Smelly Joe

Initial Setup: Upon starting, if you have only a ship or an escort, you begin near Lord Northburgh's Warehouse. Purchase all available wood and, for an aggressive start, sell fish to buy as many tools as possible.

Island Selection: Settle on a large, flat island with no lakes, close to a neutral port, 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.

First Settlement: Immediately after landing, build three woodcutters near your warehouse port, ensuring they have space to operate at 100%. Plant trees around them if needed. Build two Fisherman's Huts connected to the port.

Housing and Taxes: Construct a Marketplace and surround it with as many houses as your wood supply allows. Increase taxes from 'Euphoric' to 'Happy' as houses fill, then to 'Calm' once full to maximize income. Lower taxes back to 'Euphoric' for ascension.

Cider Production: Once 60 peasants settle, build one or two Cider farms. Cider increases tax revenue and is required for citizens. Do not build a Chapel until peasants are satisfied with cider.

Exploration: Send your Flagship to explore the archipelago to discover all islands and claim good ones. Visit Northburgh, purchase a Diplomatic Scroll with honor points, and buy more Tools and Wood.

Diplomatic Mission: Find Al Zahir's harbor and deliver the Diplomatic Scroll to receive a Caravel with Tools, Wood, and Dates. Use this ship to aid in building Stone and Tool production or to start your Oriental settlement.

Stone and Tool Production: Prioritize producing Stone and Tools to reduce reliance on NPCs. Block ascension after reaching 16 Citizen houses to conserve tools. Build Stonemason's huts and an Iron Ore mine, then Tool maker's workshops.

Citizen Needs: Once Tool production is stable, satisfy Citizen needs for Linen Garments (Hemp Farms and Weavers Huts) and Ropes (Hemp Farms and Rope Yards). Set up a second Tool chain.

Fire Protection: After passing 355 Citizens, ensure all houses are covered by Carpenters or Fire stations. Prioritize Fire stations due to lower maintenance costs.

Oriental Development: Settle a large Oriental island with Spices and Dates fertilities. Build 10 Nomad Houses for Spice production and a Date plantation. Deliver Spices to your northern island via trade route. Aim for 440 Nomads for building access and honor rewards. Build Milk farms and consider a Stonecutter's hut.

Northern Development: With Spices, Citizens can become Patricians. Settle a new northern island with Brine deposits, a river, and Crop/Herb fertilities. Build production chains for Bread, Beer, and Leather Jerkins, and establish trade routes. Upgrade trading fleets of Al Vizir and Northburgh.