Banished Hunger: A Complete Guide to Preventing Starvation in Banished
Banished, the city-building simulation game, presents a unique challenge: keeping your citizens fed and happy. Starvation is a constant threat, and a poorly managed food supply can quickly lead to a dwindling population and a failing settlement. This guide provides a complete solution to prevent starvation in Banished, covering everything from initial planning to advanced strategies for a thriving community.
Early Game Strategies: Laying the Foundation for Food Security
The initial stages of Banished are critical for establishing a sustainable food supply. Here's how to avoid early starvation:
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Prioritize Farming: The first building you should construct is a farm. Assign several citizens to it immediately. Wheat is the easiest crop to manage in the beginning, providing a consistent source of food. Focus on expanding your farm's capacity as your population grows.
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Strategic Resource Management: While wheat is your primary food source initially, remember to carefully manage your resources. Don't let your lumberjacks deplete your forests too quickly β you'll need wood for building and heating homes. Maintain a balance between resource gathering and food production.
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Efficient Building Placement: Optimize your building placements to minimize travel times for your citizens. Placing your homes close to farms and other essential buildings improves efficiency and reduces the time citizens spend traveling, increasing food production.
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Storage Capacity: Ensure you have enough storage capacity for your harvested crops. Build multiple storage buildings as your farm grows and you accumulate more food. Proper storage prevents spoilage and ensures food is readily available for your citizens.
Mid-Game Strategies: Expanding Your Food Production
As your population grows, so will your demand for food. These mid-game strategies will help you keep up with the demand and prevent starvation:
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Diversify Food Sources: Expand your food production beyond just wheat. Consider planting other crops like turnips and carrots. These provide nutritional variety, improving the health of your citizens.
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Hunting and Fishing: Introduce hunting and fishing into your economy. This diversification can be extremely beneficial, providing additional food during lean times or crop failures. Build hunting cabins and fishing wharves, and assign citizens accordingly.
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Livestock Farming: Raising livestock, such as pigs, sheep, and cows, is crucial in the mid-to-late game. They provide a consistent source of meat and other valuable materials. However, it is important to manage their feed and ensure proper pasture management.
Late-Game Strategies: Advanced Food Security and Beyond
Once your settlement is well-established, these advanced strategies will bolster your food security and allow for population growth:
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Food Storage Optimization: Implement advanced food storage techniques. This might involve expanding the storage capacity or constructing storage near your food production areas.
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Trade Routes: Consider establishing trade routes to acquire additional food from other settlements. This offers a backup plan in case of natural disasters or crop failures. However, managing trade routes requires a substantial investment and should be carefully considered.
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Advanced Farming Techniques: Utilize advanced farming techniques, such as using improved seeds, fertilizers, and better irrigation. This might increase your crop yields significantly.
Overcoming Challenges and Common Mistakes
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Crop Failure: Plan for crop failures by storing extra food. Diversifying food sources will mitigate the impact.
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Disease: Maintain a healthy population through proper sanitation and healthcare facilities. Disease can significantly reduce your workforce and lead to starvation.
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Poor Resource Management: Carefully manage your resources. Avoid depleting forests or other essential resources too quickly. Planning ahead is crucial to prevent long-term issues.
By implementing these strategies and managing your resources effectively, you can ensure a consistently full granary and a thriving settlement in Banished, eliminating the ever-present threat of starvation and building a successful civilization. Remember, constant planning and adaptation are keys to success in this challenging simulation.
