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Anno 117 — Pax Romana Tools

The Hippodrome: a giant monument and chariot races

The second gameplay DLC adds a huge monument for Patricians and chariot races where any specialist can drive. Races earn Splendour and stronger bonuses.

The finished Hippodrome in the middle of a Roman city, with an amphitheatre and waterfalls behind it

The Hippodrome, the second gameplay DLC, came out on 20 August alongside Update 2.0. It adds one very large building and something new to do with it: chariot races.

Building it

The Hippodrome is a monument like the Amphitheatre, but twice the size: 60 by 28 tiles, so expect to clear part of your city. It goes up in four stages. Each one needs a delivery of goods and ties up workers from a different tier:

The Hippodrome under construction, with cranes and scaffolding around its unfinished track
The track and stands under construction

Hippodrome

PatriciansLatium (Roman)Unique

The dust never settles on this monumental racing track, where fearless charioteers vie for victory and the adoration of the crowd.

Attributes & effects

Effect Roman Hippodrome Service Affects All Buildings

Unlocked by
3,500 Patricians
Maintenance cost
Denarii
-800
Construction cost
Denarii
125,000
Timber
510
Tiles
610
Concrete
725
Marble
540
Mosaics
420
Rope
150
Cloth
120
Iron
320
Granite
360
Bronze
240
Cushions
300
Ornate Wood
300
Durability & reach
Hit points
4,750
Effect radius
420
Street range
420
GUID
15 specialists & items for this buildingOpen Hippodrome

What it gives you

It meets the Marvels need of Patricians on the whole island, and its area effect covers the whole island too, raising the attributes of every building. How much depends on its Splendour level, which also brings extras such as:

  • +1 offence and +2 defence for cavalry newly recruited on the island
  • Horses as an extra household need for Equites and Patricians
  • a Horse Breeder that also turns out Chariots and boosts productivity nearby

Running a race

There are three kinds of race: Amateur, Classic Quadriga and Imperial. The bigger ones have more racers and pay more Splendour, but they cost more and bring tougher opposition. The two larger ones have to be unlocked with Splendour first.

  • Pick a charioteer. Any specialist you own can drive, each with their own Speed, Stamina, Sprint and Reliability. You can compare them with the opposition first.
  • Deliver the goods. Each event has its list. One extra good is optional, and raises the reward if your driver does well.
  • Start it. Preparation runs on a timer. A toggle repeats the event by itself, and it works for the Amphitheatre too.
  • Watch and sprint. During the race you can order a sprint every so often. An accessibility setting colours your driver so you can keep track of them.
The preparation screen of a Classic Quadriga race, with the rival racers, the goods and a specialist picked as charioteer
Preparing a Classic Quadriga race

Splendour and better drivers

Each race pays Splendour according to its type, the extra good and where your driver finishes, with the full amount for first place. Collect enough, and the Hippodrome goes up a level.

Racing also trains the driver. Attributes rise with racing up to a personal limit, and nobody can max all four, so every specialist ends up with their own strengths.

The Hippodrome screen with its race types and the row of Splendour levels below them
The race types and Splendour levels
A charioteer's Speed, Stamina, Sprint and Reliability after a race, with Speed up by one
A charioteer improving after a race

Quests and new specialists

A quest line follows a young man on his way from amateur to champion. It teaches you the Hippodrome, and you can skip it. Among the specialists tied to that story is

, who works on the Hippodrome itself.

Other new items come from quests, from trading with Valeria and from a repeatable discovery. Update 2.0's Honoured Guests also ties in: the more Prestige and Splendour you have, the better your chance of rarer specialists, including the new Heroic ones.