A messenger approached Hassan on the balcony, breathless.
The Leviathan didn't just carry goods; it carried authority. Because he had attained the highest trading rank, his ships moved faster across the oceans. The "Cleverness" attainment meant his warehouses held more goods, allowing him to manipulate the market prices of the neutral powers—the Corsairs and the Grand Vizier. anno 1404 attainments
The reward? Access to the Imperial War Fleet. A messenger approached Hassan on the balcony, breathless
"Can we not?" Hassan asked. He pointed to the seal of the attainment. "Have you forgotten? Because I attained the rank of 'Protector' last month, the Grand Vizier sends us a tithe of goods, not gold. And because of the 'Seamanship' attainment, our ships outrun the Corsairs easily." The "Cleverness" attainment meant his warehouses held more
This design choice is significant. It prevents the attainment system from becoming a purely algorithmic grind. It forces the player to remain opportunistic, to keep exploration ships patrolling for flotsam, and to maintain a standing navy even in peacetime. The hunt for the Black Corsair, in particular, injects a gothic horror subplot into a game about Renaissance trade. This “luck-based” attainment reminds the player that even the best-laid economic plans can be thwarted or accelerated by the fickle winds of fate—and the pirates that sail them.
The "Vizier’s Assistant" rank had allowed him to purchase the prestigious Oriental War Machine blueprints. The "Confidant" rank had unlocked the secrets of the Assassin’s Guild. These weren't just military assets; they were keys to quests that yielded legendary items.