Building the Perfect Roman City Requires More Than Just Efficiency in Anno 117

The Anno series has always been a delicate balancing act between the cold logic of supply chains and the warm satisfaction of aesthetic city-building. With the release of Anno 117: Pax Romana, Ubisoft Mainz has significantly elevated the role of "beauty building," transforming ornaments from mere visual distractions into essential tools for governance and prestige. In this new Roman era, a governor's ability to build ornaments is just as critical as their ability to manage a grain farm or a pottery workshop.

The Revolutionary Layering System for Ornaments

One of the most significant quality-of-life improvements in Anno 117: Pax Romana is the complete overhaul of how ground tiles and ornaments interact. In previous titles, players often had to choose between a specific ground texture—like a paved stone road—and a decorative asset like a fountain or a statue. Placing one would often delete or override the other.

In Anno 117, ornaments and ground tiles are treated as two separate layers. This means you can place a decorative statue, a row of cypress trees, or a market stall directly on top of any existing ground tile without losing the underlying texture. This technical shift allows for unprecedented density in city centers. You can now layer intricate mosaic patterns under grand monuments, creating the kind of layered, historical depth seen in real-world Roman ruins.

Diagonal Placement and Organic Layouts

Breaking away from the rigid grid system that defined the series for decades, Anno 117 introduces true diagonal building placement. This is a game-changer for ornament usage. In Latium, the Roman-inspired province, you can now create winding, marble-lined paths that snake through hillsides. In Albion, the Celtic-inspired northern province, you can place sacred groves and stone circles in non-linear, organic clusters that feel grown rather than manufactured.

The "Cosmetic Tool," accessible via the radial menu, complements this freedom. It allows you to cycle through different visual variants of the same building or ornament. If a specific statue doesn't fit the angle of your diagonal road, a quick click of the cosmetic tool can rotate it or swap it for a variant that aligns better with the new, more flexible grid.

Why Ornaments Matter for City Prestige

In Anno 117, building ornaments is not just about making your city look pretty for screenshots; it is a mechanical necessity. The game introduces the "Prestige" system, a metric that reflects your standing as a governor and the cultural weight of your colony.

Every ornament you place contributes to your city's total Prestige score. While a single small fountain might only grant 1 or 2 Prestige points, the cumulative effect of a well-decorated district is massive. High Prestige unlocks several critical gameplay advantages:

• Specialist Slots: Your Governor’s Villa and Officium have a limited number of slots for specialists—highly skilled individuals who provide powerful buffs to production or happiness. Higher Prestige levels unlock more of these slots, allowing you to stack more bonuses.
• Diplomatic Standing: Rival governors in the Pax Romana world respect grandeur. A high Prestige score improves your diplomatic reputation, making it easier to negotiate trade treaties, non-aggression pips, or alliances.
• City Status Evolution: As your population grows, your city graduates through tiers like "Vast Imperial City" or "Growing Megalopolis." Each tier provides a flat bonus to Prestige for every residence, which is then further multiplied by the presence of nearby ornaments.

Synergy with the Governor Villa

The Governor’s Villa acts as the heart of your decorative efforts. It possesses a large area of effect (AoE) that grants +1 Prestige to every building within its radius. By packing the grounds of your Villa with high-value ornaments—such as the "Eternal Fountain" or the "Officer of the Pax"—you can skyrocket your Prestige without needing to over-expand your city footprint.

Unlocking New Decorations through the Hall of Fame

At the start of a new campaign, your ornament library will be relatively modest. To access the truly grand statues and intricate mosaics, you must engage with the "Hall of Fame." This is an account-wide progression system that rewards you for your achievements across all your save games.

Earning Fame Points

Fame is the currency used to unlock items in the Hall of Fame. Unlike Denarii, which you earn through trade and taxes, Fame is earned by completing "Accolades"—in-game achievements tied to specific milestones. There are several categories of Accolades, each offering a substantial pool of Fame:

Completing an "Achievement Set" (usually 9 related accolades) provides a bonus. For example, focusing on religious buildings and research grants the "Insightful Sage" bonus, which provides enough Fame to unlock an entire tier of decorations in the Hall of Fame.

Latium vs. Albion Reward Tiers

The Hall of Fame is split into two primary tracks, allowing you to tailor your aesthetic to the province you are currently governing.

Latium (Roman Aesthetics): Unlocks in this category focus on marble, water, and classical symmetry.

• Tier I: Includes the "Statue of a Lion" and "Cobbled Mosaic" path skins.
• Tier II: Unlocks the "Eternal Fountain" and the "Villa of Syrah" skin, which provides a more regal look for your administrative buildings.
• Tier III: Features the "Columna Annorum" (a massive victory column) and the "Checkered Mosaic" floor patterns.

Albion (Celtic Aesthetics): Unlocks here focus on wood, moss, and nature-integrated designs.

• Tier I: Includes the "Celtic Idol" and the "Moss-Bedecked" flagship skin.
• Tier II: Features the "Airless Barrow" ornament and "Wooden Colonnades" that better suit the rustic, forested landscapes of the north.
• Tier III: Unlocks the "Wicker Wilderman" and "Ritual Liths," perfect for creating a mystical, ancient atmosphere.

