Every 30 minutes, a vote occurs (only in multiplayer and some single-player scenarios).
All players vote on global effects like:
You can bribe council members (neutral NPCs) with honor to influence votes.
Objectives
Economy
Diplomacy & Influence
Naval Power
Tips
In Venice, you can manipulate the politics of the AI opponents without firing a single shot.
End of Guide
Now you have everything needed to build a thriving empire, win multiplayer matches, and master the espionage systems of Anno 1404: Venice. Good luck, Governor.
Mastery of the Seas: A Comprehensive Guide to Anno 1404: Venice
Anno 1404: Venice is the definitive expansion to the critically acclaimed city-builder, introducing a layer of Venetian intrigue, espionage, and maritime prowess to the original’s core mechanics. Success in this expansion requires more than just efficient supply chains; it demands a mastery of the new Venetian Culture, the Sabotage system, and the Council Seat mechanics. 1. The Venetian Foundation: New Features
The expansion shifts the focus slightly away from pure expansionism toward political and covert dominance.
The Venetian Shipyard: You can now build two specific Venetian vessels: the Small Venetian Trader and the Large Venetian Trader. These ships are faster and have more hit points than their standard counterparts, making them essential for high-volume trade routes.
Volcano Islands: New map types include volatile volcano islands. While they offer rich mineral deposits, they carry the risk of eruption, requiring a "high-risk, high-reward" mindset. Anno 1404 Venice Guide
The Bailiff: A new NPC, Giacomo Garibaldi, serves as your guide to Venice, offering quests and items specifically geared toward the new expansion mechanics. 2. The Art of Sabotage
The most transformative addition is the Secret Council and the ability to use spies. Unlike the base game, where conflict is mostly naval, Venice allows you to cripple rivals from within.
Espionage: By building a Secret Council building, you gain access to spies. You can send these agents into enemy cities to perform various acts of sabotage. Types of Sabotage:
Arson: Sets fire to city buildings, forcing the AI to divert resources to firefighting.
False Prophet: Lowers the morale of the populace, potentially stopping production.
Poisoned Wells: Causes illness, reducing the workforce efficiency.
Defense: To counter this, you must station your own spies in your city. Vigilance is key; an undefended city can crumble without a single shot being fired. 3. Political Conquest: The City Council
In Venice, you no longer need to rely solely on cannons to take over an island. You can now perform a hostile takeover through the City Council.
Buying Seats: Every island has five Council Seats. You can purchase these seats over time.
Takeover: Once you own three of the five seats, you can purchase the "City Key." This gives you total control of the island, including all its buildings and resources, effectively deleting the opponent from that territory.
Cost Management: Buying seats is exponentially expensive. It is a late-game strategy that requires a massive, stable economy built on Nobles and high-tier trade. 4. Economic Optimization and Venetian Items
To fund your political and covert operations, your economy must be airtight.
New Items: The expansion adds over 300 new items. Look for Venetian-specific items at the trade posts of Lord Richard Northburgh or Al Zahir. Specifically, items that increase Spying Success Rate or Council Seat Discount are invaluable.
The Quest System: Venice introduces "Scenarios," which are specialized missions that test specific skills (e.g., reaching a population goal under extreme time pressure). Completing these often unlocks unique achievements and medals. 5. Strategy for Success Every 30 minutes, a vote occurs (only in
To dominate Anno 1404: Venice, follow this strategic progression:
Early Game: Focus on standard growth (Peasants to Citizens) but prioritize getting a Venetian Trader ship as early as possible to outpace the AI in resource gathering.
Mid Game: Establish a Secret Council. Even if you don't plan on attacking, you need spies for defense. Start scouting the Council Seats of a "target" island you wish to acquire.
Late Game: Transition your economy to support a high Noble population. Use the excess gold to systematically buy out Council Seats. Combine this with Sabotage (Arson) to lower the AI's island value, making the seats cheaper to purchase.
By blending the traditional logistics of Anno 1404 with the cutthroat politics of the Venice expansion, you can secure your empire's legacy as the undisputed master of the Occident and the Orient.
Here’s a review for Anno 1404: Venice (assuming you’re referring to a guide—be it a book, a Steam guide, or a video tutorial series):
Title: The Definitive Companion for Aspiring Governors – A Must-Have for Anno 1404 Venice
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Review:
If you’ve ever stared at your bustling medieval harbor in Anno 1404 Venice and wondered why your noblemen are still grumbling about missing spices or why your production chain just collapsed into chaos, this guide is your salvation.
Whether you’re a returning fan of the Venice expansion or a newcomer overwhelmed by the added espionage, trading, and multiplayer features, this guide breaks everything down with remarkable clarity.
What makes this guide stand out:
Potential downsides:
If you’re a pure sandbox player who enjoys trial-and-error discovery, this guide might spoil some of the organic learning curve. Additionally, a tiny section on advanced multiplayer meta could be deeper—but overall, that’s nitpicking.
Verdict:
Whether you’re aiming for the “Knight of the Round Table” achievement or just want to build a gorgeous, efficient trade empire without your citizens rioting every 20 minutes, this guide is worth every penny. Highly recommended for completionists, min-maxers, and anyone who loves watching their islands thrive. You can bribe council members (neutral NPCs) with
Add this to your library—then go build that cathedral.
Mastering the expansion for transforms the game from a pure economic simulator into a high-stakes arena of political maneuvering and covert operations. While the core gameplay still revolves around balancing production chains and satisfying the needs of your Population
, the Venice expansion introduces layers that allow you to conquer rivals without firing a single cannon. Anno 1404 Wiki The Art of Political Conquest: City Councils The most significant addition in Venice is the City Council
system. Every island now has five council seats that can be purchased by any player. Economic Takeover
: If you manage to buy all five seats and then purchase the "Key to the City," you gain full control of the island. This is an expensive but bloodless alternative to military invasion. Defensive Strategy
: To prevent your own islands from being snatched away, you must prioritize buying your own council seats early. This locks out competitors and forces them to spend massive amounts of gold to outbid you. Anno 1404 Wiki Subversion and Shadows: The Espionage System The expansion introduces the Base of Operations , which allows you to train spies for
. Instead of traditional warfare, you can destabilize an opponent's economy from within: Anno 1404 Wiki Infiltration
: Once a spy is settled in an enemy house, they can perform various acts of , such as arson, spreading the plague, or inciting riots. Intelligence
: Spies also provide vital data on your rival’s resource stocks and production efficiency, helping you identify exactly where their economy is most vulnerable. Anno 1404 Wiki Expanding Your Reach: New Vessels and Prestige
To support these new mechanics, Venice adds specific tools and ships: The Venetian Cog
: These ships are smaller and more agile than traditional trading vessels, making them perfect for navigating tight coastal waters or performing quick supply runs. Prestige and Diplomacy : Advancing your standing with Grand Vizier Al Zahir remains crucial. By delivering scrolls—purchased with —you can increase your Diplomatic Status
, unlocking advanced Oriental buildings and unique Venetian items. Anno 1404 Wiki Strategic Summary Success in Anno 1404 Venice requires a hybrid approach. You must maintain the rigorous Population
management of the base game—upgrading Peasants to Citizens and beyond—while simultaneously monitoring the City Council
of every major island. Whether you choose to be a benevolent merchant or a master of shadows, the key is to ensure your gold reserves are always high enough to both fuel your and protect your political interests. Anno 1404 Wiki production chains required to maintain a Venetian-style metropolis? Combat | Anno 1404 Wiki | Fandom