14 October 2026
Life with the flood
One of the first mechanics of the game you'll get introduced to is the flood. Rivers and their floods played a significant role in shaping Indus Valley life, and we've introduced that in the game.
The river banks are a great location for farms. Each year the river floods and enriches the soil, maintaining high fertility and production. But, if the flood waters reach buildings, they could be damaged. High floods can wipe out entire homes. Even if you manage to avoid the flood, the water dampens the ground, and houses need repairs (which households do themselves by fetching bricks - you don't need to micromanage this).
Initially, you can't build too far from the river - your households need it for water. So, you do what people in the Indus Valley did - you build your houses on raised grounds and platforms. Your spare workers can use brick and mud to create the platforms.
Then, once your people start creating bigger water jugs, that allows you to settle further away, reducing the need for flood protection. Eventually they'll build wells, which give even more flexibility on where your people settle.