Games PC PHARAOH-LIVE FOR EVER User Manual
Credits
Designer
Chris Beatrice
Producers
Greg Sheppard
Ken Parker
Director of Technology
Mike Gingerich
Art Director
Darrin Horbal
Programmers
Jason Benham
Jim Solomon
Gabe Farris
Chris Gurski
Scott Delekta
Lead Artist
Heidi Mann
Lead Animator
Mike Malone
Artists
Dennis Rose
Andrea Muzeroll
Bob Curtis
Brian Despain
Kate Saparoff
Ron Alpert
Adam Carriuolo
Music
Keith Zizza
Henry Beckett
2
Sound
Ed Saltzman
Writer
Lisa Gagnon
Additional Design
Doug Gonya
Tony Leier
Quality Assurance Manager
Jon Payne
Lead Tester
Tony Leier
Testers
Clay Heaton
Chris Bold
Chris Dixon
Hans Wang
John McAuley
Wayne McCaul
Brett Levin
Scenario Creators
Clay Heaton
Tony Leier
Brett Levin
John McAuley
Wayne McCaul
Ken Parker
Jon Payne
Greg Sheppard
3
TTaabbllee ooff CCoonntteennttss
Egypt Welcomes You ....................................................9
A Quick Historical Note......................................10
A Note on Usage.................................................10
Traveler’s Journal..................................................10
Getting Started .............................................................13
Installing Pharaoh on the PC...............................13
Starting the Game on the PC...............................14
Installing the Game on the Mac..........................15
Starting the Game on the Mac.............................15
After Pharaoh Launches.......................................15
Your Family ...........................................................16
Continuing History...............................................16
Missions and Mission Briefings.............................17
Setting a Difficulty Level.......................................17
Your Place in the World.......................................18
Losing the Game...................................................19
Scoring...................................................................19
Other Options......................................................20
In-Game Help ......................................................21
Playing Pharaoh...........................................................23
The Control Panel................................................23
The Menu Bar.......................................................28
Keyboard Controls ...............................................28
For Players of Caesar III .......................................31
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water .........................35
Your City Site........................................................35
The Kingdom Road..............................................37
Principles Guiding Construction.........................37
Clearing Land........................................................38
Building Roads......................................................38
4
Table of Contents
Building Housing.................................................40
Housing Evolution...............................................41
Goods and Services...............................................42
Desirability............................................................42
Wells and Water Supplies.....................................43
People and Employment ............................................47
Attracting Immigrants.........................................47
City Sentiment......................................................47
Finding Workers...................................................49
People of the City................................................50
Unemployment ....................................................53
Labor Shortages ....................................................54
Managing Labor ...................................................55
Scribes ...................................................................57
Farming and Food Production ...................................59
The Nile, the Inundation and the Nilometer.....59
Building Food and Farming Structures...............60
Flood Plain Farming and Work Camps..............60
Meadow Farming..................................................62
Irrigation and Water Lifts.................................... 63
Crop Types ............................................................65
Other Food Sources..............................................65
Industry........................................................................ 69
Types of Industries................................................69
Storage...................................................................77
Running Efficient Industries ................................78
Commerce and Trade ..................................................81
Granaries................................................................81
Storage Yards ........................................................84
Bazaars ...................................................................86
Planning an Efficient Distribution System..........88
Trade ......................................................................91
5
Table of Contents
Entertainment ............................................................159
Building Entertainment Structures ....................159
Entertainment Venues........................................159
Measuring Entertainment Access ......................162
Education....................................................................165
The Military, Combat and Defense ...........................169
Raising an Army..................................................169
Weapons, Chariots and their Manufacture .......177
Commissioning a Navy ......................................177
Defensive Structures............................................184
Enemies................................................................185
Kingdom Service .................................................187
Overseer of the Military .....................................187
World Map ..........................................................188
Ratings ........................................................................191
Managing Your City...................................................197
Your Overseers ....................................................197
Overlays..............................................................203
View ....................................................................209
Overview Map ....................................................209
World Map ........................................................210
Citizens ..............................................................210
Messages ..............................................................211
A New Egypt Thrives ................................................213
Designer’s Notes .......................................................215
Appendices ................................................................220
Appendix 1: Building Summary........................222
Appendix 2: A Brief History of Egypt...............235
7
Table of Contents
Municipal Functions....................................................97
Constables and Magistrates..................................97
City Sentiment and Crime ...................................99
Other Security Issues..........................................100
Structural Flaws.................................................. 100
Fire Prevention....................................................101
Palaces..................................................................101
Taxes and Money ...............................................102
Mansions.............................................................107
Your Salary..........................................................108
Roadblocks..........................................................109
Water Crossings ..................................................110
Beautification ......................................................113
Religion and the Gods................................................117
The Gods of Egypt...............................................117
Patron Gods and Local Deities ...........................118
Religious Buildings ..............................................119
Temple Complexes, Altars and Oracles .............120
Festivals and Festival Squares .............................124
Monuments................................................................129
Building Monuments..........................................129
Construction Guilds ...........................................130
Work Camps .......................................................130
Construction Foreman and
Overseer of Monuments .............................131
Monuments.........................................................132
Burial Provisions..................................................146
Monument Building Tips ...................................146
Health .........................................................................151
Health Buildings ..................................................151
City Health and Health Risks .............................152
Infected Housing ................................................155
6
Table of Contents
S
tanding on the hot, arid sand, you look towards
the little settlement that you call home. In the
background, the mighty Nile flows by, and along
its muddy banks all manner of vegetation grows, even
some small farms that some in your city have planted.
Your family has lived and died along the river for generations, eking out an existence from what the land has
to offer.
Yet, change is in the hot, arid air. A charismatic leader
has arisen. His dream is first to unite all the settlements
in the region, and then unite all of Egypt. As you
ponder this dream, you have a vision: a thriving city
stretches out before you. Abundant farms feed a hungry citizenry. Thousands tend to their daily tasks —
protecting the city, ensuring its wealth, educating its
youth, worshiping its gods, tending to its dead. The
voices of your people float in the breeze and reverberate through the streets.
Inspired by your vision, you commit yourself to helping achieve the dream of a united Egypt. You instill in
your children the magic of the vision, for you know it
may take generations to achieve.
To realize your vision, you must learn the intricacies of
the Nile. The Nile is the source of life in Egypt, and
its floods bring renewal to the land every year. Learn
to manage these floods, and you will make the most of
this indispensable resource.
Some basic skills will help you achieve your dream.
Some of them may be learned through reading the
following pages; others you will have to discover for
yourself.
