The "Desert Kingdoms" expansion for Total War: ROME II has been announced. The "Desert Kingdoms" add-on for Total War: ROME II has been announced. Rome 2 add-ons

Despite the fact that the game came out five years ago. The Desert Culture Pack was a welcome addition to players as it addressed the criticisms they had of similar 2014 DLCs and added new features. However, first things first.

About the Desert Kingdoms add-on

The announcement took place two weeks before the release with the publication of a trailer in which the contents were quickly presented:

The asking price is 300 rubles, for this money you can play for the kingdom of Kush, Nabatea, Numibia, and the Sabaean kingdom. Previously, these factions were present in the game, but were not playable, but now they have their own religion, development technologies, buildings, a full set of units and leaders, national advantages, general cultural characteristics - in general, there is everything that is necessary for individual, unique roleplaying .

All of these factions start in the deserts of Africa and Arabia from east to west, with the starting position located right on the southern border of the strategic map. It turns out that two or three flanks are closed, and a total war can only be waged in one direction, which makes it very easy to get through the first phase. Severe natural conditions residence hardened the represented peoples, so that their warriors have great stamina and fight well in the sands, compared to European nations.

The developers adjusted the Victory Goals for each faction, but there are still three of them: military, cultural and economic. The phases for each stage have also been worked out. So, having started playing as Numibia, in the first phase you need to unite the Berber tribes with sword and plowshare and capture Carthage. From there you can go to Spain, try to capture Italy while Rome is still young, or occupy Egypt, paving the way to the Middle East.

A couple of innovations have been introduced into the gameplay: all units have returned to the “defense mode”, which was removed in the second patch of Rome 2, and it has become possible to combine battered units into one.

Desert Kingdoms Factions

When playing Desert Kingdoms you immediately feel the difference between quantity and quality. Within a year of Rome 2's release, Creative Assembly released three Culture Packs, but all of the factions had meager units and little innovation, making it difficult to imagine anyone winning a major campaign for the pirate or Greek factions.

Now there are as many units as needed for a full passage, while there was no simple self-copying, all nationalities were thought out. Some are strong in infantry, others in archers, others have a wide variety of cavalry, but there is also something in between, so it makes sense to play each faction. Let's briefly list the capabilities of each.

Meroe(Kingdom of Kush) - neighbors Egypt and, under the player's control, can become a major power in the region using the fertile lands of the Nile for growth, and natural resources for trading gold, jewelry, food and exotics. This is a classic trading power that should capture the most profitable regions, directing all excess resources to trade and generating income. Culturally, it is close to the Greek city-states and Egyptian states.

In addition to trade bonuses, the kingdom of Kush has disciplined slaves who live longer, bring more profit, and do not reduce social order as much. Militarily, Meroe is known as the land of bows due to its many cheap and strong species archers. However, you should not get carried away with military expansion; instead of enslaving weak neighbors and trading with strong powers, it is better to destroy the strong and conclude advantageous alliances with the weak, completely tying them to yourself.

Nabatea neighbors between Egypt and the Seleucids, it became famous for its innovative construction methods, due to which it will be easier to install fortifications, and the chains of main city buildings are erected faster and cheaper than competitors. Nabatea has a close cultural connection with the Egyptian states, and also receives a diplomatic bonus in its alliance with Rome, with some units resembling Roman legionnaires.

Possessing a developed culture, religion and construction capabilities, Nabatea is not inferior to other civilizations militarily, since its main enemies are the Seleucids and Arabs, with whom they will have to fight to the death. Developed military craft will allow you to challenge major military powers and Rome. To survive in future wars, you need to use bonuses from the Silk Road passing through this country and the resale of incense: frankincense and myrrh.

Sabaean kingdom located in the middle of nowhere on the strategic map, in the south of the Arabian Peninsula. Difficult living conditions do not allow fighting for a long time, so the Sabaeans are not known for their belligerence. It is more profitable for this state to trade using foot and sea trade routes. One of the faction's main goals is to establish trade relations with the peoples living beyond the Red Sea, as well as the Seleucids and Armenians.

The rulers of Sabea use mercenaries to protect trade routes, and long-term cooperation with them allowed them to hire strong troops at a lower cost. The desert is best traversed on camels, which is reflected in military use: the Sabaeans are one of the few to use camels as their main cavalry, also employing chariots and fast javelin throwers.

