Hmm, could a comment be read by a programmer? I wonder.
The viking is a sense of forging an empire. The idea alone would be a normal advancement.
This is build - produce x4 - delete - unlock - build - produce x4 - delete - unlock etc, etc...
Unless diamonds are spent. Advancement and completion is impossible.
Could you just ask players to spend 1000 diamonds to enter this section. then they will know that diamonds are required to complete this within the given time frame.
AND IMPEDIMENTS IN THE MAIN CAMP - REALLY.
Even programmers 50 years ago knew enough to test their software before it went out.
Yes I programmed in COBOL back in the '70s. And yes PONG was cool.
I agree that Settlements are the grindiest bunch of grind that INNO ever ground.
You're wrong regarding diamonds. Two guilds on two worlds, Guildies are flying through Settlements some already started their third and none spending Diamonds. This thread is packed with players who are finishing Settlements without Diamonds.
If you're interested in learning how to reduce the grinding to the most grindless state, I'd recommend wandering over to the Questions Forum and asking for help and tips. You'll find the Settlement grinders over there are helpful and well grounded.
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You know what isn't grindy? Hitting those boosts to Goods production! This was a spectacular idea / addition by INNO. Hitting a couple of those in a day sure accelerates the process, makes it much less grindsome.
This post is dedicated to whetstones everywhere, I feel your pain..