering the world to children aging into useful members of the community.[/p]
• [p]🧬 Family ties also influence legacy traits, such as inherited profession tendencies, making lineage a core part of long-term development.[/p]

[p]As families grow, your village begins to feel truly alive—woven together by bonds of work, survival, and heritage.[/p][p][/p][h2]💼 Work and Skills[/h2][p]Your villagers now learn by doing. As they work, they gain experience tied to the job they perform—whether it's gathering, farming, building, or crafting.[/p]

• [p]🪓 Experience accumulates over time, and once a threshold is reached, the villager is granted a profession title such as Apprentice, Journeyman, or Master.[/p]
• [p]⚙️ Each title level brings an increase in job efficiency, making skilled workers much more valuable.[/p]
• [p]🧬 Professions can also be inherited as legacy traits from parents. A child born to skilled workers may begin life with an innate talent in that profession, giving them a head start.[/p]

[p]Over time, you'll develop a population of highly specialized villagers, shaped by their experiences—and their bloodlines.[/p][p][/p][h2]😊 Happiness and Needs[/h2][p]Villagers now have basic survival needs—specifically food and water. These are essential for maintaining their health and happiness.[/p]

• [p]🍎 If food or water is missing, villagers will become unhappy.[/p]
• [p]The system is already built to support more needs in the future, such as clothing, shelter, and social fulfillment.[/p]

[p]While only the most essential needs are active right now, this lays the groundwork for a deeper simulation of village life, where wellbeing becomes as important as work.[/p][p][/p][h2]📸 A Village of Faces[/h2]

• [p]I've added a large variety of hand-drawn villager portraits, tailored to each life stage. Babies are swaddled in linen, teens sport youthful looks, and elders wear the years with pride.[/p]
• [p]These portraits will grow with your people, making your community feel alive and personal.[/p]

[p][/p][p]I’ve laid the foundation for deeper simulation and emergent stories. In the coming time, I’ll be expanding on:[/p]

• [p]Housing & living space systems[/p]
• [p]Individual equipment and clothing[/p]
• [p]Social dynamics and personal preferences[/p]

[p]Thanks for following development and being part of this journey.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Stay tuned — there’s much more to uncover in Rise of the Settlement.[/p][p]🎮 Please consider joining our community: [/p][p]👉 https://discord.com/invite/WSdrFVX9Ys[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the next update, — Luki[/p]

[p]Welcome to our fourth Dev Diary update! Today, we're diving into one of the most exciting systems behind the growth of your village: the Technology Tree — the roadmap of progress in Rise of the Settlement.[/p][p][/p][h2]🌱 What is the Tech Tree?[/h2][p]The Technology Tree is your village’s path from humble beginnings to an organized and flourishing society. Each discovery in the tech tree unlocks new buildings, quests, production recipes — expanding both your strategy and your story. More to come...[/p][p]You’ll begin in a primitive age, where survival is key. As you advance, your people will master new skills, refine resources, and even unlock governance and trade systems.[/p][p][/p][h2]🔧 What Technologies Unlock[/h2][p]Every technology node brings new gameplay:[/p]

• [p]🛖 New buildings (e.g., Clay Kiln, Smokehouse, Trade Post)[/p]
• [p]📈 Production efficiency improvements[/p]
• [p]🧭 Expeditions, quests, and deeper economic systems[/p]
• [p]🧠 Hidden synergies that evolve based on your choices[/p]
• [p]💱 Trading mechanics, including barter systems, market unlocks, and dynamic prices — all gated behind specific tech discoveries[/p]
• [p]🧩 Additional quest slots, expanding the number of active missions you can manage — unlocked through tech and story progression[/p]

[p]As always, this is just the begining.[/p][p][/p][h2]🖼️ Visual Tech Tree – In Progress![/h2][p]I am working on a fully interactive Tech Tree UI, styled like a parchment scroll with ink-drawn connections between technologies. It will make it easy to track what you've unlocked — and what lies ahead.[/p][p]We're also planning:[/p]

• [p]Unique branches based on how your settlement develops (e.g. agrarian vs industrial paths)[/p]
• [p]Unlock requirements tied to population growth, profession levels, or previous quests[/p]
• [p]Tooltips and progress tracking to plan your strategy[/p]

[p][/p][h2]🛠️ What’s Next?[/h2][p]I am currently refining:[/p]

• [p]Research speed and balance[/p]
• [p]Early and mid-game tech pacing[/p]
• [p]How technologies interact with villager skills[/p]

[p]This is a living system, and we’ll keep updating it based on your feedback and playstyle.[/p][p][/p][p]Thanks again for walking the path of progress with me.[/p][p]Stay tuned — there’s much more to uncover in Rise of the Settlement.[/p][p]🎮 Please consider joining our community: [/p][p]👉 https://discord.com/invite/WSdrFVX9Ys[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the next update, — Luki[/p]

