: Never let your plantation fields overlap. Overlapping fields drop the efficiency percentage of the building, breaking your perfect production ratios. If you want to optimize your current setup, let me know:
Water-dependent chains like the Flour Mill or Textile Mill (if near rivers) might slow down, requiring you to have a surplus stored in your Warehouse to weather the "drought." anno 1701 production chains
Bricks: Clay + Timber (in some recipes) → Brickworks → Bricks : Never let your plantation fields overlap
Tobacco requires southern (tropical) island fertility. Tools (Ore Mine ➔ Smelting Works ➔ Toolmaker) Tools (Ore Mine ➔ Smelting Works ➔ Toolmaker)
To upgrade your pioneers to settlers and beyond, you need construction materials. This is where the economy begins to sprawl.
If you want to optimize a specific part of your empire, let me know: Which you are currently focusing on?
Building an extra farm without the corresponding factory wastes gold in maintenance costs and takes up valuable fertile soil. Always refer to the precise ratios listed above before expanding your production zones.