How to make money as Grand Cathay
Grand Cathay's fastest-paying building in Total War: Warhammer III is the Gold Smelter (Gold Mining, level 3): 2,000 gold for +600 gold a turn, its cost back in 3.3 turns once built. The most gold from one building slot is the Gold Smelter at +600 a turn (3,500 gold to build the chain that far, back in 5.8 turns). 57 Grand Cathay building levels make flat income, patch 9.0.4.
Fastest payback
Turns of income to earn the building's cost back (each chain's fastest level).
- 1
Gold SmelterGold Mining 3 · 2,000 gold → +600 a turn · Region with the resource3.3turns - 2
Wares MarketIndustry (Yang) 1 · 500 gold → +150 a turn · Any settlement3.3turns - 3
Spice MarketIndustry (Yin) 1 · 500 gold → +125 a turn · Any settlement4turns - 4
Animal StoreTusks 1 · 500 gold → +100 a turn · Region with the resource5turns - 5
Brine Mining PansSaltmaking 1 · 500 gold → +100 a turn · Region with the resource5turns - 6
Cinnabar Mining PitDye Production 1 · 500 gold → +100 a turn · Region with the resource5turns
Most gold per building slot
Income of each chain's top level; the line shows that level's own cost.
- 1Gold SmelterGold Mining 3 · 2,000 gold → +600 a turn · Region with the resource+600a turn
- 2
Sea PortPort 3 · 6,000 gold → +500 a turn · Port settlement+500a turn - 3Trade ExchangeIndustry (Yang) 3 · 1,500 gold → +325 a turn · Any settlement+325a turn
- 4Goods EmporiumIndustry (Yin) 3 · 1,500 gold → +250 a turn · Any settlement+250a turn
- 5
Alchemy WorkshopMedicine Production 3 · 2,000 gold → +200 a turn · Region with the resource+200a turn - 6
Cattle RanchPastures 3 · 2,000 gold → +200 a turn · Region with the resource+200a turn
COMPUTEDIncome = the level's flat gold per turn (the game's “Income generated” effects on the building itself, table building_effects_junction) minus its upkeep (building_levels.upkeep_cost). Payback = cost (create_cost) ÷ income. Upgrade payback = the level's cost ÷ the income it adds over the level below. “Gold back by turn” = build turns (create_time) + payback, counted from the order. Chain total = every level's cost up to this one, and its payback = that total ÷ income. Patch 9.0.4.
ASSUMPTIONS
- Base values: technologies, lord skills, commandments, campaign difficulty and faction effects that change income or building costs are not counted.
- Percentage boosts (“+4% income from all buildings in the province”, “+20% (local region)”) are not in the payback: they depend on the buildings they boost. They are listed below with the income those buildings need to make.
- Conditional income (“When Control is 75 or more”, “When enemy Lord is present”…) is not counted; listed below in the game's words.
- Resource buildings need a region with that resource; ports need a port settlement. A slot can hold one building, so late in a campaign gold per slot matters more than payback.
Every Grand Cathay building that makes gold (57)
| # | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wares Market | Industry (Yang) | 1 | 500 | 1 | 150 | 3.30 | — | 4.30 | Any settlement |
| 2 | Gold Mine | Gold Mining | 2 | 1,000 | 3 | 300 | 3.30 | 5 | 6.30 | Region with the resource |
| 3 | Gold Smelter | Gold Mining | 3 | 2,000 | 4 | 600 | 3.30 | 6.70 | 7.30 | Region with the resource |
| 4 | Spice Market | Industry (Yin) | 1 | 500 | 1 | 125 | 4 | — | 5 | Any settlement |
| 5 | Trade Exchange | Industry (Yang) | 3 | 1,500 | 3 | 325 | 4.60 | 12 | 7.60 | Any settlement |
| 6 | Merchant Caravans | Industry (Yang) | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 200 | 5 | 20 | 7 | Any settlement |
| 7 | Exotic Animal Tamer | Exotic Animals | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 8 | Cinnabar Mining Pit | Dye Production | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 9 | Hunting Camp | Wild Game | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 10 | Gem Mineshaft | Gem Mining | 1 | 500 | 2 | 100 | 5 | — | 7 | Region with the resource |
| 11 | Gold Mining Pit | Gold Mining | 1 | 500 | 2 | 100 | 5 | — | 7 | Region with the resource |
| 12 | Iron Mining Pit | Iron Mining | 1 | 500 | 2 | 100 | 5 | — | 7 | Region with the resource |
| 13 | Animal Store | Tusks | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 14 | Sawyer | Marble Quarry | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 15 | Herb Gatherer's Camp | Medicine Production | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 16 | Obsidian Quarry | Obsidian Quarry | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 17 | Grazing Pastures | Pastures | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 18 | Clay Pit | Pottery Production | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 19 | Brine Mining Pans | Saltmaking | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 20 | Spice Market | Spice Trading | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 21 | Orchards | Orchards | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 22 | Woodman's Hut | Woodlands | 1 | 500 | 1 | 100 | 5 | — | 6 | Region with the resource |
