How Settlement Leveling Works in Ashes of Creation

How Does Settlement Advancement Work in Ashes of Creation?

Settlement advancement in Ashes of Creation is one of the core systems that shapes the world over time. In simple terms, settlements level up by gaining experience from player activity inside their Zone of Influence (ZOI). As settlements advance through stages, they unlock more services, expand their influence, and change how nearby players interact with the area.

Most players will see settlements grow naturally just by playing the game. You do not need to be a mayor or a hardcore organizer to contribute. Questing, gathering, crafting, and even killing monsters all help move a settlement forward.

This system is designed to feel organic rather than scripted, and settlements are expected to rise, fall, and rebuild many times during a server’s lifetime.

What Activities Give Settlement Experience?

Settlement experience comes from normal gameplay inside a settlement’s ZOI. In general, if you are doing something productive near a settlement, you are probably helping it advance.

Most players contribute settlement XP through:

• Completing quests in the ZOI

• Gathering resources like wood, ore, or plants

• Crafting items at local stations

• Killing monsters and enemies

• Contributing materials to settlement XP construction projects

Originally, crafting was not supposed to affect settlement growth, but that has changed. Crafting does now contribute to settlement experience, and this better reflects how players actually spend their time in-game.

The key idea is that settlements grow because people use them. A busy area usually levels faster than an empty one.

How Fast Do Settlements Level in the Early Stages?

Settlements usually reach the first stage fairly quickly. This early advancement is intentional and unlocks basic NPC services such as vendors and banking.

Most players will notice that the first stage happens without much effort. It exists to turn a wilderness node into a functional hub as soon as people start gathering there.

After the early stages, advancement slows down. Higher stages require more total experience, more player participation, and more coordination across the ZOI.

What Are Settlement XP Construction Projects?

At certain stages, settlements automatically spawn XP construction projects. These can include things like statues, tents, or small buildings.

Unlike mayor-driven projects, these start on their own when the settlement reaches the right stage. Players can then contribute materials to them. In practice, most players treat these projects as a way to speed things up rather than as mandatory tasks.

If enough people contribute, settlement advancement usually moves faster. If players ignore them, progression still happens but takes longer.

This system rewards cooperation without forcing it.

How Does Passive XP and Objectives Work Now?

Settlements still gain passive experience from player activity, but there are now additional objectives tied to node development.

One example is the material transit system using crates. These objectives give players a way to actively push their settlement ahead of competing nodes nearby.

In general, competitive players use these systems when two settlements are racing to advance. Casual players usually contribute without thinking about it, just by playing normally.

Is Character Progression Tied to Settlement Progression?

No. Character progression is not directly tied to settlement progression.

This is important because settlements are expected to be destroyed and rebuilt over time. If character power depended on settlement level, losing a settlement would feel punishing in the long term.

Most players should think of settlements as temporary structures in a living world, not permanent endgame achievements.

How Long Does It Take to Reach a Metropolis?

There is no average time for a settlement to go from wilderness to metropolis. Too many variables affect the process.

In general, settlement speed depends on:

• How many citizens it attracts

• How active those players are

• Local traffic and trade routes

• Tax rates set by leadership

• Settlement specialization and building choices

A focused community can usually complete several development projects within a single mayoral term, which lasts one month. Disorganized or low-population settlements often take much longer.

Most players will experience partial development rather than seeing many full metropolises early on.

How Do Vassal and Regent Settlements Affect Advancement?

Vassal settlements must stay at least one stage below their regent settlement.

If a vassal reaches that cap, it cannot advance further until the parent settlement advances again. Once the regent levels up, the vassal can resume progression.

This system encourages regional cooperation rather than isolated development. In practice, most players don’t notice this unless they are heavily involved in node politics.

Can Players Help Advance Settlements They Don’t Live In?

Yes. Citizens of one settlement can contribute to the advancement of other settlements.

This means you are not locked into supporting only your home node. Many players help nearby settlements because they want better services, safer travel routes, or stronger regional control.

In general, players follow convenience rather than loyalty.

Why Is Settlement XP Hidden From Players?

Settlements will have an XP counter starting in Alpha-2 phase-3, but exact percentages and values will not be fully transparent.

The goal is to prevent players from min-maxing the system too precisely. If everyone knew the exact requirements, many players would stop participating once the “optimal” path was calculated.

By keeping some information hidden, the system encourages continued participation from different playstyles.

What Happens When a Settlement Advances a Stage?

When a settlement advances, the change is very visible.

Usually, the following happens:

• Visual effects and animations play across the settlement

• Players inside are moved to a safe nearby location

• Supplies spawn around the settlement

• System-controlled caravans bring supplies into the node

• NPCs begin construction activities

• New buildings appear for players outside the settlement

These transitions are meant to feel like real growth rather than menu-based upgrades.

What Is the Development Area of a Settlement?

The Development Area is where most visible changes happen as a settlement advances.

As stages increase:

• More buildings appear

• More NPCs populate the area

• More services unlock

The layout and available services depend on the settlement type: Economic, Military, Scientific, or Divine.

In general, higher-stage settlements feel busier, more complex, and more alive.

How Do Players Interact With Settlement Economy During Advancement?

While advancement itself is not directly tied to player wealth, economic activity naturally increases around growing settlements. Some players choose to speed up their progress through trade, crafting, or resource transport.

Occasionally, players look for shortcuts, including ways to buy Ashes of Creation gold from U4N, especially when contributing to large construction projects. Most players, however, rely on regular gameplay and group coordination instead of outside solutions.

Settlement Advancement

Settlement advancement is designed to reflect player behavior rather than control it. In general, active areas grow faster, neglected areas stagnate, and political decisions matter over time.

Most players contribute without planning to, simply by playing the game. That is the strength of the system. Settlements feel earned, temporary, and responsive to how the server population behaves.

If you understand how advancement works, you can better decide where to live, where to invest time, and when to move on.