Age of Empires resources, drop-off buildings and farms
Match villagers and storage buildings to the resource you actually need.
Edition covered
Guide scope: the original 1997 game and its twelve civilizations. Pictures show the 2018 Definitive Edition, which also includes Rise of Rome and changes graphics, interface and balance. Expansion civilizations and Return of Rome are outside the original-game tables.
Use the nearest valid drop-off
Food sources do not all use the same storage building. A Granary supports berries and farms; a Storage Pit handles hunting and several raw resources. Shorter walks increase output without adding villagers.
| Resource | Typical sources | Major uses |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Berries, hunting, fishing and farms | Villagers, military units and age research |
| Wood | Trees | Buildings, ships, farms and many ranged units |
| Gold | Gold deposits and trade-related options | Advanced units and technologies |
| Stone | Stone deposits | Walls and towers |
Budget by production plan
A bow-heavy army consumes wood while a cavalry or priest plan needs a reliable gold income. Reserve enough wood to rebuild farms and houses before spending the entire stockpile on another military building.
| Building | Associated work | Placement reminder |
|---|---|---|
| Town Center | Villager creation and general resource delivery | Protect the central economy |
| Granary | Berries and farm food | Place beside the food source |
| Storage Pit | Wood, stone, gold and hunted food | Shorten the workers journey |
| Dock | Fishing boats and naval production | Use an accessible shoreline |
| Market | Farm access and economic technologies | Plan it during the Tool Age |
Protect working space
Walls and towers buy time for villagers to retreat, but placing defenses directly through a harvesting area can lengthen every trip. Keep access between resources, storage and the Town Center open.
Replace exhausted food
Berries and hunted animals run out. Add farms after the Market is available, and use fishing where the shoreline is safe. A large idle food workforce can stall both age research and reinforcements.
Berries and hunted animals run out. Add farms after the Market is available, and use fishing where the shoreline is safe. A large idle food workforce can stall both age research and reinforcements.
References
| Reference | Website |
|---|---|
| Publisher game and edition listing | store.steampowered.com |
| Microsoft edition overview | www.ageofempires.com |
| Original publisher manual | www.bestoldgames.net |