Throughout the game, you will spend money on the Marib Dam, a unique building that gives a faction bonus to agriculture and fertility, and then further improve it with the help of technology.

Numidian kingdom represented by a single Berber people, who at the beginning of the game are divided into proto-states. The player's first task: to gather the tribes under a single political, military and technological leadership, in order to then destroy Carthage and enlist the support of Rome.

This is a classic military power, which, due to its location along the entire African coast of the Mediterranean Sea, can launch raids into Spain, Egypt, Asia Minor and Italy.

The Numidians themselves are strong warriors, and having adopted many Roman traditions, they become a formidable force for trading powers and, with proper development, can compete with other military powers. They are famous for their ability to set up ambushes, which increases the chances of success by 50%. The strength of the Numidian army is its varied cavalry, swordsmen and spearmen, and its proximity to Carthaginian and Latin culture allows for the use of elephants and legionnaires.

A victory for militant feminism

The release date of March 8, 2018 was not chosen by chance; the developers have expanded the female presence in the game: now Rome 2 is the same gender-tolerant game as others modern projects. Desert Kingdoms has added 12 female leaders to all campaigns and civilizations in the game, with personalized appearance and voice acting. These women can reign on the throne, like Cleopatra or Queen Teuta of Illyria.

There will be more women in the tree of faction leaders: for some nations they participate in politics, for others they perform a social function (Roman and Greek culture), and for others they are generals and warriors (barbarians and wild tribes). Units consisting only of women appeared. Decisions made during a diplomatic marriage can have political consequences.

To do "the path of women's rise to power" full of difficulties and obstacles, the developers have come up with various special events (dilemmas) in which the player can hire a female leader, or receive bonuses from those who oppose such a decision.

As in ordinary feminist propaganda, women are hindered from self-realization by traditional values, customs of Antiquity and patriarchy - you have to destroy this or leave it as it is. In such a strange way, the developers brought the historical epic to modern problems.

Conclusion

With the release of Desert Kingdoms, the following tasks were successfully resolved: four factions with a bunch of interesting units became available, the fighting style of which was not imposed by the developers and you can act as you please, new opportunities, improved diplomacy and additional game features. So, when starting a new game, you will not be ashamed to take one of these factions in order to fully experience roleplaying, as opposed to the “cut-off” of some Ardiaea from Black Sea Colonies.

Despite the passage of time, Rome 2 remains a popular game, which is why the release of Desert Kingdoms (and last year's expansion

The information portal Eurogamer published news that the strategy Total War: Rome 2 is expecting an addition. The DLC will be called Caesar in Gaul and will be released next week. The expansion will cover the Gallic War. The Russian branch of the Steam service will be offered for only 9.4 US dollars. The storyline of the add-on develops in 58-51 BC. The player will have the opportunity to choose between eighteen provinces in Gaul and southern Britain. The expansion will feature four factions: Romans, Averni, Suevi and Nervii. Due to the fact that the new campaign has a limited duration, the calendar year will take place in 24 game turns. It should be noted that the seasons will change in Ceaser in Gaul. Today, many Internet users spend free time differently. Some play games, others use services favorit bet if they have a passion for a particular sport. After the release of the DLC, new features will be integrated into the main campaign of Total War: Rome 2. Each of them will be equipped with its own special units. Mention should be made here of the Nervii, Boii and Galatians. Let us remind you that sales of the strategy Total War: Rome 2 started in early autumn of this year. Previously, its developers had already announced the release of small updates, due to which the game was expanded with new factions, but Caesar in Gual is positioned as the first new campaign. The game was developed by Creative Assembly, which released the first part of Total War thirteen years ago. The first part of the series, which highlights Ancient Rome, released nine years ago.

Total War: WARHAMMER

We waited, we believed. And our faith was rewarded! Announcement Total War: WARHAMMER took place! The skeptics were put to shame, and the Vachomans rejoiced! But the developers have already managed to tell a lot of details on the forums. Was it first known? that this will not be one game, but a trilogy flavored with a whole bunch of add-ons and additional paid and free content. Secondly, there will be only four factions (Empire of Sigmar, Greenskins, Dwarves and Vampire Counts), but they promise to make them as detailed as possible, rich in units and really different from each other in gameplay. Thirdly, the heads of factions are now not just generals whom you don’t mind losing in battle. Now these are the Legendary Lords (Karl Franz, Grimgor, Thorgrim and Mannfred von Carstein), heroes with unique weapons, mounts, items and a set of quests. They also promise such new items as flying units, magic, tanks, cannons and muskets... in general, yummy! In general, we are waiting for more information and hope that the game will become a breakthrough in the series.