| 23 | Gem Factors | Industry (Yin) | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 175 | 5.70 | 20 | 7.70 | Any settlement |
| 24 | Goods Emporium | Industry (Yin) | 3 | 1,500 | 3 | 250 | 6 | 20 | 9 | Any settlement |
| 25 | Exotic Animal Pen | Exotic Animals | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 26 | Cinnabar Mine | Dye Production | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 27 | Hunting Lodge | Wild Game | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 28 | Gem Mine | Gem Mining | 2 | 1,000 | 3 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 9.70 | Region with the resource |
| 29 | Iron Mines | Iron Mining | 2 | 1,000 | 3 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 9.70 | Region with the resource |
| 30 | Tusk Market | Tusks | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 31 | Marble Quarry | Marble Quarry | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 32 | Exotic Hothouse | Medicine Production | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 33 | Obsidian Trinket Maker | Obsidian Quarry | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 34 | Livestock Pens | Pastures | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 35 | Pottery Maker | Pottery Production | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 36 | Brine Mining Basin | Saltmaking | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 37 | Spice Trading Post | Spice Trading | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 38 | Vineyard | Orchards | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 39 | Timber Mill | Woodlands | 2 | 1,000 | 2 | 150 | 6.70 | 20 | 8.70 | Region with the resource |
| 40 | River Port | Port | 2 | 3,000 | 4 | 300 | 10 | 15 | 14 | Port settlement |
| 41 | Exotic Animal Market | Exotic Animals | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 42 | Dyemaker | Dye Production | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 43 | Tannery | Wild Game | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 44 | Gemcutter's Workshop | Gem Mining | 3 | 2,000 | 4 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 14 | Region with the resource |
| 45 | Iron Smelter | Iron Mining | 3 | 2,000 | 4 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 14 | Region with the resource |
| 46 | Tusk Compound | Tusks | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 47 | Stone Mason's Workshop | Marble Quarry | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 48 | Alchemy Workshop | Medicine Production | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 49 | Obsidian Amulet Carver | Obsidian Quarry | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 50 | Cattle Ranch | Pastures | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 51 | Kilns | Pottery Production | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 52 | Saltworks | Saltmaking | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 53 | Eastern Bazaar | Spice Trading | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 54 | Vintner | Orchards | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 55 | Lumberyard | Woodlands | 3 | 2,000 | 3 | 200 | 10 | 40 | 13 | Region with the resource |
| 56 | Sea Port | Port | 3 | 6,000 | 6 | 500 | 12 | 30 | 18 | Port settlement |
| 57 | Dock | Port | 1 | 1,500 | 2 | 100 | 15 | — | 17 | Port settlement |
Main building levels
Settlement upgrades make gold too, but they also cost growth (population surplus) and open building slots, so payback alone undersells them. Province capitals and minor settlements are separate chains.
| # | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bastion Gatehouse | Bastion | 1 | 1,000 | — | 100 | — |
| 2 | Hamlet | Province Capital | 1 | 1,000 | — | 150 | — |
| 3 | Hamlet | Minor Settlement | 1 | 1,000 | — | 150 | — |
| 4 | Bastion Tower | Bastion | 2 | 2,000 | 1 | 150 | 40 |
| 5 | Village | Province Capital | 2 | 2,000 | 1 | 200 | 40 |
| 6 | Village | Minor Settlement | 2 | 2,000 | 1 | 200 | 40 |
| 7 | Bastion Citadel | Bastion | 3 | 4,000 | 2 | 200 | 80 |
| 8 | Town | Province Capital | 3 | 4,000 | 2 | 250 | 80 |
| 9 | Town | Minor Settlement | 3 | 4,000 | 2 | 250 | 80 |
| 10 | Bastion Stronghold | Bastion | 4 | 8,000 | 4 | 250 | 160 |
| 11 | City | Province Capital | 4 | 8,000 | 4 | 350 | 80 |
| 12 | Bastion Fortress | Bastion | 5 | 16,000 | 5 | 300 | 320 |
| 13 | Province Capital | Province Capital | 5 | 16,000 | 5 | 500 | 106.70 |
Percentage income boosts
These add a share to other buildings' income: the province's, every region's you own, or the local region's (the region the building stands in). One pays back in 10 turns when the buildings it boosts make cost ÷ (10 × share) gold a turn — the last column.
| # | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Smelter | Gold Mining | 2,000 | 10% | — | — | 2,000 |
| 2 | Tea Parlour | Civic (Yin) | 500 | 2% | — | — | 2,500 |
| 3 | Contemplation Gardens | Civic (Yin) | 1,000 | 4% | — | — | 2,500 |
| 4 | Administration Centre | Civic (Yin) | 1,500 | 6% | — | — | 2,500 |
Every level's full effects: Grand Cathay buildings.