Medieval: Total War/Buildings

Back to Main Page

= Basic Buildings =

Watch Tower

 * Requirements: None
 * Cost: 100
 * Time to Build: 1 year

Watch towers are a basic, cheap building which should be placed in every province. They give your population an increased sense of security and increases happiness (+20 boost). Watch towers let you see into neighboring provinces, letting you examine in detail the troops and buildings located there.

Border Fort

 * Requirements: Watch Tower (replaces Watch Tower)
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 1 year

Border Forts have the same ability to see into neighboring provinces as Watch Towers do. They also act like you have a spy in your province; enemy spies and assassins can be caught while they are in a province with border forts. Border Forts give your population an even greater sense of security and thus a larger boost to happiness (+30 boost).

Port

 * Requirements: Province must be on sea coast
 * Cost: 750
 * Time to Build: 4 years

Ports have many functions. Agents can jump from a province with a port to any other province with a port. Your armies can move from one port to another, provided you have a string of ships between the two ports, and there are no hostile ships in the way. Ports allow you to construct shipyards. If there are trade goods in the province ports are needed for those goods to be sold abroad. Ports will generate a small amount of income if a foreign power is selling goods to your province, however this income is tiny; normally 5-15 florin.

Mines
Mine income is very stable and not effected by any other factor. Acumen, droughts, corrupt governors, taxation levels all have no effect on mine income. You can only build mines in provinces which have deposits of these natural resources in them. Mines all produce a fairly small, but steady trickle of income.

Salt Mine

 * Requirements: Salt in province
 * Cost: 250
 * Time to Build: 2 years

The salt mine is the smallest and cheapest of all the mines. It produces a very small amount of income (50 florins) but is very cheap to build. A salt mine will pay for itself in 9 years.

Salt Mine Complex

 * Requirements: Salt Mine (replaces Salt Mine)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The salt mine complex is an upgrade of the basic salt mine and produces double the income (100 florins). A salt mine complex upgrade will pay for itself in 12 years.

Copper Mine

 * Requirements: Copper in province
 * Cost: 500
 * Time to Build: 3 years

The copper mine is the second smallest and second cheapest of all the mines. It produces a modest amount of income (150 florins) but is rather inexpensive to build. A copper mine will pay for itself in 8 years.

Copper Mine Complex

 * Requirements: Copper Mine (replaces Copper Mine)
 * Cost: 900
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The copper mine complex is an upgrade of the basic copper mine and produces double the income (200 florins). At 900 florins, this mine requires a substantial investment. A copper mine complex upgrade will pay for itself in 12 years.

Silver Mine

 * Requirements: Silver in province
 * Cost: 750
 * Time to Build: 2 years

The silver mine is a fairly expensive but lucrative mine to build. It produces a decent amount of income (150 florins) for a fairly moderate sized investment. A silver mine will pay for itself in 7 years.

Silver Mine Complex

 * Requirements: Silver Mine (replaces Silver Mine)
 * Cost: 1400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The silver mine complex is an upgrade of the basic silver mine and produces double the income (300 florins). The 1400 florin investment to build this mine is quite substantial and this complex should be built only if there is money to spare. A silver mine complex upgrade will pay for itself in 12 years.

Gold Mine

 * Requirements: Gold in province
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 2 years

The gold mine is a large and expensive mine. It produces a very respectable amount of income (200 florins) but it takes a substantial investment to build. A gold mine will pay for itself in 7 years.

Gold Mine Complex

 * Requirements: Gold Mine (replaces Gold Mine)
 * Cost: 1800
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The gold mine complex is the most expensive and richest of all the mines. It produces double the income of a basic gold mine (400 florins) but its high price means it should only be built by rich and large empires. A gold mine complex upgrade will pay for itself in 12 years.

Farmland
Farming is the most basic of all provincial income. Every province has at least some farm income, no matter what buildings are available. This income is effected by the acumen of the provincial govenor and of the faction leader. The amount of income produced is also a function of the tax level of the province.

Building improved farmland will increase the income from the province up to +80%, this can be bring in a quite substantial amount of money in richer provinces.

Whenever improved farmlands are built, there is a chance that your faction leader, princes, or provincial governors could acquire the stewart trait. The stewart trait is perhaps one of the best economic virtue a leader or governor could have since it boosts farm income even further.

