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Anno 1404

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Master Anno 1404 with our comprehensive walkthrough. Learn how to find the perfect island, establish your first settlement, and manage resources for optimal growth.

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Master Anno 1404 with our comprehensive walkthrough. Learn how to find the perfect island, establish your first settlement, and manage resources for optimal growth.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Initial Setup: If starting with a ship, purchase all available wood from Lord Northburgh's Warehouse. Consider buying tools as well for an aggressive start.
  2. 2
    Island Selection: Look for a large, flat island with no lakes, close to a neutral port, centrally located, and possessing Cider and Hemp fertility, along with at least two deposits each of Stone and Iron Ore. Settle on the southern end.
  3. 3
    First Settlement: Immediately build three woodcutters near your warehouse, ensuring they have space and are supplied with trees. Build two Fisherman's Huts connected to the port.
  4. 4
    Housing and Taxes: Construct a Marketplace and surround it with as many houses as your wood supply allows. Increase taxes from 'Euphoric' to 'Happy' to encourage new settlers while increasing revenue. Once houses are full, raise taxes to 'Calm' but revert to 'Euphoric' for ascension.
  5. 5
    Cider Production: Once 60 peasants have settled, build one or two Cider farms. This increases tax revenue and is necessary for citizen ascension. A Chapel is only needed after citizens are satisfied with cider.
  6. 6
    Exploration: Use your Flagship to explore the archipelago and claim good islands. Visit Northburgh again to buy a Diplomatic Scroll (using honor gained from reaching 90 peasants). Purchase more wood and tools if available.
  7. 7
    Oriental Relations: Find Al Zahir's harbor, deliver the Diplomatic Scroll to receive a Caravel with Tools, Wood, and Dates. Use this to start your Oriental settlement or aid your main island's construction.
  8. 8
    Stone and Tool Production: Prioritize producing Stone and Tools independently. Build Stonemason's huts and an Iron Ore mine, Charcoal burner, and Tool maker's workshops. Limit house ascensions to conserve tools.
  9. 9
    Citizen Needs: Once Tool production is stable, satisfy Citizen needs for Linen Garments (Hemp Farms and Weavers Huts) and Ropes (Hemp Farms and Rope Yards). Set up a second Tool chain. Implement Fire protection (Carpenters or Fire stations) once you pass 355 Citizens.
  10. 10
    Developing the Orient: Settle a large Oriental island with Spices and Dates fertility. Build 10 Nomad Houses, Date plantations, and Spice plantations. Trade Spices to your northern island. Aim for 440 Nomads for building access and honor rewards. Build Milk farms for tax income.
  11. 11
    Developing the North Further: With Spices, Citizens can progress to Patrician level. Settle a new northern island with Brine deposits, a river, and Crop and Herb fertility. Produce Bread, Beer, and Leather Jerkins, selling surplus. Upgrade trading fleets of Al Vizir and Northburgh with Honor points.
Tips
  • Restart if an AI claims the best island early, unless you seek a challenge.
  • Place Trees around woodcutters to ensure they operate at 100% efficiency.
  • Build Harbor Master's Offices on multiple sides of your main island for faster deliveries later.
  • Sell surplus goods like Ropes and Linen Garments to earn steady income.
  • Use Fire stations instead of Carpenters for fire protection to minimize maintenance costs until late game.
The primary reward for following this walkthrough is efficient island development, increased tax income, and the ability to progress through the game's tiers, unlocking new buildings and challenges.

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