Master Anno 1404's 'Dark Green' phase with this comprehensive walkthrough. Learn island selection, resource management, citizen needs, and Oriental development.
This section of the Anno 1404 Wiki provides a detailed walkthrough for the 'Dark Green' phase of the game, focusing on continuous gameplay mechanics similar to the Campaign and Scenarios. While there are no specific story elements, random quests may be offered by NPCs.
Walkthrough
- 1Starting Out: If you begin with only a ship or an escort, purchase all available wood from Lord Northburgh's Warehouse. For an aggressive start, also buy all available tools.
- 2Island Selection: Settle on a large, flat island with no lakes, centrally located, and possessing Cider and Hemp fertilities, along with at least two deposits each of Stone and Iron Ore. Settle on the southern end for initial deliveries.
- 3First Settlement: Immediately after establishing your warehouse, build three woodcutters connected by roads. Build two Fisherman's Huts connected to the port. Construct a Marketplace and surround it with as many houses as you have wood for. Increase taxes to 'Happy' or 'Calm' as your housing fills, and revert to 'Euphoric' for ascension. Build Cider farms once 60 peasants settle; a Chapel is only needed once peasants are satisfied with cider.
- 4Exploration: Use your Flagship to explore the archipelago, claiming good islands. Visit Northburgh, purchase a Diplomatic Scroll with honor, and buy more Wood and Tools. Deliver the scroll to Al Zahir to receive a Caravel with resources for building or starting an Oriental settlement.
- 5Stone and Tool Production: Prioritize producing Stone and Tools independently. Block ascension after reaching 16 Citizen houses (240 capacity). Build basic needs: Fish, Cider, and a Chapel. Construct Stonemason's huts for stone and then build your Tool chain: Iron Ore mine, Charcoal burner, and two Tool maker's workshops connected to a Market.
- 6Satisfying Citizen Needs: Once Tool production is stable, focus on Linen Garments (Hemp Farms and Weavers Huts) and Ropes (Hemp Farms and Rope Yards) for sale. Set up a second Tool chain. After passing 355 Citizens, ensure all houses are covered by Carpenters or Fire stations, prioritizing Fire stations due to lower maintenance.
- 7Developing the Orient: Settle a large Oriental island with Spices and Dates fertilities. Build 10 Nomad Houses, a Date plantation with a Noria (if in a desert), and 2-3 Spice plantations. Deliver Spices to your northern island via a Trade Route. Aim for 440 Nomads to unlock buildings and gain honor. Build Milk farms for tax income. A Stonecutter's hut is useful for upgrades and defenses.
- 8Developing the North Further: With Spices, Citizens can become Patricians. Settle a new northern island with Brine deposits, a river, and Crops/Herbs fertilities. Produce Bread (Crop Farms, Mill, Bakery), Beer (Monastery Garden, Crop Farm, Monastery Brewery), and Leather Jerkins (Pigs, Salt Mine, Salt Works, Charcoal Burner, Tannery). Sell surplus goods. Upgrade trading fleets of Al Vizir and Northburgh with honor points.
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