Optimal Island Chains

Create efficient production chains in Anno 1800. This guide details optimal island chains for specialized production and resource management.

Mastering Anno 1800's complex production chains often means looking beyond a single island's capabilities. An "Optimal Island Chain" refers to a strategically linked group of islands, each specializing in a particular stage of a production process, maximizing efficiency, minimizing travel time, and leveraging unique island resources. This guide will walk you through establishing robust island chains for key goods.

Phase 1: Early Game Foundations (Farmers & Workers)

Your initial island chain focuses on securing basic needs and raw materials for your burgeoning population. The goal here is self-sufficiency for core goods.

• Main Island (Capital): This should be your largest island with fertile land for Potatoes, Grain, and Hops. Prioritize a large buildable area for housing and public services.
  • Production: Schnapps, Bread, Beer (eventually).
  • Imports: Wood (if your capital lacks sufficient forest), Clay (for Bricks).
• Secondary Resource Island (Wood & Clay): Settle a nearby island rich in forest and clay deposits. This island doesn't need extensive fertile land.
  • Production: Timber (from Lumberjack's Huts and Sawmills), Bricks (from Clay Pits and Brick Factories).
  • Exports: Timber and Bricks to your Main Island.
  • Population: Keep this island populated with just enough Farmers to staff the production buildings. Minimal services are required.
• Trade Route Setup:
  • Establish a simple trade route using a Schooner.
  • Route: Secondary Resource Island (Load Timber, Load Bricks) -> Main Island (Unload Timber, Unload Bricks).
  • Maintenance: Monitor stock levels at your Main Island's warehouse. Adjust cargo slots or add more ships as demand increases.

Phase 2: Mid-Game Expansion (Artisans & Engineers)

As your population grows to Artisans and Engineers, new, more complex goods are required. This phase introduces specialized production islands and the need for Old World and New World integration.

• Old World Specialized Production Island (Steel & Advanced Goods): Look for an island with abundant Iron Ore and Coal deposits. This island will become your industrial heartland.
  • Production: Iron (from Iron Mines and Charcoal Kilns/Coal Mines), Steel (from Steelworks), Weapons, Steam Motors, Advanced Weapons, etc.
  • Imports: Wood (for Charcoal Kilns if no Coal is available), Hops (for Beer if not produced on Main Island).
  • Exports: All manufactured goods back to your Main Island.
  • Population: Primarily Workers and Artisans to staff factories. Ensure good fire department coverage due to the high risk of industrial fires.
• New World Resource Island (Cotton & Sugarcane): Discover and settle an island in the New World with high fertility for Cotton and Sugarcane.
  • Production: Cotton (from Cotton Plantations), Sugarcane (from Sugarcane Plantations).
  • Exports: Raw Cotton and Sugarcane to your Old World islands.
  • Population: Jornaleros and Obreros. Provide basic needs like Fish and Rum.
• New World Processing Island (Rum & Cotton Fabric): A second New World island, ideally near your resource island, can process raw goods.
  • Production: Rum (from Sugarcane and Rum Distilleries), Cotton Fabric (from Cotton and Spinning Mills).
  • Exports: Rum and Cotton Fabric to your Old World islands.
  • Population: Jornaleros and Obreros.
• Intercontinental Trade Routes:
  • Utilize Clippers or Steam Cargo Ships for these longer routes.
  • Route 1 (New World Raw Materials): New World Resource Island (Load Cotton, Load Sugarcane) -> New World Processing Island (Unload Cotton, Unload Sugarcane).
  • Route 2 (New World Processed Goods): New World Processing Island (Load Rum, Load Cotton Fabric) -> Old World Main Island (Unload Rum, Unload Cotton Fabric).
  • Optimization: Consider using the "Anarchist" specialist, Lady Banes (obtainable from Eli Bleakworth's Research Institute or quests), to boost cargo capacity on your New World trade ships.

Phase 3: Late Game Refinement (Investors & Advanced Production)

With Investors, the demands for luxury goods and advanced components skyrocket. This phase focuses on highly efficient, specialized islands and global trade.

• Jewellery & Gramophone Island: Dedicate an Old World island with Gold Ore and Copper deposits.
  • Production: Gold (from Gold Mines), Copper (from Copper Mines), Jewellery (from Gold and Jewellery Factories), Gramophones (from Copper, Wood, and Gramophone Factories).
  • Imports: Wood (for Gramophones), Zinc (for Brass, if needed for other items).
  • Exports: Jewellery and Gramophones to your Main Island.
  • Specialists: Employ Feras Alsarami, the Master Craftsman (from Eli Bleakworth or Research Institute), in your Jewellery Factories for increased output and reduced workforce.
• Advanced New World Production (Coffee & Cigars): Expand your New World holdings to include islands with Coffee and Tobacco fertility.
  • Production: Coffee Beans (from Coffee Plantations), Coffee (from Coffee Roasters), Tobacco (from Tobacco Plantations), Cigars (from Tobacco and Cigar Factories).
  • Exports: Coffee and Cigars to your Old World Main Island.
  • Optimization: Use the "The Perfumier" specialist (from Research Institute or quests) in your Cigar Factories to produce Perfume as a byproduct, satisfying another Investor need.
• Arctic/Enbesa Integration: As you unlock the Arctic and Enbesa, integrate their unique resources (Gas, Fur, Wanza Wood, Hibiscus) into your chains.
  • Arctic: Establish Gas production for power and Airships. Fur for Coats.
  • Enbesa: Wanza Wood for advanced construction, Hibiscus for Tea.
  • Trade: Use Airships for rapid, direct transport of high-value goods like Gas and Furs, bypassing naval blockades.
• Global Trade Network:
  • Establish robust trade routes using Great Easterns for high-volume, long-distance transport.
  • Prioritize: Luxury goods (Coffee, Cigars, Jewellery, Gramophones) for Investor populations.
  • Balance: Ensure sufficient raw materials are flowing to your specialized production islands.
  • Monitoring: Utilize the "Trade Routes" menu extensively to identify bottlenecks and optimize ship assignments. Consider setting minimum stock levels in warehouses to prevent shortages.