Anno 117: Pax Romana – How to Start (Beginner’s Guide)

Build your Roman province the right way with this streamlined beginner path. Learn province selection, logistics, happiness, early economy, and military basics for a strong early game start.

Outline

Main Topic	Subtopics
Anno 117: Pax Romana Beginner’s Guide	Introduction
Choosing Your Starting Province	Italia • Gaul/Britannia • North Africa
Early Supply Chains	Essential resources • Ratios • Production setup
Managing Citizen Happiness	Food • Entertainment • Religion • Security • Taxes
Logistics & Road Efficiency	Warehouse placement • Road layout • Industrial blocks
Early Trading Strategy	Best exports • Imports • Trade routes
Basic Military Management	Defensive buildings • Auxiliaries • Expansion timing
Building a Functional City Layout	Starter layout • District planning • Space management
Progression Phases (Rome Roadmap)	Survival • Growth • Expansion • Empire stage
Quick Tips for Success	Efficiency rules • Stabilization • Province specialization
Frequently Asked Questions	Comparisons • Military timing • Money strategies

Anno 117: Pax Romana – Beginner’s Guide

Starting your first settlement in Anno 117: Pax Romana can feel overwhelming. Logistics matter more than ever, population classes interact deeply with production chains, and Roman infrastructure requires careful planning. This guide gives you a clean, practical roadmap to avoid early mistakes and build a thriving province from day one.

Choosing Your Starting Province

Picking the right province determines your entire early game pace.

Italia

Great for first-time players.

Very balanced resource distribution
Stable political environment
Shorter trade routes and low danger
Strong early food + construction economy

Perfect for learning the fundamentals safely.

Gaul / Britannia

More chaotic but extremely rewarding.

Higher conflict and more raiders
Richer mid-game resource variety
Logistics become challenging but profitable

Best for players wanting a military-forward experience.

North Africa

Ideal for trade-driven strategies.

Excellent export goods
Ports everywhere → commercial powerhouse
Must import timber + metals early

Requires clever planning but scales extremely well.

Focus on Clean Early Supply Chains

Rome depends on structure — so do your citizens.

Core Early Resources

Wood → housing upgrades, workshops
Clay & Bricks → roads, buildings
Wheat & Livestock → basic food stability
Olives / Grapes → highly profitable exports

A reliable rule:
2 raw production → 1 processing → 1 refinement.

This keeps bottlenecks from forming.

Keep Your Citizens Happy (Or Else…)

Population groups differ by province but typically include:

Roman citizens
Provincials
Slaves
Patricians (later)

Happiness Factors

Food variety
Entertainment (Baths, Theatres)
Religion (Temples)
Security (Watchtowers, Forts)
Fair taxation

Tip: Avoid heavy taxes early. Growth collapses instantly if happiness drops.

Roads & Logistics Matter More Than Ever

Transport defines your output speed.

Best Practices

Place warehouses generously — they’re the lungs of your economy
Build straight main roads with short industrial side roads
Keep industries clustered together
Place markets between housing blocks

In Anno 117, distance affects production efficiency significantly more than in Anno 1800.

Trade Early, Trade Often

Early exports fuel growth.

Best Early Export Goods

Olive Oil
Wine
Stone Blocks
Textiles

If you lack a resource, don’t hesitate: import it and focus your workforce where you’re strong.

Set up stable trade routes early to snowball your economy.

Military Basics

Not a full war game — but you must defend your territory.

Early Defense Strategy

Watchtower at each road entrance
Train Auxiliaries for cheap infantry
Maintain a reserve squad to suppress riots

When to Start Expanding

Taxes are stable
Production chains can support weapons
Border provinces become economically attractive

City Layout Tips

A clean design prevents long-term headaches.

Simple Starter Layout

Central Forum → administrative + market area
Housing blocks in a neat grid
Industrial zones separated by a main road
Military + service buildings on the outer ring

Plan ahead: late-game arenas, aqueducts, and monuments require huge space.

Progression Strategy (The Rome Roadmap)

Phase 1: Survival (0–30 minutes)

Build first housing block
Secure food and bricks
Establish your first trade route

Phase 2: Growth (30–90 minutes)

Unlock next population tiers
Build entertainment + temples
Expand early industries

Phase 3: Expansion (90 minutes–3 hrs)

Capture new regions
Form a trained army
Produce advanced goods (glass, armor, fine wine)

Phase 4: Empire (Late Game)

Construct major monuments
Automate trade networks
Fill high-tier residential districts

Quick Tips for Smooth Success

Stabilize before expanding
Use multiple warehouses — seriously
Maintain class diversity for unlocks
Avoid early over-taxation
Specialize each province (military, trade, agriculture, etc.)

FAQ

Is Anno 117 more like Anno 1800 or the older Anno games?
Closer to 1800, but slower and heavier on logistics.

Do I need military early?
Only enough to deter bandits. Real wars come mid-game.

What’s the best early money strategy?
Export wine or olive oil; import cheap raw goods.

#Anno 117: Pax Romana