Improved Farmland I

 * Requirements: None
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 2 years

This is the most basic of all farm upgrades, boosting farm income to 20% above the basic level. Most provinces, even the ones with very little farm income, should have this level of improvement done, if nothing else for the chance to get your faction leader a steward trait.

Improved Farmland II

 * Requirements: Improved Farmland I (replaces Improved Farmland I)
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The second level of farm improvements, boosting farm income from 20% above the basic level to 40% above. Most average provinces should eventually get this improvement but because of the expense it is not normally considered worthwhile to upgrade the poorer provinces.

Improved Farmland III

 * Requirements: Improved Farmland II (replaces Improved Farmland II)
 * Cost: 1500
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The third level of farm improvements, boosting farm income from 40% above the basic level to 60% above. This upgrade really turns your richer provinces into cash cows. A province which started generating 500 florins now will generate 800. Naturally, because of the great expense this upgrade should only be given to provinces with rich farmland.

Improved Farmland IV

 * Requirements: Improved Farmland III (replaces Improved Farmland III)
 * Cost: 2500
 * Time to Build: 8 years

The last and most expensive level of farm improvements, boosting farm income from 60% above the basic level to 80% above. A province which started off producing 500 florins per year will now produce 900. The cost of this upgrade is quite substantial, so it should only be given to the richest of provinces and only when the treasury can afford it.

Inn

 * Requirements: None
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 2 years

The Inn is where mercenaries can be hired. Mercenaries will become available at random and can be built instantly for a cost. Inns are most effective in provinces with few other buildings. Forts and large castles scare mercenaries away.

= Fort Level Buildings =

Fort

 * Requirements: None
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

A fort is the most basic of all castles. Having a fort in a province is a requirement to be able to build any military units, ships or agents. The only units you can acquire without a fort are mercenaries. The fort itself can only train peasants, but it does allow for the building of the most basic of unit producing buildings. Forts also serve as the last line of defense for the province, if the garrison in the province is defeated in battle or is compelled to retreat they will fall back into the fort and a second battle is required to storm the fort and kill anyone inside. Forts consist of a central wooden keep surrounded by one ring of wooden walls. The keep which will shoot arrows at the enemy during sieges. Wooden walls are easy to breech, even without siege weapons, since most any unit can quickly knock down the walls with their melee weapons. Forts can hold up to 120 men or 60 cavalry.

Motte

 * Requirements: Fort
 * Cost: 100
 * Time to Build: 1 year

A motte is a large hill built in the center of the fort, giving the keep added height. This gives the keep added range when shooting arrows at the enemy. Having a motte reduces attrition losses for the defenders during a siege.

Bailey

 * Requirements: Fort + Motte
 * Cost: 100
 * Time to Build: 1 year

Adding a bailey gives the fort an extra layer of wooden walls around the gate of the fort. This forces the attacker to breech two gates in order to reach the inner circle. The defensive value of a bailey is questionable since it does not completely encircle the first layer of walls, so an attacker can simply ignore the bailey entirely and attack a part of the wall it does not protect. Having a bailey also further reduces attrition losses during a siege.

Royal Palace

 * Requirements: Fort
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 2 years

A Royal Palace is a centre for administration in a kingdom. It allows the training of emissaries and gives the monarch a government office to bestow on one of his generals. Every kingdom should have at least one Royal Palace.

Trading Post

 * Requirements: Fort, at least one trade good in the province
 * Cost: 800
 * Time to Build: 2 years

A trading post lets your monarch collect taxes on goods sold in your province. The amount collected depends on your taxation level, the types of goods sold in the province, the acumen of the governor and monarch, and the size of your trading network. If there is no trading network taxes will only be collected on goods which have been sold locally.

Town Watch

 * Requirements: Fort
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

A town watch is the first of the militia producing buildings. It both allows the training of Urban Militia units and allows the building of more advanced unit producing buildings. Having a town watch in a province boosts the happiness of the population slightly (+10).

Spearmaker

 * Requirements: Fort, Town Watch
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

The spearmaker allows for the training of the most basic spear-armed infantry. The type of infantry trained depends on the faction which owns the province. Having a spearmaker is a requirement to build a swordsmith or an armourer (Keep level buildings).

Bowyer

 * Requirements: Fort, Town Watch
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

Archers and other basic bow-armed infantry are able to be trained once a bowyer has been built. All factions are able to train archers, and some have other kinds available to them. Having a bowyer is a requirement to build a siege engineer.

