Water

Water is the primary renewable resource in Timberborn that enables life, construction and hydro-mechanical systems. Flowing water appears naturally during Temperate periods and nourishes the landscape; it is described as a life-bringing and life-sustaining natural resource. When Temperate returns at the start of a new game, streams flow again and water becomes widely available across the map.

During Drought periods, natural creation of flowing water ceases. Drought is characterized by relentlessly sunny conditions and a total lack of new flowing water. Before a drought begins the game displays a visible warning with an estimated time in days until the drought starts, giving players time to finish final preparations. Once drought begins, the strength of natural water sources weakens gradually until no new flow remains. Existing lakes, ponds, streams and other surface water bodies will gradually evaporate because new water is not being generated; evaporation therefore becomes a key factor in water management during droughts.

Stored water becomes the only reliable supply during droughts. The game provides containers and systems such as water tanks and pumpable water held in reservoirs; these are the last sources of water once surface water dries up. Players must rely on stored and pumped water to sustain their settlements until Temperate returns. Game difficulty and mode affect drought behavior: as the game progresses droughts tend to become longer with a semi-random pattern, and some modes produce milder or harsher droughts than the default.

• Plan for droughts as an inevitable cycle: prepare and stockpile water and supplies during Temperate when flowing water is abundant.
• Monitor the in-game drought warning and use it to schedule final preparations such as filling water tanks and reservoirs.
• Prioritize building and maintaining water storage (water tanks and reservoirs) and pump infrastructure to secure pumpable water for use during drought.
• Expect evaporation to reduce surface water over the course of a drought; do not rely on lakes or streams once drought is underway.
• Consider game mode and long-term progression: later droughts are typically longer, and difficulty settings alter drought severity, so scale storage and redundancy accordingly.