The battle of Polytopia RPG

1. Xin-Xi — Disciplined, patient, respectful of order and tradition. Long-term thinkers who dislike haste and prefer slow but inevitable development.
2. Imperius — Ambitious, organized, with an imperial mindset. Believe in their mission, prone to expansion and centralization, value law and grandeur.
3. Bardur — Practical, generous, loud. Love feasts, boasting, and spoils; use merrymaking to settle conflicts and confirm status.
4. Oumaji — Freedom-loving, fast, fickle. Dislike settling in one place, value speed and maneuver, change plans easily.
5. Kickoo — Calm, contemplative, connected to water and nature. Dislike haste, live in harmony with the wave.
6. Hoodrick — Secretive, independent, sharp-eyed. Distrust outsiders but defend their own to the last, value precision and composure.
7. Vengir — Gloomy, aggressive, resentful. Live on barren land and are angry at the world; don't believe in diplomacy — believe in force.
8. Zebasi — Hardworking, communal, patient. Believe in growth and fertility, value collective labor.
9. Ai-Mo — Pacifists, sages, hermits. Value knowledge and inner peace, dislike violence.
10. Quetzali — Proud, ritualistic, warlike. Believe in fate and sacrifice, value symbolism.
11. Yădakk — Cunning, enterprising, mobile. Value profit and connections, know how to negotiate.
12. Aquarion — Mysterious, aloof, ancient. Look down on the surface, live at their own pace.
13. Luxidoor — Hedonists and proud. Show off wealth, value luxury and status, believe everything can be bought.
14. Elyrion — Romantic, proud, tied to magic. Believe in their own exceptionalism and beauty.
15. Polaris — Cold, calculating, unhurried. Act slowly but inexorably.
16. Cymanti — Collective, instinctive, merciless. No individuality — only the will of the swarm.

Aquarion — Appearance

Landscape: Ocean, fragmented islands, coral. Pink and pale tones.

Architecture: Spiral ramp castles made of coral-like material. Pink covering. Windows with no light from within, distributed in three tiers .

Color palette: Pale pink/coral primary. Ocean blue, pearl.

Vibe: Sunken Atlantis. Mermaid tails, salt water, and the deep.

∑∫ỹriȱŋ (Elyrion) — Appearance

Landscape: Mystical, enchanted forest. Rich in animals.

Architecture: Two sky-blue tetrahedrons (pyramid-like), decorated with yellow V-shapes (roof tiles). White marble bases at the bottom .

Color palette: Magenta/pink primary. Sky blue, yellow, white marble.

Vibe: Fairy tale enchanters. Dragons, Polytaurs, and strange magic.

Polaris — Appearance

Landscape: Frozen wastes. Ice, permafrost, alien cold.

Architecture: Ice and frost-themed. Grey and pale blue.

Color palette: Grey/ice blue primary. White, frost.

Vibe: Alien ice magic. Gaami, Mooni, and the patient glacier.

Cymanti — Appearance

Landscape: Swampy forests. Fungal growth.

Architecture: Organic, hive-like. Chitin and fungus.

Color palette: Toxic green primary. Black, amber.

Vibe: Insect swarm. Ciru Bugs, castes, and something deeply wrong.

Vengir — Appearance

Landscape: Barren volcanic wasteland. Ash, dust, and metal in the hills. Almost nothing grows.

Architecture: Simple purple castle with three darker purple lines and shards sticking out. Harsh, functional, vengeful .

Color palette: White primary, purple, ash grey.

Vibe: Exiled cultists. Swords, revenge, and volcanic soil.

Zebasi — Appearance

Landscape: Savannah. Baocacia (acacia) trees. Geroffy (giraffes). Waongii (cantaloupe).

Architecture: Cone-shaped clay castles — a completely unique style. Two rounded "stairs" at the base. No windows, no decoration .

Color palette: Orange primary, clay brown, savannah gold.

Vibe: Sub-Saharan scholars. Farms, sun, and patience.

Ai-Mo — Appearance

Landscape: High mountains. Lï-po chilis. Llamo.

Architecture: Completely white castles, except for three orange horizontal stripes and one vertical teal stripe. Bunting of colored triangular flags along the bottom. No windows .

Color palette: White/pale primary, orange, teal.