Siege Engineer

 * Requirements: Fort, Bowyer
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

A siege engineer allows for the construction of the most basic of all siege engines; the ballista. Some factions have explosive-armed units which require this building as well.

Horse Farmer

 * Requirements: Fort, Improved Farmland I
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

The most basic of cavalry producing building. The horse farmer is unique in that higher level castles are not required in order to build the upgrades. All the buildings up to Master Horse Breeder can be built with just a fort. All mounted units, with the exception of camels and royal bodyguard type units, need a horse farmer or one of its upgrades. Not all factions will be able to train units with a simple horse farmer, some will require a higher level building.

Horse Breeder

 * Requirements: Horse Farmer (replaces Horse Farmer)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

A horse breeder allows for more advanced cavalry units to be produced than a horse farmer. The actual type of unit it allows to produce depends on the faction and the time period.

Horse Breeder's Guild

 * Requirements: Horse Breeder (replaces Horse Breeder)
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The horse breeder's guild allows for even more advanced cavalry units than the horse breeder does. The actual type of unit it allows depends on the faction and the time period.

Master Horse Breeder

 * Requirements: Horse Breeder's Guild (replaces Horse Breeder's Guild)
 * Cost: 800
 * Time to Build: 8 years

This is the most advanced cavalry producing building. This building gives all cavalry units produced in the province a bonus of +1 valor. A master horse breeder allows for the most advanced horse based units the faction has available. The actual type of unit it allows depends on the faction and the time period. Most factions do not have any units which actually require a master horse breeder, but it is worth building for the valour bonus.

= Keep Level Buildings =

Keep

 * Requirements: Fort (replaces Fort)
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 8 years

A Keep is the second level of castle which can be built. While the keep itself does not train any additional units, it does allow for the building of more advanced unit training structures. A Keep can hold up to 420 soldiers (or 210 cavalry). The layout of the walls is similar to a fort with a motte and bailey, except that the inner ring is now made from stone. Stone walls are much more difficult to knock down and generally require artillery of some kind to attack. The Inner ring now has 8 arrow towers built into it, which will fire on the enemy. There is also a motte (wooden enclosure) around the gate, forcing attacking soldiers to break into the motte if they wish to attack the gate.

Curtain Walls

 * Requirements: Keep
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

With a normal Keep there is one ring of walls surrounding the central keep, with a gate leading to a second area which is also surrounded by wooden walls and a gate. With a curtain wall, the second wall is upgraded to stone, and 4 arrow towers are built into it. This gives a Keep + Curtain Walls a total of 12 arrow towers, and it forces the attacker to break through 2 gates if they do not have artillery. The extra defenses also reduce attrition losses by the defenders during a siege.

Balista Towers

 * Requirements: Keep + Curtain Wall
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 2 years

This upgrade replaces 4 arrow towers in the inner wall with balista towers. This gives the Keep a total of 8 arrow towers and 4 balista towers. Balistas are large cross-bow like artillery pieces that fire huge arrows. Each shot only can kill one man, but balistas do have a much greater range than arrow towers do, and the enemy suffers a greater moral loss from being attacked by balistas as compared to arrows. Defenders also suffer fewer casualties due to attrition during a siege. Balista towers do not make a keep invincible, but they are well worth the small expense in time and money if there are no plans to upgrade the Keep. Having Balista Towers also reduces attrition losses by the defenders during a siege.

Gunsmith

 * Requirements: Keep, Gunpowder technology event.
 * Who Gets it: Egyptians only
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The Gunsmith lets Egyptians build their Mamluk handgun units. The advantage is that it only requires a keep, while other cultures have to build a Gunsmith's Workshop at a Castle. If the keep has already been upgraded to a Castle the egyptians can simply build the Gunsmith's Workshop directly and bypass the Gunsmith entirely.

Church

 * Requirements: Keep
 * Who Gets it: The Catholic Church and the Eastern/Russian/Christian Orthodox Church
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The Church is the most basic religious building for Christian factions. It allows the training of Catholic Bishops or Orthodox Priests and boosts happiness in the province (+20). Units trained in a province with a church will be braver and get +1 moral bonus. This bonus is cumulative with other religious buildings. Having a church will also slowly increase the percentage of the population which follow the religion of the faction holding the province. Churches are always destroyed when a non-Christian faction occupies a province.

