World Map modifiers

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Different World Map modifiers

Overview

The World Map is full of things waiting to be discovered. Every point of interest in the fog of war is marked with a question mark and may turn out to be either a modifier or a World Event.

World modifiers add effects or conditions to any settlements built next to the tile the modifier is on. You cannot settle directly on these tiles or move your caravan through them directly, effectively shortening your embarkation range near them. Some of these effects are beneficial and make your mission easier, and others add challenging constraints or significant limitations on your settlement.

To accept a modifier challenge, simply settle on a map tile adjacent to it. After you win a game near it, the modifier will disappear and you'll be rewarded with additional Citadel Resources and, if the modifier was negative, a special supply box.

List of positive world modifiers

World modifiers that benefit settlements

World modifier	Rewards	Description
Abandoned Settlement		Another Viceroy tried to settle this area, but unfortunately failed... You start with a small destroyed settlement (3 Ruins) in your initial glade.
Fertile Grounds		Glades have an increased chance of including Fertile Soil (around +44%).
Forsaken Gods Temple		The Forsaken Gods' blessings can be ambiguous. You have a higher chance of receiving timed Orders from the Crown.
Levitating Monument		The power of a nearby monument makes everything feel lighter. You can move most buildings in your settlement.
Overgrown Library		A remnant of a bygone era, when royal archivists themselves ventured out into the wilderness in search of knowledge. The first blueprint choice is replaced by a Wildcard (you can choose one blueprint from all unlocked blueprints).
Petrified Necropolis		Rocks in this region have a very peculiar shape. And they smell funny... Dead villagers turn to stone. Gain 5  Meat for every 10  Stone or  Clay produced.
Royal Outpost		The proximity of a Royal Outpost makes it easier to communicate with the crown. The pool of Order choices will increase by 1.
Ruined Armory		An old abandoned armory, left behind after the Great Civil War. No villagers will die when attacking a trader.
Ruins		This region was settled very frequently in the past. The chance of finding Ruins in Glades is much higher.
Watchtower		The Royal Guard is watching over this region. Discovering Glades doesn't increase Hostility.

List of negative world modifiers

World modifiers that make missions harder

World modifier	Rewards	Description
Ancient Battleground		This land was once the place of a mythical battle. You start with 50/75/100/150 extra Hostility points (Hostility scales based on difficulty).
Ancient Spire		An ominous structure made from a material not known to contemporary scholars. Clouds swirl around the tip of this giant tower. Seasons have random durations from 50% to 200% (?).
Bandit Camp		Traders are afraid, and will not visit this area. Neither trading nor trade routes are available.
Barren Lands		The soil is too acidic. There is no Fertile Soil anywhere in this region.
Corrosive Torrent		The rain is especially toxic in this region. No resources will be refunded after destroying a building.
Dangerous Lands		Only Dangerous Glades can be found in this region.
Drylands*		For some reason, even in а world of constant rain, some regions have по underground water reservoirs. This area doesn't have any Rainwater Geysers.
Fishmen Ritual Site		A holy site for the Fishmen. No envoy dares to pass through here. Orders are disabled.
Flooded Mines		This region was heavily exploited by other viceroys. Hostility doesn't grow with each passing year, but you’ll gain 2/3/4/6 more Hostility per villager (Hostility scales based on difficulty).
Forbidden Lands		Only Forbidden Glades can be found in this region.
Frosts		A bizarre cold rises from below and engulfs the Sacred Flame. Reduces the radius of Hearths by 3 tiles (down to 6).
Gathering Storm		A mysterious force is drawing in heavy clouds. Every year, the storm lasts 10% longer (additive).
Guild Territory		By royal decree, this land belongs to the Merchant Guild, and only its appointed representatives may settle here. You begin with a single villager per species. Additional villagers from Embarkation Bonuses and World Events are not granted.
Haunted Forest		Sometimes, viceroys condemn their people to a terrible fate... Dangerous and Forbidden Glade warnings are disabled.
Land of Greed		The strange totem causes you to only focus on your wealth... And the Crown is worried. Impatience grows 50% quicker, but every ongoing trade route reduces the Impatience generation speed by 20%.
Monastery of the Holy Flame		The Monks of the Holy Flame are a fanatically egalitarian order. You cannot forbid consumption, or favor any species.
Ominous Presence		Something strange is trapped beneath the ground. Gain twice the Hostility each year (+15/22/30/45 depending on difficulty), but every time a villager dies or leaves, Hostility decreases by 15 (doesn't scale, always -15).
Riverlands*		A region crisscrossed by countless rivers, both large and small. Usable land is scarce, as most of the terrain is either flooded or split by waterways. Your settlement starts on a small, isolated island.
Shattered Obelisk		You are unable to use the pause function.
Silent Dominion*		This place опсе held great significance for the ancients. Even now, а mysterious guardian still watches over it. You are not allowed to have more than 3 yearly Cornerstones at a time (you get to choose which of the three Cornerstones to discard when picking the fourth one).
Sparkdew Crystals		The crown warned you not to settle near giant Sparkdew Crystals. Start with 6 Impatience.
Statue of the Forefathers		A crumbling statue depicting an unknown species. You can choose from 1 fewer Cornerstones (can't go below 1).
The Sacred Grove		A revered site commemorating the peace forged after the Great Civil War. Your settlement can have four species at once, but you cannot choose Newcomer groups. Each Drizzle season, you gain I random villager for each discovered glade (including the starting glade).
Untamed Wilds		Nobody has settled in this region for multiple cycles. Every Dangerous and Forbidden Glade contains two threats instead of one (except Glades with Archaeological Discoveries in the Scarlet Orchard).