[p]A new chapter begins for your settlement — one of opportunity, challenges, and choice.[/p][p]With this update, we're introducing the Quest System, allowing your community to take on meaningful tasks in exchange for growth, bonuses, and unique rewards. Whether you're gathering food, preparing for winter, or embarking on expeditions, quests will give purpose to your people’s actions — and yours.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Quests and Missions concept is implemented and ready to be used — and extended further with new quests, expanded missions, and awesome additions like story-driven arcs, rare rewards, and dynamic world events.[/p][h2]
✅ Production Quests[/h2][p]
Support your settlement's economy by fulfilling requests like gathering wood, harvesting crops, or crafting basic goods.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]✅ Expedition Quests[/h2][p]
Assign villagers to risky ventures like searching for seeds, exploring the unknown, or trading with distant groups. Success is never guaranteed — but the rewards can be game-changing.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]✅ Feast Quests[/h2][p]
Celebrate the abundance of food by hosting a feast. If word spreads, new villagers may be drawn to your growing community.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]✅ Quest Slots System[/h2][p][/p][p]You can have up to 6 quests active at the same time, managed through quest slots. Slots unlock progressively through the technology tree, letting you build a rhythm of multiple ongoing tasks and long-term strategies.[/p][p][/p][h2]✅ Seasonal Rotation & Progression[/h2][p][/p][p]Quests evolve with the seasons and your technological progress — making each campaign feel alive and responsive.
You’ll encounter:[/p]

• [p]Monthly Quests that refresh every in-game month[/p]
• [p]Seasonal Quests tied to the current season (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter)[/p]
• [p]Themed Quests that appear only in specific months or specific seasons — each with its own unique flavor and rewards[/p]

[p]This system ensures that the challenges your settlement faces shift over time, encouraging you to adapt, plan ahead, and make the most of every opportunity.[/p][p]We’ve just begun — but there’s already plenty to do:[/p]

• [p]21 Production Quests — covering everything from basic gathering to more specialized resource tasks[/p]
• [p]4 Feast Quests — where you trade food for the chance to grow your population[/p]
• [p]1 Expedition Quest — send villagers out to search for rare seeds and grains[/p]

[p]This is just the start. More quests, more types, and deeper questlines are already in development![/p][p][/p][h2]🧭 Choices Matter[/h2][p]Many quests offer options — choose which resource to pursue, which people to send, and when to act. Every decision shapes the outcome, and some quests may fail or be delayed if your village isn't ready.[/p][p][/p][h2]🔍 How to Access Quests?[/h2][p]Quests are found in the Quests Panel, which unlocks early in your gameplay. As new buildings and techs are discovered, more quests will become available.

🎁 This is just the beginning! We’re building a living quest system that will grow with future updates, introducing storylines, faction interaction, and larger expedition arcs.[/p][p]Stay tuned — and may your choices bring fortune to your people.

[/p][p]🎮 Please consider joining our community: [/p][p]👉 https://discord.com/invite/WSdrFVX9Ys[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the next update, — Luki[/p]

[p]Buildings are at the heart of your settlement’s growth and survival. In this update, we’re introducing the foundational system that allows you to plan, place, and operate your early infrastructure—from gathering food to producing materials vital for expansion.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Here's a categorized breakdown based on what you’ve implemented:[/p][p]🍎 Food Production & Gathering[/p]

• [p]Forager Hut – Collects wild food and branches[/p]
• [p]Fishing Lodge – Provides a steady source of fish[/p]
• [p]Hunting Lodge – For meat and animal products[/p]
• [p]Orchard – Produces fruits like apples or grapes[/p]
• [p]Farm – Cultivates crops like wheat, barley, etc.[/p]
• [p]Homestead Garden - Grows vegetables like onion, garlic etc[/p]
• [p]Hop Yard, Vineyard, Flax Farm – Specialized farming for production chains[/p]

[p]🪵 Basic Resource Extraction[/p]

• [p]Woodcutter Lodge – Cuts trees for wood[/p]
• [p]Reed Pond – Collects reeds for crafting[/p]
• [p]Quarry, Mine – Stone, clay, or metal ore[/p]
• [p]Pit Kiln – Converts clay into pottery or bricks[/p]

[p]🔥 Processing & Crafting[/p]

• [p]Drying Hut, Smokehouse – Preserves food[/p]
• [p]Steaming Hut, Threshing Shed – Processing crops like flax or grains[/p]
• [p]Primitive Workshop – Creates early tools and basic items[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]One of the core gameplay systems in Rise of the Settlement is resource production and management. Under the Production tab, players will be able to monitor all active buildings that contribute to the growth and sustainability of the settlement.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Each building appears as a card, showing:[/p]

• [p]A card visual of the structure[/p]
• [p]The building's name (e.g., FishingLodge, PrimitiveWorkshop)[/p]
• [p]Live production status (e.g., Fish – 36%, Reeds – 40%)[/p]
• [p]At a glance, players can see what's operating, what's idle, and what needs attention[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]Once constructed, the Primitive Workshop becomes the beating heart of early survival crafting. From crude baskets to stone tools and simple traps, this is where raw resources like branches and reeds are transformed into usable goods.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]🎯 Features Highlighted in the Panel:[/h3]

• [p]✅ Active Production Slots
  Each building have one or more production slots, meaning some goods can be produced based on player selection. [/p]
• [p]✅ Detailed Resource Requirements & Time
  Each item shows exactly what it costs and how long it takes to be produced and the outcome count.[/p]
• [p]✅ Worker Management
  Players can assign specific settlers to work in the building. Here, John and Claude Alvaro are hard at work. Workers stats affects the production time.[/p]
• [p]✅ Production enhancements
  Below the main panel, a parchment-like UI lets players enable "Knotted Focus" enhance specific outputs—this system is still in development to balance the cost and boosts, but already hints at deep strategy.[/p]
• [p]⚒️ Building upgrades - not yet implemented Future updates will allow players to unlock additional features or increase efficiency through building upgrades and levels. [/p][p][/p][p]🎮 Please consider joining our community: [/p][p]👉 https://discord.com/invite/WSdrFVX9Ys[/p][p][/p][p]See you in the next update,
  — Luki[/p]