Chapter House

 * Requirements: Church
 * Who Gets it: English, French, Germans, Italians, Spanish, Argonese and Sicilians.
 * Cost: 500
 * Time to Build: 4 years

Having a chapter house allows for the creation of a crusade in that province. Not all Catholic factions are able to crusade, the Polish, Hungarians and Danes never crusaded historically and thus are not able to build chapter houses. Chapter Houses do not give a moral bonus nor do they increase the amount of Catholics in the population.

Mosque

 * Requirements: Keep
 * Who Gets it: Muslims
 * Cost: 200
 * Time to Build: 4 years

A Mosque is the most basic religious building for Muslim factions. It allows the training of Alims and boosts happiness in the province (+20). Units trained in a province with a Mosque will be braver and get a +1 morale bonus. This bonus is cumulative with bonus' from other religious buildings. Having a Mosque will slowly increase the percent of the population which follow Islam. Mosques are always destroyed when a non-Muslim faction occupies the province.

Ribat

 * Requirements: Mosque
 * Who Gets it: Muslims
 * Cost: 300
 * Time to Build: 4 years

A Ribat allows for the creation of a Jihad in the province. It also makes units trained in the province braver, giving them a morale bonus of +2 on top of the bonus given by the Mosque.

Royal Court

 * Requirements: Keep, Royal Palace
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The Royal Court is a centre of government for a faction. It allows for the training of additional royal bodyguard units. For Catholics these are Royal Knights, and for Muslims they are Ghulan Cavalry. These bodyguard units always contain 20 men, regardless of size settings. Note that while Orthodox factions may build a Royal Court they have no separate bodyguard units to train and thus there is little reason to construct this building. Infact, the only reason for an Orthodox faction to construct this building is for a Glorious Achievement that requires all buildings to be built, including such useless ones as the Royal Court.

Shipwright

 * Requirements: Keep, Dock
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

Having a shipyard allows for the smallest and most basic of ships to be constructed. The actual type of ship which is created depends on the faction.

Merchant

 * Requirements: Keep, Trading Post (replaces Trading Post)
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 4 years

A Merchant is an upgraded Trading Post, and collects even more money in taxes. The additional amount collected is not very significant, except for very profitable provinces and factions with extensive trading networks.

Town Guard

 * Requirements: Keep, Town Watch (replaces Town Watch)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

With a Town Guard, more advanced forms of Militia units can be trained. While every faction gets the basic urban militia, not everyone gets more advanced units and there is no advantage to building a Town Guard other than to train units. Having a Town Guard does make the population more happy (+10) but this is the same bonus as the Town Watch it replaced gave.

Swordsmith

 * Requirements: Keep, Spearmaker
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The swordsmith is where most basic sword-based infantry units are trained. The actual units produced depends on the faction controlling the province. While everyone can build a swordsmith, Russians and the People of Novogod do not get any units which require a swordsmith and thus do not need to build one under most circumstances. The only reason the Russians would need to build the Swordsmith is for a Glorious Achievement goal where they have to build more buildings in Muscovy than any other faction. The People of Novgorad do not get Glorious Achievements, so they do not need to build this building.

Spearmaker's Workshop

 * Requirements: Keep, Spearmaker (replaces Spearmaker)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The Spearmaker's Workshop allows for more advanced spear units than the Spearmaker.

Bowyer's Workshop

 * Requirements: Keep, Bowyer (replaces Bowyer)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The Bowyer's Workshop is a more advanced Bowyer and allows for the training of more advanced bow-armed infantry. The first crossbow-armed infantry also require a Bowyer's Workshop.

Siege Engineer's Workshop

 * Requirements: Keep, Siege Engineer (replaces Siege Engineer)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The siege engineer is where a more advanced form of siege engine, the catapult, is created. This upgrade is highly recommended if any assaults on castles are planned. Siege engine crews take several turns to be trained so it is recommended that a province be set aside to specialize in siege engines.

Tavern

 * Requirements: Keep
 * Cost: 500
 * Time to Build: 4 years

Taverns are where cut-throats and other ruffians hang out and building one lets a faction train assassins in that province. Higher Level taverns will give assassins valour bonuses, so if assassins are needed a tavern should be build in the most advanced province available, then upgraded as far as possible.

