If you are playing the classic version, the editor was originally released alongside the Sunken Dragon expansion pack.
Designate starting locations for yourself and AI opponents.
If you aren't looking to build your own, you can download fan-made maps and scenarios from community hubs like Anno-Pool or the Ubisoft Forums. These files are typically placed in the /UserContent folder within your Anno 1701 installation directory. Tutorial: How to build a card in Anno 1701? Map editor
Before exporting, use the editor's built-in validation tool to check for errors (such as overlapping assets or broken AI paths). Save the file in the .map or .scn format inside your game's UserContent folder. 4. Tips for Advanced Map Design anno 1701 map editor
Place physical nodes for Iron, Coal, Gold, or Marble. You can customize the exact amount of ore hidden inside each node to make certain islands highly contested strategic targets. Step 4: Adding Decorative Elements and Flavor
Design a map where one player starts on a massive, resource-poor island, while opponents start on tiny, ultra-rich islands. This forces completely different playstyles.
The is an official tool that allows players to design custom maps, island layouts, and scenarios. While not included in the original base game, it was released as a core feature of the The Sunken Dragon (also known as Der Fluch des Drachen ) expansion pack [16, 19, 26]. How to Access the Editor If you are playing the classic version, the
Ensure no resource nodes are clipping into mountains and that native villages aren't overlapping with buildable shores.
Take full control over your 18th-century empire. This tool allows players to bypass the random map generator and design handcrafted worlds. Compatible with the Sunken Dragon
Released in 2006, Anno 1701 (also known as 1701 A.D. ) challenges players to colonize islands, manage supply chains, and engage in diplomacy or naval warfare. Unlike many contemporaries, the game shipped with a full-featured map editor. This tool was not merely a terrain painter; it was a logic editor capable of defining victory conditions, AI behaviors, and trade routes. This paper argues that the Map Editor significantly extended the game’s replayability and serves as a case study for user-generated content in strategy games. These files are typically placed in the /UserContent
, but you can also assign unique lighting to individual islands for dramatic visual variety. Creating a Custom Scenario Basic Settings : In the "File" menu, select . Set your map size (standard is ) and name the scenario. Strategic Positioning : Place the Free Trader
Assign personality traits to AI, determining how aggressive or passive they will be in your scenario.
: Beyond the basics, you can place decorative elements, shipwrecks, and even adjust the starting positions of AI players and Traders.