Anno 1800
Anno 1800

Old World Strategies

Master Anno 1800 Old World strategies. Learn efficient island selection and layout to build a robust economy and prepare for New World expansion.

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Old World Strategies

The Old World serves as the foundation of your empire in Anno 1800. Mastering its early game and efficient expansion is crucial for long-term success. This section will guide you through establishing a robust economy, managing your population, and preparing for the challenges of the New World.

Initial Island Selection & Layout

Your starting island choice can significantly impact your early game. Look for islands with:

  • Fertility for Hops and Grains: These are essential for Beer and Schnapps, crucial early-game goods.
  • Clay Deposits: For Brick production, vital for construction.
  • Iron Ore Deposits: For Steel production, a mid-game necessity.
  • Ample Coastline: For Fishing Huts and future harbor expansion.

When laying out your initial settlement, prioritize efficiency:

  • Centralize Services: Place your Marketplace, Fire Station, and Police Station in a central location to cover as many residences as possible.
  • Residential Blocks: Build houses in compact blocks to maximize service coverage and minimize road usage. A common strategy is a 2x2 or 3x3 block of houses with roads on all sides.
  • Industrial Zones: Segregate your production buildings from residential areas to minimize negative attractiveness and pollution. Use the "Shift" key while placing buildings to see their influence radius.

Early Game Economic Stability (Tier 1 & 2)

Focus on fulfilling the basic needs of your Farmers and Workers to ensure a steady income and population growth.

Farmers (Tier 1)

Your first priority is to satisfy your Farmers' needs:

  • Fish: Build Fishing Huts along the coastline. Aim for 2-3 huts initially per 100 Farmers.
  • Schnapps:
    • Establish a Potato Farm.
    • Build a Schnapps Distillery.
    • Ensure a smooth supply chain with Warehouses strategically placed to minimize transport time.
  • Work Clothes:
    • Set up a Sheep Farm for Wool production.
    • Construct a Wool Weaver.

Once these needs are met, your Farmers will upgrade to Workers, unlocking new buildings and demands.

Workers (Tier 2)

Workers introduce more complex demands. Efficiently meeting these will be key to your expansion.

  • Sausages:
    • Build a Pig Farm.
    • Construct a Slaughterhouse.
  • Soap:
    • Requires Tallow from Pig Farms (same as Sausages).
    • Build a Soap Factory.
  • Bread:
    • Establish a Grain Farm.
    • Build a Flour Mill.
    • Construct a Bakery.
  • Beer:
    • Set up a Hop Farm.
    • Build a Malt House.
    • Construct a Brewery.

Pro-Tip: use the "Production Statistics" menu (accessible via the top bar) to monitor supply and demand. Overproducing early goods like Fish and Schnapps can be a good way to generate passive income through trade with neutral traders like Archibald Blake or Madame Kahina.

Advanced Old World Production Chains

As your population grows and you attract Artisans and Engineers, your Old World production will become more intricate. Plan ahead for these demands:

Artisans (Tier 3)

Artisans require a significant jump in production complexity, often involving multiple steps and resources.

  • Canned Food: Requires Pigs (from Pig Farms), Iron Ore (from Iron Mines), and Coal (from Coal Mines). These are processed in a Cannery.
  • Spectacles: Requires Glass (from Sand Mines and Glassworks) and Copper (from Copper Mines). Processed in an Optician.
  • Sewing Machines: Requires Iron Ore, Coal, and Wood. Processed in a Sewing Machine Factory.

Engineers (Tier 4)

Engineers demand high-end goods, often relying on global trade routes and advanced manufacturing.

  • Light Bulbs: Requires Glass (from Sand Mines and Glassworks), Tungsten (from Tungsten Mines in the New World), and Filaments (from Filament Factories).
  • Telephones: Requires Copper (from Copper Mines), Rubber (from Rubber Plantations in the New World), and Plastic (from Oil Refineries and Chemical Plants).

Key Strategy: As you progress, consider specializing islands for specific production chains. For example, an island rich in Iron and Coal could become your primary Steel production hub, while another focuses on agricultural goods.

Trade Routes and Diplomacy

Efficient trade is vital for Old World prosperity. Establish trade routes early to move goods between your islands and to import necessary resources.

  • Internal Trade: Use schooners and cargo ships to transport goods between your own islands. Prioritize high-demand items.
  • External Trade: Engage with neutral traders.
    • Archibald Blake: Often buys surplus early-game goods like Fish and Schnapps.
    • Madame Kahina: Can be a good source for specific items or to offload excess.
  • AI Opponents: Maintain good diplomatic relations with friendly AI. They can offer valuable trade opportunities and even provide military support if needed. Be wary of aggressive AI, as they can disrupt your trade routes.

Remember, the Old World is your economic engine. A well-planned and efficiently run Old World will provide the resources and capital needed to explore, colonize, and dominate the New World and beyond.