* Nightwatchers DLC exclusive modifier

Modifiers and meta resource rewards

Positive modifiers

Rewards at different difficulties

Modifier	Resource	Settler	Pioneer	Veteran	Viceroy	Prestige 5	Prestige 10	Prestige 15	Prestige 20
Abandoned Settlement		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Fertile Grounds		3	6	10	13	14	16	17	21
Forsaken Gods Temple		5	13	21	26	29	31	34	42
Levitating Monument		3	6	10	13	14	16	17	21
Overgrown Library		4 5	10 13	16 21	20 26	21 29	23 31	26 34	31 42
Petrified Necropolis		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Royal Outpost		4	10	16	20	21	23	26	31
Ruined Armory		3 4	6 10	10 16	13 20	14 21	16 23	17 26	21 31
Ruins		4	10	16	20	21	23	26	31
Watchtower		4	10	16	20	21	23	26	31

Negative modifiers

Rewards at different difficulties

Modifier	Resource	Settler	Pioneer	Veteran	Viceroy	Prestige 5	Prestige 10	Prestige 15	Prestige 20
Ancient Battleground		5 5	13 13	21 21	26 26	29 29	31 31	34 34	42 42
Ancient Spire		4 3	10 6	16 10	20 13	21 14	23 16	26 17	31 21
Bandit Camp		4 4	10 10	16 16	20 20	21 21	23 23	26 26	31 31
Barren Lands		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Corrosive Torrent		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Dangerous Lands		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Drylands*		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Fishmen Ritual Site		8	16	26	32	36	39	42	52
Flooded Mines		4 4	10 10	16 16	20 20	21 21	23 23	26 26	31 31
Forbidden Lands		5 5	13 13	21 21	26 26	29 29	31 31	34 34	42 42
Frosts		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Gathering Storm		4 4	10 10	16 16	20 20	21 21	23 23	26 26	31 31
Guild Territory		5 5	13 13	21 21	26 26	29 29	31 31	34 34	42 42
Haunted Forest		5	13	21	26	29	31	34	42
Land of Greed		5	13	21	26	29	31	33	42
Monastery of the Holy Flame		4 4	10 10	16 16	20 20	21 21	23 23	26 26	31 31
Ominous Presence		5	13	21	26	29	31	34	42
Riverlands*		4 4	10 10	16 16	20 20	21 21	23 23	26 26	31 31
Shattered Obelisk		5 5	13 13	21 21	26 26	29 29	31 31	34 34	42 42
Silent Dominion*		5	13	21	26	29	31	34	42
Sparkdew Crystals		8	16	26	32	36	39	42	52
Statue of the Forefathers		5 5	13 13	21 21	26 26	29 29	31 31	34 34	42 42
The Sacred Grove		4 3	10 6	16 10	20 13	21 14	23 16	26 17	31 21
Untamed Wilds		5 5	13 13	21 21	26 26	29 29	31 31	34 34	42 42

* Nightwatchers DLC exclusive modifier

World Map generation

Modifiers can appear at any distance from the Citadel, as long as the tile is not directly adjacent to it. Positive and negative modifiers have different weighting depending on the distance:

• Positive modifiers have a higher chance of appearing near the Smoldering City, and a lower chance of spawning far away.
• Negative modifiers have a higher chance of spawning further away, and a lower chance of appearing near the Smoldering City.

According to the patch notes for 0.57.1 Seal Contracts update, once the Gold Seal has been reforged, the number of modifiers spawned increases. Additionally, the probability of positive modifiers spawning decreases in favor of negative modifiers.

