I was never (and still not) all that bothered about the combat (what a waste of Iron, Coal and Gold!). I mostly just liked watching all the settlers going about their jobs and building up the supply chains needed to keep everything running.
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The sounds of the trees being chopped, the blacksmith hammering away, pigs oinking on the farms, and the miners digging in the mountains. It all adds up to a really distinctive soundscape that still sticks in my mind years later.
The campaign is a nice way to learn the basics, but before long you realise the real game is about logistics. Keeping the roads flowing, placing warehouses sensibly, making sure the mines are supplied, and balancing production so you don’t end up with 200 boards but no stone.
One thing I always liked was how physical the economy feels. Resources aren’t just numbers in a menu — you can actually see them being carried along the roads. Watching carriers walking back and forth with boards, stone and grain makes the whole world feel alive.
It also means that when something isn’t working properly you can usually see why. A road gets too busy, a mine runs out, or a warehouse is in the wrong place and suddenly the whole chain slows down. Fixing those little bottlenecks is half the fun.
Once everything is flowing properly it's strangely relaxing to just sit back and watch it all tick along. It’s not really about rushing or constant fighting, it’s about building a little world where everything works properly.