Vibe: Himalayan monks. Meditation, chilis, and eternal peace.

Quetzali — Appearance

Landscape: Cubistic jungles. Red soil. Giant flightless birds.

Architecture: Yellow/beige clay castles (possibly). Green covering on top and base. No windows — replaced with light-brown clay pieces .

Color palette: Dark green primary, red soil, clay yellow.

Vibe: Mesoamerican bird-worshippers. Jungles, symmetry, and defense.

Yădakk — Appearance

Landscape: Khalee plains — dry steppe grassland. Fat, bushy trees. Tall brown pointed mountains with snow caps. Khamelks (reddish-brown camels with antlers) .

Architecture: White brick frames with red or gold domed roofs. Tall, spindly towers or yurts .

Units: Fez with tassel .

Color palette: Crimson/deep red primary, white, gold.

Vibe: Silk Road nomads. Roads, trade, and movement.

Kickoo — Appearance

Landscape: Misty rainforest. Archipelago. Turquoise water.

Architecture: Green thatched huts with slanted sugar-cane or banana-leaf roofs. Walls covered in green plant decoration . Castles made entirely of leaves, with grass-like shards protruding from the sides .

Color palette: Green primary. Emerald, leaf, and ocean blue.

Vibe: Polynesian voyagers. Salt, wind, and trade.

Hoodrick — Appearance

Landscape: Massive autumn forests — more trees than any other tribe. Quissberries (raspberries). Hooxe (bulls).

Architecture: Wooden, natural. Castle base made of four wooden planks. Forest-integrated structures .

Color palette: Brown primary, autumn orange, forest green.

Vibe: Robin Hood archers. Longbows, pies, and ancient grudges.

Luxidoor — Appearance

Landscape: Bright, almost lime-green plains. Green grass-covered mountains with snow caps. Tall, cubistic, eucalyptus-like trees. Mango fruit. Elephants .

Architecture: Red buildings richly decorated with gold, emeralds, and paint. Slightly rounded houses .

Units: White turbans with embedded green gemstones (emeralds) .

Color palette: Purple primary, red, gold, emerald.

Vibe: Persian/Indian luxury. Silk, spice, and opulence.

Regular Tribes

Xin-Xi — Appearance

Landscape: Grey, snow-capped conical mountains. Green grass. Pink flowering trees. White horses.

Architecture: Cities built of dark wooden pillars, white walls, and red roofs. The capital has a distinctive conical lantern tower with East Asian eaves .

Units: Soldiers wear red Asian-style war helmets — Japanese samurai aesthetic .

Color palette: Red primary, with white and dark wood accents.

Vibe: Ancient Chinese/Japanese dynasty. Silent, disciplined, carved into cliffs.

Imperius — Appearance

Landscape: Green valleys, grey pyramidal mountains with snow caps. Mediterranean cypress forests. Apple fruit. Black horses .

Architecture: Greek and Roman style — gleaming white marble columns, blue and white flags, yellow light from windows. Shining, orderly, imperial .

Units: Roman-style helmets (Italic design) .

Color palette: Blue primary, white stone, gold accents.

Vibe: Classical Rome/Greece. Legions, law, and marble.

Bardur — Appearance

Landscape: Dense northern pine forests. Snow. Wild animals. Almost no farmland.

Architecture: Built from dark brown wood and light-grey stone. Wooden halls with black stalks and yellow-topped decorations. Pine and stone, raised for eternal winter .

Units: Fur and leather. Baergøff hunters wear bear pelts.

Color palette: Black primary, dark brown, grey.

Vibe: Norse Viking jarl's hall. Smoke, axes, and cold.

Oumaji — Appearance

Landscape: Sun-blessed desert. Yellow flat-topped mesas. Cactus fruit. Palm tree oases. Shebra (zebra-like mounts) .

Architecture: Sun-baked clay. Flat or rounded domes. Striped awnings over staircases. Yellow sandstone castles with wooden supports protruding from the sides .

Units: Head-wrapped (turban-style) .

Color palette: Yellow primary, sandstone, brown wood.

Vibe: Bedouin nomads. Sand, speed, and survival.

Cymanti

Starting Tech: Farming (modified)
Color: Toxic green (#c2fd00)
Starting Unit: Warrior (swarm)
Terrain: Fungal forests, swamps.

