Introduction: Understanding the Most Valuable Standard Goods
In the intricate economy of Elvenar, few resources carry the prestige and production challenges of Gems. As a Tier 3 (T3) Standard Good, Gems represent the pinnacle of basic resource production—more expensive to manufacture, more valuable in trade, and more demanding of your city’s infrastructure than their Tier 1 and Tier 2 counterparts. Yet for players blessed with Gems as a boosted good, mastering their production unlocks tremendous trading power and accelerates progression through even the most demanding chapters.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Gems production: from understanding whether Gems are your boosted good, to optimizing manufactory levels, managing production costs, and leveraging Gems in the trading economy. Whether you are a new player trying to decipher the game’s resource systems or a veteran caterer looking to maximize efficiency, this guide will ensure your Gem production shines.
What Are Gems in Elvenar?
Gems belong to the Magical Goods category, which is the third tier of Standard Goods in Elvenar’s economic hierarchy . The three tiers are structured as follows:
| Tier | Category | Goods |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 (T1) | Basic Goods | Marble, Steel, Planks |
| Tier 2 (T2) | Crafted Goods | Crystal, Scrolls, Silk |
| Tier 3 (T3) | Magical Goods | Elixir, Magic Dust, Gems |
Gems are the most resource-intensive of the Standard Goods to produce, requiring significant population, culture, and coin/supplies investments . However, this high cost comes with a correspondingly high value in the trading system, making Gems a powerful tool for acquiring the lower-tier goods you need.
Boosted Goods: The Foundation of Efficient Production
Understanding the Boost System
Every player in Elvenar receives three boosted goods—one from each tier—randomly assigned based on your city’s location on the world map when your account is created . These boosted goods receive a production multiplier based on the number of relics you have collected for that specific good type.
To determine whether Gems are one of your boosted goods:
- Open your Main Hall
- Navigate to the Relics tab
- Look for the three goods displayed at the top—these are your boosted goods
If Gems appear in this list, congratulations! You are “Gems-boosted” and should prioritize Gems manufactories as your primary Tier 3 production.
The Importance of Focusing on Boosted Goods
Concentrating production on your boosted goods is one of the most fundamental efficiency principles in Elvenar. As one experienced player explains, “There is no wrong way to play Elvenar but you will save a lot of precious city space if you concentrate on boosted goods. In the beginning, this difference may be minimal but the longer you play and the higher you increase your % boost, the bigger the difference will get” .
The relic boost system allows you to increase your boosted good production up to 700% , and this can be further enhanced by Ancient Wonders like the Mountain Halls. A player with a high relic count and appropriate Wonders can produce dramatically more Gems from a single manufactory than an unboosted player could from multiple buildings.
If Gems Are Not Your Boosted Good
If Gems do not appear among your three boosted goods, do not despair. The recommended strategy is straightforward: do not build Gems manufactories at all. Instead, produce your boosted Tier 3 good (Elixir or Magic Dust) and trade with neighbors or fellowship members for the Gems you need .
As one forum user succinctly advises: “Build more of your boosted and none of your non-boosted (only exception is level 1 buildings for use in events of course) and trade” . This approach saves valuable city space and resources while still giving you access to all goods through the Trader.
Gems Manufactory: Production Basics
Building and Placement
The Gems Manufactory is a production building that, like all manufactories, must be connected to your Main Hall via streets. Its footprint and upgrade requirements change as you progress through chapters, so always check the Elvenar Wiki or in-game build menu for current specifications.
Production Options
Like all manufactories, the Gems Manufactory offers multiple production durations:
- 3-hour production: Best for active players who can collect frequently; offers the best goods-per-hour ratio
- 9-hour production: Good for players who check in a few times daily
- 1-day and 2-day productions: Replaced by Sentient Goods production options once your manufactory reaches level 24 and you have entered Chapter XII
Production Costs
Gems production is notably expensive compared to lower tiers. A detailed analysis from the Sorcerers and Dragons chapter revealed that a level 19 Gems manufactory (the maximum for that chapter) produces 247 Gems per 3-hour run but requires:
- 7,900 Supplies
- 79,000 Gold
For comparison, a level 23 Marble manufactory producing the player’s boosted Tier 1 good required only 580 Supplies and 5,800 Gold for a similar production run . This 13.6x cost difference highlights why Gems are so valuable in trade and why focusing on your boosted goods is critical.
Using Enchantments
Magical Manufacturing spells can significantly boost your Gems production. For maximum efficiency, cast the spell right before collecting a production run to make the most of its duration . This is particularly valuable when you need large quantities of Gems for research or upgrades.
The Relic Boost System for Gems
How Relics Increase Production
Your Gems production boost percentage is determined by the number of Gems Relics you have collected. Relics are obtained by:
- Completing encounters in Gems provinces on the world map
- Opening chests when giving neighborly help (random chance)
- Participating in tournaments when Gems are the featured good
- Completing certain event quests
Maximum Boost Potential
The maximum relic boost for Standard Goods is 700% . Achieving this requires collecting a significant number of Gems relics. The exact thresholds are displayed in your Main Hall’s Relics tab.
Ancient Wonder Enhancements
The Mountain Halls Ancient Wonder further increases your boosted goods production beyond the relic cap. For dedicated Gems producers, this Wonder is an invaluable investment.
Efficiency Considerations: Leveling Your Gems Manufactory
The Diminishing Returns Challenge
One of the most counterintuitive findings in Elvenar is that higher-level manufactories are not always more space-efficient than multiple lower-level ones. Detailed spreadsheets analyzing manufactory efficiency across all chapters reveal that as you upgrade manufactories, the population and culture requirements increase faster than production output .
