Problems in story mode ----- POSSIBLE SPOILERS----

[tigersag]

I just started playing Anno 1800 about two weeks ago. I am playing vanilla and doing the story mode.

I managed to blow up the mountain to build the steel industry and I usually set up my industry there. I manage to get some artisans in my starting town and I usually have three or so islands.

The problem is that I tend to run a huge negative bottom line because I can't make the rum and fur coats) without going on the expedition (well I assume that's the problem?)

At an earlier point in the story I was still making huge profits, so is it better to do the expedition to the new world as soon as possible and not try to build up more in the old world first?

Note: I'd rather not hear any detailed spoilers about the story but I was just wondering if there is a way to break even, even without the rum and furcoat, while running two steelmills, 3 cannon makers and 4 soap factories

[Chuckawookie]

I'm still a bit new so I might not have the best advice, but to me, the main way to make money is to supply needs for your residents at the market. Artisans have the most money of the three, but the more artisans you have, the more needs they demand. If you have too many artisans on one island, they'll demand rum and fur coats and will be unhappy and leave if you can't provide those.

Thus it's better to have a lot more farmers and workers in a step-wise way. You can downsize your houses from artisans to workers if you're not ready to go to the New World, then go to more islands and make more houses for farmers and workers and supply their needs.

[Gregomoto]

You can make lot of money in early game by selling soap to the prison.
You should go to new world asap.

[Humble]

go to new world is part of main story (if you played on campaign Mode)

I would suggest forced on feed what farmer and worker need to every need, and not worry about that artisans level other than few building to unlock ship in quest asking for.
Don't overproduct unless it's need to be like island don't had resource and use other island to trade and support other island but that is cost little more money and time)

after about 1,000 of farmer and workers, try do same thing on other medium/large island to settle (don't settle tiny or small island, not worth it) that would help cut down royal tax and help you with fund you need, you only need one ore mine, one furnace, one steelworks, one charcoal kiln and one steel bar factory, not need more than that, yes it's slow, but safe for your income at that points.

2146160230 map seed for Campaign Mode is very mostly nice, Ditchwater and other 2 large island nearly by you, had everything you need to filled up all farmer and worker, those 2 big island next to ditchwater can supply hop or beer since Dictchwater don't had hop in that map seed, but it's great for future engineers since it's had resource to make big gun later on. (Manola had 9 oil and Crown Fall had 7 oil in that map seeds! if you had both DLC turn on)

Here is royal tax that might hurt your income, but understand those would help avoid too much royal tax when you settle 3 island and build village and port town to help cut down and making more income.
https://anno1800.fandom.com/wiki/Royal_Taxes

You only go to new world due locked behind main quest campaign mode, although in sandbox it's unlock right away soon as your population reach, but not in campaign for new worlds.

https://www.thegamer.com/anno-1800-best-items/#feras-alsarami
You can look here for item.
Actor and
Costume Designer meaning you don't need to go new world but it's long time to try get this item, although, if you had Dockland, that is help not need new world, but in large population, still need new world to supply heavy demand.

I played in Campaign Mode so many time more than sandbox (because I felt world more alive than sandbox do)
I had no issues limited myself farmer and worker with very few artist (240 population, just a it's enough to do that one window maker and window factory.)

I making $500 to $4,000 income before go to new world during campaign (ensure I had ship frigate, 10 to 15, 5 each map to do minor quest, but since it's campaign mode, normal there is quest said need 16 frigate or 10 ship of line, meaning cost could be 1.600 (frigate) or $5,000 for ship of line (I avoid unlock ship of line due The crown Fall Quest, I felt it's not make sense story in campaign so I wait till campaign is over,

I did practice lot and know in and out, been played this game like 1,800 hours of gameplay, mostly campaign mod with bunch of difference map seed, I did tried sandbox, but I felt little more bored and less world alive)

I usually play with Artur Gasparov, Carl Leonard von malching and Dr. Hugo Mercier, as they are perfect balanced, they make war on each other, they had some cool ship drop legendary item (they did nerfed that heavy but it's still there but low chance to get it, sadly) and Dr. Hugo had quest that offer item that not get by research institute, but there is 2 choice, you can't had both, when you pick side with Dr Hugo or Sir Archibald at final quest called "No god, no master part 5", I prefer side with Archibald to get that item for crown fall.

It's match background story as well, since Artur Gasparov, Carl Leonard von and Dr. hugo is match part of Queen Empire/kingdom, true competitor and they don't keep asking you for allied all the time like one star do, and willing to make peace, unlike 3 star where won't make peace even they losing so much.

When come to Campaign mode, before going to new world, just spam farmer and worker, just build factory as you need, Shift and Q on that island would tell you what you need to know, You don't need many steelwork, you only need one furnace, one steelwork and one weapon factory before going to new world. That's would help with income issues.