Learn how to exploit a rare Anno 1404 AI bug where the computer gets stuck on an island with no Shipyard building space. Easily defeat them by cutting off their expansion.
Hey there! So, you've stumbled upon a weird little Anno 1404 quirk, huh? It's not exactly a mission, but more of a bug that can really mess with the AI. If you see the computer opponent stuck on an island with only two beaches, and they've blocked off the only one suitable for a Shipyard with Fisherman's Huts, you've found the 'I'm Trapped!' scenario. They're basically digging their own grave because they don't realize they need to demolish those huts to build the Shipyard and expand. It's a pretty easy win if you spot it early!
How it happens: The AI picks an island that's already pretty limited. It's got just two landing spots. One of them is where their main Warehouse is. They then slap down Fisherman's Huts on the other available beach. This is their undoing because it leaves them with literally no space to build the crucial Shipyard. They're too dense to figure out they need to tear down the huts and build the shipyard, so they just... stay there. Forever. Or at least until you show up and take them out.
Your Strategy: Honestly, if you see this happening, you've basically won. Just keep an eye on them. Since they can't build a Shipyard, they can't build any ships to attack you or even expand to other islands. You can pretty much just sail in whenever you're ready and route them. It usually doesn't take long to figure out their situation and capitalize on it. I've seen this happen and it's usually over within about 15 minutes of realizing what's going on.
- Keep an eye on your opponents' starting islands, especially early on. Sometimes you can spot these kinds of self-inflicted problems before they even become a real threat.
- Don't feel bad about exploiting this! It's a bug, and the AI isn't exactly playing fair if it can't even build a Shipyard.
- If you're playing a scenario where you need to take out a specific AI, and you notice this happening to them, it's a huge advantage. Focus your efforts elsewhere until you're ready to swoop in.
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