Like the original game, the new game does away with traditional resource modeling and features a per-minute income and cost system for each of the resources -- wood, mana, gold, etc. Having structures like lumber mills add to the amount of wood you collected each turn while wood-heavy units like archers detract from it. Any surplus wood is immediately converted into gold; any deficits are offset by deductions from your gold stores. As a result, gold is the only resource you'll actually ever hoard and the challenge becomes creating an economy that support your needs across the board.

And since each of the game's settlements can only hold a certain number of structures, you won't be able to maximize the potential of any single city. You'll need, instead, to have one city that meets your mana and wood needs while others supply you with ore. These structures now appear on the game map and can be specifically targeted by your units. (Previously you could only attack the city itself.) If you gain control of an enemy city, you gain access to the units it produces, meaning you can field a multi-racial army of, for instance, Drauga cavalry and Haroun scouts.