= Castle Level Buildings =

Castle

 * Requirements: Keep (replaces Keep)
 * Cost: 2000
 * Time to Build: 12 years

The next upgrade from a Keep is to a Castle. Up to 600 soldiers (or 300 cavalry) can be garrisoned in a Castle. Castles allow for more advanced buildings to be built in the province than a Keep does. Having one or more Castles is highly recommended for any faction in the High Period, since most new High Era units require buildings only available from this level of buildings. The basic Castle is similar to a fully upgraded Keep in layout, with 4 arrow towers and 4 balista towers in the inner ring, and a stone enclosure around the main gate with an additional 4 arrow towers. This gives the castle a total of 8 arrow towers and 4 balista towers. The gates and walls of the inner ring are much thicker, stronger and taller than a Keep.

Ringwall

 * Requirements: Castle
 * Cost: 300
 * Time to Build: 3 years

With a Ringwall, the second enclosure around the castle gate becomes an entire ring; giving the castle 2 full rings of stone walls encircling it. The second ring has 10 arrow towers which fire upon the enemy, giving the whole castle 14 arrow towers and 4 balista towers. Now any enemy assaulting the castle, even with artillery, will have to break down 2 walls in order to reach the centre of the castle. Having a ringwall further reduces attrition damage by the defenders during a siege.

Catapult Towers

 * Requirements: Castle + Ringwall
 * Cost: 300
 * Time to Build: 3 years

With this upgrade 4 of the arrow towers in the outer ring of the castle are converted to catapult towers. This gives the tower 4 arrow towers and 4 balista towers in the inner ring, and four catapult towers and 6 arrow towers in the outer ring. The total being 10 arrow towers, four catapult towers and 4 balista towers. Catapults have a longer range and more destructive power than even balista towers. This makes assaulting the castle even more difficult and costly. Having catapult towers further reduces attrition losses during a siege.

Bell Foundry

 * Requirements: Castle, Gunpowder technology
 * Cost: 800
 * Time to Build: 4 years

With the advantage of gunpowder it is now possible to build rudimentary cannons for help in sieges. Either bombards or mortars can be built. While these weapons can be useful it is recommended to upgrade to at least a cannon foundry before making gunpowder-based siege weapons.

Gunsmith's Workshop

 * Requirements: Castle, gunpowder technology (replaces Gunsmith, if already in province)
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The Egyptians were the first to have gunpowder units and are able to build a gunsmith, a keep-level building. For all the other factions the Gunsmith's Workshop is the first gunsmith building that can be built. Having a Gunsmith's Workshop allows the training of basic gunpowder based infantry. For all factions the unit which is trained is the handgunner.

Monastery

 * Requirements: Castle, Church
 * Who can Build it: The Catholic Church and the Christian Orthodox Church
 * Cost: 300
 * Time to Build: 3 years

The Monastery is the next level up of religious buildings for Christian factions. Having a Monastery boosts the happiness of the population (+10) and makes soldiers trained in the province braver (+1 morale). The religion of the faction which controls the province is also spread by having a monastery. Catholic factions can train an Inquisitor with the presence of a monastery. While Orthodox factions cannot build these units, this building is still useful to them for the other bonuses. The bonuses given by this building add with the bonuses of other religious buildings. For example with both a church and a monastery the total bonus is +30 happiness, +2 morale and double the speed of conversions to the faction's religion or denomination!

Metalsmith

 * Requirements: Castle, iron in the province
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

Having Iron in a province is very valuable since it allows a metal smith to be built. Metal smiths improve the weapons of any unit produced in the province, even ones created in crusades, jihads or given free with a prince. Units get a +1 bonus to attack, which is shown on the unit icon by a grey sword. Only unit melee attacks are improved, ranged attacks are not upgraded.

Royal Estate

 * Requirements: Castle, Royal Court
 * Who Can Build it: Catholic Factions
 * Cost: 300
 * Time to Build: 3 years

A Royal Estate is an impressive building which allows feudal knights to be trained in the province (other buildings are also required). There is no need to build it except to train knights.

Chancellery

 * Requirements: Castle, Royal Palace
 * Who can build it: Everyone except Pagans
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The chancellery is, not surprisingly, the office of the Chancellor. There can be only one Chancellery in any given faction. The Chancellor is an official who helps the monarch run the government, but in game terms this has no effect. The Chancellery is an office which can be given to a general and gives a bonus of +1 loyalty, +1 acumen and +1 command. This office is best given to a good general who is also the governor of a rich province. Most large empires should have one province specialized to be the capital city and to build various offices.