Well, we hasten to reassure apologists of historicity - a separate team is working on Warhammer. Historical games Total War, the production of the fantasy game is not slowing down.

More details about

Total War: Attila

The announcement of Total War: Attila, on the one hand, surprised us a lot, and on the other hand, it once again proved that SA is following the beaten path. After all, Attila is essentially a sequel to the “Barbarian Invasion” addon for Rome 1. However, this time they did not become modest and called it “ new game"Okay, we won't argue. A separate game about the invasion of barbarian tribes on the civilizations of the ancient world is wonderful. It should be noted that the developers really did a great job. According to most players, Attila really turned out to be a worthy product that allowed you to plunge into dark eras.

More details about Total War: Attila Part 1 And Part 2

Total War: Rome 2

The announcement of Rome II Total War took place on July 2 and it caused a real storm of delight in our community! People were so hungry for hand-to-hand combat and legionnaires that the announcement of the sequel was perceived as a real miracle and a “dream come true.” To again lead legions bound by iron discipline, unshakable Greek hoplites and Macedonian sarissophorians into battle, trample enemies with elephants and throw severed heads at them - isn’t this happiness! But the new Total War games are also sea battles. And there will be a lot of fun here, because the developers promise active interaction between the ground and naval forces. Mutual shelling between coastal fortifications and warships in the roadstead will give a new degree of freedom to the “strategos” of the ancient world.

Description: The entry will be updated.

More than a year has passed since the release of Rome II, the game has acquired a ton of downloadable content (DLC) and has undergone many transformations after the release of patches, the number of which has quickly exceeded ten, and will certainly continue to grow. In this short note, I tried to list all the official paid and free updates for Rome II. As other updates are released, it will also be updated.

Free content

This faction initially came as a bonus for those who pre-ordered the game (and there were quite a few of them). The Pontic kingdom is a Hellenistic state ruled by the Persian dynasty, to which the famous enemy of Rome, Mithridates VI Eupator, belonged. The Pontic army retained its previous features from the first part of the game and even became more diverse. The line of troops can boast both numerous shooters and heavy infantry with swords and pikes. Cavalry, shock, rifle and close combat, plus chariots, is also not deprived.

Seleucids

For some reason, this faction was not included in the playable list from the very beginning, but modders quickly made it available, discovering along the way that it was actually ready for play (it had a full-fledged line of troops and a ruling dynasty). Soon the developers made the Seleucids available for play. This dynasty has always been one of the favorites among players: a difficult situation, a collapsing huge power, powerful troops and aggressive neighbors make playing for the descendants of Nikator very interesting.

This faction was a regular guest in a variety of RTW modifications and, quite logically, finally became playable in the second part of the game. The Bactrians are also surrounded by numerous aggressive neighbors, but like the Seleucids, they have something to answer to their enemies. The combat line is a bit similar to the Syrian one, but with a greater emphasis on local contingents (Bactrian horsemen and infantry). There are also Greek cataphracts with war elephants.

The main feature of the Getae is that they are second only to the Romans in being able to retrain their inferior troops into stronger ones. Because of this, the late Geth army begins to pose a serious threat to any enemy, but you still need to be able to survive until this happens. The player who chooses the geth must prepare for a tough game - the mountains know no mercy.

Seasons and miracles

This tiny addition appeared after the release of the Caesar in Gaul campaign. It added the change of seasons to the larger campaign and the long-awaited wonders of the world, the list of which was not limited to just the seven classic ones. Mount Damavand, the Bam fortress, Stonehenge, etc. were also awarded the title of miracle. After patch 11, this content began to be included in the game by default.

Historical Battle of Pydna

It’s hard to even call it full-fledged content, to be honest. Just a simple historical battle, which, apparently, did not make it into the game initially due to tight deadlines. This battle took place on June 22, 168 BC. (a solar eclipse helped accurately date the fateful battle for Macedonia) and ended in the complete defeat of the Macedonians. In the battle, the player must repeat the success of consul Aemilius Paulus. The battle, as designed by CA, is designed for fairly skilled players.

