Summary
Highlights
Anno 117: Pax Romana is introduced as the newest and most ambitious installment in the Anno franchise, set in 117 AD during the Roman Empire's golden age. Players assume the role of a Roman governor, tasked with rebuilding and expanding provinces like Latium and Albian, making decisions that shape their cities and personal story.
The game focuses on detailed city building, starting with trading posts and housing, and establishing supply chains for resources like lumber. Islands offer specific resources, influencing city development. Players must consider resource fertility and efficiently place buildings to optimize production. The design of cities can be customized, reflecting local geography and personal vision, from organized Roman layouts to organic Celtic designs with ornaments and public spaces.
As cities grow, higher-tier residents are attracted, demanding higher quality goods. Players build markets, taverns, baths, theaters, and even a coliseum to improve citizens' quality of life. Strategic placement of public services influences happiness, fire safety, and other attributes, reflecting the values of the city's builders.
Innovation and knowledge are fostered through buildings like the Grammaticus, leading to breakthroughs in new technologies. The 'discovery tree' allows players to decide how knowledge is used, whether to enhance facilities, unlock new urbanism possibilities, or upgrade military units. Over 150 discoveries exist, influenced by the player's governing style and engagement with Roman or Celtic cultures, such as draining marshes (Roman) versus efficiently navigating them (Celtic).
Beliefs are central to the game, gathered by building sanctuaries to patron gods. Both Celtic and Roman deities provide religion-centric bonuses and effects. For example, worshiping Mars boosts military production and unit capabilities, while Apona enhances farming productivity. Strong devotion to a deity unlocks 'exaltation effects,' leading to significant benefits such as expanded farming fields (Ceres) or access to gold mines (Mercury Lugus).
Provinces do not exist in isolation. Diplomacy is key to success, as players interact with rivals, traders, and raiders. Trading builds favor with allies and can lead to defense pacts, while angering others can result in hostile encounters. The emperor monitors player choices; Romanizing land earns praise, while deviating from Roman traditions can provoke imperial wrath.
When diplomacy fails, warfare becomes necessary. Players build land armies with various unit types, leveraging the discovery tree for advanced units and supply chains. Naval warfare is also crucial, with customizable ships available from shipyards, upgradable through technology or belief in gods like Neptune. Defensive structures like palisades and watchtowers, along with natural island features, are used to secure cities and gain dominance.
The game offers multiplayer options, allowing friends to compete as rival governors in PvP or cooperate in PvE against AI-controlled rivals. Beyond the campaign, an endless sandbox mode provides freedom to customize difficulty, rival presence, and starting provinces, allowing cities to flourish, face formidable constraints, or expand beyond the empire's horizon.
Anno 117: Pax Romana takes players to various lands, including ancient Egypt, promising a rich journey. The choices made – from city designs and deities worshipped to wars waged or peace protected – ultimately shape the player's legacy in the Roman Empire.