Imperian has hundreds of help files to help you learn more about the game and how to play.
6.22 Commodity shops
Commodities are refined from raw materials that are produced by the common residents of townes. There are seven types of raw materials: crop, livestock, ore, rock, water, fish, and lumber.
HELP TOWNE PRODUCTION explains how materials are produced and obtained.
Commodities are refined from materials and other commodities at a refinery. The refining process does not happen automatically - instead, a citizen with the Trade privilege can use the command REFINE <1-100> <commodity> to consume the raw materials and create the desired commodities. These commodities are then added to the city stocks (HELP TRADE).
You can use the command REFINE CHECK <commodity> to see the materials and gold required to produce one piece of the commodity. The gold is taken from the Trade ministry coffers.
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