Tavern Keeper arcane orders allow you to automate supply replenishment across your tavern so your staff handles orders without manual shopping. Introduced by developer Greenheart Games in Major Update 1 ("A New Hue"), the Arcane Order system replaces constant manual micro-purchases of drinks, sides, and kitchen ingredients with scheduled, threshold-based delivery contracts.
To operate the system, you sign an arcane contract with a supplier on the world map, construct a dedicated in-tavern order desk, and configure item thresholds and budget limits.
How to Unlock and Set Up Arcane Orders
Automating your deliveries requires both an external contract and internal tavern infrastructure.
- Sign a Contract on the World Map: Open the world map and locate the external merchant or specialty shop selling the goods you need. Sign an Arcane Order contract with the vendor. In campaign play (such as the Halflington scenario), contracts carry an ongoing daily usage fee, such as 20 gold per day. Active contract shops display a distinct magical glow on the world map.
- Build an Arcane Order Desk: Place an Arcane Order Desk inside your tavern. This workstation is required so that designated staff members can consult ledger records and channel magical incantations to dispatch orders. If active orders exist without an accessible desk, the game issues a "No Arcane Order Desk" alert.
- Configure Item Thresholds: Open the Arcane Orders interface to select which items the contract should monitor, setting both your safety buffer and your target ceiling.
- Assign Available Budget and Reserves: Allocate a daily maximum budget along with a safety cash reserve to prevent automatic purchases from bankrupting your establishment during slow service shifts.
Arcane Order Settings and Controls
The Arcane Order menu provides several strategic parameters to regulate spending and delivery traffic:
| Setting | Function | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Stock | The trigger threshold that prompts staff to reorder when supplies fall below this number. | Prevents menu outages. Must be set higher for goods from distant vendors. |
| Desired Stock | The upper quantity staff aim to reach when a new shipment arrives. | Prevents overstocking storerooms while ensuring enough stock for peak hours. |
| Delivery Times | Specifies the exact time window in which shipments arrive at the tavern. | Concentrates delivery arrivals so hauling staff can store goods promptly. |
| Daily Budget | Caps the maximum gold spent through the automated contract per day. | Prevents surprise cash drains if consumption suddenly spikes. |
| Money Reserve | Establishes an untouchable cash floor below which orders will pause. | Protects your balance sheet from dipping into loan default or bankruptcy. |
| Priority | Sets order fulfillment order among competing items. | Ensures critical base ingredients (like flour or house ale) process ahead of luxuries. |
The cost and maintenance of Arcane Orders scale directly with the game's difficulty settings, requiring tighter financial buffers on higher difficulties.
Managing Vendor Distance and Delivery Latency
A common challenge highlighted in player forum discussions is delivery lag. The Arcane Order system issues purchase requests the moment your stored inventory dips below the minimum threshold. However, items do not arrive instantly.
Different vendors on the world map carry different travel times. A nearby regional shop might deliver in 2 to 3 hours, whereas distant suppliers (such as specialized mountain or food markets) can take between 14 hours and two full in-game days to reach your door.
If your minimum threshold is set too low (for example, setting a minimum of 40 barrels when peak service consumes 30 barrels a day), your tavern will run out of stock 10 to 14 hours before the shipment arrives.
To keep service flowing smoothly:
- Pad the Minimum Limit: For shops located over 18 hours away, raise the minimum stock trigger so that staff trigger the order while you still have a full day's cushion on the shelves.
- Factor in Spoilage: When increasing desired maximums for perishable kitchen ingredients (such as mutton or baking flour), ensure your storage space is equipped with cooling fountains to avoid spoilage losses while waiting for batches to cook.
- Coordinate Delivery Windows: Set the delivery arrival window during hours when your janitors, dogsbodies, or off-peak servers have light workloads, ensuring crates do not sit outside on the pavement.
Staff Interaction and Kitchen Integration
Once configured, staff members automatically handle the workflow. In gameplay tests, assigned workers walk to the Arcane Order Desk, pause to consult ledger papers, and perform a brief incantation animation to cast the order out to the world map.
When orders arrive:
- Unloaded items generate transit icons in the larder overview, allowing you to track incoming ingredients before they hit your shelves.
- Dedicated haulers or general staff move items into corresponding storage racks, large barrel racks, or larder hooks.
- Cooks can draw directly from the incoming buffer to supply roasting spits, soup pots, and bread ovens without menu disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What goods can you order through Arcane Orders?
Arcane Orders support a variety of consumable inventory across unlocked world map vendors, including drink kegs, side ingredients like flour for bread, and meat cuts like mutton or poultry for roasts and stews.
Why are my Arcane Orders failing to arrive on time?
Shipments usually fall behind when the supplier's travel distance exceeds the time it takes your customers to deplete your minimum stock buffer. Increase your minimum stock setting in the contract menu so your staff places the order earlier. In addition, verify that your tavern funds have not dropped below your configured money reserve.
Does the Arcane Order Desk require a dedicated employee role?
No dedicated specialist role is strictly required, but staff capable of administrative tasks must have physical access to the desk. Ensure the desk is not blocked by interior walls, storage clutter, or restricted door permissions.
