One of the first things players should seek to do when starting a game in Anno 1800 is to explore and settle useful new territories, whether in the Old World or any other map beyond. In addition to providing more room for production and population growth, many islands will contain varied deposits of natural resources, as well as different crop fertilities, which will be necessary for the production of different resources and consumable goods for the marketplace. Without access to certain materials and resources, it is likely that many production chains will grind to a halt. While it is possible to navigate this issue through trade, it will require a lot of micromanagement, and it is far better to simply claim an unconquered territory.