Quest: A Foothold in the Tropics

Quest: A Foothold in the Tropics

The New World beckons! This pivotal quest marks your expansion into the tropical regions, essential for unlocking advanced production chains and satisfying the evolving needs of your Old World citizens. Successfully establishing a foothold here is critical for your empire's long-term prosperity. This guide will walk you through each step, ensuring a smooth and efficient colonization.

Quest Objective: Establish a New World Settlement

Your primary goal is to found a new settlement in the New World. This isn't just about planting a flag; it's about creating a self-sustaining outpost that can feed resources back to your burgeoning Old World empire.

1. Locate the New World: Access the World Map (default key: 'M'). You will see a distinct region labeled "New World" to the west of your current Old World session. Click on it to travel there.
2. Select an Island: Upon arriving in the New World, you'll be presented with several islands. Look for an island with a good balance of fertility for Plantains and Sugarcane (both are crucial for this quest and future needs). Islands with ample space for expansion and a good harbor location are ideal. Consider islands with a high proportion of fertile land for future agricultural expansion.
3. Found Your First Settlement:
   • Navigate your flagship or a transport ship to the chosen island.
   • Click on the "Found Settlement" icon (looks like a small house with a flag) on your ship's action bar.
   • Place your initial Warehouse strategically. It should be close to the coastline for easy trade and ideally near fertile land for future farms.

Phase 1: Initial Infrastructure & Population

Once your Warehouse is built, you need to attract workers and begin basic production.

1. Build Farmer Residences:
   • Open the construction menu (default key: 'N').
   • Select the "Residences" tab.
   • Place at least 5-10 Farmer Residences near your Warehouse. These will attract Jornaleros, your New World workforce. Ensure they have access to basic needs like a Marketplace and a Chapel (though these aren't explicitly required for the quest, they are vital for keeping your population happy and productive).
2. Ensure Basic Needs are Met (Optional but Recommended): While not a direct quest objective, happy Jornaleros are productive Jornaleros. Consider building a Marketplace and a Chapel to satisfy their basic needs and prevent unrest.

Phase 2: Resource Production - Plantains & Rum

These two goods are the cornerstone of your New World economy and are specifically required to complete the quest.

1. Establish Plantain Production:
   • Open the construction menu.
   • Navigate to the "Farms" tab.
   • Select the "Plantain Plantation."
   • Place at least 2-3 Plantain Plantations on fertile land. Ensure they are within range of your Warehouse or a Trade Post for efficient collection. Each plantation requires Jornalero workers.
   • Strategy Tip: Plantain Plantations benefit greatly from Tractor Barns later in the game, but for now, focus on placing them efficiently.
2. Establish Rum Production:
   • Rum production is a two-step process: first Sugarcane, then Rum Distillery.
   • Build Sugarcane Plantations:
     • Open the construction menu, "Farms" tab.
     • Select the "Sugarcane Plantation."
     • Place at least 2-3 Sugarcane Plantations on fertile land. These will produce Sugarcane.
   • Build Rum Distilleries:
     • Open the construction menu, "Production" tab.
     • Select the "Rum Distillery."
     • Place at least 1-2 Rum Distilleries. Each distillery consumes Sugarcane and produces Rum. Ensure they are connected by roads to your Sugarcane Plantations and a Warehouse.
   • Strategy Tip: Aim for a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio of Sugarcane Plantations to Rum Distilleries to ensure a steady supply of raw materials.

Phase 3: Establishing a Trade Route

The final and most crucial step is to transport these vital New World goods back to your Old World population.

1. Acquire a Ship: If you don't already have one, build a Schooner or a Frigate in your Old World shipyard. Schooners are cost-effective for early trade routes.
2. Open the Trade Route Menu:
   • Access the World Map (default key: 'M').
   • Click on the "Trade Routes" icon (looks like two arrows forming a circle) in the bottom right corner.
   • Click "Add New Route."
3. Configure the Trade Route:
   • Select Ship: Assign your newly built ship (or an available one) to this route.
   • Add First Stop (New World): Click on your New World island's Warehouse.
     • Set the action to "Load."
     • Select "Plantains" and set the quantity to load (e.g., 50 tons).
     • Select "Rum" and set the quantity to load (e.g., 50 tons).
     • Important: Ensure your New World Warehouse has enough storage space and that production is active.
   • Add Second Stop (Old World): Click on your Old World island's Warehouse.
     • Set the action to "Unload."
     • Select "Plantains" and set the quantity to unload (e.g., 50 tons).
     • Select "Rum" and set the quantity to unload (e.g., 50 tons).
   • Name the Route: Give your route a clear name, e.g., "New World Imports."
   • Activate the Route: Click "Confirm" or "Start Route."
4. Monitor the Route: Keep an eye on your trade route. Ensure the ship is moving, loading, and unloading correctly. Adjust quantities as your Old World population grows and demands increase.

Common Pitfalls & Troubleshooting

• Insufficient Workforce: If your New World farms or distilleries aren't producing, check if you have enough Jornaleros. Build more Farmer Residences if needed.
• Lack of Fertility: Ensure your Plantain and Sugarcane Plantations are placed on fertile land. The game will indicate fertility when you select the building.
• Road Connections: All production buildings and residences need to be connected to a Warehouse or Trade Post via roads for goods to be transported.
• Ship Capacity: If your Old World is constantly running out of goods, your ship might not have enough capacity or the trade route might be too slow. Consider adding more ships to the route or upgrading to larger vessels.
• Pirates: The New World can have pirate activity. Ensure your trade ships are either escorted by military vessels or are fast enough to evade pirates, especially if carrying valuable goods.

Quest Completion & Rewards

Once you have successfully established your New World settlement, built the required production chains for Plantains and Rum, and set up a functional trade route to your Old World, the quest "A Foothold in the Tropics" will automatically complete.

Congratulations! You've successfully expanded your empire into the New World, securing vital resources and laying the groundwork for future prosperity. This opens up a wealth of new opportunities and challenges in Anno 1800.