We were promised the "most advanced military AI" in franchise history. ⚔️ Ubisoft’s marketing trailers showed Roman Generals executing complex flank maneuvers, retreating tactically, and managing their economies with ruthless efficiency. But now that Anno 117 is in our hands, the truth is embarrassing. 🤡

This episode exposes the "Artificial Stupidity" scandal. We break down how the "Advanced" AI opponents (even on Hard difficulty) are completely incapable of launching a coordinated naval invasion. 🚢💥 We talk about enemy fleets sailing in circles while their harbors burn, and discuss the "Economy Cheat" that allows AI players to build endless armies without having the necessary supply chains—a lazy developer trick that ruins the immersion for strategy purists.

We also analyze the "Corporate Gaslighting." 🕯️ We compare the pre-launch "Gameplay Deep Dive" videos side-by-side with the retail build to prove that certain behaviors—like the AI demanding tribute based on military strength—simply do not exist in the current game. Is this another case of a "Vertical Slice" demo that was faked for E3? 📉

Finally, we look at the pathfinding disasters. From trade ships getting stuck on islands to legions marching into walls, we ask if the new engine is actually worse than Anno 1800's logic, and if there is any hope for a patch to fix the brain-dead opposition. 🧠🚫