Egypt Welcomes You
11
Egypt Welcomes You
May the gods smile upon you as you proceed along
your way!
AA QQuuiicckk HHiissttoorriiccaall NNoottee
The action in
Pharaoh
takes place roughly between
3,200 BC and 1,300 BC. While
Pharaoh
is not a strictly historical game, events in ancient Egyptian history
do shape its structure. Refer to Appendix 2: A Brief
History of Egypt, starting on page 235, to learn a little
about the history of ancient Egypt and to understand
the context for some of the events in the game.
AA NNoottee oonn UUssaaggee
Throughout this text, you’ll see the word “info-click”
used. Info-click means different things to different
people. For PC users, info-click means right-click
(click your right mouse button). For Mac users, infoclick means command-click (click your mouse button
while holding down the command key). If you are a
Mac user with a two-button mouse, info-click still
means command-click, unless you map the right
mouse button to the command key.
TTrraavveelleerr’’ss JJoouurrnnaall
As we were researching ancient Egypt, we found a rare
papyrus containing a journal written by an ancient
merchant who traveled to Egypt. The journal is
excerpted throughout this manual in gray boxes, like
the one on the facing page.
10
Egypt Welcomes You
Arriving in Egypt
Ahket, 12th year of Ramesses
Morning
Dear Journal,
My first trip to Egypt —
and as we sailed up the Nile I knew one
thing for certain: I wasn't in Syria anymore.
The Nile itself is unlike any river I've ever
seen. The first thing I noticed was the
refreshingly cool breeze blowing from the
north, cutting through the heat of the day.
The captain of the boat, who had been to
Egypt before on trade missions, told me that
the locals call this breeze the Breath of Ra.
The captain certainly knew how to
steer the ship. He successfully guided us
through the moving maze that is the Nile.
Trade ships, much like our own, clog the
waterway bringing their bounty from exotic
locales. Fishing boats hauling in the day's
catch made their way to the docks, and
small rafts piloted by local citizens darted
between the larger vessels. Peals of laughter
poured out from a luxury yacht, where some
of the city's wealthiest residents were enjoying a pleasant cruise. Ferries conveyed people, animals and goods from one side of the
river to the other. Crocodiles and hippopotamuses
patrolled the
river, looking
for a meal.
The captain
adeptly
maneuvered
our boat
through all
these obstacles
until we finally reached our
destination:
Waset.
IInnssttaalllliinngg
PPhhaarraaoohh
oonn tthhee PPCC
With Windows running on your computer, place the
Pharaoh
CD into your CD-ROM drive. In a few seconds, Windows’ AutoPlay feature should display a
screen with four buttons: Play, Install, Uninstall and
Quit. Click “Install” to begin.
Should AutoPlay not work on your computer, double
click (click twice quickly) on the “My Computer” icon
on your desktop. Find the icon for your CD-ROM
drive and double-click on it. In the menu that appears,
find the item called “Setup.exe.” Double click on it to
start the installation.
The Install program then automatically chooses a file
path for
Pharaoh
. If you want to designate your own
path for
Pharaoh
, click “Browse” and pick a location.
Otherwise, click “Next” to continue the installation.
You’ll be asked to choose among Small, Medium and
Large Installs. Each version offers the full features of
the game; the difference will be the speed of the game.
The Full Install puts the entire game on your hard
drive. It takes up the most room, but offers the best
performance. Laptop users will especially appreciate
the ability to remove the CD after the initial copy-protection check. The Medium Install puts the most
commonly used elements on your hard drive and takes
up less room than the Large Install. The Small Install
puts only basic elements on your hard drive and runs
the rest of the game’s features from the CD. It takes up
the least room on your hard drive.
Installing
Pharaoh
can take as long as ten minutes.
Once the program is installed, you will see a box
Getting Started
15
IInnssttaalllliinngg tthhee GGaammee oonn tthhee MMaacc
First, place the
Pharaoh
CD into your CD-ROM drive.
Double-click on the icon that appears on your desktop. In the window that pops up, double click on the
“Pharaoh Installer” icon. Choose the Small, Medium
or Full installation (click on each to see how much disk
space it requires). Click on your choice and, holding
down your mouse button, “drag” the icon to a location displayed in the right-hand panel.
The Small install runs most of the game’s sounds and
videos from the game CD. Choose this if you have limited space on your hard drive. The Medium install
places the most commonly used media files on your
hard disk. The Full install puts the entire game on your
hard disk for optimum performance.
SSttaarrttiinngg tthhee GGaammee oonn tthhee MMaacc
When your Macintosh finishes transferring files
from the CD to your hard disk, doubleclick on the folder you just created.
Inside, you'll find a
Pharaoh
icon.
Double-click this icon to start the game.
You might want to drag this icon to
your computer's desktop to conveniently start the game later.
AAfftteerr PPhhaarraaoohh LLaauunncchheess
Once you launch the game, a brief movie
describing the glory of ancient Egypt plays, followed by credits and the
Pharaoh
title screen.
Click on the title screen, and the Main Menu
appears.
Getting Started
detailing the additions
Pharaoh
made to your start
menu.
Pharaoh
also offers you the option of adding
bookmarks to your internet browser.
At this point, you have the option of reading the
“Readme” file. We know you can’t wait to see what
Egypt holds for you, but we do highly recommend
reading this file before you start to play the game. This
manual went to print several weeks before the game
was finished, and any last minute changes are described
in Readme. Anytime this manual is in conflict with
Readme, Readme is correct.
Now, click the “Finish” button. If necessary, Install will
update some system components. It then might
restart your computer.
SSttaarrttiinngg tthhee GGaammee oonn tthhee PPCC
Now that the game is installed, you can start the game
in one of two ways:
1. Insert the
Pharaoh
CD into your CD-ROM
drive. When the AutoPlay window opens,
click the “Play” button.
2. From your start menu, find the Sierra subdirectory and choose
Pharaoh
.
PLEASE NOTE: You must have the
Phaaraaoh
CD in
your CD-ROM drive to start the game. If you chose
the Full Install, you may remove the CD after the game
begins.
14
Getting Started
From here, you can play
Pharaoh,
see which families
are deemed to be the Greatest Families, visit the
Pharaoh
web site, or quit the game.
YYoouurr FFaammiillyy
When you choose “Play
Pharaoh
,” a Family Registry
screen appears. The registry lists all the families that
have begun to make their mark in history.
To begin a new game of
Pharaoh
, found a new family.
From the Registry screen, click on “Create Family.”
Type in a surname of your choice, or choose from the
list of authentic Egyptian names.
