Pioneers of Pagonia is a city builder that takes place in a world once lost to the fog. In this game, you must lead the Pioneers across the isles of Pagonia, the very region that was covered by the fog. There is a lot to do in this game even during its early access phase, but now the game has been fully launched and offers an even richer experience. For more information about the game, you can head over to its official Steam page.
Since it is a city builder game, you are likely to face many different challenges along the way, especially as your settlement grows and resources become harder to manage. Due to this, you will need an ultimate beginner’s guide that also includes advanced tips and tricks to help you progress efficiently. So, to help you on your journey, here you will find some of my best tips and tricks for Pioneers of Pagonia.
Table of contents
Start With The Tutorial Map Level
Pioneers of Pagonia does not have much story content. There is no specific campaign that you have to follow. It may seem like a simple endless city builder, but believe me, it is not. City builders have their own complications, and this game is a prime example of that.
The mechanics are not that simple, so you will need to understand them properly. That is why starting with the tutorial or the guidance map is important. Spending a little bit of time understanding how the game works is never a bad thing, so make sure to do that. This way, not only will you have a better start, but you also will not waste your time learning about different things you do not understand in the mid-game.
Plan Everything
This may seem like one of the simple tips in Pioneers of Pagonia, but it is also one of the most ignored ones. In city builders, you need to plan your next moves. Do not just blindly start building. This strategy can work when you already have dozens of hours in the game.
However, if you are a beginner, you need to set a clear flow and play according to it. For example, when you start the game, your priority should be to learn the mechanics. After that, you should create the most basic structures first that will help you progress. For starters, you will need buildings like the Lumberjack Hut, Stonemason, and Sawmill.
This will ensure that you have the resources needed for a better start. However, just gathering these resources is not enough. You also need a reliable food supply, as that is extremely important. As in most games of this genre, you can find some food in the area where you begin. Try to collect as much of it as possible so you will not have trouble, at least for some time.
That said, this is not a reliable long-term source of food. You will need something more sustainable. For this, you can hunt, and later in the game, you will unlock more reliable methods. Try to explore these options early so you can have a clear idea of what comes next.
Reduce The Travel Time For The Pioneers
One of the most common mistakes I see people make in city builders is placing buildings anywhere on the map. This is not efficient and comes with certain consequences. While it does not have extremely negative effects, it does waste a lot of time. Your production buildings should be placed close to each other.
This way, you can reduce the travel time for workers. Pioneers cut down wood and place it inside the Lumberjack Hut. So, if you want to increase the efficiency of your workers, place the Sawmill near the Lumberjack Hut. This allows the Pioneers to move wood from the hut to the sawmill much faster.
However, if you place the Sawmill on the other corner of the map, it will take a long time just to transport the wood there. Another important point is to place more storage buildings. You can build them near production units, which helps the Pioneers avoid unnecessary travel and improves overall efficiency.
Build Houses And Other Buildings For Your Pioneers
One of the most important tips in Pioneers of Pagonia is to build houses early for your workers. As you progress through the early game, it should be a priority to construct houses as quickly as possible so the Pioneers can rest properly. In city builders, taking care of your workers is essential because if you do not, a lot of time can be wasted.
If you do not build houses for them, they will sleep on the ship, which will obviously waste valuable time. Because of this, make it a priority to build houses for as many Pioneers as you have. In this game, you start with a large number of Pioneers, so it may seem like a tough task, but with proper planning, it will not be too troublesome.
You do not only need to build houses for your Pioneers. You also need to construct other buildings, such as taverns and additional structures that keep them happy. If your Pioneers are happy, more settlers will arrive, so do not only focus on building a colony. Make sure you are also treating your workers well.
Keep Expanding
At the start, you can take it slow and make progress with just a few items you can gather. However, as you advance, you will need many more resources to help you expand your settlement. Expanding also allows you to gain access to other useful materials, such as silver.
Expanding your territory is not that difficult. Simply set up an Explorer’s Post in a new area and then build towers. Once this is done, the guards will expand your controlled area. This is essentially all you need to do to keep expanding. Keep in mind that you will need to create a large number of boundary stones if you want to continue expanding.
You may also notice fog covering some areas. Almost none of your workers or guards will enter the fog, as they are scared. However, explorers can move through the fog without any issues, so use them to explore these areas.
Important Note
Do not expand too quickly, as you will end up wasting resources if you blindly expand your territory. You will eventually be attacked, so only expand into areas that you can properly maintain.
Always Keep Track Of The Efficiency Rate
As you progress in the game, you will notice that there is an efficiency rate for almost every building you develop. Hover your mouse or joystick over a building to see its efficiency rate. If it is high, then everything is working well, and there is nothing to worry about.
However, if the efficiency rate is not ideal, it can be caused by several factors. First, check whether you have enough storage to hold both input and output resources. Then, check if you have enough required resources available for that particular building. These are the most likely reasons for a reduced efficiency rate, so make sure to keep a close eye on them.
Train Your Soldiers
Pioneers of Pagonia may seem like a cozy game at the start, and while it is one, your town can quickly fall into chaos. Enemies can attack you, and you will be targeted as you progress through the game. Because of this, you need to defend your town by training soldiers and placing them in key locations you want to protect.
That said, training units can be quite expensive, so make sure you have the required resources before going for stronger units. You can start by training standard units, as they are enough to handle early threats. After you have made some progress in the game, you can train a more advanced army once you meet the necessary requirements.
You will need to defend your town against bandits, werewolves, and even ghosts. Some enemies may appear in disguise, so be extra careful. Building more guard towers will also help secure your town and strengthen your defenses.
If thieves manage to steal from you, there is no need to worry. You can locate their camps and recover the stolen items while also gaining additional loot.
Important Note
Thieves in disguise can be exposed by rangers, but rangers are high-level troops that you are unlikely to obtain in the early game. Once rangers expose the thieves, your other soldiers can defeat them before they manage to steal anything.
That is pretty much it for my advanced tips and tricks to get started in Pioneers of Pagonia. For more interesting articles related to indie games, check out the links below:
- Into Indie Games Homepade
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion Review
- Unbeatable Complete Walkthrough
- Death Howl Walkthrough & Guides Hub
- Angst: A Tale of Survival Walkthrough & Guides Hub
Obaid Ur Rehman is a lifelong gaming enthusiast with a deep passion for writing about video games. While he enjoys all genres, he specializes in RPGs and Soulslike titles. After tackling some of the toughest bosses, he often unwinds with a cozy game to relax. Outside of gaming, Obaid enjoys watching anime, bingeing TV series, or staying active at the gym.