Lore: The Cymanti are Polytopians who moved to the swampy forests and learned to live with the Ciru Bug, which attaches to their faces and merges with their brains . They are not a tribe — they are a swarm. Their cities are hives. Their units are castes. The New Dawn Movement, a splinter faction, bred "cuter" insects to win hearts and minds: Gurus with silk beards, Hoomans with big eyes, Top Hats (modified Hexapods), Cacti (poisonous Kitons), Rubies (animal-mineral hybrids), and Shoo (exploding Doomux) . Other Polytopians find them deeply, viscerally wrong.

Playstyle: Unique unit roster. Poison. Mycelium instead of roads. Aggressive, swarm-based .

Polaris

Starting Tech: Frostwork
Color: Grey/ice blue (#b6a185)
Starting Unit: Warrior (can freeze)
Terrain: Ice, frozen water, Mooni, Gaami.

Lore: From the frozen wastes emerge the Polaris, servants of the mysterious Gaami — beings from an alien world of eternal permafrost . The Gaami are the source of Polaris ice magic, and while the Polaris see them as benevolent saviors, many believe the Gaami have ulterior motives . The Polaris do not conquer land — they make it. Where they walk, water becomes ice. Their Ice Bank hoards frozen wealth. They are the patient glacier that buries the world.

Playstyle: Freeze water to expand territory. Unique unit roster. Terrain warping. Slow, inevitable .

∑∫ỹriȱŋ (Elyrion)

Starting Tech: Forest Magic
Color: Magenta/pink (#ff0099)
Starting Unit: Warrior (starts with 2 animals)
Terrain: Mystical forest, rich in animals.

Lore: Emerging from isolation in a mystical forest, the Elyrion will stop at nothing to uncover the magical secrets of the Square . They enchant animals into Polytaurs — twisted soldiers born from beasts. They hatch Dragons from eggs and wait for them to grow: Tiny Dragon to Fire Dragon, a super-unit that becomes terrible and beautiful with time. Their name is unpronounceable to other tribes. They are patient, strange, and dangerous.

Playstyle: Enchant animals early for strong units. Dragon scaling. High skill, high reward .

Aquarion

Starting Tech: Riding (modified — unlocks Amphibian)
Color: Pale pink/coral (#f38381)
Starting Unit: Amphibian (water-capable)
Terrain: Ocean, islands, fragmented landmasses.

Lore: From the deep oceans, a long-lost civilization appears. During their isolation, they developed mermaid tails that let them move freely in water . Aquarion warriors drink a mixture of salt water and octopus blood before battle. Their Turmelons — aquatic allies — spend their free time in the mysterious depths, swimming through the palace of the lost city . They were inspired by the tale of Atlantis. They are slow to rise, but once they rise, the seas belong to them.

Playstyle: Amphibious units. Naval dominance. Weak early game, devastating late game with Tridentions and Crab super-unit .

Yădakk

Starting Tech: Roads
Color: Deep red (#7d231c)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Steppe, horses, sparse resources.

Lore: The Yădakk are nomads of the open steppe — inspired by the cultures of the Silk Road, Turkish and Mongolian peoples . They build roads before they build walls. They connect cities, move armies faster than any other tribe, and turn the entire map into a network of trade and war. The Khamelk, their mount, is a portmanteau of "camel" and "elk" — a creature that should not exist but does . They are the pulse of the Square, the ones who move while others sit still.

Playstyle: Mobility. Trade networks. Fast response. Upper-mid tier .

Quetzali

Starting Tech: Strategy (Shields)
Color: Dark green (#275c4a)
Starting Unit: Defender
Terrain: Jungles, red soil, giant flightless birds.

Lore: The Quetzali worship Bird Gods. They live "in harmony with the natural symmetry of their cubistic jungles" and ride giant flightless birds into battle . They were community-named, and during beta were called "Manchillo" and "Manchilla" . They are patient, defensive, and nearly impossible to dislodge from a fortified city. They do not expand quickly. They do not need to.

Playstyle: Early turtle. High defense. Poor expansion without support .

Ai-Mo

Starting Tech: Meditation
Color: White/pale (#36e2aa)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: High mountains, Lï-po chilis, Llamo.