Now, you are ready to make your way through Egypt’s
history. After you have chosen a family name, click
“Proceed.” From the Choose Game screen that
appears, click “Begin Family History.” Then, a screen
appears which lists the Periods of Egyptian history.
Select the first Period, the Pre-Dynastic, then click the
button in the lower right of the
screen to begin your family’s
quest.
CCoonnttiinnuuiinngg HHiissttoorryy
If you don’t play the game all
the way through the first
time (who needs to sleep or
eat?), you can pick up where
you left off later. When you
are ready to take a break,
choose “Save Game” from the
File Menu. The next time
you start
Pharaoh
, choose
your family’s name from the
Registry Screen. After you do, the Choose Game
screen appears. Click “Continue History” to resume
your family’s story.
If you forget to save your game before quitting to take
a break, don’t fret.
Pharaoh
automatically saves your
game twice per game year, in January and July. You
might lose some of your more recent history, but not
all will be lost. Choose “Load Saved Game” from the
Choose Game screen and select “autosave_history” to
pick up reasonably close to where you left off.
MMiissssiioonnss aanndd MMiissssiioonn BBrriieeffiinnggss
The path leading a united Egypt — and your family —
to greatness is a long one with many steps along the
way. In
Pharaoh
, these steps are called missions.
At the start of each mission, a Mission Briefing panel
describes what you can expect and what you’ll need to
do. When you meet the goals outlined in the Mission
Briefing, you win the mission and move on to the next
step.
Missions are grouped into Periods. When you finish
the last mission in a Period, you automatically return
to the screen that lists all the Periods in Egyptian history. You have to play the Periods chronologically
(no fair skipping ahead), but you can click on any of
the Periods for a brief description.
SSeettttiinngg aa DDiiffffiiccuullttyy LLeevveell
Set the level of difficulty at which you’d like to play
each mission from the Mission Briefing panel. You can
choose from five difficulty levels, spanning the spectrum between “Very Easy” and “Very Hard.” You can
17
Getting Started
16
Getting Started
19
Getting Started
change your difficulty level at any time during a mission through the Options menu on the Menu Bar.
Keep in mind, though, that lowering your difficulty
decreases your score (see page 19).
YYoouurr PPllaaccee iinn tthhee WWoorrlldd
It would be difficult to help build and sustain a united
Egypt if you ignored other cities in the world. From
time to time, other cities, and sometimes even
Pharaoh, will request your aid. Generally, they ask for
goods or for the services of your military. To foster
18
Getting Started
good relations with your neighbors, you should fulfill
these requests if you can. Your reputation will likely
increase (see Kingdom Rating, page 194), and Egypt
will be stronger for it.
LLoossiinngg tthhee GGaammee
Even families with the noblest of intentions can meet
with ignominious defeat. If you are attacked by a military force stronger than your own, you will most likely lose the game. Sometimes, your city will be
attacked through no fault of your own. The invading
force might just have their own vision for empire and
greatness. You can, though, trigger an attack by your
actions or inactions. For example, if you repeatedly
ignore requests for aid, a neighboring city or Pharaoh
may decide to forcibly take what you would not willingly give.
Gross mismanagement of funds, too, usually means
disaster. Going into debt damages your reputation
(see Kingdom Rating, page 194), and another city’s
army or navy may take over your city to demonstrate
the Kingdom’s disgust with you.
SSccoorriinngg
At the end of each mission, you are given a score based
on how quickly you completed the mission, your ratings, the size of your population, the amount of
money in your coffers, the monuments you completed and your difficulty level. If you change your difficulty level during a mission, the lowest difficulty level
you played is the one used to figure your score. Your
score is recorded for posterity and compared to the
scores of other players or to your own scores. If you
Family Registry Screen.
From this screen, you can continue a previous game or start a new one by establishing a new family. If you
choose, you can also delete a family. Deleting a family erases all
the saved games and any history associated with it.
Custom Missions.
Pharaoh
comes with a few missions that are not part of any larger game. To play
one of these missions, choose “Custom Missions”
from the Choose Game screen. Custom missions
are also automatically saved every six game
months should you forget to do so yourself.
IInn--GGaammee HHeellpp
Just about everything you need to know about
Pharaoh
is contained right in the game. The “Help”
drop-down list in the Menu Bar provides access to
detailed information regarding
Pharaoh.
Mouse help describes some items. If you hold the
mouse over Control Panel buttons or Menu Bar items,
a small panel briefly describing the object will pop up.
Also, info-clicking on just about anything provides a
wealth of information. The first screen that pops up
when you info-click an object provides brief information needed to manage your city. The lower left corner of these screens has a question mark. Click on that
question mark for a more detailed description of the
object and to learn more about the object’s role in the
game. These entries are usually linked to other useful
topics and to historical information. Linked topics are
displayed in a different color from the rest of the text.
21
Getting Started
have the high score for a particular mission, your family name and final score is displayed in the Greatest
Families screen, accessible from the Main Menu.
OOtthheerr OOppttiioonnss
If you need to take a break from the rigors of leading
your family through history,
Pharaoh
offers you a
couple of other ways to get a taste of Egypt. These are:
Relive History.
To look back on all you have
achieved, choose “Relive History” from the
Choose Game screen. Here, your achievements
are recorded and celebrated.
You can also replay a completed Mission or an
entire completed Period by choosing “Relive
History.” While you can replay history, you cannot change it. Replaying any mission has no effect
on your current full history game.
Please Note: If you are replaying a particular mission, be sure to save it with a distinct and different
name than your full history game. If you accidentally give the mission the same name as your
full game, your history will be overwritten and
lost.
If you are replaying a completed mission and forget to save it, open the “autosave” file listed when
you choose “Load Saved Game” from the Choose
Game screen.
Pharaoh
automatically saves your
mission every six game months, so you’ll be able
to recover a reasonably up-to-date version of
your current mission.
20
Getting Started
E
mpty land can be inspiring. With an expanse of
land stretching out before you, anything is pos-
sible. You can envision the perfect city with
majestic temples reaching towards the sky, busy thoroughfares crowded with people and animals, and farmland heavy with crops. Luckily, you have the unique
ability to make this perfect city real. The tools
described below will help you achieve your dream.
TThhee CCoonnttrrooll PPaanneell
The Control Panel is your command center: every
order you can give in the game can be accessed here.
When you first begin to
play
Pharaoh
, not all the
commands on the control
panel are available to you.
Early in the game, Egypt is
a fledgling culture that has
not developed fully. As
Egyptian culture and civilization evolve, you will be
able to build more elaborate cities with more
buildings and services for
your citizens. Options
currently not available are
darkened.
