Going Medieval Year 2 Guide — Mid-Game Colony Strategy

Surviving the first year in Going Medieval is an achievement, but year 2 is where many colonies stall. The early-game urgency (build walls, grow food, survive first raids) gives way to a less obvious mid-game agenda — and without a clear plan, colonies often plateau with 8-10 settlers, modest defenses, and no clear upgrade path. Year 2 is the critical expansion phase: recruiting more settlers, upgrading from wood to stone construction, establishing specialist roles, extending your research tree, and building the infrastructure for late-game wealth generation. This guide provides a structured year 2 agenda, prioritized by impact.

Year 2 Priority Checklist

At the start of year 2, assess your colony against these benchmarks. If you are behind on any category, prioritize it before moving to the next phase.

Settler Recruitment Strategy for Year 2

Year 2 colony growth depends on attracting and accepting new settlers. As your colony's reputation grows (through successful raids, high mood, quality structures), better-skilled settlers arrive via wanderer events. Accept settlers selectively in year 2 — prioritize those with high starting skills in your current gaps (Medicine, Combat, Crafting) and Passion traits that match needed roles.

Before accepting new settlers, verify you have bed capacity, food reserves, and productive work assignments waiting for them. A settler who arrives and has nothing to do, nowhere to sleep, or insufficient food is immediately a mood liability.

Infrastructure Upgrades for Year 2

Year 2 infrastructure priorities in order: (1) Stone outer wall — replace all wooden palisade with cut stone or clay brick. (2) Iron smelter + blacksmith — start producing iron weapons and armor. (3) Expanded farm zone — year 2 settler count requires larger food production. (4) Root cellar — underground food preservation for the second winter. (5) Research bench expansion — add second bench and dedicated researcher to accelerate tech unlocks.

Research Priorities for Year 2

By end of year 1 you should have the early research tiers completed. Year 2 research priorities: Iron smelting (if not done) → Advanced construction (stone cutting) → Advanced farming → Advanced medicine → Advanced weapons/armor.

Assign a dedicated researcher in year 2 — do not rely on cross-tasking. A settler with Medicine or Learning passion makes an excellent dedicated researcher. Research speed compounds: earlier completion of key techs unlocks better production options that feed every other part of your colony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides