This is expensive (up to 500,000 gold) and can lead to war if the AI feels threatened.
: Hire Venetian Bailiffs from the Lord's harbor to reduce your island maintenance costs by up to 20%.
Build a Spy Academy to protect your main island from AI infiltrations. Late Game: The Monument Phase
Seat costs increase based on the island's total population. Secure Your Own Islands
Never underestimate the passive items sold by Lord Richard Northburgh, Grand Vizier Al Zahir, and Giacomo Garibaldi. Look for items that: Anno 1404 Venice Guide
: This ship is very fast. It holds two cargo slots. Use it for quick trade runs.
Do not give Carpets to your Occidental people yet. Sell them to the Vizier. He pays 88 gold per ton, whereas your citizens pay 0 taxes on them until Patrician level.
AI players will attempt to buy your seats even if you haven't formally met them yet. Build a strong bank balance before hitting Patrician status to buy back any seats the AI snatches.
You can train up to three types of spies, each with unique abilities: Saboteur: Destroys buildings or production chains. Thief: Steals cargo or gold. This is expensive (up to 500,000 gold) and
: Use Watchmen units to protect your own city from enemy spies. Note that sabotaging AI will lower your reputation even if your spy isn't caught.
Purchase vacant or rival-owned council seats using large sums of Gold Coins and Honor.
: You can now take control of enemy islands without firing a shot. By purchasing five seats in a city's council, you can eventually buy out the island's key.
Instead of spending thousands of coins maintaining a massive military fleet, channel your economy entirely into gold generation. Target your rival’s main production island (e.g., their spice or indigo island) to instantly cripple their progression. Optimal Build Orders and Venetian Production Late Game: The Monument Phase Seat costs increase
: 40 houses were quickly clustered around a Marketplace.
Once you own enough shares, you can completely take over the island. The Art of Espionage
Soon, the mysterious Giacomo Garibaldi arrived, bringing the unique flair of Venice. Unlike the old ways of war, the governor learned that in Venice, power could be bought.
Avoid over-building roads. Houses only need a connection to a road that touches a Marketplace. The Tax Slider Trick