Hello Elders!
The time has come for the second DLC of dotAGE! Trade Secrets is here! This DLC introduces mechanics I've been wanting to add since... probably 2016? So it was about time they saw the light!
Welcome to Trade Secrets!
New Memories!
Once you have purchased the DLC and updated the game to the latest version, when you start the game, you will notice that new memories have appeared in the memories menu! These memories are placed so to provide a nice progression flow, but, contrary to Folkways, you'll be able to play earlier with the content.
To help existing players, the first new memory (Expeditions) will cost zero memory points if you have already surpassed it, so you can start playing with the new exploration mechanics right away!
If you want to get to new stuff earlier, or if you are a new players that finds the amount to unlock too daunting, remember that you can enable the new "Fast Memories" option in the Accessibility settings in game.
Exploration!
Once you unlock the Expedition memory, you can start exploring the world outside!
The mechanics work as follows: once you build a Gate (for example, a Forest Gate), three new Expeditions will appear in the new Expedition menu. Each Expedition has a set of costs, and a number of required Pips to start. Once you start it, it will take a variable amount of days for Pips to go out and then return with (hopefully) some good stuff and (probably) some ugly ailment.
Remember that you might get all or none of the Rewards and Risks, as the percentages are independent.
The first type of Expedition is Exploration. Each Exploration can be pretty different from one another and provide different outputs, but they often have risks to them. Some specific Pips can mitigate the risks however! Some Traits, Boons, Jobs, and even Folks and VIPs can affect the chance for various expeditions, so decide with care who to send out (especially as they might not return!)
There are more than 100 Expeditions to find in the game, as more are unlocked by playing! I had a lot of fun in adding some... subtle (or not so subtle) movie references, as I always like to do. Also, some of the more advanced expeditions have sub-narratives of their own!
Trade!
Once you build a Gate and then connect through a road a Market to it from the "Basic Trade" memory, you will start seeing new strange Pips with what appears to be golden face masks appearing. Do not worry, they are the Goldlings! Lured by your markets, they will appear in your village by traveling on Roads to buy your hard earned resources in exchange for a new type of resource that it seems only them can produce: Coins!
These small rounded coin pieces are mostly useless to you (well, unless you play as Wanna, the Merchant), but they seem to be pretty useful for whoever lives in the outside world, as they will accept it as currency! You can thus access a second type of Expeditions: Trade, which has its own tab in the Expeditions panel.
Trade Expeditions usually require coins to work, and often a Trader or Merchant must go out (as they are the only ones that can haggle successfully, it seems)
Exotic Buildings!
Through Expeditions, you might find familiar resources, but sometimes you will also find new ones! Many new resources can only be obtained through expeditions and they are called Exotic. Alongside Exotic resources, you will also find Exotic buildings! These buildings can be pretty strong, and often produce exotic resources. Exotic resources can also be used for trade, as Goldings love them!
The DLC also adds a new track by Luigi, tied to the new buildings!
Equipment!
Trade Secrets also introduces a new 'riding equipment' mechanic! Some buildings will require a creature or machine (a new game element type) to be built, generally called 'equipment'. When a Pip works in a building with an Equipment, they will jump on it (or drag it, in some cases). Buildings that use equipment are generally stronger, and often can reach farther than usual. A horse hunter, for example, can efficiently hunt on the whole map!
The DLC introduces horses, boats, carts and harvesters to use as equipment, once you unlock their memories! I heard there is a way to however ride other creatures too...
Advanced Trade!
For the daring, and those that really want to make the most of the DLC, advanced trade mechanics are available under the form of an 'Export System'. Exports will require Stations to first collect resources and place them into barrels, and then special Exporter Markets will be needed to sell the barrels to the outside world.
The two building types have special rules for how they define the final coin output, and it will require a complex road connection!
Three new elders!
This DLC introduces three more elders to the world of dotAGE! They focus on the new mechanics in different ways, but remember you can also play with the new content with your existing elders!
The three elders are Grandma, Wanna, and Darwin. Let's meet them!
Grandma, the Green Thumb
She just wants to be left alone in her peaceful garden, grow her vegetables and knit! Grandma is a great cook and a proficient knitter, and she can make very nice recipes and easily makes advanced fabric in her own buildings.
This can be very useful, as Grandma has access to special Trade Expeditions that let you sell her work in exchange for coins, or for new buildings! The new buildings are picked from choices not in the research tree. Her Pips are also very flexible, and they can work in multiple buildings!
Of course, this does not come without costs! She has a few quirks that will mess with your usual strategies: her garden, while lush, is very small, and she cannot accept having more than ONE structure of each type (not counting upgrades). So, if you are used to just spam small buildings, though luck!
Wanna, the Merchant
Wanna is the best haggler in the world! She focused on making a lot of coins and has various ways to make a lot of money, and can even use coins in her village!
She also has access to more markets than other elders, so try to look for seasonal bargains, as in her story resources will change their Coin value each season (you can hover on resources to see the coin value!)
However, her Pips don't really like her that much, so they will also require a wage to work for her... or they will go on strike! Damn it, capitalism!
Darwin, the Explorer
At last, Darwin! He's been looking for a secret island all his life and has finally found it... the island has a very thick jungle, so thick that you cannot even see what is inside it from above! You will have to send your Pips into the jungle and cut some trees to reveal what is inside!
They say that long lost buildings are lurking there... and that one of them might be very, very valuable! Go and explore, but be wary of the jungle diseases!
Version 1.10: UX
The new version, as always, also bring some UX changes, here are the most important ones:
Due to popular demand, I added new hints to introduce all elders, both new and old, giving some direction to their gameplay quirks. This should help you get started with their novel mechanics, without spoiling too much about the strategy!
The end score screen now has tooltips that explain the different score types, as well as some additional information such as what type of Apocalypse you got, and who was the Rogue Domain
The side UI for buildings got a revamp with a fourth column that distinguishes whether buildings are activated or not, tooltips, as well as a list of buildings on hover
I redrew the birch trees so you now think of a tree when looking at it (yes, I saw that!)
More can be found in the complete changelog here:
V 1.10.0 Changelog :: dotAGE General Discussions
Now go play, then report back!
As always, I appreciate all feedback, and there might be some very... extreme edge cases with all the new combinations, so do come to Discord or to the discussion forums and share your thoughts!
Please make sure to report bugs here or on the Discord, I'll be monitoring the release and try to be swift with updates if something big slipped in!
Trade Secrets release trailer!
I also made a new trailer to show some of the new content for the occasion, you can share it on socials and help spread the word of dotAGE! All help with making more players be reached by dotAGE is important and very appreciated!
To celebrate the release of Trade Secrets, the base game will also appear today 3rd of June 2026 on a Daily Deal on Steam's home page, and will also be with its highest discount ever at 40% starting today for the next couple of weeks! So, if you have not yet played the base game, or if you have a friend that was waiting, it's time to make up for the lost time!
Have fun with Trade Secrets!
- Michele