Getting Started: Interface and Basics
Map View
The world of Pre-Civilization unfolds before you as a sprawling, often challenging landscape, waiting to be explored. Your primary interface is a window into the heart of your nascent tribe. Take a deep breath and let’s dissect the components that will form the backbone of your Bronze Age adventure.
First, the **map view**. This is where the magic happens. It displays the terrain, potential resource locations, and ultimately, the boundaries of your tribe’s influence and those of other, potentially hostile, neighbors. Mouse over areas to examine resources, assess the lay of the land, and plan your expansions. Pay attention to geographical features, as they often influence resource distribution and defensibility.
Resource Bar
Next, the **resource bar**, a vital indicator of your tribe’s well-being. Icons represent essential goods and services. Food, wood, stone, and ultimately, bronze are the lifeblood of your society. Keeping a constant supply of each of these is critical. Learn to recognize what each symbol represents, and what it means when that symbol is low. A dwindling food supply means starving members of your society. Low wood means no shelter, no tools, and a weakened ability to survive.
Society, Population, and Knowledge
The **society, population, and knowledge indicators** are equally important. They offer a snapshot of your tribe’s societal development, its population size, and its technological understanding. Watch these elements closely. High population brings increased productivity, but also greater demand for resources. A healthy, happy society is a productive society. And finally, knowledge is power, it is through the accumulation of knowledge that you unlock new technologies.
Action Panel
The **action panel** will be your most frequently visited section. This is where you assign tasks to your tribesfolk: gather food, build houses, research new technologies, and interact with the world. It’s critical to have a plan, and to ensure that the action panel is constantly full.
Now, let’s delve into the core gameplay loops. Think of it as the heartbeat of your Bronze Age existence.
The first is **resource gathering**. This is an endless cycle, the most basic but critical activity of your tribe. Your tribe will start with a basic ability to gather. Gathering food from the environment, wood from the trees, and stone from the earth, is the essence of Bronze Age survival.
Second, **population management**. Your people are your wealth, and it’s your job to manage them. Birth rates, death rates, and social needs all dictate population growth. Provide enough housing, meet basic needs, and your tribe will grow. Neglect your people, and they’ll wither away, dragging your civilization with them.
Finally, **technology advancement**. This is a slow process, a gradual unlocking of new possibilities. Technologies are the keys to progress, and each new discovery unlocks greater potential. Prioritize wisely and watch your society flourish.
Resource Management: The Foundation of Your Tribe
Resources are everything. They are the fuel that drives your societal engine. Without an abundance of resources, your tribe will never develop past a bare, basic existence. Without efficient and effective resource management, collapse is inevitable. Let’s look at the resources and strategies.
Gathering is a constant struggle, but it’s the cornerstone of survival.
Food
Food is primary, but safety, a place to sleep, and a community structure are all important.
The stomach always growls first. Hunting provides immediate sustenance, but it’s often unreliable. Gathering berries and other edible plants offers a steadier, but less productive, source of food. The transition to agriculture, though slow, is the long-term solution to the food problem.
Wood
Wood is your building material, your fuel, and your weapon. Every shelter, every tool, every fire needs wood. It is obtained from forests.
Stone
Stone is necessary for tools, weapons, and eventually, more permanent structures. It’s also important.
The secret to effective resource management is efficiency. Always keep an eye on the number of workers assigned to each task. Are you harvesting as much as possible? Do you have enough storage to prevent waste? If you do not, your people will starve.
Manage your labor force carefully. Assigning too many people to a task at once can lead to overproduction. If a worker is idle, reassign them. The only time your workers should be idle is when they have nothing to do.
Population and Society: Managing Your People
Your people are the engine of your society. Each member has needs. Each individual has an impact on the larger group.
Tribe Population
The number of people dictates your power. Each person requires resources. A growing population needs more shelter. Every individual is part of the societal foundation.
Population growth is a balance. A high birth rate is good, but only if you can feed your people. A low death rate is good, but only if you can manage illness and injury. Providing shelter is a very basic need.
Happiness is a measure of your tribe’s contentment. Happy people are productive people. Satisfy needs and provide security, and you’ll see your tribe thrive. Ignoring your population’s needs, however, will result in unrest, slowed production, and even societal collapse.
Social Needs
Your tribe’s basic needs must be met. Food is primary, but safety, a place to sleep, and a community structure are all important. Failing to satisfy these needs leads to unhappiness and eventually, unrest.
Social Dynamics
Observe the interactions within your tribe. Consider the different social groups. Try to improve their place in your society, and they may give back more.
Technology and Development: Progressing Through the Ages
Technology is the path towards progress. It will make your tribe more efficient, stronger, and better prepared for challenges.
Technology Tree
The **technology tree** will serve as your guide to the future. Choose a path carefully. Prioritize technologies that improve resource gathering. Some will lead to agriculture. Others will provide better housing or better tools.
Prioritization is key. Farming, is vital for the food supply. A larger food supply will ensure the long-term survival of your tribe. Tools and weapons help your population. Shelter protects your population from the elements. All are important for long-term survival.
The Impact of Technology
Every technological advance has a ripple effect. New tools increase production, new shelters increase comfort, and new weapons increase military power. Technology is a multiplier.
Diplomacy and Warfare: Interacting with Other Tribes
The Bronze Age is a period of constant interaction, whether it is friendly or otherwise. Other tribes will present both opportunities and threats.
You will encounter other tribes. Learn their strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate your options.
Diplomatic Interactions
Diplomacy can save lives. Alliances provide protection. Trade provides resources.
Warfare
Warfare can be necessary. Know the stakes. Know what you can and cannot control.
Strategies for Success
Let’s look at ways to get ahead.
Your initial location matters. Look for areas with abundant resources, defendable terrain, and access to multiple resources.
Early-game strategies involve establishing a steady food supply and ensuring everyone has shelter. Start with research on agriculture and shelter.
Mid-game strategies require a focus on population management. Increase food production to sustain growth. Improve housing to accommodate a larger tribe. Prioritize research that will allow you to expand.
As your tribe grows, you will want to increase production capacity. Trade routes may provide access to vital resources. Economic planning helps to manage the flow of goods. Diplomacy and military strength will help you manage other tribes.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some quick tips to improve your success.
Worker Allocation
Optimize worker allocation. Ensure that workers are constantly active, even if this means adjusting the distribution among tasks.
Beginner Mistakes
Don’t overexpand too quickly. Don’t ignore happiness. Do not neglect the resource balance.
Manage your resources. Don’t starve your tribe.
Manage population. Your people require food and shelter.
Conclusion
Pre-Civilization is not just a game. It’s a test of resourcefulness and adaptability. This guide has been a map to help you build a thriving tribe in the Bronze Age. It is a game where every choice matters.
Experiment. Learn. Adapt. Play.
The Bronze Age awaits.
Call to Action
Now it’s your turn. Launch the game, start a new tribe, and begin your journey. Ask questions. Share your experiences in the comments below. Discover how you, too, can conquer the Bronze Age!