Restrictions

Modifiers can't spawn next to World Events. Identical modifiers can't spawn next to each other. Additionally, not all modifiers can spawn next to all biomes. A number of biome-modifier combinations are avoided during World Map generation to prevent conflicts and "free" rewards. All restrictions still apply when using Sadrath the Wise World Event to spawn modifiers.

Biome	Prevented World Map modifiers
Bamboo Flats	Barren Lands	Fertile Grounds
Rocky Ravine	Bandit Camp
Ashen Thicket	None
Coastal Grove	None
Coral Forest	None
Cursed Royal Woodlands	Dangerous Lands	Forbidden lands	Haunted Forest	Monastery of the Holy Flame	Riverlands	Untamed Wilds
Marshlands	Dangerous Lands	Forbidden Lands	Riverlands	Untamed Wilds	Ruins
Royal Woodlands	None
Scarlet Orchard	Dangerous Lands	Forbidden Lands	Riverlands
Sealed Forest	World Map modifiers can't generate next to Sealed Forest

Royal Resupply

Royal Resupply screen

Each time a settlement is successfully completed next to a negative modifier, players are rewarded with a Royal Resupply. Royal Resupplies present a choice between 3 options:

• Caravan Wagons:
  • +2 Vision and Embarkation range on the World Map for the next settlement.
• Supply Package:
  • 4 Reserve Embarkation points (reserve Embarkation points last till the end of the current cycle).
• Obisidian Box:
  • 5 Seal Fragments.

It is possible to get up to 3 Royal Resupplies after a single settlement. World Map generation doesn't allow for more modifiers to spawn within range of a single settlement.

The game doesn't allow the next settlement to start before all Royal Resupplies are spent. Royal Resupplies can transfer to the next World Map cycle, should you force close the current one or simply run out of time.

Additional information and strategies

Positive modifiers

Abandoned Settlement

Example of a starting Glade generated for an Abandoned Settlement in Bamboo Flats:

Levitating Monument

The only unmovable buildings with the Levitating Monument buff are:

• Hearths
• Strider Port
• Geyser Pumps

Overgrown Library

Due to the fact that the Wildcard blueprint pick is provided before the other starting blueprints, it's usually best to go for something generalist that's guaranteed to pay off: Workshop, Lumber Mill, or a Complex Food building best suited your species.

Petrified Necropolis

This modifier is extremely strong in Rocky Ravine.

Dead villagers spawn small  Stone nodes unique to this modifier. These nodes occupy the closest available tile, but can destroy roads. Stone and  Copper Ore are not refunded when their corresponding roads are destroyed in the process. Villagers exiled with the help of the Manorial Court won't spawn  Stone nodes.

Petrified Necropolis Stone nodes have the following byproducts:

•  Meat (20%)
•  Leather (10%)
•  Sea Marrow (10%)

Royal Outpost

It is still possible to get Timed Orders with this modifier active. They occupy the fourth Order slot.

Ruins

This modifier synergizes well with Academy's effect - consider going for a Bats Caravan if they are available, since Academy is a Bats-specific blueprint. Ruins modifier also makes all Ruins-related Orders much more consistent.

Watchtower

This is by far the strongest positive modifier. Exploring without regard for Glades' Hostility cost is universally strong. With Watchtower, there is no reason not to open Small Glades. Small Glades are the best place to look for Drizzle Geysers. Free Small Glades guarantee a Scarlet Orchard dig site. All on-Glade-discovery effects are trivial to proc. Without Glade Hostility you can take on more villagers before it becomes a problem. There isn't as much need for Hostility-decreasing Cornerstones. However, Foxes' Firekeeper ability is useless in Watchtower settlements.

Negative modifiers

Ancient Battleground

On higher difficulties, this modifier is one of the most difficult out of all the negative modifiers. It's even possible for initial Resolve to be negative with high starting population + woodcutting, forcing you to reduce the number of Woodcutters' Camp lumberjacks in year I. If it's absolutely necessary to settle near an Ancient Battleground, you can consider lowering the settlement difficulty to below your normal comfort zone if you're having trouble dealing with the extra Hostility.

Bandit Camp

All trading-based Orders, Perks, and Cornerstones are disabled.

With trading unavailable, careful selection of Blueprints and Orders is even more important than usual, since you cannot receive extra Blueprints by purchasing them from Traders, and you cannot increase your villagers' Resolve by purchasing Food, Clothing, or Service goods from them.

Barren Lands

All Fertile Soil or farming-based Ruins, Orders, Perks, and Cornerstones are disabled.

