Axeshop

From HiveWiki

The Axeshop is where the vassals produce axes for your army.

Axeshop requires Guardhouse Size 5

Axes are produced at a rate 1/5 of Axeshop defensive value.. your vassals just sit in the Axeshop and make them; 1 axe per hour per 5 units of work (health point). The storage of axes is guarded against pillages by the vassals in your Garrison (all weapons are guarded there).

Stronger weapons provide a 50% bonus in both attack and defense. An armed vassal (regardless of type) always has an advantage (50% bonus) over an unarmed one.

[edit] Which weapons are better

Axes are better in combat than pikes, but worse than swords.

Pikes > Swords but < Axes
Swords > Axes but < Pikes
Axes > Pikes but < Swords

or put another way

Axes > Pikes > Swords
Pikes > Swords > Axes
Swords > Axes > Pikes

This seems to add a "rock, paper, scissors" element to the game. In practice the best defensive arrangement will have a balance of all three weapons, but there will usually be an imbalance that an attacker might take advantage of by arming all attackers with the most advantageous weapon. This can only be determined by trial and error, but may allow a seize that would otherwise be impossible i.e. if the vassal to be seized is armed with pikes and all attackers are armed with axes the attack may be strong enough to seize when it would otherwise fail.