You should also note that
Egypt’s various regions
each have different natural
resources and landscapes.
Some regions are arid, with
rich mineral resources, while
Playing
Pharaoh
The Control Panel
Housing Button.
Click this button to designate
housing areas. For more on building housing
areas, see pages 40-43.
Roads Button.
Click on this button to build
roads. For more on roads, see page 40.
Clear Land Button.
Use this button to clear land
of obstructions. A special “Dig” cursor appears
after you click the button. To read more on
clearing land, turn to page 38.
Food and Farming Structures Button.
Click this
button to build the structures that produce food
for your city. Also listed here are farms that grow
raw materials for industries. The food and farming
structures are Farms, Work Camps, Hunting Lodges,
Fishing Wharves, Cattle Ranches, Water Lifts and
Irrigation Ditches. For more on food and farming,
consult pages 59-67.
Industrial Structures Button.
Click here to build
any of the industry buildings in
Pharaoh
, includ-
ing raw material producers, manufacturers and
construction guilds. For more on industry in
Pharaoh
,
see pages 69-79. For more on construction guilds, see
page 130.
Storage and Distribution Structures Button.
Click
on this button to build a Storage Yard, Granary,
Bazaar or Dock. Each structure plays a distinct role
in getting goods and food to the city’s people. Docks
and Storage Yards are also key to trade. For more on
distribution of food and goods to citizens, see pages
81-91. For more on trade, go to pages 91-95.
25
Playing
P
h
other regions are lush. Because of this variety and the
gradual development of Egyptian culture, the buildings available to you in each mission are different.
Each button on the Control Panel is described below:
Overlay Selector.
Click the over-
lay selector button to choose
special, informative views of your city. For more on
overlays, see pages 203-209.
Hide Control Panel.
Click this button to hide the
Control Panel. You’ll see more of your city, and you’ll
still be able to see the building construction buttons,
but you won’t see the Overview Map or the buttons to
access the World Map or the Overseers.
Overview Map.
The overview map
shows more of your city at one
time. Point and click on any part of
the map to jump your view to that
area. The buildings on the map are
color-coded depending on their
function. For more on color coding, see page 209.
Overseers Button
. Click this button to consult
your Overseers. For more on Overseers and
their functions within the game, see pages 197-203.
World Map Button.
Click this button to view
a map of the entire known world. Other cities
in the world are clearly marked, and you can watch
armies and navies as they make their journeys. For
more on the World Map, see page 210.
24
Playing
P
ha
Military Structures Button.
Click here to begin
establishing an army and a navy or to build defensive structures. Buildings listed here include
Recruiter, Forts, Academy, Warship Wharf, Transport
Wharf, Weaponsmith, Chariot Maker, Wall, Tower and
Gatehouse. For more on the military, turn to pages
169-189.
Undo Button.
When this button is lit, you can
undo your last action. You can undo most
actions, but you have only a limited time in which to
do so.
Messages Button
. Click here to read your messages, including any special instructional messages, which are each marked by a blue scroll.
Messages are discussed on page 211.
Trouble Spots Button.
Click here to visit the sites
of recent or on-going trouble, such as a fire or
building collapse.
Review Assignment Button.
Click this button if
you need to refresh your memory regarding your
goals for the current mission. See page 17 for
more on your mission assignments.
27
Playing
P
h
Entertainment Structures Button.
When citizens
demand entertainment, click this button to build
them the attractions they desire, such as Booths,
Bandstands, Pavilions and Senet Houses. Use this button to build performers’ training facilities as well. For
more on entertainment in your city, turn to page 159.
Religious Structures Button.
Click here to build
Shrines, Temples and a Festival Square. If you are
building monuments (like a Pyramid or Sphinx),
they will be listed here. For more on religion, consult
pages 117-127. More on monuments can be found on
pages 129-149.
Education Structures Button.
When you are ready
to bring the light of learning to the city’s well-todo residents, click the “Education Structures” but-
ton and choose either Scribal School or Library. For
more on the construction of these two buildings, see
pages 165-166.
Health and Sanitation Structures Button.
Click on
this button to build Wells, Water Supplies,
Physician’s offices, Mortuaries, Dentist’s offices
and Apothecaries. For more on Health and Sanitation
in
Pharaoh
, visit pages 151-157.
Municipal Structures Button.
Clicking this button
reveals a long list of buildings that help to keep
the city running. Included in the list are the
Police Station, Firehouse, Architect’s post, Tax
Collector’s office, Courthouse, Palace, Mansion, Water
Crossings, Roadblock and Beautification structures.
For more on municipal functions, consult pages 97-
115.
26
Playing
P
h
D Shows the Risks: Damage Overlay.
E Orders a selected transport ship to evade ene-
mies.
F Shows the Risks: Fire Overlay, or orders a
selected company to return to its Fort.
H Orders a selected ship to hold its current posi-
tion.
L Centers your view on a different military
company each time it's pressed.
If a company is selected, "L" issues the "hold
ground in loose formation" order.
M When you select a monument from the
building list, its image attaches to your cursor
and shows you how much land the monument will occupy. Pressing the "M" key
freezes the monument's "footprint" into
place so that you can move your viewpoint
around the city without moving the monument's tentative location. Press the "M" key
again to resume normal mouse behavior, or
click to place the monument in the footprint’s current location.
Pressing "M" when a military company is
selected issues the mop-up order.
N Orders a selected company or warship to
attack nearby enemies.
29
Playing
Pharaooh
TThhee MMeennuu BBaarr
The Menu Bar which runs across the top of the screen
helps you manage your game play. Under the File
Menu, you’ll find basic options like loading and saving
games. Under Options, you can customize the appearance of the game. The Help Menu is also in the Menu
Bar. Should you want to consult a specific Overseer,
the Overseers Menu lists each one, and you can choose
which you’d like to visit.
Next to the Overseers Menu is the amount of money
the city has and its current population size. Next to
the population figure is a pyramid. Use this pyramid to
reorient your view of the city. Clicking on the right
side of the pyramid rotates the city counter-clockwise.
Clicking on the left side of the pyramid rotates the city
clockwise. Click on the center of the pyramid to reorient your view due north. Rotating your view can be
helpful, especially if large buildings obscure your view
of structures behind it. The last item on the Menu Bar
is the current date.
KKeeyybbooaarrdd CCoonnttrroollss
Pharaoh
offers many optional control shortcuts that
you can access with a simple keystroke. Please refer to
the "Readme" file in your computer's
Pharaoh
folder
for any changes or updates to this list.
