Code Napoleon
Code Napoleon is a Commerce Age French Church technology unlocked by the Edict of Nantes Home City Card. It increases Villager gathering across resources while raising the cost of all buildings, so its return depends on balancing an ongoing economic bonus against the infrastructure still to be constructed.
Research profile
- Age
- Commerce Age
- Civilization
- French
- Research location
- Church
- Home City Card
- Edict of Nantes
- Research time
- 15 seconds
- Effect
- Villager gather work rate for all resources +10%; Building cost +25%
Effect & research conditions
The technology takes 15 seconds. Villagers gather all resources 10% faster, while all building costs increase by 25%. Earlier versions used a 50% building-cost increase. French players who revolt to Revolutionary France can research Code Napoleon without first sending Edict of Nantes; Sansculottes do not benefit from the Villager effect because they lose the Villager tag.
Research condition
French; Commerce Age; Church after Edict of Nantes, or available after the French Revolution; 15 seconds; Villager gathering from all resources +10%; all building costs +25% (formerly +50%). Sansculottes are excluded from the Villager bonus because they do not retain the Villager tag.
When to research
Consider it when enough Villagers will keep working for a sustained period and essential buildings are already placed or can absorb the higher prices. The gathering bonus applies broadly, but the construction surcharge can delay a Town Center, military building or defensive expansion. Evaluate the two effects together rather than treating it as a free economic upgrade.
A sustained gather bonus with an immediate construction cost
The gathering improvement grows in value while Villagers continue working, but the 25% surcharge applies to buildings the player still needs to place. This can affect both economic expansion and military infrastructure. Research after considering the next construction steps, not only the current worker count.
Revolution changes access and affected units
The French Revolution route can make the technology available without the Edict of Nantes card. Sansculottes lose their Villager tag and therefore do not receive the gathering improvement. The building-cost penalty remains a separate part of the technology and should still be included in the revolutionary economy plan.