No mana required yet in either Spire or tourney. Just orcs. Sitting at the end of 9 waiting for FA to start. Craft them Festival Merchants in MA!
What everyone else said. You'll need tons of mana, so craft the Festival Merchants before you're out of chapter 10, as Dreamyn said. At one point, I had 15 FMs out all producing mana (I saved space for them by not crafting any willows, which give less mana per square than FMs). Once I needed seeds instead of mana (when I got my dragon abbey leveled, the need for mana dropped off considerably), then I just replaced them with new seed producers from the MA, in order to save my restorations. I have 10 seed producing FMs in my city right now, which helps to keep up with the insane seed needs in Constructs.
The only possible downside is that FMs will give you less culture than the Willows. If you are relying on those Willows for a lot of your culture you will take a hit there. But from a mana production standpoint, there is no downside. The FMs are straight up better at mana production. Also, from your post it sounds like you have not gotten the Woodelves settlement built yet. Once you get the guest race buildings in place they will require mana to work, so factor that into your planning.Is there any downside to replacing Willows with FMs for mana? I've got 7 Willows and 3 FMs atm, but I robbed the space for the FMs from what I was saving for the portal and manus. If there's no downside, I will replace Willows with FMs. So far, I'm producing more than enough mana to pay for technologies and other expenses.
What Henroo said. The only downside is less culture. But almost everyone can fit an extra 1 square or 2 square culture building in the nooks and crannies for extra culture, if they need it. Or else just upgrade streets. I usually keep my culture above 160, so I didn't miss it.Is there any downside to replacing Willows with FMs for mana? I've got 7 Willows and 3 FMs atm, but I robbed the space for the FMs from what I was saving for the portal and manus. If there's no downside, I will replace Willows with FMs. So far, I'm producing more than enough mana to pay for technologies and other expenses.
Is there any downside to replacing Willows with FMs for mana?