Key Effect
A Orders a selected warship to attack all ene-
mies.
C Shows the Risks: Crime Overlay, or orders a
selected charioteer company to charge.
28
Playing
Pharaooh
1 Overseer of the Military
2 Political Overseer
3 Ratings Overseer
4 Overseer of Commerce
5 Overseer of the Granaries
6 Overseer of Public Health
7 Overseer of Learning
8 Overseer of Diversions
9 Overseer of the Temples
0 Overseer of the Treasury
- (minus sign) Chief Overseer
= (equals sign) Overseer of Monuments
F7 Set 640x480 screen resolution
F8 Set 800x600 screen resolution
F9 Set 1024x768 screen resolution
FFoorr PPllaayyeerrss ooff
CCaaeessaarr IIIIII
Egypt and Rome are very different places. Some of the
skills you learned as a successful Roman Governor may
not help you as an Egyptian leader. If you are a fan of
31
Playing
Pharaooh
P Pauses the flow of time in the game. You can-
not build while time is paused.
R When placing a Statue, Gatehouse or Temple
Complex, "R" rotates the structure's orientation one-quarter turn clockwise. Statues will
display multiple styles.
With a military company selected, "R" orders
the soldiers to change their orientation
(rotate). "R" also orders a selected transport
or warship to return to the Shipwright for
repairs.
T Shows the Risks: Problems Overlay.
With a military company selected, "T" issues
the "hold ground in tight formation" order.
W Shows the Water Overlay.
If a warship or transport ship is selected, “W”
orders the ship to return to its home Wharf.
Space Press the spacebar to toggle between your last
selected Overlay and the normal city view.
Esc (escape) exits the game.
[ (open bracket) reduces game speed by 10 per-
cent.
] (close bracket) increases game speed by 10
percent.
` (accent) Overseer of the Workers
30
Playing
Pharaooh
33
Playing
Pharaooh
Caesar III
, take note of of the following:
Religion.
Most cities in Egypt have a patron
god that requires more attention than other
deities in the city. In some cities, certain gods
are completely unknown.
Floodplain Farms and Work Camps.
Work
Camps provide peasant labor (in the form of
walkers) to floodplain farms. Floodplain
farms do not directly employ their workers.
Gold.
Gold can be mined from certain rock
and converted into currency, measured in
debens.
Tax Collection.
Before you can collect taxes,
a Palace must be functioning in the city. Tax
collectors from the Tax Collector’s offices will
not be able to squeeze one deben from citizens unless the city has a Palace.
Luxury Goods.
Foreign luxury goods, the
commodities most prized by occupants of
high-level housing, are very expensive to
import. Due to the expense of safely transporting them across difficult terrain, it is not
lucrative for a city to export luxury goods.
Now that you’re familiar with the basic city-building
tools, you’re ready to begin building the most magnificent city Egypt has ever known.
32
Playing
Pharaooh
T
he first step to attracting people to your city is
to designate areas for housing. When the first
immigrants come to your city, they are content to live in rudimentary structures. As your city
develops and its people become more sophisticated,
they expect to build their homes into more impressive
domiciles.
Your city needs roads if citizens are to move about.
Only a few people, for example soldiers and immigrants, can leave the road. When you first arrive at
your city site, you will notice a main road cutting
through your land. Build more roads off this main
road, line them with housing areas, and soon you will
have neighborhoods teeming with activity.
Citizens also need your help in meeting their most
basic need: water. Without drinking water, your citizens cannot survive for long.
These structures — housing, roads and water structures — are the most basic needs in any city.
Mastering the art of constructing these structures gives
you the fundamental knowledge you need to build a
great city.
YYoouurr CCiittyy SSiittee
Before you begin building your city, take a look at the
land on which you will establish it. Your city’s site and
the surrounding area have many different terrain types,
each of which is suited for a different purpose.
Housing, Roads and
Drinking Water
nor can you clear marshland.
Rock.
Rocky outcroppings sometimes indicate
the presence of construction-grade stone, valuable ores or precious gemstones (see pages 69-71).
Rock is impassable; people cannot walk over rock
and must walk around it. You cannot build anything directly on rock.
Water.
The Nile carves a swath through many
regions, and other areas may have oases or small
ponds. Naturally, you cannot build any structures
directly on the water.
TThhee KKiinnggddoomm RRooaadd
The Kingdom Road cuts through the city and links it
to other cities in Egypt and the world. Immigrants also
use the Kingdom road to get to your city. Be careful
not to isolate your city from the Kingdom. Your city
must have access to the rest of the Kingdom to survive.
PPrriinncciipplleess GGuuiiddiinngg CCoonnssttrruuccttiioonn
The same basic principles guide building most structures in the game. The rather large exceptions to the
rule are monuments, which are discussed fully on
pages 129-149. To build the rest of the buildings, the
basic steps are:
37
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
Grassland.
Grass grows on land near water, indicating that there is groundwater flowing underneath it. Because of this groundwater, you can
place water-related structures on grassland.
Meadow.
Meadows, identified by their yellow
vegetation, can support farms (see page 62).
Flood plain.
The flood plain is generally the most
fertile land in Egypt. Found along the banks of
the Nile, the land’s fertility is restored each year
when the Nile floods its banks (see page 59).
Because of the annual flooding, farms, roads and
Irrigation Ditches are the only structures that can
be built on the flood plain.
Desert.
Deserts are often a good place to build
industries (see pages 68-79), but a poor place for
housing because it is difficult to supply these areas
with clean drinking water. Deserts cannot support
water-related structures.
Sand Dunes.
Sand dunes form when the desert
wind blows. Nothing can be built on sand dunes,
but people can walk over them.
Forest.
If there is a forest in the area, you may be
able to harvest wood (see page 72). You can also
permanently cut down a forest by clearing the
land (see page 38).
Marshland.
Marshes are the habitat for reeds (see
page 72), which can be made into papyrus.
Marshland is found near water and sprouts very
dark green reeds. Because the ground is so wet,
you cannot build anything directly on the marsh,
36
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
39
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
1. Clear the land, if necessary.
2. Choose the appropriate button
from the Control Panel.
3. Place your building.
You will know if you are choosing an appropriate place
for your building if you see a green “ghost” of it as you
move the cursor over the desired location. If you see
red, the land is not clear or the building you’ve chosen
has special requirements which you have not yet met.
CClleeaarriinngg LLaanndd
With the exception of monuments, you must clear the
land first before building a structure. To clear land,
click on the “Clear Land” button on the Control Panel.
