A Word About This Manual...
Welcome to 1602 A.D.! While the best way to learn how to play 1602 A.D. is to play the Tutorial, this manual is a helpful tool. Chapters 2 and 3 provide a brief overview of how to get started in 1602 A.D.. Chapters 4 through 10 provide a more detailed explanation of the game and how it operates. Try reading Chapters 2 and 3 to get started, then refer to Chapters 4 through 10 for answers to specific questions, or for more details about 1602 A.D..

Dear Friends, Welcome to the ranks of the explorers and pioneers. Join us as we turn back the hands of time to the year 1602. The situation in Europe is absolutely hopeless.The cities are over crowded, and poverty and starvation are rampant. The future is uncertain and much of the population have little ,or no, prospect for a better life. This is the situation which has prompted a small group of courageous men and women, yourself amongst them, to seek a better life in far off lands. Sail, with your followers and a limited supply salted meat, rum, tools, and building materials, into a previously undiscovered chain of islands. Your challenge is to start a new life with the few provisions that you brought with you. A new life- no, a New World! You will need all your skills in the fields of exploration, settling, diplomacy, trade, and war in order to master the difficult task before you. You will soon discover that your fate is in your own hands. Even the choice as to which island you settle must be carefully made, for not every island offers ideal living conditions. Your skill alone will decide whether your village will grow to become cities, and your poor pioneers rich aristocrats, or not. The building of the right production chains, successful trading with other settlers, and your diplomatic skills will be the cornerstones of your success. But be careful. Pirates, and the jealousy that other settlers may feel, can mean serious trouble. As you may have noticed, 1602 A.D. will challenge you in many different ways. You will have to show your skill at tactics and strategy and use your organizational and administrative talents to be successful, without losing sight of the goals you set yourself at the start of the game. Diplomacy is necessary in dealing with other settlements, and should be used as long as it doesn't conflict with your overall strategy. War is also a legitimate means of achieving your goal. It won't take long for you to see just how many-sided 1602 A.D. really is. The operation of 1602 A.D. has been kept simple,so that you can concentrate on what is important, namely creating your own New World. 1602 A.D. is complex, not complicated! If you are an experienced player, reading the quick start guide will give you all the information you need to play. If you want more detailed information on a particular topic, you can either read the relevant chapter in the handbook or play the tutorial. These will teach you the skills needed. The lavishly detailed graphics help to provide you with the information you need. Screen animations keep you informed about game progress at a glance. No more clicking through page after page of statistics. This makes orientation easy. Unless you're playing in network mode with other players, you will be playing against computer opponents. They're trying to do the same thing as you. Settle islands, build production chains, trade with others, and protect they're interests. And at your playing level. Even if you consider yourself a relatively inexperienced player, the computer will automatically adjust your opponents playing level to yours. "Enough talk! Show me what you've got!" Enter the fascinating world of 1602 A.D. and let yourself be captured by it's unique atmosphere!

Have fun creating your own world playing 1602 A.D.