If you’ve played the base game Banished for a few hours, you’re probably looking to add a bit more content to it. One of the most popular mod packs is called the Colonial Charter, made by Black Liquid Software. It’s an incredible set of tools. If you’re here, you’ve probably tried it and are looking for some tips. To get the mod into your game, subscribe to it here. Here’s what I recommend:

  1. Use the GATHER tools – This might seem evident, but the gather tool for FOOD in particular is new to users coming from the base game. This can really help in times of lean amounts of food. The gatherable food grows in all seasons of the game, so when your town starts getting low on food, mark some to be gathered nearby and mark it high priority. You’ll be out of trouble and able to make it until the next year’s harvest.
  2. Use the DOCK SET – The docks make the map a completely different experience. What used to feel like natural barriers is made possible for expansion. To make things even better, there are special buildings for the dock that allow you open up the game. Explore the food and resource tools available in the dock set and have some fun with them. The only tricky part is the shoreline. Make sure that you build the small steps that will allow the Bannies to go up and down. You don’t want them to get stuck on the docks and die.
  3. AESTHETICS are everywhere – The biggest difference between playing the base game and Colonial Charter might be how it looks. There are SO MANY tools in the CC set that will allow you to build custom paths, fences, and even plant nearly any tree in the game. You can develop a town from a mere survival story to a full fledged cultural center. Elaborate gardens, fortress walls, and so much more await the enterprising player. I recommend building a strong base (i.e. solid food, tools, and clothes), then explore some of the unbelievably fun decorative tools.
  4. STONE is precious. – I know that stone can be hard to come by in the base game as the stone houses eat a lot of it, but in CC, stone is precious. It’s something that you’ll find yourself low on pretty much the entire playthrough. As a result, I recommend prioritizing how you will add stone to your settlement.
  5. Don’t forget the FURNACE FUEL. – Another major difference between CC and the base game is the tech tree for building advanced buildings. These higher level buildings require both “building materials” and “homewares.” As you build these unique buildings you will need to convert regular fuel (like firewood or coal) into furnace fuel. This is an important step before creating any of the more advanced products. If you haven’t explored that part of the tech tree, it’s worth paying attention to relatively early in the playthrough. It’s also what I consider to be a clear development into the “mid game” from the early survival stage.

Game more comfortably with one of these chairs! Click the images to find out more.

These tips might not seem revolutionary, but keeping these things in mind will help your city be more stable. If you learn nothing else, keep #1 in mind as your food begins to dwindle. Finding stability (and survival) in the early game is key. There is no mid or late game if your families all starve in the early days.

Good luck out there and have fun!

If you’re looking for more Banished content, I have a few series on my YouTube channel, including a tutorial for the Red Ketchup Mod Pack as well as a contest called the Gold Race.