There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of watching your Anno 117: Pax Romana settlement hum with purpose—citizens bustling through markets, warehouses steadily filling, and your treasury swelling with every passing minute.
But that harmony can vanish in an instant. Suddenly, your concrete supply can’t keep up with demand, your weavers grind to a halt waiting for dye, or your entire bread chain collapses because one mill can’t sustain two bakeries.
That’s the true challenge of Anno 117: keeping every cog of your economy turning smoothly.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the best production chains, the perfect ratios, and advanced optimization strategies to make your province run like a well-oiled Roman machine. Whether you’re just starting out in Latium or juggling Celtic-Roman trade routes in Albion, these insights will help you craft an economy worthy of the Empire.
Understanding Production Fundamentals: The Rules of the Game
Before diving into the ratios and layouts, it’s essential to grasp the core mechanics behind every efficient production system in Anno 117. These principles form the bedrock of long-term stability.
The Rhythm of Production
Every production building operates on a set processing time, and true efficiency lies in matching those times across the chain.
For instance:
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๐ช Woodcutter → Sawmill (30s each) = perfect 1:1 chain.
If one building produces faster than its consumer can handle, you’ll get bottlenecks. Too slow, and resources pile up, wasting maintenance costs.
๐ก Pro tip: Always match input/output timings to maintain steady throughput with no idle production.
The Workforce Lifeline
No matter how perfectly your ratios align, production means nothing without workers. Every building requires a specific population tier and worker type—often spanning multiple tiers.
A chain that depends on both Liberti and Plebeians demands careful labor balance. Keep a close eye on your Workforce Tab, and avoid halts caused by worker shortages.
The Strategic Puzzle of Building Buffs
Anno 117 introduces an exciting new twist: buildings with area-based buffs and penalties.
For example:
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๐ฅ Bakery: +2 Income for nearby residences but -2 Fire Safety.
This mechanic transforms city design into a balancing act—maximizing profit while managing risk. Proper placement and support structures like Vigiles or Medici make all the difference.
Early Game Foundations: Perfect Ratios for Your First Settlement
The early hours of Anno 117 set the stage for everything that follows. Focus on simple, efficient 1:1 production chains that supply essentials and grow your tax base.
Essential 1:1 Production Ratios
These chains form your settlement’s backbone:
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๐ฒ Woodcutter → Sawmill – The foundation of all construction materials.
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๐ฟ Hemp Farm → Spinner – Produces tunics for your citizens.
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๐พ Oat Farm → Porridge Stand – Keeps your population fed and happy.
Build these close to residential areas to minimize travel distance and maximize productivity.
Monitoring and Maintaining Balance
Use the Warehouse Statistics Menu (Ctrl + Q) to monitor your resource flow.
Aim for a slowly rising surplus of goods, not a warehouse overflow. Overproduction drains your treasury through maintenance costs and ties up valuable workers that could fuel expansion.
Mid-Game Mastery: Complex Chains for a Growing Province
As your population expands, so do their needs—and your supply chains. The mid-game introduces multi-stage production that rewards precise planning and timing.
Critical Building Material Chains
When upgrading to Plebeian-level infrastructure, construction materials become vital.
Concrete Production:
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2️⃣ Limestone Quarries → 3️⃣ Sand Refineries → 6️⃣ Concrete Mixers
Tile Production:
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1️⃣ Clay Pit + 1️⃣ Charcoal Burner → 2️⃣ Tilers
These enable major upgrades like paved roads and advanced construction, both of which supercharge your efficiency.
Advanced Goods for Higher Citizens
The wealthy Plebeians and Patricians expect variety—and luxury. That means longer, more delicate production networks.
Bread Chain:
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2 Wheat Farms (60s) → 1 Flour Mill (30s) → 2 Bakeries (60s)
Toga Chain:
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3 Flax Farms → 3 Snaileries → 4 Dye Works → 4 Weavers → 2 Loom Weaveries
When setting up complex chains like this, don’t build the entire ratio at once. Start small (e.g., 2:2:3:3:1) and expand gradually as your population and economy grow.
Albion’s Unique Production Landscape
Once you reach Albion, Anno 117 adds fresh layers of complexity with Celtic-Roman cultural interactions and unique provincial chains.
Signature Albion Production Chains
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๐ Sausages (Salsicium): 1 Pig Farm → 3 Herb Gardens → 2 Salsicium + 1 Charcoal Burner
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๐ช Brooches (Fibularium): 1 Silver Mine → 2 Silver Forges → 4 Fibularium + 2 Charcoal Burners
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๐ Bread (Alternative Chain): 2 Wheat Farms → 2 Donkey Mills → 2 Bakeries + 1 Charcoal Burner
Albion’s bread chain differs from Latium’s, replacing Flour Mills with Donkey Mills—a reflection of its cultural identity.
Always review your Production Tree when setting up new provincial operations to ensure compatibility.
Connecting Production to Cultural Strategy
Your production focus depends on your cultural alignment choice:
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๐ก️ Celtic Traditions: Cheese, beer, and artisan crafts.
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๐️ Romanization: Sausages, bread, and luxury goods.
Each path defines your economic identity, so align your production chains with your chosen strategy.
Advanced Optimization: Squeezing Every Denarius from Your Empire
Once your production base is established, it’s time to go from efficient to elite.
Strategic Placement and Area Effects
Placement matters more than ever in Anno 117.
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Positive effects (e.g., Spinner’s +1 Income) should radiate near residences.
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Negative effects (e.g., Charcoal Burner) belong on the outskirts—preferably downwind of populated zones.
And remember: identical effects don’t stack. Two Markets side by side are redundant—spread them out to maximize district coverage.
Leveraging Divine Favor and Research
The Patron Gods System offers game-changing buffs:
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๐พ Ceres: Boosts agricultural output.
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⚔️ Mars: Increases weapons and armor production.
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๐งต Minerva: Improves textile production.
Switch deities strategically based on your current bottlenecks.
Meanwhile, prioritize Discovery Tree research that enhances your key industries—especially those with high workforce demand or export value.
Managing Risk in Production Layouts
Optimization isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about resilience.
Some structures create hidden risks. For instance:
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Bakeries increase income and fire hazard.
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Charcoal Burners reduce health and happiness nearby.
Counterbalance these with Vigiles (Fire Safety) and Medici (Health) coverage. Plan your industrial zones with defensive buffers between hazardous and residential areas.
From Efficient Chains to Imperial Prosperity
Mastering production chains in Anno 117: Pax Romana is the difference between struggling to survive and thriving as a Roman legend.
Start simple, scale smartly, and constantly refine your logistics. Once your supply lines, divine favor, and workforce all sync perfectly—you’ll experience that rare, satisfying flow where every building hums in perfect rhythm.
Optimization is ongoing. As your empire evolves, revisit your ratios, test new layouts, and experiment with gods and research paths.
Final Thoughts
From humble wooden huts to sprawling marble cities, Anno 117 rewards players who understand the rhythm of production.
What production chain has challenged you the most in your journey through Ancient Rome? Share your experience below—and may your warehouses overflow with goods and prosperity.
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