When the special Dig cursor appears, click on the spot
that you would like to clear. You can clear large areas
at one time by dragging your cursor over the land.
The land clears as you drag the mouse, and the amount
of money needed to clear it is displayed. You can
reshape the area of land you’re clearing by repositioning the cursor, but once you let go of the mouse button, the land is cleared and the money is spent. If you
change your mind, click the “Undo” button on the
Control Panel. Do so quickly, however, because you
have a limited amount of time in which to undo any
action.
If a forest is blocking your way, think carefully before
clearing it. Wood is an extremely rare and valuable
commodity, and it may behoove you to change your
city design instead of clearing the forest.
BBuuiillddiinngg RRooaaddss
Most structures in
Pharaoh
need road access. If citizens
38
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
Undo Button
Clear Land Button
Egypt’s Neighborhoods
Ahket, 12th year of Ramesses
Evening
Dear Journal
After the arduous task of unloading
our ship’s cargo, I was ready for a good
night's sleep. I stationed a guard outside the
Storage Yard we had procured for our goods
and made my way to Khmunhotep's house. I
met Khmunhotep last year, when he worked as
a scribe who accompanied trade missions
abroad. He told me that I would be most welcome in his house if ever I found myself in
Egypt.
I made my way through the twisting
and turning streets to Khmunhotep's neighborhood. It was clear to me as I walked that
Egypt is much like other places I've been: not
everyone shares equally in the land's wealth.
Some of the homes were quite run down, while
others were larger and kept up. I entered
Khmunhotep's street where the homes were
quite large. The residents were obviously well
off, and most probably worked for the government.
Khmunhotep's home is filled with fine
things that point to his status. His pottery is
the finest available, and the clothing his family wears is made of very sheer linen, a mark
of quality. He scents his home with
myrrh, imported from Pwenet. Of
course, these luxuries come with a
price: he has one of the highest
tax bills in the neighborhood.
Tired from my journey, I
retired to bed. The typical
Egyptian headrest, a curved piece
of wood atop a small pedestal, didn't
look especially inviting, but this
wooden “pillow” proved to be surpris-
ingly restful.
on the area where you’d like to place some housing.
You can designate housing areas one lot at a time, or
you can hold down the mouse button and drag over
larger areas. You can even drag an area of housing over
roads — the roads remain in place. After you earmark
an area for housing, a “vacant” sign appears on the
land. When immigrants arrive, they will construct
their own simple structures.
All housing must be placed within two spaces of the
road and must be built on clear land. Make sure there
is a clear path between the housing areas you designate
and the Kingdom Road. You may need to build water
crossings (see pages 110-113) so that immigrants can
get to certain areas.
HHoouussiinngg EEvvoolluuttiioonn
As conditions improve in the city, your citizens will
want to live in more attractive structures. They will
upgrade their housing on their own. The advantages of
highly evolved housing are many, including increased
tax revenues and improved prosperity (see page 192).
All you need to do to foster the development of better housing is to make sure your citizens live in pleasant neighborhoods and have access to the goods and
services they want.
Dilapidated houses drag down the desirability of the
surrounding area. Ramshackle housing catches fire
easily; as housing improves, the chance that it will
catch on fire decreases. Fine homes also enhance the
desirability of the surrounding area, perhaps even helping other nearby houses to evolve into better domiciles.
41
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
40
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
can’t get to a building via a road, they can’t acquire the
goods or services that building provides nor can they find
employment there.
To build a road, first make sure the land is clear. Then,
choose the “Road” button, and click on the area where
you would like to place a road. Just as with clearing
the land, you can build large sections of road at one
time by clicking and dragging the mouse. As you drag
the mouse, you see what the road
will look like after it’s placed and
how much it will cost. If there are
any barriers, such as uncleared land
or a building, the road bends around
the obstruction. When you let go of
the mouse button, the road is laid.
When neighborhoods begin to
prosper, the city’s residents take it
upon themselves to pave over dirt
roads. Once a road is paved, you can place Plazas on
them (see pages 113-114).
BBuuiillddiinngg HHoouussiinngg
You never build or improve housing directly. Rather,
you define areas where you want people to settle, and
they do the rest. When your city is new, some immigrants always show up to build homes as soon as you
earmark the land for them. After this initial influx of
people, your city must attract new citizens by offering
the things people want — mainly food, jobs and housing.
To designate a housing area, first click on the
”Housing” button on the Control Panel. Then, click
Road Button
Build Housing Button
them with beauty. Neighborhoods with lush Gardens
and stately Statues are most appreciated by your citizens.
Equally important to adding attractive elements is
keeping unattractive elements to a minimum. Your
citizens won’t relish living near noisy and smelly
industrial structures or buildings that unsavory characters frequent. For more on each building’s particular
effect on desirability, consult Appendix 1, starting on
page 222.
The easiest way to find out what a specific dwelling
needs to evolve, or what is preventing it from evolving,
is to info-click on it. The pop-up screen tells you
exactly what the house needs next to evolve. It also
provides an inventory of household goods. This
inventory shows you if the dwelling is about to run
out of anything which might hinder its future development.
WWeellllss aanndd WWaatteerr SSuupppplliieess
Wells and Water Supplies provide drinking water to
your populace. These structures cannot be placed just
anywhere — they must be built on grassland (see page
36). Grassland indicates the presence of groundwater.
A green “ghost” of the water structure will appear
when you have chosen a viable location. You can also
use the Water Overlay (see page 204) to see which
land can support water-related structures.
A Well is the most basic water structure. It provides
access to fairly clean drinking water to a limited range
of homes. While some water is better than no water,
a Well is less beneficial than its cousin, the Water Supply.
43
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
GGooooddss aanndd SSeerrvviicceess
What do your citizens want? Their needs aren’t much
different from our own. They like a varied diet and
goods, such as pottery, linen and beer, that make their
lives easier and more fun. As your citizens become
wealthier, they also want luxury goods, both domestic
and imported, in their homes. The chapters on food
and farming (pages 59-67) and industry (pages 69-79)
will tell you how to provide these items.
Access to services, such as education (pages 165-166),
religion (pages 117-127) and entertainment (pages
159-163), enriches your people’s lives and encourages
them to build more impressive homes.
DDeessiirraabbiilliittyy
Citizens will improve their housing if you surround
42
Housing, Roads and Drinking Water
Well
Health and Sanitation
Structures Button
Housing Evolution.
As conditions in your city improve, your citizens will
take it upon themselves to build more elaborate dwellings.
45
Houses, Roads and Drinking Water
Water Supplies need road access and employees to
carry the water to nearby homes. Water Supplies and
their water carriers can cover a wider area of your city
than Wells can, and the water they provide is much
cleaner than that provided by Wells.