Merchant's Guild

 * Requirements: Castle, Merchant (replaces Merchant)
 * Cost: 1200
 * Time to Build: 6 years

A Merchant's Guild is an upgrade of the more primitive Merchant. It lets a ruler collect even more taxes from trade than even the Merchant did, though the difference is rather minor. Factions with extensive trading networks and provinces with valuable trade goods should upgrade to a Merchant's Guild in any coastal province which has a Castle. For provinces with few or poor trade goods it is not worth upgrading a Keep itself in order to upgrade the Merchant, but if the Castle is already upgraded it is often worth it. Super-rich provinces such as Flanders, Venice or Constantinople should be upgraded even further to Master Merchant.

Swordsmith's Workshop

 * Requirements: Castle, Swordsmith (replaces swordsmith)
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The Swordsmith's workshop is the first upgrade of the basic swordsmith. It allows for the creation of more advanced sword-based units, such as chivilric men at arms or Swabian Swordsmen. Units produced by this building tend to be powerful but not every faction has such units available to them, but if they are available most large empires should have one or more provinces devoted to producing such units.

Spearmaker's Guild

 * Requirements: Castle, Spearmaker's Workshop (replaces Spearmaker's Workshop)
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The Spearmaker's Guild is the second upgrade of the basic spearmaker, and it allows for even more advanced spear-armed infantry than the spearmaker's workshop. Many powerful units need a Spearmaker's Guild, such as Chivilric Sergeants, Italian Infantry and, oddly for axemen, Vangarian Guard. Not every faction in every era has such units available, but anyone who does should specialize at least one province to producing such units.

Armourer's Workshop

 * Requirements: Castle, Armourer (replaces Armourer)
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

Building an Armourer's increases the armour of all units produced in the province, including princes, monarchs, Crusade or Jihad units and loyalist rebellions. An Armourer's Workshop gives units +2 armour, which is shown on the unit icon as a bronze shield. Armour adds to the defense of a unit while engaged in Melee combat and protects the unit from missiles such as arrows and crossbow bolts. The effect of armour is reduced against armour piercing weapons but armour still does add some protection. Having high levels of armour does tire a unit out faster, especially while in the desert. Building an Armourer's Workshop is highly recommended for any province expecting to train a large number of units.

Bowyer's Guild

 * Requirements: Castle, Bowyer's Workshop (replaces Bowyer's Workshop)
 * Cost: 600
 * Time to Build: 6 years

The Bowyer's Guild is the second upgrade of the basic Bower unit producing building. A Bowyer's Guild allows the production of even more advanced units of bow or crossbow armed infantry than a Bowyer's Workshop does. Not every faction in every era has units which require a Bowyer's Guild. The most well known units produced are Longbows for the English and Albalesters for most Christian factions.

Siege Engineer's Guild

 * Requirements: Castle, Siege Engineer (replaces Siege Engineer)
 * Cost: 400
 * Time to Build: 4 years

The Siege Engineer's workshop is an upgrade of the more basic Siege Engineer. It allows for the construction of more advanced siege engines, namely the catapult. A Catapult is a much more effective weapon than a simple ballista, which is all a Siege Engineer can build, so this upgrade is recommended for any faction which needs such units.

Brothel

 * Requirements: Castle, Tavern
 * Cost: 800
 * Time to Build: 6 years

A Brothel is a seedy building which allows for the training of spies. Spies have many uses and at least one brothel should be built somewhere in every faction. A brothel also has other uses and does increase the happiness of the population slightly (+10).

= Citadel Level Buildings =

Citadel

 * Requirements: Castle (replaces Castle)
 * Cost: 4000
 * Time to Build: 16 years

A citadel is a very massive castle which can hold up to 780 troops (or 390 cavalry). It is the next upgrade from a castle and allows the next level of advanced buildings to be constructed. A citadel has a similar design to a fully upgraded castle, with two rings, but with thicker and higher walls. The inner ring has 4 balista towers and 2 arrow towers (a reduction from a castle, which has 4 balista and 4 arrow towers) and the outer ring has 4 catapult towers and 6 arrow towers. This gives a total defence of 8 arrow towers, 4 balista towers and 4 catapult towers.