With no Fertile Soil to be found anywhere, the Humans starting ability, proficiency, and species-specific housing upgrade are useless. On the plus side, the Barren Lands modifier also removes all Fertile Soil buildings from the Blueprint pool, making it more likely for you to find other Blueprints that could be more useful to you, such as an appropriate Camp blueprint or a key Food Production or Industry blueprint. Unfortunately, the missing Fertile Soil is not replaced by any other Glade Resources.

Corrosive Torrent

The main threat of Corrosive Torrent is a potential  Parts deficiency.  Planks,  Bricks, and  Fabric are relatively easy to manufacture or purchase in case of a shortage, but Parts are nearly impossible to manufacture and cost a fortune to purchase from Traders, if they're even available. Be careful of how many Parts you dedicate to constructing Camps, especially on Prestige 6+ difficulty, as you will not be able to destroy the Camps to refund them.

Fishmen Ritual Site

Trade Hub and Queen's Gift Cornerstones are disabled.

Gathering Storm

Like most effects in the game, Gathering Storm's season duration increase is additive. It adds 12 seconds to each subsequent Storm, starting year 1. The increase is barely noticeable for the first few years past Prestige 2 (+100% Storm duration).

Haunted Forest

While the Glade warnings are removed, the placement of big Glade types relative to the starting Glade and the edge of the map is retained. You are unlikely to find Forbiddens in the immediate vicinity of the starting Glade, outside of Coastal Grove.

Monastery of the Holy Flame

Counterfeit Amber and Without Restrictions Cornerstones are disabled.

Riverlands

Mutually Exclusive Modifiers

As of Hotfix 1.8.10, Riverlands is restricted from spawning next to the following modifiers:

• Forbidden Lands
• Dangerous Lands
• Untamed Lands
• Ruins

Map generation examples:

• 
  Ashen Thicket
• 
  Bamboo Flats
• 
  Coastal Grove
• 
  Coral Forest
• 
  Rocky Ravine
• 
  Royal Woodlands

Due to the order of priority for Glade Resources to populate during map generation, Fertile Soil and Small Glade Traders are more likely to be encountered than normal. Selling goods via Trade Route to obtain  Amber to purchase goods and services from Traders and prioritizing at least 1 Farming or Fertile Soil Blueprint are likely to pay off. Exceptions include modifiers like Barren Lands or Bandit Camp which prevent Fertile Soil and Traders from spawning, respectively, and the biomes Rocky Ravine, which has low soil fertility, and Bamboo Flats, which starts with no Fertile Soil at all.

Fertile Soil Statistics

Biome	Avg. Fertile Soil Patches	Avg. Total Glades	Avg. % Fertile Soil Glades (Riverlands)	Avg. % Fertile Soil Glades (No Modifier)
Ashen Thicket	4.6	6.8	67.5%	29.6%
Bamboo Flats	0	7	0.0%	0.0%
Coastal Grove	3	5.2	58.3%	37.0%
Coral Forest	3.4	6	59.1%	26.9%
Rocky Ravine	2.8	6.4	43.8%	14.6%
Royal Woodlands	4	6.8	58.2%	48.6%

Full Data Table

Biome	Data Type	Settlement 1	Settlement 2	Settlement 3	Settlement 4	Settlement 5
Ashen Thicket	Number of Fertile Soil Glades	6	3	5	4	5
	Total Number of Glades	8	6	8	6	6
	% Glades with Fertile Soil	75.0%	50.0%	62.5%	66.7%	83.3%
Bamboo Flats	Number of Fertile Soil Glades	0	0	0	0	0
	Total Number of Glades	8	6	9	5	7
	% Glades with Fertile Soil	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
Coastal Grove	Number of Fertile Soil Glades	2	4	2	3	4
	Total Number of Glades	6	6	4	4	6
	% Glades with Fertile Soil	33.3%	66.7%	50.0%	75.0%	66.7%
Coral Forest	Number of Fertile Soil Glades	4	2	4	3	4
	Total Number of Glades	5	7	7	6	5
	% Glades with Fertile Soil	80.0%	28.6%	57.1%	50.0%	80.0%
Rocky Ravine	Number of Fertile Soil Glades	0	3	4	4	3
	Total Number of Glades	6	7	6	6	7
	% Glades with Fertile Soil	0.0%	42.9%	66.7%	66.7%	42.9%
Royal Woodlands	Number of Fertile Soil Glades	4	5	2	4	5
	Total Number of Glades	7	9	5	6	7
	% Glades with Fertile Soil	57.1%	55.6%	40.0%	66.7%	71.4%