Water Supplies also help reduce the risk of malaria
striking the city (see page 154).
44
Houses, Roads and Drinking Water
Water Supply
A
s the city grows, it comes alive with people
going about their daily tasks. New families
arrive, others depart. The workforce tends to
its responsibilities, bringing services to the citizens.
Men, women and children are all active participants in
city life. They are the city’s lifeblood, coursing along
its streets. The citizens’ lives — how they come to
your city, how they find employment, and what happens after they attain wealth — are the topics of this
chapter.
AAttttrraaccttiinngg IImmmmiiggrraannttss
When the city is new, immigrants in search of adventure come to experience life on a new frontier. As the
city becomes more established, new immigrants are
attracted mainly as a result of word-of-mouth. If life
in the city is good, resulting in high City Sentiment,
then the residents will spread the word throughout the
Kingdom. New people will come to the city provided
there is room for them.
CCiittyy SSeennttiimmeenntt
City Sentiment is an indicator of the quality of life in
the city. The factors that contribute to high City
Sentiment are high wages, low taxes, food availability
and job availability. All citizens expect to be properly
fed and to be employed. They also expect to be adequately compensated for their work and not to pay an
unreasonable tax rate.
Citizens are well aware of what wages other Egyptian
cities pay. If the Kingdom’s standard wage level changes,
a message notifying you of the new pay rate will be sent.
People and Employment
unfair in the city. If half the citizens are paying high
taxes, and the other half are paying no taxes at all, City
Sentiment will plummet.
If you fail to meet citizens’ expectations, the word will
quickly spread to others considering a move to your
city. Potential immigrants will decide to stay where
they are or find another city to call home if your city
has a poor reputation, as expressed by the low sentiment of its residents. If your city’s reputation drops
too precipitously, some of its residents may move out
in search of a better life.
Your Chief Overseer (see page 203) knows how citizens are feeling. Use his City Sentiment report as a
guide to improving conditions in your city.
In addition to limiting immigration, poor City
Sentiment can also encourage crime (see page 99).
Lack of housing is the other major factor that keeps
immigrants away. Check in with your Overseer of the
Granaries (see page 200). He can tell you how many
more people the city’s current housing stock can host.
If housing is almost completely occupied, zone some
new housing areas to attract new immigrants, or take
steps to encourage existing homes to improve. Better
housing accommodates more people.
FFiinnddiinngg WWoorrkkeerrss
Most buildings require employees (you’ll learn about
the different jobs your citizens can have in subsequent
chapters). When a new building needing employees is
built, it dispatches a representative to seek out available
workers in nearby neighborhoods. If he finds occupied
49
People and Employment
You can get away with charging citizens higher taxes if
the city is otherwise a great place to live. Citizens
won’t mind paying a little extra to live in a city with
plenty of food, jobs and decent wages. Citizens will
become upset, however, if they feel conditions are
48
People and Employment
Khmunhotep’s Family
Ahket, 12th year of Ramesses
Morning
Dear Journal,
Nefernetka, Khmunhotep's wife, greeted me when I finally arose in the morning.
She offered me a delicious porridge of grain
for breakfast. While I was eating, the children came in to see the newcomer. All the
children still have the 'side lock of youth':
their hair is cut short except for a long tress of
hair that comes from the side of their heads.
The eldest, who is nearly 14, will soon have
this side lock cut off and endure the sebi ceremony in which he will be circumcised. Once
he has entered adulthood, his family will
send him to the Per-Ankh, which we call
library, to learn his father's craft.
After the children returned to their
toys, Nefernetka told me of a recent misfortune that befell her family. Her father passed
on after a long and fruitful life. Nefernetka
misses her father terribly, but takes comfort in
the knowledge that he lives on in the Field of
Reeds. Nefernetka also rests easy knowing
that, in accordance with Egyptian
tradition, one-third of her
father's estate passes to
Nefernetka's mother.
Nefernetka and her siblings share the other
two-thirds. At least
the family is free from
want.
After breakfast, I
left Khmunhotep's home to
negotiate a trade on behalf
of my country.
These people always make a trip for a specific purpose,
usually to pick up or deliver something.
Certain people who normally roam freely will sometimes have a specific destination in mind:
Performers on their way from performer’s
schools to venues
Constables on their way to defend the city
Fire marshals on their way to douse a fire
Stonemasons, bricklayers and carpenters on
their way to a monument
Unless the above walkers are performing the tasks
specified, they behave as roaming walkers.
Roaming Walkers
Walkers who roam the city bring benefits to your citizens when they pass by housing. Some also provide
valuable services to the buildings in the city.
Roamers leave their buildings with no specific destination in mind. When they leave their building, they try
to start in a different direction every time. From there,
they can be completely unpredictable.
Every time walkers who roam the city encounter an
intersection, they must decide which way to turn.
They don’t make the same decision every time, so
houses that they have passed before may not be visited again for some time.
51
People and Employment
housing nearby, and if the city overall has people in
need of work, then the building that sent him out will
be staffed with employees. If he fails to find a staff for
the building that sent him, he’ll continue his search.
PPeeooppllee ooff tthhee CCiittyy
The city employs dozens of different workers who perform very different tasks. Some of the city’s workers
make their way along the city’s streets as they go about
their day-to-day tasks. These walkers can be broken
down into two groups: those that have a specific destination in mind and those who roam the city.
Destination Walkers
Destination walkers leave their places of employment
with a specific goal in mind. Using a map of your city’s
roads, they determine the shortest route to their destination. With few exceptions (noted below), they
always use your city’s roads to find the shortest route.
Your city’s destination walkers are:
Buyers from the Bazaar
Delivery men (cart pushers, sled pullers and
chariot deliverers)
Thieves
Vagrants
Tower and wall sentries
Sledge haulers (do not need roads)
Hunters (do not need roads)
Reed gatherers (do not need roads)
Wood cutters (do not need roads)
Soldiers (do not need roads)
Immigrants (do not need roads)
Emigrants (do not need roads)
50
People and Employment
Teachers
Librarians
Plagued citizens
Tax collectors
Dentists
Physicians
Herbalists
Embalmers
Water carriers
If your city’s housing has evolved to very high levels
(see page 41), you may also see scribes wandering
around your city. Scribes enjoy the city’s services, but
do not work themselves. For more on scribes, see page
57.
UUnneemmppllooyymmeenntt
Unemployment can become a serious problem in your
city, but one that is relatively easy to solve. High
unemployment contributes to poor City Sentiment
(see page 47) which can hamper immigration and
encourage crime.