Lore: The Ai-Mo seek Enlightenment and Eternal Peace — interrupted only by all the other tribes existing. They drink llama milk, eat mind-melting wild chilis, and believe the Issi flower dye on their foreheads improves mental clarity. The Oo-Li are mountain spirits they appease with offerings. They do not want war. They want transcendence. The Square does not often grant such wishes .

Playstyle: Mind Benders. Philosophy rush. Unique peaceful victory potential. Generally low-mid tier .

Zebasi

Starting Tech: Farming
Color: Orange (#ff9900)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Savannah, Baocacia trees, Geroffy, Waongii.

Lore: The Zebasi are scholars, weavers, and horticulturists. They catalog every plant and animal in the Zuzanna Yaya, the largest compendium on the Square. They hunted the Leoon to near extinction for pelts, and now wear replica pelts to honor their ancestors . Their farms are the most productive on the Square. They believe in patience, growth, and the quiet power of a full granary.

Playstyle: Turn 0 capital upgrade. Slow start. Unmatched late-game economy and city growth .

Vengir

Starting Tech: Smithery
Color: White (#ffffff)
Starting Unit: Swordsman
Terrain: Barren wasteland. Little wood, few animals, metal in the hills.

Lore: The Vengir were exiled to the ash and dust at the edge of the world. They swore revenge. Their cultists, devoted to Burzgor, shrug off their flesh in the harrowing Thdkrkr Ritual to prove their dedication . They live on volcanic soil where nothing grows except hatred and swords. Their land is poor. Their blades are not. They do not build empires — they take them.

Playstyle: Strongest early unit in the game. Terrible economy. Must conquer or die. Glass cannon .

Luxidoor

Starting Tech: None
Color: Purple (#ab3bd6)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Green fields, mangoes, Phantrix.

Lore: The Luxidoor do not need to work. They are born rich, draped in purple silk, and they know it. Their capital begins at level 2, already fortified, already wealthy. They generate stars from the first turn while other tribes are still chopping wood. Their emperor once raised prices simply because "the price shows the quality." They are the most expensive tribe to unlock in the game — and they love it that way .

Playstyle: Economic head start. Buy army early, conquer fast, or fall behind in technology late.

Hoodrick

Starting Tech: Archery
Color: Brown (#996600)
Starting Unit: Archer
Terrain: Massive forests — more than any other tribe.

Lore: The Hoodrick are the finest archers of the Square. Their forests are thick, their sightlines long, and their patience endless. They are also, strangely, famous bakers — pies, tarts, jams from Quissberries. They hold a bitter, ancient rivalry with the Bardur; the "Hood-Bard Rivalry" persists through raids and petty displays of superiority. The Yorthwober, their elite sharpshooters, know the hills and forests better than they know their own faces .

Playstyle: Ranged control. Forest defense. Starts strong but needs Sawmills to scale into the late game.

Kickoo

Starting Tech: Fishing
Color: Green (#00ff00)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Archipelago, abundant fish, fruit, coconut palms.

Lore: The Kickoo are born of white sand beaches and turquoise water. They sail before they walk, and their markets thrive wherever port meets sea. The Konka Nut serves as both food and unofficial currency. Legend tells of Po Iu, their greatest warrior, who created fish and slew the Seven-Headed Beast. The Innikuli was the first Kickoo ship to sail to all four corners of the Square . They are merchants, explorers, and — when necessary — pirates.

Playstyle: One of the strongest tribes. Turn 0 capital upgrade. Markets near ports double star production. Naval dominance .

Oumaji

Starting Tech: Riding
Color: Yellow (#ffff00)
Starting Unit: Rider
Terrain: Flat desert, scarce forests, scarce animals.

Lore: The Oumaji are children of the sand. They move with the wind, strike from nowhere, and vanish before the dust settles. Their lives depend on Shebrons — vain, striped mounts that can carry a rider for days without complaint and always seek out water to admire their own reflection. The Oumaji drink Oulu, a hot beverage made of "things found in the desert," usually shared among friends after a late meal . They have little, and they take what they need.

Playstyle: Fast scouting, early village capture. Poor economy. Relies on speed and aggression before stronger economies catch up .

