Mod to play the game without orient?

[Buntkreuz]

I dislike the orient aspect in 1404, which is why i prefer AD 1701 as the last really good AD game, as it offered more freedom in terms of how and what you wanted to build, when to expand or even if to expand on other islands. 1701 offered more freedom of different gameplay choices because of that. I had sessions where i was only building on one island. Harvesting the only unlimited stone brick pits on the map selling them at high price and so become an important trader and even with only one island a force on the map.

Such things are very viable in AD 1701, if not effective per se, its at least possible and fun to play in different ways.

AD 1404 never utilized on that freedom and needs the player to go for at least one oriental island, otherwise you cant even buy the products you need for higher settler ranks as they are not unlocked.
Besides that, the oriental side feels like an alibi for variation. Where in 1701 you had northern and southern themed islands with different strengths, the oriental aspect with its own buildings feels half arsed pushed into the game. Not on the same level as the southern islands in the other anno games.


So why am i talking about that?
I am looking for a mod that makes the oriental settleing optional. Maybe even get rid of it. Or but that would be much harder, utlilize it properly so it becomes a second faction (so a player could only settle on oriental islands and still be as strong as those who only settle on northern islands.

Is there such a mod? I mean one or some even that change this game accordingly to be more like its better predecessors?

[adavad]

I would love it as well! But I don't think we have a community strong enought here that we can find someone willing to make mods :(

[Buntkreuz]

true

[ovehaithabu]

I prefer Anno 1701 for the same reason.

But you can play the game without the need of two main islands.If you have a big northern island you can settle both cultures on one island and use the other islands just for resource gathering - like in Anno 1701. So you would still have only one main northern island (with two towns on it).

Technically you could also trade all the required goods so technically you could play the game with with only one island but it's tricky as you have to trade a lot for that.

There is a cheat that allows you to build all buildings as far I now - no mod needed. But you still depend on importing all goods then.

[Buntkreuz]

thanks for your answer.

The main reason i like 1701 over 1404 is that design problem limiting my decisions.
Anno 1701 provided me fun scenarios where i had only one island left that was designed in a way that no enemy force could land there and that had unlimited amounts of iron so i had pretty much a small island that could create weapons and cannons all the time and sell them to traders and other factions/players, which generated enough income to pay for the costs.
That was fun, because it waqs such an unique way to play the game. Contrary to normally where you have to create towns and manage your gold income by taxes through your population, i had none but only a normal weapons and cannons production to keep me alive.

It was quite a hard thing to balance, but especially because it is a unique way to play the game Anno1701 stays the best Anno, it offers many ways to play a game apart from the casual way.
Anno 1404 couldnt provide that freedom, instead i feel you have to follow the generic meta.
Anno1701 allows for a trade focussed playstyle (one island with unlimited resources and a specialized production), a one city playstyle, a colony focussed playstyle or a trader (many islands exploiting many resources) focussed playstyle.
Anno 1404 limits that to half the possibilities.

[B✪✪tsy]

This is my first Anno game and I dislike the orient aspect as well due to the mandatory goods I have to produce there. I have been looking at cheats that would give me spices, but such cheats don't exist.

[Buntkreuz]

Its pretty much the only reason why i really dislike this part of the series.
Anno 1701 is vastly superior to 1404 in so many ways. Especially regarding freedom.
If this is your first, i recommend rather trying out 1701. Its downloadable on gog.com and you can even use the gog version to share it with a friend and make a multiplayer session.
It also still looks great and you can use reShade to even improve its look further.