Growth
Growth (also creature growth) typically refers to an increase of creatures in creature dwellings in towns. Growth occurs at the first day of each week (beyond the first). The amount of growth depends on several factors but mainly from the level of the creature; the growth reduces as the level of the creature increases.
Every creature type has a basic growth rate, which represents the weekly increase without any modifiers. The basic growth rate for creatures from level one to four depends on the creature type, but for levels five to seven the basic growth rate is three, two and one (repectively). However, Armageddon's Blade expansion introduced Conflux which growth rates for high-tier level creatures deviate from this rule.
Growth happens at the first day of every week, and the new recruits are added (if any are left) to troops already available in the town. However, the population in external dwellings can not exceed the number of basic growth rate. This means, that if no troops were hired from the external dwelling, they will remain there which causes "losses". Additionally, Wake of Gods mod this behavior can be changed with a special ERM script.
The growth explained
Citadel and castle affect only to the basic growth rate: citadel by 50% and castle by 100%. All town types have horde buildings which can significantly increase the basic growth rate. Additionally, every flagged external dwelling increase the rate of same creature type and level by one in appropriate towns. For example, basic growth rate of dwarwes is 8. A player has a miners' guild (increases the production of dwarves by 4) and one external dwarf dwelling (dwarf cottage). This would mean, that in a rampart town with or without fort would produce 13 dwarves (8+4+1). If the town had castle, the growth would be 21 ((2x8)+4+1). Additionally parts of legion (e.g Head of Legion) and Statue of Legion can affect the growth.
Growth for wandering stacks is 10% per week. If the stack begins with 15 creatures then next week the number is 16 (15+10%=16.5 rounded down). After two weeks count is 18 (16.5+10%=18.15) and in week it is 19 (18.15+10%=19.965) etc.
Special events
There are two types of special events that can affect the growth: special week and special month. Special weeks can occur at the first day of the week. It means that population of particular creature is grown by 5 in that week. A special effect of Deity of Fire – the grail building of inferno – is that every week is The Week of Imp, and population of Imps and/or Familiars are grown by 15. None of these weeks affect the external dwellings.
Another possibility is a special month, which can only occur on the first day of the month. This doubles the specific creature population in appropriate towns. A special case for months is month of plague. Plague halves all the creature populations (does not include wandering stacks) in dwellings except dwellings with horde building (e.g. sculptor's wings). Also, no growth occurs during the week plague is announced. Plague can occur only on the first day of month.
In the Restoration of Erathia the growth of following creatures may be doubled:
In Shadow of Death the growth of following creatures may be doubled:
- Griffins
- Centaurs
- Pegasi
- Gremlins
- Gogs
- Troglodytes
- Harpies
- Wights
- Hobgoblins - upgraded
- Wolf Riders
- Lizardmen
Additional Information
Astrologers also proclaim weeks and months of:
| Aardvark | Ant | Badger | Beetle | Bumblebee |
| Butterfly | Condor | Dog | Eagle | Earthworm |
| Gopher | Grasshopper | Hedgehog | Hornet | Ladybug |
| Lizard | Locust | Mongoose | Rabbit | Rat |
| Raven | Spider | Squirrel | Tortoise | Weasel |