Travel Time and Road Cost
How duration is calculated, travel bonuses including mount, stable, dragon, and ship, and how gold cost is set.
Related in Travel: World Map and Travel | Travel Time and Road Cost | Travel Restrictions | Enemy Territory Risk
Travel duration is based on map distance between your current city and destination city. Even the shortest route takes at least 1 minute.
Several bonuses can shorten the same journey when they apply to you. Mount level and alliance stable level are the reductions most travelers rely on. On top of those, seasoned adventurers may find extra savings:
- Dragon riders: Owning a dragon can shave time off any route. An elite dragon with the Giant Wings skill shortens it even more.
- Ship captains: If you own a ship and travel between sea cities, the voyage may go faster still.
When multiple bonuses apply, their travel-time reductions add together against the base route. How strong each bonus is, and how far you can push a long crossing, is something you will want to test yourself on the map.
Road cost is based on final duration after reductions, with a minimum of 1 gold. Entering a city with an alliance-governed castle can add a small road toll, paid to that alliance. See Castle Types and Rewards.
If you do not have enough gold, travel fails and location does not change. On success, travel cooldown is set to route duration.