Capital Fortress

Some walls are built from habit. Others from pride. The capital wall is both.

In short: Your laboratory is safe from catapults on every island. A conquest can still cost it levels.

- Catapults hit walls, harbors and the Main Building — laboratories remain untouched

- A conquest also reduces laboratory levels

- The shield is automatic — you don't need to do anything

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Capital fortress #

Your main island holds a special place in your empire. Returning fleets, however, sail to their departure island. Your research applies across your empire; you can start it on any island whose buildings meet the requirements.

Since the Siege Reform (chapter “Combat”), catapults hit only walls, harbors and the Main Building. They cannot damage laboratories on main or secondary islands. A conquest, however, also reduces the laboratory’s level and can destroy it completely.

What this means in practice #

• Catapults do not reduce laboratory levels on any island.
• A conquest can reduce laboratory levels; the conquest report names buildings that were destroyed completely.

Strategy #

• Choose your research seat freely — you don't need to bundle research on the main island out of fear of attacks; what counts is that the laboratory meets the research's prerequisite (chapter "Laboratory Efficiency")
• Verify your main-island status — only one island is the main island; the islands overview shows you which
• Changing your main island — declaring a colony your main island changes its status. Laboratories on both islands remain safe from catapults.