If you’re struggling to keep your finances afloat while expanding your city in Anno 1800, you're not alone. Managing money in Anno 1800 can be tricky, especially in the early and mid-game. Here’s a guide to help you boost your profits and grow your empire effectively.
Population
Your population is your primary source of tax revenue, and understanding how to maximize this income is crucial.
Meeting Needs: To get the most out of your population, you need to satisfy their needs and keep them happy. Think of it like running a theme park – if your guests aren’t happy, they won’t spend money.
Example: A farmhouse can house up to 10 farmers. If you meet their basic needs (like fish, work clothes, and access to a marketplace), you’ll have all 10 farmers living there, but only earning half of the possible tax income. To double that income, you need to make them happy by fulfilling additional needs.
Tip: When you upgrade houses to the next tier, like moving from farmers to workers, it increases both the number of residents and the tax revenue. However, it also increases the consumption of goods.
Avoid Overbuilding: In the early game, don’t build more factories or happiness-boosting structures than necessary. This helps manage costs and keeps your growth sustainable.
Royal Taxes
As your population grows, you’ll hit a point where royal taxes come into play. These taxes are designed to prevent you from relying too heavily on a single tier of houses.
First Hit: You’ll first encounter royal taxes around 1000-1100 farmers, which can add a significant cost to your budget.
Strategy: To avoid excessive royal taxes, balance your population by upgrading to higher tiers, like workers and artisans, spreading your population growth more evenly.
Trading Surplus Goods
Sometimes, you'll find yourself with excess goods. Instead of letting them pile up, sell them to other AI players for extra cash.
Trade Rights: Early in the game, explore your region to find at least one friendly AI who you can trade with. This is crucial because you can’t sell surplus goods without trade rights.
Set Up Trades: In your warehouse, set thresholds for goods you want to sell. The AI will then automatically buy these goods, giving you a steady income stream.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the sale and purchase prices of goods by hovering over them in the warehouse menu. This helps you understand the market value and maximize profits.
Selling Ships
Building and selling ships can be a lucrative business once your city is well-established.
Build and Sell: Once you have the capability, build ships and sell them to friendly AI at their harbors. This can provide a substantial cash injection.
Example: A single ship-of-the-line can sell for around $50,000, which can significantly boost your finances.
Shares and Dividends
Buying shares in other islands can provide you with a steady stream of income and a strategic advantage.
Buying Shares: When you view another island, you’ll see options to buy shares. Each share gives you a portion of that island’s income.
Full Control: Once you own all the shares, you can buy the island outright. However, this wipes out the share income, so make sure you’re ready to manage the new territory.
Fake News
Every so often, you’ll have the chance to manipulate newspaper articles to your benefit. This isn’t a primary income source but can be handy in a pinch.
Edit Articles: Use your influence to change articles, boosting consumption taxes temporarily. This can provide a nice revenue bump when you need it most.
Note: Overusing this tactic can lead to unhappy citizens and strained relations with other AI players, so use it sparingly.
