Table of Contents

Welcome, Viceroy, to the comprehensive guide for surviving and thriving in the Blight-ravaged lands of Against the Storm. This detailed walkthrough is designed to equip you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to lead your settlements to prosperity, appease the Queen, and ultimately break the cycle of the Storm. Navigate through the sections below to find specific guidance on every aspect of your journey.

I. Getting Started: The First Cycle

• A. Initial Settlement & Hearth Placement

  • Choosing Your Starting Biome: Learn the unique advantages and challenges of the Royal Woodlands, Marshlands, and Coral Forest for your first settlement.
  • Hearth Location Strategy: Optimal placement for your Hearth to maximize early resource gathering and minimize travel time for your villagers. Consider proximity to Small Glades and potential Dangerous Glades.

• B. Early Game Resource Management

  • Woodcutting Priorities: How to efficiently harvest Wood using Woodcutters' Camps while managing Hostility levels.
  • Food Production Basics: Setting up Foragers' Camps and Trappers' Camps to secure initial food sources like Berries and Meat.
  • Building Essential Structures: Prioritizing the Warehouse, Shelters, and Woodcutters' Camps for a stable foundation.

• C. Understanding Reputation & Orders

  • Gaining Reputation: Strategies for completing Orders and fulfilling Resolve thresholds to earn Reputation Points and unlock new blueprints.
  • Choosing Orders Wisely: How to select Orders that align with your current resources and available buildings.

II. Mid-Game Expansion & Specialization

• A. Glade Exploration & Events

  • Opening Glades: When and how to safely open Small Glades, Dangerous Glades, and Forbidden Glades.
  • Glade Events & Solutions: A detailed list of common Glade Events (e.g., Abandoned Caches, Haunted Ruins) and their optimal solutions, including required resources like Pipes, Planks, or Tools.
  • Dealing with Hostility: Managing the Storm's Hostility increase from glade events and woodcutting.

• B. Advanced Production Chains

  • Complex Food Production: Transitioning from basic foraging to advanced food production using Farms, Plantations, and Butcheries.
  • Crafting Essential Goods: Establishing workshops like the Trapper, Weaver, and Smithy to produce Packs of Provisions, Clothes, and Tools.
  • Optimizing Production: Using Cornerstones and Upgrades to boost efficiency and output.

• C. Population Management & Species Needs

  • Attracting New Villagers: Strategies for increasing your population through Caravans and Migration Events.
  • Meeting Species Needs: Understanding the unique Needs of Humans, Beavers, Lizards, and Harpies (e.g., Housing, Complex Food, Services).
  • Resolve Management: Keeping villagers happy to prevent them from leaving and to gain Reputation.

III. Late Game & Victory Conditions

• A. Advanced Buildings & Services

  • Unlocking Blueprints: Strategies for acquiring high-tier blueprints through Reputation and Trader purchases.
  • Service Buildings: Implementing Taverns, Temples, and Bath Houses to satisfy advanced villager needs and boost Resolve.
  • Trade Route Optimization: Establishing efficient Trade Routes with other settlements to acquire missing resources or sell surplus goods.

• B. Surviving the Blightstorm

  • Storm Season Preparation: Stockpiling essential resources and preparing for the increased Hostility and negative effects of the Blightstorm.
  • Blightrot Management: Dealing with Blightrot outbreaks and constructing Blight Post to cleanse Blightrot Pustules.

• C. Achieving Victory

  • Reputation Victory: The primary path to victory by accumulating Reputation Points through Orders and Resolve.
  • Royal Embarkation: Understanding the final requirements for a successful embarkation and contributing to the Smoldering City.

IV. Advanced Strategies & Tips

• A. Cornerstone & Perk Synergy

  • Strategic Cornerstone Selection: Identifying powerful Cornerstones that complement your settlement's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Perk Utilization: Maximizing the benefits of Perks gained from Glade Events and Cornerstones.

• B. Trader Interactions

  • When to Trade: Deciding when to buy or sell resources and blueprints with visiting Traders.
  • Amber Management: Efficiently earning and spending Amber for critical purchases.

• C. Dealing with Negative Modifiers

  • Forest Mysteries: Understanding and mitigating the effects of various Forest Mysteries during the Drizzle, Clearance, and Storm seasons.
  • Impatience Management: Keeping the Queen's Impatience low through consistent Reputation gains.