Village Dogs
Village Dogs is an Exploration Age African Granary technology that increases Villager gathering from hunted animals by 5%. It costs 50 Wood and takes 10 seconds to research. This is a modest source-specific improvement for Hunts, not for Food from Fields, livestock or other gathering sources. Its short research time and low Wood cost can make it an early efficiency option when workers are already hunting.
Research profile
Effect & research conditions
Research at the Granary while Villagers are gathering from hunted animals. The bonus applies to Food collected from Hunts, so workers assigned to other resources do not benefit from that activity. Keep the hunt safe and use the improved rate while the carcasses remain; the technology does not make a finite herd last longer in total Food.
Research condition
African civilizations; Exploration Age; researched at the Granary; costs 50 Wood; 10-second research time; Villager gathering from hunted animals +5%.
When to research
Choose Village Dogs when several Villagers will continue hunting and the 50 Wood will not slow essential construction. It has less value if the map has few safe Hunts or if the economy has already transitioned to Fields. Coordinate with the Food plan and remember that the research itself takes 10 seconds.
The bonus follows the Villager’s gathering activity
Village Dogs increases Villager Food gathering from hunted animals by 5%. It does not improve Food from Fields, livestock or other sources, and it does not add Food to a carcass or make a finite herd last longer. The value therefore depends on how many Villagers will keep hunting after the research completes. If the nearest Hunts are exhausted or unsafe, the benefit falls as workers move elsewhere. Keep the distinction between the resource source and the resource type in mind: the technology affects Food gathered through hunting, not every activity that produces Food.
Consider it alongside Snares and the map’s Hunts
Village Dogs is an Exploration Age African technology researched at the Granary for 50 Wood and 10 seconds. Snares is a later hunting improvement that requires Village Dogs, so the first research can also open that follow-up when a longer hunting economy is planned. Compare both investments with the remaining time on nearby Hunts and the safety of the gathering route. A small early Wood cost can be reasonable when several Villagers will hunt for a while; it has less immediate value if the army needs that Wood for essential construction or the economy is already moving to Fields. Secure the food line before investing in its efficiency.