The cure to unemployment is to create new jobs.
Unemployment affords you the opportunity to
improve your city’s services, which could lead to a
higher Culture Rating (see page 191). Check in with
your Overseers (see pages 197-203) to see if your city
has an adequate number of entertainment venues,
Temples, Schools, Libraries and health facilities. If the
city is lacking in any of these areas, solve the unem-
53
People and Employment
The best way to corral these walkers is through good
city planning. Since intersections give these walkers so
much freedom, keeping intersections to a minimum
helps to guide these walkers to where you want them
to go.
Roadblocks (see page 109) are another effective tool in
controlling roamers. When a roamer encounters a
Roadblock, he or she turns around. Walkers with a
specific destination in mind pass through Roadblocks.
Use Roadblocks carefully. If you place a Roadblock to
prevent a Bazaar seller from strolling through the city’s
industrial sector, for example, you might also block
architects and fire marshals who need to service some
industrial buildings on the other side of the
Roadblock. Roadblocks that separate industries from
housing can also prevent buildings from finding needed employees. Roadblocks can make no distinction
between roamers, so carefully consider who you might
be blocking out when you use them.
The walkers who roam the city are:
Bazaar sellers
Constables (except as noted on page 51)
Magistrates
Fire marshals (except as noted on page 51)
Architects
Performers (except as noted on page 51)
Bricklayers (except as noted on page 51)
Carpenters (except as noted on page 51)
Stonemasons (except as noted on page 51)
Senet masters
Priests
52
People and Employment
MMaannaaggiinngg LLaabboorr
Your Overseer of the Workers (page 197) and your
Overseer of Commerce (page 199) can help you manage the city’s labor force to alleviate a labor shortage.
To ensure that the most important services are provided, work with your Overseer of the Workers to set
employment priorities. The Overseer lists all the
employment sectors in the city, the number of workers required in each sector, and the current number of
workers employed in each sector. If one of the sectors
that you consider to be most important is understaffed, click on it. A screen pops up with the numbers
one through nine. Click the number one to make the
selected sector the top priority. The Overseer of the
Workers funnels employees into the work sector
you’ve designated the top priority until all positions in
that sector are filled. After you set a first priority, you
55
People and Employment
ployment problem by building more structures to
provide the needed services. Use the Overlays (see
pages 203-209) to see if any specific neighborhoods
in the city lack particular services.
You can also turn unemployment problems into cold,
hard debens. If the city is engaging in trade, check to
see if it is exporting all that it can to its trade partners.
If it isn’t, build more of the required industry to meet
the demand. The city’s coffers will benefit.
A low level of unemployment is actually better than a
labor shortage. New buildings draw their workers from
the ranks of the unemployed. When more than 10
percent of citizens are out of work, though, problems
will ensue.
LLaabboorr SShhoorrttaaggeess
Labor shortages can be the more devastating employment problem. When industries are understaffed, services begin to suffer because buildings that are only
partially staffed are much less efficient than fully
staffed buildings. When services suffer, property values
go down and people are usually forced from their
homes, sometimes causing emigration. Emigration, of
course, further reduces the workforce which results in
more services suffering.
Drawing immigrants to the city solves labor shortage
problems. If the city is currently experiencing a labor
shortage, manage the labor force (see below) to make
sure that key services, like food production and distribution, are fully staffed.
54
People and Employment
Overseer of the Workers’ Panel.
Visit the Overseer of the Workers to
set labor allocation priorities. The Overseer will fill the prioritized job
sectors first.
SSccrriibbeess
When your city matures into a fine metropolis that
offers the best of goods, services and, most importantly, education, some citizens become scribes. Scribes do
not work, but they do pay a lot in taxes. You can
watch them going about your city, pursuing leisure.
When some of your working folk become scribes, the
demand for goods may increase, but your pool of
available workers
decreases
. If immigrants don’t pour
into your city to take the newly vacant positions, take
steps to lure more immigrants.
57
People and Employment
can set a second, then a third, and so on.
You can prioritize the labor force in any order you
wish. You can only have one top priority, though, and
when you choose a new one, your other priorities are
adjusted accordingly. Note that when you set priorities, other employment sectors can suffer from severe
labor shortages.
Your Overseer of Commerce can also help solve a labor
shortage by shutting down industries. Check the city’s
Storage Yards and Granaries for good candidates for
temporary work stoppage. If you notice that the city
has a glut of a particular supply, shut that industry
down for a while. That industry’s employees will find
work in other employment sectors and help to reduce
the labor shortage.
To temporarily shut down an industry, visit the
Overseer of Commerce and click on the industry you
wish to shut down. On the screen that pops up, a button reading “Industry is On” appears. Click the button
until it reads “Industry is Off” to shut it down. To turn
an industry back on, click the button until it reads
“Industry is On.” When an industry has been shut
down, it will appear in yellow on the Overseer of
Commerce’s screen.
Keep an eye on the Storage Yards while industries are
shut down to make sure the city doesn’t run out of
any goods it needs. Also be careful when shutting
down a raw material producer. If the city runs out of
a raw material, manufacturers that require the item
won’t be able to turn out any new goods, and their
employees will sit idle unless you specifically shut
down their industry, too.
56
People and Employment
Z
oning land for houses gets people to the city.
Food keeps them there. Food production is
probably the single most important industry in
the city, and farms will likely be the primary source of
food. The city won’t survive long without a steady
supply of food. Hungry people tend to be cranky,
prone to disease and eager emigrants.
Most of Egypt is dry and unarable. The fertile banks of
the Nile, however, cut through like a rich, luxurious
ribbon. This fertile land is limited, so you must plan
farms carefully. Other areas have meadows on which
farms can thrive.
TThhee NNiillee,, tthhee IInnuunnddaattiioonn aanndd tthhee NNiilloommeetteerr
Certainly, many great cities and countries have been
built along the banks of a river. What makes the Nile
so special? Each year, the Nile floods its banks,
depositing nutrient-rich silt on the land. Called the
Inundation, this yearly event is so important that
Egyptians base their seasons on the river’s cycles.
Usually, the Nile floods its banks every year between
June and September. Two to four months after the
flood, the Nile recedes, leaving behind it the most fertile land in Egypt.
But, the Nile is unpredictable. It can flood high one
year and low the next, or, if your city is truly unfortunate, the flood might not happen at all. Luckily, you
have a Nilometer to help you gauge the coming
flood’s characteristics. Priests interpret the Nilometer
readings and notify your Chief Overseer (page 203)
Farming and Food Production
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