Let us build a functional map from scratch. We want a medium-sized main island for the player and two hostile AI islands.
Always keep the mini-map window open. It gives you an instant visual of elevation (Red=High, Blue=Deep water). A good map has a mix of both.
Click File > New. Select the "Large" map size. Choose "Temperate" (Green grass) for a classic European feel.
The editor is organized into five primary modules:
If you do not want to build your own, or you want inspiration, the community is thriving. anno 1701 map editor
To share your map: Save it in the editor, zip the file (Size is usually under 2MB), and upload it to a forum. Include a screenshot of your minimap!
Let us create a classic "Archipelago" map for a 4-player free-for-all.
Step 1: The Canvas Start a new map. Set the size to 256x256 (Huge). Avoid "512" unless you have a supercomputer, as the engine slows down significantly.
Step 2: The Landmass Use the Land Mass tool to create four large islands in the corners. Then, use the Circle Brush (Radius 10) to create medium-sized islands in the center for colonization wars. Let us build a functional map from scratch
Step 3: Resource Logic
Step 4: The Ocean Place deep water (Ship of the Line passable) between major islands. Place shallow reefs (using the "Coral" object) near the edges to create tactical chokepoints for naval combat.
Step 5: Testing Click File > Test Run. This launches the game directly with your map loaded. Sail a ship around. If your settlers cannot walk from the market to the lumberjack hit, your cliffs are too steep.
Introduction: The Forgotten Gem of City-Building Click File > New
Released in 2006 by Related Designs and published by SunFlowers (now Ubisoft), Anno 1701 is often hailed as the pinnacle of the classic Anno series. Before the complexity of Anno 1800 and the space-faring mechanics of Anno 2070, there was the serene, yet deep, colonial life of the 18th century.
While the campaign and continuous play modes offer dozens of hours of entertainment, the true longevity of Anno 1701 lies in a powerful, yet often overlooked, tool: The Anno 1701 Map Editor.
For many players, the idea of a map editor evokes memories of simple terrain brushes and basic object placement. However, the Anno 1701 Map Editor is a fully-fledged landscape sculpting suite that allows you to create everything from peaceful trading archipelagos to brutal, resource-starved military arenas. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know: how to access it, how to master its interface, and how to build maps that rival the official ones.