Bardur

Starting Tech: Hunting
Color: Black (#352514)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Dense forests, wild animals, almost no crops.

Lore: The Bardur survive the eternal winter of the northern woods. They are ruled by a jarl, and their buildings are raised from pine and stone. Their elite hunters, the Baergøff, wear the sanctified pelt of their first Baerion kill — a massive bear that only the worthy can slay . They hold an ancient, bitter rivalry with the Hoodrick. No one remembers why the feud began. No one needs to.

Playstyle: One of the strongest tribes. Hunting → Forestry → Mathematics gives them Catapults faster than any other tribe. Forests are their walls, their food, and their weapon .

Imperius

Starting Tech: Organization
Color: Blue (#0000ff)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Fruit-rich fields, balanced resources.

Lore: Imperius is the beating heart of the Square — an empire of order, law, and legions. They believe themselves destined to rule. Their citizens wear helmets at all times; receiving one's first helmet is a sacred rite of passage. They harvest fruit with precision and build cities of stone and discipline. General Percus, their greatest commander, once led a devastating campaign against the Oumaji before falling at the Raid of Dolnus. His name is still spoken in every Imperius barracks .

Playstyle: Turn 0 capital upgrade. Stable economy. The "default" tribe — strong at everything, exceptional at nothing.

Xin-Xi

Starting Tech: Climbing
Color: Red (#cc0000)
Starting Unit: Warrior
Terrain: Mountains, fruit, some forest.

Lore: The Xin-Xi are a disciplined, secretive mountain people. Their lands are rich in metal and stone. They move through peaks with ease and see farther than any other tribe from high ground. Their culture evokes ancient Japanese and Chinese dynasties — order, silence, and patience. They do not seek war, but they do not flee from it. Their cities are carved into cliffs, and their warriors train in thin air where lesser tribes would suffocate.

Playstyle: Mountain control. Defensive positioning. Metal access for late-game weapons.

⚙️ Tier 1 (Base Technologies)

These are the starting points. Each unlocks the next tech in its branch.

Climbing — Movement and defense bonus in mountains; reveals metal.
Fishing — Fishing, Port, Raft, movement in water; reveals starfish. Polaris replaces with Frostwork. Cymanti does not unlock Ports/Rafts.
Hunting — Hunting. Elyrion replaces with Forest Magic.
Organization — Harvest fruit; reveals crops. Cymanti does not reveal crops.
Riding — Rider. Aquarion unlocks Amphibian + water movement; Cymanti unlocks Hexapod.

⚙️ Tier 2 (Branch Technologies)

Unlocked after their Tier 1 prerequisite.

Archery (after Hunting) — Archer; defense bonus in forests. Polaris unlocks Ice Archer; Cymanti unlocks Phychi.
Forestry (after Hunting) — Lumber Hut; Clear Forest ability. Elyrion unlocks Sanctuary.
Mining (after Climbing) — Mine.
Meditation (after Climbing) — Mountain Temple; Pacifist task.
Sailing (after Fishing) — Scout; movement in ocean. Polaris replaces with Sledding; Cymanti replaces with Pescetism.
Ramming (after Sailing) — Rammer. Polaris replaces with Ice Fishing; Cymanti replaces with Hydrology.
Farming (after Organization) — Farm. Cymanti unlocks Fungi.
Strategy (after Organization) — Defender; Peace Treaty. Cymanti unlocks Kiton.
Roads (after Riding) — Roads; Network task. Cymanti unlocks Mycelium.
Free Spirit (after Riding) — Temple; Disband ability. Aquarion replaces with Free Diving.

⚙️ Tier 3 (Advanced Technologies)

The end of each branch. Powerful but expensive.

Spiritualism (after Archery) — Forest Temple; Grow Forest ability.
Mathematics (after Forestry) — Catapult; Sawmill. Cymanti unlocks Exida.
Smithery (after Mining) — Forge; Swordsman. Starting tech of Vengir.
Philosophy (after Meditation) — Mind Bender; Literacy; Genius task. Starting tech of Ai-Mo. Cymanti unlocks Shaman.
Navigation (after Ramming) — Bomber; Starfish Harvesting. Polaris replaces with Polar Warfare; Cymanti replaces with Oceanology.
Aquatism (after Ramming) — Water Temple; defense