Awesome thanks both! Like I said, I'm not a huge RTS fan so I wasn't looking for something huge and ever present, more just the option of it - which it sounds like this has.

Last question - I haven't played Settlers in ages (and then only a short bit - I think a demo that eventually ended up with me destroying a computer - note to self - Del and Deltree are very different commands ;) ). For the combat units in Anno, is there a similar mechanic to Settlers where you are charged with creating and providing arms and THAT'S how units are made? So if I want a spearman, I have to create an economy whereby steel is combined with wood and then that allows spear creation -----> spearman? Or in Anno is it just "build barracks ---> click spearman."


*edit to add - Last question (I think). Is Anno still a "process" game? Where your mostly turning lower goods into higher goods? And building more and more buildings to further process your stuff?

So you start collecting trees, then turn those into lumber with a mill, then the lumber into... etc etc? Or say, process livestock first into basic food and clothing, then from there move the basic products to advanced buildings and end up with cured meats and tanned leather yadda yadda yadda?

As for the military units, yeah, you have a barracks/castle type building that come in three sizes. The larger the castle the faster it produces units, if memory serves. If you want to train a musketeer, then you need one musket unit, which is produced at a gunsmith from wood and steel. Once the unit is trained it costs a small amount of gold upkeep.
In 1602 it's pretty basic (guns, swords and cannons), but from 1503 onwards there are more and more weapon types : polearms, crossbows, armour etc.

As for the process-game question. There are a lot of processes yes, but I can't think of any that are more than 3 levels. The deepest I know of is: wheat -> flour -> bread (via windmill and bakery).
Most are 2 levels in depth, eg
grapes -> wine ; wool/cotton -> cloth ; gold -> jewelry ; steel -> swords
and several like
wood + steel -> cannon
Actually come to think of it, in 1503 to make clothes you need silk and dye, both 2 levels deep, and both need to be sent to a tailor. That's the most complex one as far as I know.
In fact it's more a case of you unlock the ability to mine/farm more resources as your colony grows, instead of repeatedly processing existing resources further and further.

I hope that helps!

Absolutely thank you very much!

I'm not a huge city builder fan but every now and then I have a desire to scratch that itch. Banished served nicely and like I said this one caught my attention not too long ago (1701). Plus, they make great "in between games" for when I'm looking to briefly switch it up from whatever game I'm playing at the moment.

Think I found my next one!

Cool stuff good luck with it!

If you like Banished you may like Anno indeed, have fun!

Settler 2 Gold Edition is the first pc game I ever played and it still stands up to the test of time as the best Settlers game ever made so I recommend it very much. Basically if you like building up a civlization based on logistics + basic military system then this game is for you. Anno on the other is a totally different type of game and is more trade centered.

They both don't have anything on Tropico.

http://www.gog.com/game/tropico_3_gold_edition

Considered both earlier, then remembered I still hadn't used my discount on pathologic HD, so that won.

You're comparing Lychees to Durians.

Thanks to the recommendations in this thread I decided to purchase Anno 1701 A.D.. Initially, I was somewhat disappointed by the fact that all buildings are erected instantly, however, I've come to appreciate it since this is a game where the soothing, charming flow of The Settlers is substituted by a constant one of urgency and adaptation.

Sadly, I have to admit I became so frustrated and tired of the many hurricanes frequently ravaging my lands (and not even leaving a single trace of the buildings destroyed) that I turned off disasters in the options menu (it's too bad you can't just deselect the one as I don't mind the earthquakes and haven't bothered to colonize volcano islands).

I really like the amount of polish and attention to economic balance that went into this game. It's quite challenging to sustain a healthy economy and more often than not I've had to rely on the queen lending me extra pocket money to keep my colony afloat. On numerous occasions I've been expecting her to lose patience and poshly growl 'Bitch better have my money' but so far she has made no such demands. Perhaps. in time, she will strike down upon me with great vengeance and furious anger...