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Prophecies of Ash, Anno 117 Pax Romana’s first DLC is better than the haters give it credit for
Anno 117: Pax Romana's first expansion, Prophecies of Ash, has drawn "mostly negative" reviews on Steam, echoing wider criticism that the base game feels empty and underdeveloped compared with its predecessor, Anno 1800. However, this Polygon writer argues the DLC is unfairly maligned, as it introduces a volcanic eruption mechanic that adds welcome structure and complexity to the game's mid-game city-building loop, which previously felt like a repetitive continuation of existing systems.
The new content only activates once a player's Equites population reaches 500, after which they must complete tasks such as quarrying marble, stockpiling food and restricting goods from consumption in preparation for an eruption. When the volcano, named Occasus, finally erupts, it damages buildings, lowers fire safety, and triggers acid rain and a "volcanic winter" that slashes agricultural and aquatic output to 25% of normal levels. Afterwards, the ash enriches the soil and boosts obsidian availability, creating a cycle of hardship and recovery that the writer says is well-paced and adds engaging challenge without feeling poorly timed.
In short
- Anno 117's new DLC adds volcanic eruptions to shake up city-building.
- Despite mostly negative reviews, the writer says it fixes key issues.
- Eruptions cause damage and shortages, but soil recovery follows afterwards.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The volcanic eruption mechanic introduces meaningful strategic depth to the mid-game loop, requiring purposeful preparation before facing consequential destruction. The subsequent cycle of hardship and recovery creates engaging challenges with genuine stakes that elevate what was previously repetitive gameplay into something compelling and well-paced.
The case against
Whilst the mechanic may be well-executed in isolation, the overwhelming negative player reception and widespread perception that the base game feels fundamentally underdeveloped suggest a single addition cannot adequately address the broader structural issues players identify. Rather than being unfairly maligned, the DLC's reception likely reflects the reality that incremental improvements cannot remedy a game lacking foundational depth.
Explained simply
The Anno games are city-building strategy games in which players develop settlements, manage supplies and meet the needs of different groups of residents. Anno 117: Pax Romana is set in the Roman Empire, while its predecessor, Anno 1800, was praised for the depth of its systems.
Prophecies of Ash is an expansion, or downloadable add-on, for Anno 117. It introduces a volcanic event on the island of Occasus, bringing damage and shortages that players must prepare for and manage; the ash left behind can later improve soil and provide obsidian.
The debate around the expansion reflects wider questions about whether Anno 117 offers enough depth compared with Anno 1800. Its volcanic cycle adds a new challenge to city planning, and opinions differ on how much that improves the game.