or hurts all your rivals. In the end you want to have the most prestigious buildings.

The worker timetrack is the key mechanism. Each of your choices costs a number of your workers a number of months. Your workers can spend time on:

Improving skills to build with wood (saw tool), stone (trowel tool) and glass (blowing tool).
Building houses or special projects.
Getting a new worker or exercising to become a stronger worker.
Going on vacation. Standard (6′ x 30″) None – Will Teach (Learn to Play)