Age of Wonders 4 - Underground Guide; How to Start and Disable It

Age of Wonders 4 is the most recent addition to the well-known series of turn-based strategy games. Players can choose from several predefined factions or build their own kingdom from the ground up. The game takes you on a thrilling adventure to dominate fantastical worlds inhabited by dangerous creatures. However, your conquest does not have to end on the surface. There is also the Underground to explore.

• How to disable Underground
• How to start in Underground
• Underground – basic information

How to disable Underground

At the moment there is no possibility to create a map without the underground level at all. The closest thing is to pick Small Underground perk in Advanced options of map creator. Theoretically, there is Uninhabitable Underground, which makes Underground even less insignificant, however it does not remove it entirely and right now is available only in Story Realms.

It seems that lack of Uninhabitable Underground is more a bug rather than a feature, so probably this functionality will be added soon to custom maps. There is always a chance that modders will take care of this.

How to start in Underground

If you want to start in the Underground, you can. However, it is necessary to take a proper perk. When you create the new faction, in Physical Form section pick Mind Trait Underground Adaptation. It will let you move faster and build Farms underground. What is more, you will start with an Excavation bonus. Thanks to that you will be able to create underground tunnels. Most importantly, however, it will allow you to start underground.

Underground – basic information

1. Bedrock – you can’t remove it, it is impenetrable wall.
2. Spells – some terraforming spells work differently underground, use them and watch effects, for example create your own mushroom forest.
3. Excavation bonus – if you did not pick an Underground adaptation trait and decided to build a city in caves, you have to pick this perk. It will allow you to remove Earth walls. It is possible to unlock treasures or other caves this way (and enemies). It is possible buy it in the Imperium Development tab in the Basic section.
4. Massive Underground – if you want to live underground, you must have some space. So, create a map with this trait.
5. Underground passage – those places will let you teleport between the Surface and Underground.
6. Cramped space – cities are smaller with less provinces because of the walls.
7. Low on Food – if you did not start with the Underground Adaptation trait you cannot build farms underground.
8. Enemies – it is easier to block corridors underground. If you encounter more powerful army, you will have to change the route or retreat. However, it also works in other way round.
9. Less interesting – many players report that their maps lack interesting places and resources in the Underground.
10. Slow movement – the terrain underground is often difficult, you will move slowly there, especially without Underground Adaptation.

Age of Wonders 4

May 2, 2023

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