City layouts

Housing blocks in Anno 117 are a coverage problem before they are a beauty problem. Public services count road distance. A path that zigzags between houses can leave a sanctuary short of the back row even when the building looks close on the map.

Three patterns, not one winner

The companion’s tier 1 basic block is the one that fits a new city. The paved upgrade closes corner gaps. The 45-degree grid is marked by its author as hand-drawn. Tier 2 on dirt roads drops coverage in the four corners, which is why the paved tier 2 file exists. I am not calling any of them optimal.

What to keep outside the block

GameRant’s beginner notes and the layout cards both push bakeries, pottery, garum works, and renderers away from houses, or pair them with Vigiles and a Custodia. Incident buildings (Vigiles, Medici, Custodes) need a reserved plot inside the block, not a gap you hope to find later.

Pause the game while you stamp. The beginner notes say a pause does not start a riot or a fire, so you can drag the block without the city punishing the empty minute.