Total War: Pharaoh Managing Resources
Overview: Resources in Total War Pharaoh
In Total War: Pharaoh, factions use five tradeable resources: food, wood, stone, bronze and gold. Resources are used for the recruitment and upkeep of units, to construct and upgrade buildings, and for political actions (for factions which participate in the Egyptian or Hittite royal courts). Factions can obtain resources through resource-production buildings in regions, trade, and various military actions (winning battles, raiding regions, sacking or razing outposts or cities).
When you trade (through the diplomacy screen), it is a good idea to look for factions which value the resources you are offering (look for the tick mark next to the resource for this faction on the diplomacy screen). There is a filter on the diplomacy screen, enabling you to look for (for example) factions which want to sell food and buy bronze.
Each region specialises in the production of one resource, although some regions can provide more than one (for example, some regions can produce food and wood). Meeting the goals of Ambitions (optional side-quests which the campaign offers the player occasionally) usually provides extra resources.
Food
Food is sufficient for the recruitment and upkeep of low-tier units, such as milita. Acquiring enough food tends to be particularly challenging in the early campaign, as you will probably need more units than you can sustain from the food production in your regions. In Egypt, the main food-producing regions are along the Nile, so conquering regions in this area may be necessary.
Running a food deficit is normal in the early to middle campaign. You can sustain your faction, despite having a food deficit, by various methods, such as:
- Winning battles
- Trading other resources for food.
- Raising, sacking and razing settlements (especially the Sea Peoples)
- Disbanding units or putting them in a fort for a reduced upkeep
- Alternating between periods of expansion (when you have a big food deficit) and consolidation (when you disband unnecessary armies to replenish your food stores).
Wood
Wood is needed to construct and upgrade buildings. Each wood-producing settlement only produces a small amount, so a limited wood supply can be a bottle-neck in your development. One possible solution is that some regions which don't specialise in wood production can still provide some wood; other options include raiding other factions and trading.
Stone
Like wood, stone is needed for buildings, and this can hold up the development of your regions. In stone-producing settlements, there is a fixed amount of stone whhich can be quarried before the supply becomes depleted. However, even after the supply is depleted, these regions will produce a small amount of stone.
Bronze
Bronze is needed for the recruitment and upkeep of mid-tier units (as well as elite units). You are likely to need better-quality units quite early in the campaign, as AI factions can start using mid-tier units quickly, even on lower difficulty settings, and invading armies of Sea Peoples can include good-quality units even in the early game.
Gold
Gold (as well as bronze) is needed for the recruitment and upkeep of elite units. Gold is a highly valued trading resource, especially in the early game. This can be very useful for factions who can acquire gold mines early in the campaign, such as Amenmesse. However, by the late game, gold tends to be more plentiful, so it trades less well for other resources. Some factions start the campaign with one or two elite units, which deplete your supply of gold - if you don't acquire a source of gold before your supply runs out, you will not be able to maintain these units. If your faction participates in Egypt's royal court, and if your faction leader becomes Viceroy of Kush, you receive a small gold per turn income (Amenmesse holds this office at the start of the campaign - but he may lose it because of plotting by other factions. If you are playing another faction, this couild give you the opportunity to acquire this position).
