Introduction

In Anno 1800, the Iron Tower was previously only beneficial to regular Old World and Cape Trelawney populations, excluding Scholars. However, recent updates now allow it to affect Scholars, providing valuable bonuses to their needs, population, and consumption efficiency. This guide will explore how to optimize the Iron Tower’s placement and maximize its benefits for your Scholars.

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Understanding the Iron Tower Bonuses

The Iron Tower’s effects now extend to all Old World residents, including Scholars. The final recipe in its recipe book, unlocked with the Enbesa DLC, grants the following:

• Housing size increase by 10%
• 20% reduction in Seafood Stew consumption
• 20% reduction in Hibiscus Tea consumption
• 10% reduction in Canned Food consumption

This population boost is more impactful for Scholars than for Investors because Scholar residences have a base population of 120, making the 10% increase result in 12 extra people per residence. This is a significant advantage over the 5-person increase for Investors (who have a base of 50).

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Setting Up an Efficient Iron Tower Layout

To maximize the benefits of the Iron Tower, you need:

1. A dense Scholar district
   • Position the Iron Tower centrally within your largest concentration of Scholars.
   • Scholars already benefit from town halls and items, but adding the Iron Tower’s 10% boost is a further enhancement.
2. A dedicated Tourist district
   • The effectiveness of the Iron Tower depends on attracting a high number of Tourists.
   • Aim for a cluster of hotels, fully fulfilling their needs to maximize Tourist workforce.
3. Strategic reallocation of buildings
   • Some Scholars’ residences may need to be moved to fit the Iron Tower.
   • Optimizing attractiveness and public services around the Tower ensures full coverage.

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Implementation Steps

1. Establishing a Tourism Hub

• Build a cluster of hotels near cultural attractions.
• Provide all necessary amenities (restaurants, cafes, bars, museums, zoos) to attract more Tourists.
• Use Town Halls with items that boost Tourist numbers.
• Ensure bus routes efficiently connect Hotels to cultural sites.

2. Placing the Iron Tower for Maximum Effect

• Select a Scholar-dense area and replace a few buildings to fit the Iron Tower.
• Maintain road access and ensure optimal range for Scholar residences.
• Aim for a location that affects multiple high-population buildings.

3. Measuring the Impact

Before Optimization:

• Scholars: 215,340
• Research Points: 2,316,000

After Iron Tower Optimization:

• Scholars: 222,228 (Increase of 6,888)
• Research Points: 2,393,000 (Increase of 77,000)
• Tourists: 5,882 added
• Total population increase: 12,770

Consumption Savings:

• Seafood Stew: -20% reduction
• Hibiscus Tea: -20% reduction
• Canned Food: -10% reduction

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Is It Worth It?

Yes! The Iron Tower greatly enhances your Scholar population, reducing consumption rates of crucial goods while significantly increasing research points. Even if some buildings need to be removed or repositioned, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term restructuring costs.

By strategically placing the Iron Tower in a well-developed Scholar area, supported by a strong Tourist hub, you can maximize efficiency, maintain high happiness, and ensure sustained research growth.

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Final Thoughts

• The Iron Tower is a game-changer for Scholar populations.
• Proper Tourist infrastructure is necessary to fully leverage its benefits.
• Consumption reduction helps maintain efficiency in large-scale cities.
• More research points = faster endgame advancements.

If you found this guide useful, be sure to optimize your Iron Tower layout and enjoy a more efficient Anno 1800 city-building experience!