Professional Beauty Building Strategies

Building a beautiful city in Anno 117 requires a shift in mindset. You are no longer just an accountant; you are an urban planner. Based on extensive playtesting in the Latium provinces, here are several strategies to maximize the impact of your ornaments.

Framing the Sacred and the Profane

Instead of placing your major public buildings—like the Theater or the Amphitheater—in the middle of a dense housing block, use ornaments to "frame" them. Create a grand approach by lining the road leading to the Theater with "Impressive Columns" and "Hedges." By leaving a 1-tile or 2-tile gap between the building and the surrounding residences, you create space for "Water Pavilions" or "Statue Fountains." This not only increases the Prestige of the district but also makes the public building stand out as a focal point.

Creating Narrative Squares

Every city square should tell a story. In a residential district for the Equites (the middle class), you might build a "Market of Syrah" and surround it with "Market Stalls" and "Chair Maker" workshops. Adding "Tessera Works" ground patterns gives the impression of a bustling, wealthy trade hub.

In contrast, a district dedicated to the gods should feel serene. Use the "Sacred Grove" and "Statue of Ceres" ornaments, interspersed with "Small Lithophytes." The goal is to use ornaments to define the function of the space visually, rather than relying solely on the UI to tell you what a district does.

Utilizing the Builder Pack and DLC

For those who want an immediate head-start on their city's aesthetics, the "Governor’s Edition" or the "Builder Pack" provides three exclusive ornaments and a player sigil at launch. These items are often more detailed than the base-game Tier I ornaments and can provide a significant early-game Prestige boost.

Furthermore, Ubisoft’s Year 1 Pass is scheduled to release three major DLCs, each of which historically includes a "Cosmetic Pack." These packs are expected to introduce new themes, such as maritime-themed harbor ornaments or rural vineyard decorations, further expanding the toolkit for beauty builders.

Mechanical Benefits of Specific Ornaments

While most ornaments provide a generic Prestige boost, some are tied to specific needs and residence bonuses. In Anno 117, residents have "Prestige-boosting needs." Supplying your citizens with luxury goods like Fine Glass, Necklaces, or Wigs increases the base Prestige of their homes.

When you combine these luxury goods with the physical placement of ornaments, you trigger a "City Status" multiplier. For instance, reaching the status of "Minor Megalopolis" provides a +2 Prestige bonus to every residence. If those residences are also surrounded by high-tier ornaments from the Hall of Fame, the total Prestige output can allow you to maintain a massive army of specialists without ever needing to build additional administrative offices.

Managing the Cost of Beauty

One mistake novice governors make is over-spending on ornaments too early. Every statue and mosaic costs Denarii to build. While their maintenance cost is typically zero, the upfront investment can trigger a "Bankruptcy Warning" if you aren't careful (which, ironically, is an achievement called "Anno Horribilis").

The best approach is to link your ornament construction to your "City Status" progression. As you unlock new tiers of residents, dedicate a portion of your surplus Denarii to "beautifying" the newly upgraded districts. This ensures that your Prestige growth scales alongside your economic complexity.

Summary of Building Ornaments in Anno 117

Building ornaments in Anno 117: Pax Romana is a multi-layered experience that rewards both the player's artistic vision and their strategic foresight. By mastering the new layering and diagonal systems, you can create cities that feel like living, breathing Roman colonies. Remember to earn Fame through Accolades to unlock the best assets in the Hall of Fame, and always keep an eye on your Prestige score to ensure your administration remains the most powerful in the empire.

FAQ

How do I unlock more ornaments in Anno 117? You unlock them by earning Fame points through in-game achievements (Accolades) and spending those points in the Hall of Fame menu. Some exclusive ornaments are also available through the Governor’s Edition "Builder Pack" or Ubisoft Connect rewards.

Do ornaments cost money to maintain? Generally, ornaments in Anno 117 have a one-time construction cost in Denarii but do not require ongoing maintenance costs, making them a "permanent" investment in your city's Prestige.

Can I place ornaments on roads? While you cannot place large ornaments directly on active road tiles (as they would block traffic), the new layering system allows you to place ornaments on decorative ground tiles and mosaics, which can be placed adjacent to roads to create a seamless visual transition.

What is the fastest way to increase Prestige? The most efficient way is to build a Governor’s Villa and pack its area of effect with high-tier ornaments. Simultaneously, fulfilling the luxury needs (like Wigs and Jewelry) of your high-tier residents will provide a massive multiplier to your city's total Prestige.

Are Hall of Fame ornaments available in all my save games? Yes. Any ornament or skin you unlock in the Hall of Fame using Fame points is tied to your Ubisoft account and can be used in any existing or future campaign or sandbox game.

Does Anno 117 support mods for ornaments? Yes, Anno 117 features a built-in mod browser. The community frequently creates "Beauty Building" mods that add hundreds of new decorative assets, ranging from harbor walls to intricate garden sets.