One of the biggest design changes we've recently made in Colossus is separating Needs, Resources, and Amenity Buildings. Many city builders treat buildings themselves as needs. In Colossus, we wanted to take a different approach.

Villagers don't need a Tavern. They need Beer.

Amenity Buildings are simply the places where these needs can be fulfilled while simultaneously strengthening the community.

Instead of simply unlocking another building, players now decide how resources should be used. Should Beer be consumed at home, or should villagers spend their evening in the Tavern? Should Books satisfy Citizens directly, or be used in Schools and Theatres to educate the population and enrich village life?

The Tavern

Settlers require Beer as one of their needs. Beer can simply be consumed at home, satisfying the need.

Alternatively, villagers may visit the Tavern during their free time. The Tavern consumes the Beer instead, meaning it isn't consumed twice. While the villager enjoys a drink, they also socialize with other villagers. The result is more than fulfilled needs, it strengthens the village itself.

Different Tavern upgrades support different strategies. A Schnapps Distillery focuses on affordable leisure and increases Social Cohesion, while a Wine Cellar serves wealthier guests and increases Prestige.

Measuring Society

These systems feed directly into several societal metrics.

Villager Satisfaction

Every villager evaluates their fulfilled needs each day. High satisfaction enables villagers to establish families and progress into higher social classes.

Worker Morale

Well-equipped and comfortable workplaces improve productivity and make the settlement more attractive to migrants.

Social Cohesion

Rather than being accumulated over time, Social Cohesion reflects the current strength of the community. Villagers who participate in leisure activities, attend Church, visit public buildings, and enjoy an active social life contribute to a stronger, more united society.

Prestige

Prestige represents the reputation of your settlement. Monumental architecture, cultural institutions, advanced education, and prosperous citizens all contribute to making your village renowned throughout the region.

Migration Attraction

Migration is calculated separately for each social class.

• Labourers seek jobs and housing.
• Settlers also value strong Social Cohesion.
• Citizens are attracted by both Social Cohesion and Prestige.

Building More Than a Village

The goal of this system is simple. Amenity Buildings are not just another production building. They are the social hubs of your settlement.Resources are transformed into experiences. Those experiences strengthen the community.

And a stronger community attracts new generations of villagers, creating a settlement that grows not only economically, but socially as well.