Discussions

What Are Settlement Types in Ashes of Creation?

Every settlement in Ashes of Creation is assigned one of four settlement types:

Divine

Economic

Military

Academic

These types are predetermined by location and are the same across all servers. In general, this means a specific node location will always become the same type, no matter which realm you play on.

Once a settlement’s type is set, it never changes, even if the settlement is destroyed and rebuilt.

When Can Players See a Settlement’s Type?

Most players will identify a settlement’s type very early.

Starting at Expedition (Stage 1), the node begins spawning NPCs that visually show its type. You do not need UI markers or menus to figure it out. You can usually tell just by walking through the area.

Military nodes have guards and soldiers

Economic nodes have merchants and traders

Academic nodes have scholars and artisans

Divine nodes have priests and clerics

This system is intentional. Players are expected to understand node types naturally by observing the world.

Why Settlement Types Matter in Practice

Settlement types affect far more than just visuals. In practice, they influence:

What services are available

What buildings can be constructed

How leadership is chosen

What kind of NPCs live there

How players use the settlement long-term

Most players choose where to live, trade, or fight based on settlement type, not just location.

Divine Settlements Explained

Divine settlements focus on faith-based progression.

What You Usually Find There

Priests and clerics as NPCs

Religious-themed buildings

Systems tied to faith and augmentation

Currency

Divine settlements use Favor as a special currency.

How Players Use Divine Settlements

In general, players interested in character progression, augments, and faith-related systems gravitate toward divine settlements. Guilds focused on roleplay or long-term character growth often prefer these nodes.

Economic Settlements Explained

Economic settlements are built around trade and commerce.

What You Usually Find There

Merchants and traders

Market-focused buildings

Trade routes and economic systems

Currency

Economic settlements do not use a unique settlement currency, but they heavily influence regional trade.

How Players Use Economic Settlements

Most players visit economic settlements frequently, even if they do not live there. These nodes usually become trading hubs where players buy, sell, and move goods between regions.

It’s also common for players to accumulate gold through trade routes here, which is why discussions around gold acquisition sometimes reference services like instant Ashes of Creation gold delivery from U4N, even though most progression still comes from regular gameplay.

Military Settlements Explained

Military settlements focus on combat and defense.

What You Usually Find There

Guards and soldiers

Combat-oriented services

Class and training-related systems

Currency

Military settlements use Honor as their special currency.

How Players Use Military Settlements

In general, PvP-focused players and combat-heavy guilds prefer military settlements. These nodes often sit near contested areas, making them popular staging points for wars, raids, and node sieges.

Most players expect military settlements to be heavily defended and frequently involved in conflict.

Academic Settlements Explained

Academic settlements focus on crafting, construction, and knowledge.

What You Usually Find There

Scholars and artisans

Crafting-related buildings

Construction and development systems

Currency

Academic settlements do not have a unique settlement currency.

How Players Use Academic Settlements

Crafters, gatherers, and builders usually prefer academic settlements. These nodes tend to attract players who focus on professions rather than combat.

In practice, many guilds rely on academic settlements to support their crafting needs, even if their main base is elsewhere.

Can Settlement Types Change?

No. Settlement types are static.

If a settlement is destroyed, it resets to Level 0, but it keeps the same type. For example:

A destroyed level 4 Academic settlement becomes a level 0 Academic settlement

It will never become Military, Economic, or Divine

This design ensures long-term world consistency and prevents players from forcing ideal setups everywhere.

How Settlement Types Affect Elections

Settlement type influences how leadership is chosen.

Different types are expected to use different election systems. While some of these systems are still being refined, the developers have confirmed that settlement types directly affect governance mechanics.

During Alpha-2 Phase 3 and beyond, most players expect election differences between settlement types to become clearer and more impactful.

How Settlement Types Affect Story and Quests

Settlement types are deeply tied to narrative content.

Quest lines

Nearby points of interest

NPC story arcs

Because of this integration, settlement types must remain fixed, especially during Beta testing. Changing them would break quest logic and world structure.

In general, players should expect divine settlements to have faith-driven stories, while military settlements focus on conflict and defense themes.

How Players Usually Choose a Settlement Type

Most players choose settlement types based on:

Playstyle (PvP, crafting, trading, roleplay)

Guild goals

Proximity to resources or conflict zones

Very few players choose a settlement randomly. Over time, settlement types help shape server politics and regional identities.

Final Thoughts on Settlement Types

Settlement types are one of the most important long-term systems in Ashes of Creation. They are designed to be permanent, visible, and meaningful.

In general, understanding settlement types early helps players make better decisions about where to invest time, resources, and loyalty. Most players who ignore settlement type early end up relocating later once they understand how much it affects daily gameplay.

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