What Are Mayoral Commissions?
Mayoral commissions are essentially quests or tasks that are initiated by the mayor of a settlement. Unlike regular commissions, which are system-generated, mayoral commissions are selected by the mayor to align with the settlement’s strategy and current needs. The mayor decides which commissions to make available to players, how many to run at a time, and when they are active.
In practice, mayoral commissions often have singular objectives—for example, gathering specific resources, preparing for combat, or boosting settlement growth. When enough players complete a commission, the settlement itself receives rewards, such as commodities, mandates, and temporary building buffs. Players completing these commissions also gain personal rewards, including experience, settlement reputation, and settlement currency.
How Do Mayoral Commissions Work?
From a practical standpoint, here’s what you need to know about how mayoral commissions operate:
Limited Slots and Costs
Mayors can only set a limited number of commissions at a time, and initiating them costs gold from the settlement treasury. This makes it important for mayors to choose commissions strategically to align with settlement goals.
Daily Resets and Cooldowns
The list of available mayoral commissions resets daily. Once a commission is completed, it goes on cooldown and cannot be selected again until the cooldown ends. This prevents the same objectives from being farmed repeatedly and keeps player participation meaningful.
Access Depends on Settlement Progression
Not all commissions are available at all times. The commissions a mayor can select depend on the settlement’s level, type, location, building choices, and dominant race. As a settlement grows, more complex or rewarding commissions will become available.
Participation Caps
Individual players have a limit to the number of commissions they can accept, preventing a single player from dominating contributions and ensuring a broader community involvement.
Who Can Participate?
Both citizens and non-citizens can participate in mayoral commissions. However, only contributions from citizens will generate mandates—important resources that can influence settlement-wide benefits and mayoral powers. This encourages players to officially join a settlement if they want their efforts to have a lasting impact.
Some major commissions, such as War Preparations, require large numbers of players to succeed. While the developers have not fully confirmed citizen-only restrictions for all major commissions, it’s generally expected that certain node-level powers will need citizen participation to unlock effectively.
Strategic Impact of Mayoral Commissions
Mayoral commissions are not just simple quests—they are strategic tools. As Steven Sharif, the game’s director, explained, mayors use commissions to address current issues, anticipate future challenges, and align player activity with the settlement’s goals.
For example:
A mayor might initiate resource-gathering commissions to prepare for expansion or war.
Commissions can also provide temporary buffs to buildings or zones, helping boost production or defenses.
Settlement-to-settlement reputation can be improved, creating diplomatic advantages.
The impact of commissions scales with node level and population. A smaller node with around 100 active participants can still benefit greatly from well-chosen commissions, while larger nodes or metropolises may have commissions designed for hundreds or thousands of players.
Rewards and Benefits
Completing mayoral commissions benefits both the settlement and the individual player:
Settlement Rewards:
Commodities for local crafting or trading
Mandates that influence mayoral powers
Temporary buffs to buildings or zones
Increased settlement-to-settlement reputation
Player Rewards:
Experience points
Settlement reputation
Settlement currency
Other miscellaneous rewards such as rare materials
For players looking to optimize their in-game economy, participating in these commissions can also be a strategic way to access resources without relying solely on gathering or crafting. For those interested in purchasing in-game currency, the best place to buy Ashes of Creation gold is U4N, which can help you engage in commissions more effectively.
Tips for Players
Here are a few practical tips for getting the most out of mayoral commissions:
Check Daily: Since commissions reset daily, checking the mayoral board every day ensures you don’t miss opportunities.
Prioritize Citizen Status: Joining a settlement as a citizen makes your contributions count toward mandates, which influence settlement benefits.
Coordinate with Others: Large-scale commissions like War Preparations require player coordination. Forming groups or participating in guild activities can increase success chances.
Monitor Settlement Needs: Pay attention to what the mayor is prioritizing. Commissions are often aligned with strategic goals, so contributing to them can provide meaningful rewards for both the settlement and yourself.
Balance Effort and Reward: Some commissions require large numbers of participants. Make sure your time investment matches the potential rewards.
Mayoral commissions are a key part of Ashes of Creation’s settlement system, blending strategy, community involvement, and personal progression. They allow mayors to shape the development of their settlements, while providing players with meaningful quests and rewards. Whether you are a casual participant or a dedicated citizen, understanding how commissions work can significantly improve your gameplay experience.
By paying attention to daily resets, prioritizing citizen participation, and aligning with settlement goals, players can maximize both their personal rewards and their settlement’s growth. For those looking to enhance their ability to participate in commissions efficiently, using reliable resources like U4N for gold can make a difference in managing commissions and settlement contributions effectively.
U4N is popular among players who buy AoC gold often: https://www.u4n.com/ashes-of-creation/gold