The world in Polytopia is randomly generated for each new game and consists of various types of terrain. Different terrain will provide different population boosts to your cities, depending on how you use them.
Each terrain has a movement cost. Most have a cost of 1, or normal. Units with 2 movement will move 2 tiles, units with 3 movement move 3 tiles etc., but some have a movement cost of 2. This means that the tile is twice as hard to move across i.e. units with 2 movement move 1 instead. However, units with 1 movement will still move 1 tile. Roads on forests cancel out movement cost and reduction for a final movement cost of 1.
Resources such as fruit and whales only spawn within a 5x5 area of villages or cities, so you can use this to help you find more villages.
| Image | Terrain Name | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Field | Movement cost: 1
At the beginning of the game, crop and fruit will spawn randomly on these tiles. | |
| Forest | Movement cost: 2
They provide a 150% defence bonus after Archery is researched. At the beginning of the game, game will spawn randomly on these tiles. Ruins can be found on these tiles. | |
| Field (Crop) | Movement cost: 1
Crop can be farmed after Farming has been researched for 2 population. Fields with Crop can only be seen after Organization has been researched. | |
| Field
(Fruit) |
Movement cost: 1
The fruit can be harvested after Organization has been researched for 1 population. Once harvested, the tile becomes a field. | |
| Mountain (Ore) | Movement cost: 2
Can be mined after Mining has been researched for 2 population. Mountains with Ore can only be seen after Climbing has been researched. | |
| Mountain | Movement cost: 2
You must research Climbing to move onto a mountain. They provide a 150% defence bonus after Meditation has been researched. They increase a unit's search radius from 3x3 to 5x5. At the beginning of the game, ore will spawn randomly on these tiles. Ruins can be found on these tiles. | |
| Shallow water | Movement cost: 1
You must research Sailing before you can move in shallow water. They provide a 150% defence bonus once Aquatism has been researched. At the beginning of the game, fish will spawn randomly on these tiles. | |
| Ocean | Movement cost: 1
You must research Navigation before you can move in the ocean. They provide a 150% defence bonus once Aquatism has been researched. At the beginning of the game, whales will spawn randomly on these tiles. Ruins can be found on these tiles. |
