: Released in 2012, San12 marked a significant departure from its predecessors by introducing real-time combat elements. Unlike the traditional turn-based tactics of earlier entries, players manage their armies on a live battlefield, requiring quick reflexes and real-time strategy (RTS) management.

This system was a direct response to complaints that SAN11 was too tedious. By reducing the amount of clicking required to maintain an economy, SAN12 allowed players to spend more time plotting conquests and less time balancing checkbooks.

In SAN12, cities are not just repositories for gold and food; they are industrial hubs. Players place facilities (Markets, Farms, Barracks, Workshops) into slots within a city. However, the twist is the interaction between these facilities. Placing a Market next to a Farm might yield bonus income, but placing it next to a Barracks might offer different benefits.