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Regions reference
Regions are the layer above settlements. They define who governs, how far your influence reaches, which trade partners you can connect and how many settlements you can support. A county is a collection of regions, and a region is a political as well as an economic unit.
What is a region?
A region is a named area with a capital, a steward, a regional level, a settlement limit and a culture mix. In the demo, regions such as Linden Meadows and Ore Hills appear in the map and trade panels, each with its own settlement count and political support.
Settlements belong to a region. The region determines which market or port they can trade through, which steward votes on their behalf and which privileges can be granted to them. You can think of it as a county within the county.
Founding a new region
When you place a settlement outside your current region’s range, the placement panel can create a new region. This is a significant step:
- A new region needs a capital and a steward.
- It adds a new settlement limit and a new political constituency.
- It may require new trade routes, markets or ports to connect to your existing economy.
- It introduces new noble-house influence and election dynamics.
Do not found a new region just because there is empty land. Found one because you need a resource, a river route or political reach that the current region cannot provide. The settlements guide covers site selection.
Region level and limits
The region panel shows its level, capital, settlement count and range. In the demo, a Village-level region might show 7/8 settlements, with the next level adding +2 settlements and +5 range. The exact numbers depend on the region.
| Stat | What it controls | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Overall regional development | Gates settlement limit and range improvements |
| Settlements | How many settlements the region supports | Prevents unlimited sprawl in one region |
| Range | How far the region's influence extends | Determines where new settlements can join |
| Capital | Political and privilege centre | Receives capital-specific bonuses |
| Steward | Regional vote and representation | Shapes Assembly eligibility |
If you are capped, you can either level the region or found a new one. Leveling is usually cheaper; founding a new region is a strategic choice, not a workaround for a full settlement bar.
How to level up a region
The region panel shows the current settlement count against the limit and the next level’s bonuses. The demo does not expose a separate manual “level up region” button, so treat the panel figures as the levers: develop and attach settlements within the current range, and expand the region’s range where the game allows. Check the panel after each new settlement to see when the next-level bonus becomes available.
We have not confirmed the exact regional level thresholds for Early Access. If your region is stuck, the safest interpretation is that it needs more development or a wider range, not a hidden menu action.
Stewards and elections
Each region has a steward, shown with a portrait, a noble house and the next election date. The election panel displays current support and long-term support for the candidates. Houses back candidates, and their influence determines how many votes they can persuade.
The steward matters for two reasons. First, they represent the region in the Assembly. Second, only regions whose steward voted for the winning proposal can receive the winning privilege. A hostile steward can make a region ineligible for the bonus you want.
See the noble houses guide for influence tiers and the Assembly guide for voting.
Regional capitals
Any settlement in the region can be made the capital using the “Make capital” button in its panel. The capital can receive privileges such as increased building efficiency and serves as the region’s political centre.
Choose a capital with:
- Enough buildable area to reach a high level.
- Good road or river access for trade.
- A strong mayor and a useful noble-house affiliation.
- Room for the buildings that benefit most from capital privileges.
Expansion strategy
- Stabilise the first region. Food, equipment, carpentry and stone should be reliable before you add a second region.
- Expand for a reason. A stone deposit, a river route or a political advantage — not just empty land.
- Place the new region upstream if you need heavy goods. In the demo, rafts only move downstream.
- Connect before you grow. A new region with no market or port is an isolated outpost, not a county.
- Watch the political balance. A new region adds a steward and shifts house power. Check the noble houses panel after founding it.
A stable region with level-two settlements can support a new region. Three unstable regions will drain each other through trade failures and political overhead. Expand when you can explain exactly what the new region adds.
For the settlements inside a region, read the settlements guide. For the trade links between regions, see the trade routes guide.
Quick answers
County of Fortune region questions
How do I found a new region in County of Fortune?
Use the new settlement tool and choose a site outside your current region. The placement panel can assign the settlement to an existing region or create a new one. A new region needs a capital and a steward, and it adds political and logistical overhead.
What is the settlement limit for a region?
Each region has a settlement count against a limit, tied to its regional level. The demo panel shows a current count, a limit and the bonus from the next level. Expand the region level before adding more settlements if you are capped.
How does a region level up?
Regional level depends on the number of settlements and the region’s range. The panel shows progress toward the next level and the bonus it provides, such as additional settlements or range. Exact thresholds may change during Early Access.
Who is the regional steward?
The steward is the region’s political representative, elected with support from noble houses. The steward votes in the Assembly and determines which regions can receive a winning privilege.
What does making a settlement the capital do?
The capital becomes the region’s political centre and can receive capital-specific privileges, such as increased building efficiency. Choose a settlement with room to grow and strong logistics.
