Patch 1.5

Patch 1.5 came out on 30 April 2026 together with Prophecies of Ash, the first expansion, which brings the volcano island Cinis and its Obsidian.

Highlights

• A Gameplay DLC can be turned on at any time in a running game, also in a savegame from before its release.
• Workforce goes where it matters most, in this order: military, adding residents, population area effects, income, income area effects. This helps against downward spirals.
• Escorts are a new kind of contract: a ship sets off for the edge of the map, is attacked on the way, and has to arrive.
• Amphitheatre events can run on several islands at once, and the rain of Albion and the ash rain of Cinis can be turned off.
• Defeating pirates earns the Emperor's favour.

Balance

• Passive trade was too strong. Rivals and traders sell only what they have in stock, rivals pay the same prices as traders, both have less money to trade with from the middle of the game on, and trade prices are higher. Existing savegames keep the old balance, and the game setup has options for both.
• During the volcano's phases, traders do not sell the food, crops, fish and animals the volcano affects.
• The water mill gives +1 knowledge to its surroundings and the Donkey Mill −1 health, because the water mill needs a river slot.
• Land units very close to a fire or an illness take damage.
• Prestige and belief have much higher maximums, with more milestones on the way.
• Voada's mercenaries cost less and fight a little better, while Voada's raids come more often, hit harder and come more by land.

Interface

• Trade routes can be named and grouped as they are made, and Shift fills every free slot of a ship with one good.
• The number of buildings that make a good shows next to each island's stock.
• The mini-map can be zoomed and moved, and land units can be ordered to board a nearby ship.

A hotfix the next day fixed crashes when loading campaign savegames and when defeating a rival.