This means that from a pure space-efficiency perspective, having several moderately-leveled Gems manufactories may actually produce more goods per total square (including support buildings) than a single maximally-upgraded manufactory.
When to Upgrade
The optimal upgrade strategy depends on your chapter and available space. General guidelines include:
- Upgrade to the first available level in each new chapter to unlock new production options
- Consider parking at certain levels where efficiency peaks before diminishing returns become severe
- Use the Elvenar Wiki or community spreadsheets to check efficiency ratios for your specific chapter
Population and Culture Requirements
As one forum analyst explained: “If you happened to be perfectly balanced at 0 population available and 0 culture available, even if you had a beautiful open space of exactly the right size needed for the base of a manufactory, you wouldn’t be able to place it, because it requires population and culture. Since you can’t build or upgrade a manufactory without population and culture, the space those take up must necessarily also be factored in to the production capabilities of the manufactory” .
This is why a level 20 manufactory requiring 2,160 people to produce 231 units might be more efficient than a level 23 requiring 4,252 people to produce only 290 units—the population cost per unit nearly doubles .
Gems and Sentient Goods: The Advanced Connection
Unlocking Sentient Production
When you reach Chapter XII – The Elementals and upgrade your Gems manufactory to level 24 or higher, you unlock the ability to produce Sentient Goods . For Gems-boosted players, your boosted Sentient Good follows the +1 cycling pattern:
Sentient Production Requirements
Producing Sentient Goods (including Cosmic Bismuth) requires:
- Divine Seeds (introduced in Chapter XI – Halflings)
- The corresponding Standard Good (Gems, in this case)
The 1-day and 2-day production options on your Gems manufactory are replaced with Sentient Goods options once you reach this stage .
Later Chapters: Ascended Goods
In Chapter XVIII – Team Spirit, manufactories at level 32 and higher unlock Ascended Goods production . For Gems-boosted players, this progression continues, though the specific Ascended Good mapping differs (boosted regular good +2 rather than +1) .
Trading Gems: Maximizing Value
The Trader and Fair Trades
The Elvenar Trader uses a value ratio of approximately 2.25:1.5:1 for T1:T2:T3 goods . This means:
- 1 unit of Gems (T3) is worth roughly 1.5 units of Tier 2 goods
- 1 unit of Gems (T3) is worth roughly 2.25 units of Tier 1 goods
However, many players argue that these ratios do not fully account for the higher production costs of Tier 3 goods. A detailed analysis concluded that “even accounting for a 2.25:1 production ratio as suggested by the trader, marble is actually 17% cheaper to produce in terms of space than gems and that’s without accounting for all the coin needed for the gems” .
Cross-Tier Trading Considerations
There is an ongoing debate in the Elvenar community about “fair” cross-tier trades. Some players refuse cross-tier trades entirely, while others accept them at a discount. If you are producing Gems as your boosted good, you may need to offer slight discounts to attract trading partners for lower-tier goods.
Trading Strategy for Gems Producers
- Produce only your boosted Gems in quantity
- Trade down for the Tier 2 and Tier 1 goods you need
- Join an active fellowship where members understand the value of Gems and will accept fair trades
- Use the Wholesaler as a last resort—it offers worse rates but provides guaranteed access to non-boosted goods
Event Buildings and Alternative Gems Sources
The Shift Away from T3-Only Events
Historically, most event buildings that produced goods gave Tier 3 outputs . However, recent events have shown a shift toward more balanced production options. For example, in the Autumn Zodiac event, only one of three new production buildings produced Tier 3 goods .
This trend means that relying solely on event buildings for Gems is becoming less reliable. Building and maintaining your own Gems manufactories (if boosted) or establishing strong trading relationships is increasingly important.
Evaluating Event Buildings
When considering event buildings that produce Gems, evaluate:
- Production per square compared to your manufactories
- Population and culture implications (many event buildings provide these rather than consuming them)
- Upgrade requirements using Royal Restorations—some buildings may not be worth the investment
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Building Non-Boosted Gems Manufactories
The most common and costly mistake is building Gems manufactories when Gems are not one of your three boosted goods. As one player noted, “You should notice that you will produce more for your boosted good than the other two… It is far efficient if you concentrate on producing only your boosted goods” .
Over-Upgrading Without Checking Efficiency
Blindly upgrading your Gems manufactory to the maximum available level in each chapter can actually reduce your space efficiency. Always check the population and culture requirements against the production gains before upgrading.
Ignoring the Relic Boost
Failing to collect Gems relics leaves significant production potential untapped. Prioritize clearing Gems provinces on the world map and participating in tournaments when Gems are featured.
Neglecting Support Infrastructure
Gems production requires substantial coins, supplies, population, and culture. Ensure your Workshops, Residences, and Culture buildings are adequate to support your manufactories. A Gems manufactory without sufficient support is like a car without fuel.
Conclusion: Mastering Your Gem Production
Gems production in Elvenar is a rewarding but demanding endeavor. Whether Gems are your blessed boosted good or a resource you acquire through trade, understanding their production mechanics, cost structures, and efficiency considerations will make you a more effective city manager.
If Gems are your boosted good, embrace them. Build your manufactories, collect your relics, and leverage your efficient production to become a trading powerhouse in your fellowship. If Gems are not your boosted good, respect their value but do not waste space producing them inefficiently—trade for them instead.
The key principles to remember are simple: focus on your boosted goods, pay attention to efficiency at each chapter, use enchantments strategically, and never underestimate the importance of population and culture in your production calculations.
Leave a Reply