Metalled Roads are a type of road in Napoleon: Total War.
Description[]
A metalled road is surfaced with small broken stones, providing a long-lasting roadway for military and civilian traffic.
The road is actually constructed in layers of differently sized stones, starting with large rocks as the foundation, and layers of smaller stones on top. Each layer is compressed when it is laid with a heavy roller. The end result is a solid path that can drain clearly, as there are always small gaps for rainwater to trickle through. This method is often used for the key strategic and commercial routes between cities and defence points. Tolls are often charged to users of such excellent roads and turnpikes, as they are often constructed for profit. Metalled roads in a region allow military forces to travel with great speed.
Technically, "metalled roads" do not require a tarmac surface to be termed "metalled": a concrete surface is also a metalled road. Roads were only covered in "tarmac" after 1820, when the idea of using tar to stabilise the top layer of stones was tried by John Loudon McAdam (1756-1836). His idea was a success, although a "McAdamised" finish was not called "tarmac" until 1901!
General Information[]
Metalled roads double the effects of cobbled roads at the price of being three times as expensive, so they are, in terms of economic benefits, much less worthwhile of an investment. However, their other advantages are quite powerful: a 5% replenishment rate is nearly as good as that of a Supply Post, and the increased movement range greatly increases the speed with which armies can attack and defend. Like other roads, metalled roads cannot be destroyed or damaged.
Metalled roads pay for themselves after 55-71 turns, depending on tax rate. This is very slow compared to most other buildings. Like all roads, basic roads are a double-edged sword when it comes to movement: while they allow the player's armies to reach destinations more quickly, the same goes for hostile armies, allowing them to attack deeper into friendly territory.
The Peninsular Campaign[]
In The Peninsular Campaign, metalled roads require 2,250 gold and 10 turns to build.