Barbican

 * Requirements: Citadel
 * Cost: 500
 * Time to Build: 5 years

The Barbican upgrade adds a special tower to the citadel. This tower stands away from the outer ring, near the gatehouse, and is connected to the outer ring via a short wall. This brings the tower a little closer to the enemy and also lets it fire on troops who are trying to break in the gates. This tower is called an "artillery tower" because it fires cannon balls but is available before gunpowder. This gives the citadel a total defence of 4 balista towers, 8 arrow towers, 4 catapult tower and one artillery tower. Having a Barbican also reduces attrition losses by the defenders during a siege.

Gun Towers

 * Requirements: Citadel, Barbican, Gunsmith
 * Cost: 500
 * Time to Build: 5 years

The Gun Towers upgrade replaces the 4 catapult towers with gun towers. This gives the citadel a total defence of 8 arrow towers, 4 balista towers, 4 guntowers and 1 artillery tower. Guntowers appear to fire cannon balls but are supposedly handguns, which is why they require a gunsmith to build. Guntowers seem to do less damage than catapult towers do, and they have less range. Their advantage is the fear they create in the enemy, who will take fewer casualties but are more likely to flee.

Cannon Foundry

 * Requirements: Citadel, Bell Foundry (replaces Bell Foundry)
 * Cost: 1200
 * Time to Build: 8 years

A cannon foundry allows for more advanced designs of artillery to be built. The kind of artillery produced depends on the faction, with Christians getting demi-culverns and Mulsims being able to build demi-cannons.

Gunsmith's Guild

 * Requirements: Citadel, Gunsmith's Workshop (replaces Gunsmith's Workshop)
 * Cost: 800
 * Time to Build: 8 years

A Gunsmith's Guild allows for the building of a more advanced form of gun-armed infantry, specifically Aquibusiers. The Mediaeval Total War Technology Tree states that a Gunsmith's Guild is required for Demi-culvern towers, but infact any Gunsmith will do.

Reliquary

 * Requirements: Citadel, Monastery
 * Cost: 500
 * Time to Build: 6 years

A reliquary is a religious building for Christian factions. Having a Reliquary in the province will make troops produced there braver, adding 2 to their morale. It will also make the population much happier, +30 loyalty, the equivalent happiness boost of building Border Forts. These bonus' are on top of the other religious buildings. A province with a Church, Monastery and Reliquary will have a total bonus of +4 to morale and +60 to loyalty. Unlike other religious buildings, a Reliquary will not increase the spread of its religion. Catholic factions can train Grand Inquisitors in a province with a Reliquary.

Cathedral

 * Requirements: Citadel, Church
 * Who can build it: the Catholic and Christian Orthodox Churches
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 16 years

A Cathedral is the highest level religeous building that Catholic and Orthodox factions can build. It does not replace other religious buildings and its bonuses add up with the other buildings. Having a Cathedral improves the loyalty of the province by a great deal (+40) and makes the soldiers produced in the province braver (+3 morale). A province with a Church, Monastery, Reliquary and Cathedral will have a total bonus of +7 to morale and +110 to loyalty. Cathedrals also add to the spread of the faction's religion or denomination and produces a small income (52 florins/year). Orthodox factions can train Orthodox Bishops and Catholic factions can train Cardinals from a Cathedral. The main drawback of the Cathedral is the very long build time of 16 years and only one Cathedral can be built per faction (though others can be captured).

Grand Mosque

 * Requirements: Citadel, Mosque
 * Who can get it: The Islamic faith
 * Cost: 1000
 * Time to Build: 16 years

The Grand Mosque is the highest level religious building which can be built by Muslim factions. It is a requirement for more advanced buildings, like a Military Academy, and is a requirement for some advanced units. Having a Grand Mosque in a province boosts both happiness (+40) and the morale of units produced there (+3 morale). A province with a Mosque, a Ribat and a Grand Mosque will have a cumulative bonus of +6 morale and +60 happiness. A Grand Mosque will produce a small income (52 florins/year) but only one can be built by a faction (others can be captured).

Metalsmith's Workshop

 * Requirements: Metalsmith, iron in province, Citadel (replaces Metalsmith)
 * Cost: 800
 * Time to Build: 8 years

A metalsmith's workshop improves on the bonus given by a simple Metalsmith, raising the attack bonus given to units to +2. This is quite a substantial bonus for melee units, and there is no downside to a Metalsmith. However they can only be constructed in provinces which have iron deposits. The symbol for the +2 attack bonus on the unit icon is a bronze sword.

= Fortress Level Buildings =