Anno 1800
Anno 1800

Optimal Island Chains

Create efficient production chains in Anno 1800. This guide details optimal island chains for specialized production and resource management.

·Multi-source verified (88/88)

Optimal Island Chains

Mastering Anno 1800's complex production chains often means looking beyond a single island's capabilities. An "Optimal Island Chain" refers to a strategically linked group of islands, each specializing in a particular stage of a production process, maximizing efficiency, minimizing travel time, and leveraging unique island resources. This guide will walk you through establishing robust island chains for key goods.

Phase 1: Early Game Foundations (Farmers & Workers)

Your initial island chain focuses on securing basic needs and raw materials for your burgeoning population. The goal here is self-sufficiency for core goods.

  • Main Island (Capital): This should be your largest island with fertile land for Potatoes, Grain, and Hops. Prioritize a large buildable area for housing and public services.
    • Production: Schnapps, Bread, Beer (eventually).
    • Imports: Wood (if your capital lacks sufficient forest), Clay (for Bricks).
  • Secondary Resource Island (Wood & Clay): Settle a nearby island rich in forest and clay deposits. This island doesn't need extensive fertile land.
    • Production: Timber (from Lumberjack's Huts and Sawmills), Bricks (from Clay Pits and Brick Factories).
    • Exports: Timber and Bricks to your Main Island.
    • Population: Keep this island populated with just enough Farmers to staff the production buildings. Minimal services are required.
  • Trade Route Setup:
    • Establish a simple trade route using a Schooner.
    • Route: Secondary Resource Island (Load Timber, Load Bricks) -> Main Island (Unload Timber, Unload Bricks).
    • Maintenance: Monitor stock levels at your Main Island's warehouse. Adjust cargo slots or add more ships as demand increases.

Phase 2: Mid-Game Expansion (Artisans & Engineers)

As your population grows to Artisans and Engineers, new, more complex goods are required. This phase introduces specialized production islands and the need for Old World and New World integration.

  • Old World Specialized Production Island (Steel & Advanced Goods): Look for an island with abundant Iron Ore and Coal deposits. This island will become your industrial heartland.
    • Production: Iron (from Iron Mines and Charcoal Kilns/Coal Mines), Steel (from Steelworks), Weapons, Steam Motors, Advanced Weapons, etc.
    • Imports: Wood (for Charcoal Kilns if no Coal is available), Hops (for Beer if not produced on Main Island).
    • Exports: All manufactured goods back to your Main Island.
    • Population: Primarily Workers and Artisans to staff factories. Ensure good fire department coverage due to the high risk of industrial fires.
  • New World Resource Island (Cotton & Sugarcane): Discover and settle an island in the New World with high fertility for Cotton and Sugarcane.
    • Production: Cotton (from Cotton Plantations), Sugarcane (from Sugarcane Plantations).
    • Exports: Raw Cotton and Sugarcane to your Old World islands.
    • Population: Jornaleros and Obreros. Provide basic needs like Fish and Rum.
  • New World Processing Island (Rum & Cotton Fabric): A second New World island, ideally near your resource island, can process raw goods.
    • Production: Rum (from Sugarcane and Rum Distilleries), Cotton Fabric (from Cotton and Spinning Mills).
    • Exports: Rum and Cotton Fabric to your Old World islands.
    • Population: Jornaleros and Obreros.
  • Intercontinental Trade Routes:
    • Utilize Clippers or Steam Cargo Ships for these longer routes.
    • Route 1 (New World Raw Materials): New World Resource Island (Load Cotton, Load Sugarcane) -> New World Processing Island (Unload Cotton, Unload Sugarcane).
    • Route 2 (New World Processed Goods): New World Processing Island (Load Rum, Load Cotton Fabric) -> Old World Main Island (Unload Rum, Unload Cotton Fabric).
    • Optimization: Consider using the "Anarchist" specialist, Lady Banes (obtainable from Eli Bleakworth's Research Institute or quests), to boost cargo capacity on your New World trade ships.

Phase 3: Late Game Refinement (Investors & Advanced Production)

With Investors, the demands for luxury goods and advanced components skyrocket. This phase focuses on highly efficient, specialized islands and global trade.

  • Jewellery & Gramophone Island: Dedicate an Old World island with Gold Ore and Copper deposits.
    • Production: Gold (from Gold Mines), Copper (from Copper Mines), Jewellery (from Gold and Jewellery Factories), Gramophones (from Copper, Wood, and Gramophone Factories).
    • Imports: Wood (for Gramophones), Zinc (for Brass, if needed for other items).
    • Exports: Jewellery and Gramophones to your Main Island.
    • Specialists: Employ Feras Alsarami, the Master Craftsman (from Eli Bleakworth or Research Institute), in your Jewellery Factories for increased output and reduced workforce.
  • Advanced New World Production (Coffee & Cigars): Expand your New World holdings to include islands with Coffee and Tobacco fertility.
    • Production: Coffee Beans (from Coffee Plantations), Coffee (from Coffee Roasters), Tobacco (from Tobacco Plantations), Cigars (from Tobacco and Cigar Factories).
    • Exports: Coffee and Cigars to your Old World Main Island.
    • Optimization: Use the "The Perfumier" specialist (from Research Institute or quests) in your Cigar Factories to produce Perfume as a byproduct, satisfying another Investor need.
  • Arctic/Enbesa Integration: As you unlock the Arctic and Enbesa, integrate their unique resources (Gas, Fur, Wanza Wood, Hibiscus) into your chains.
    • Arctic: Establish Gas production for power and Airships. Fur for Coats.
    • Enbesa: Wanza Wood for advanced construction, Hibiscus for Tea.
    • Trade: Use Airships for rapid, direct transport of high-value goods like Gas and Furs, bypassing naval blockades.
  • Global Trade Network:
    • Establish robust trade routes using Great Easterns for high-volume, long-distance transport.
    • Prioritize: Luxury goods (Coffee, Cigars, Jewellery, Gramophones) for Investor populations.
    • Balance: Ensure sufficient raw materials are flowing to your specialized production islands.
    • Monitoring: Utilize the "Trade Routes" menu extensively to identify bottlenecks and optimize ship assignments. Consider setting minimum stock levels in warehouses to prevent shortages.