Emperor Augustus Campaign

A year after the game's release, CA made a great gift for all its customers by releasing a new global campaign from the Second Triumvirate. The balance of the game was once again greatly shaken up, we were given several more factions (Armenia and the Marcomanni) and the opportunity to either unite Rome under the banner of Pompey, Octavian, Antony or Lepidus, or, on the contrary, crush the Romans for the peoples hostile to them, in particular, for the Parthians. I personally consider this campaign to be one of the best additions to a game worthy of the name of Augustus.

Warriors of Augustus

"Warriors of Augustus" was released simultaneously with the paid "Daughters of Mars". It finally dawned on the SA that it was time to create not only all sorts of fantastic units, but also normal troops. Especially for those factions whose lineup is offensively meager. The Svevs (i.e., all Germans) were added 5 units, which greatly diversified the gameplay. Even the sorcerers turned out to be useful, reducing the morale of the enemy (these units were only available as garrison units). Two units of horse archers for nomads have also been added.

There were also other additions, such as Epirus and Elephants and an expansion of the Carthaginian troop line. They, like "Warriors of Augustus", patched up holes in the gameplay, i.e. the developers were correcting their shortcomings, and therefore I decided not to devote special paragraphs to them.

Paid content

Polis culture

This pack, like Pont, was free for everyone who pre-ordered Rome II. Athens, Epirus and Sparta - the list of playable states was supplemented by these, no doubt, very interesting names. Athens was the center of democracy and culture, Epirus could afford an army on the Macedonian model, and Sparta was simply Sparta. Many fans of the game took this pack just for the sake of the Spartans. Exclamation This is SPARTAAA!!! became popular again.

Blood and spectacle

Released on October 31, 2013, this addition is the first of the optional ones, and which does not affect the actual gameplay. It included many different effects designed to make the game's battles more severe and realistic. Dismemberment and streams of blood were included. Many users, by the way, still post screenshots with severed heads/arms/legs, and modders make it even bloodier (although, it would seem, much further).

Nomadic culture

Three nomadic factions (Roxolani, Royal Scythians and Massagetae) were included in the first “cultural” pack after the release, and until October 29 this addition was completely free! The SA explained their decision by saying that in this way they wanted to apologize to the community for the insufficient development of the release version. Of course, many license holders gladly took advantage of this opportunity.
The gameplay for the nomads turned out to be hellishly hardcore, surpassing in complexity even the campaign for the Barkids. A feature of nomadic armies was the complete “saddle” of all more or less combat-ready troops. There was simply nothing to do on foot in the Steppe.

Beasts of War

DLC with questionable content, in my opinion, but some people like it. Fashions like “300” enjoy constant popularity. You will be given strange troops, which are unlikely to be stronger than usual. The names alone are worth it: camel cataphracts, ridiculed in RTW, ballistas with snakes, ballistas with scorpions, Molossian mastiffs, Celtic dogs, adherents of Sobek and other similar rabble coexist with hired Syrian elephants in armor. It’s good that they didn’t bring in any burning pigs.

Caesar in Gaul

Back in RTW, many modders found a text with the names of settlements for the never-released provincial campaign about the conquests of Guy from the Yuli family. Despite the significant amount of time that has passed, none of the modders ever bothered to create such a provincial campaign. The developers themselves decided to correct such an omission by pompously releasing the very first additional campaign for the new part of the franchise. The campaign seemed simple at first glance, but in fact it posed quite a challenge to the players. One year now equaled 12 (twelve) moves! It was necessary not only to conquer lands, but also to be able to hold them. Additional and the most important factor there was a change of seasons - so in winter it was very fraught to conduct military campaigns and most often during the “dead” season, opponents were busy licking their wounds and strengthening positions in the regions. The new feature is the so-called. leaders who could not be killed, but only wounded. Each playable faction had its own immortal leader with his own special abilities that provided huge bonuses in battle. Rome received Caesar, the Suevi - Ariovistus, etc. Additionally, various barbarian factions have been unlocked in the grand campaign - Galatians, Bojes and Nervii.

Pirates and bandits

A real joy for lovers of robbery is a full-fledged pack of robber factions: the Illyrian tribes of the Ardiei, the Odrysian kingdom of the Thracians and Tila, the Celts on the western coast of Pontus Euxine. These peoples received their own culture (the Illyrians now had a Balkan culture), traits and additional troops. They also had huge bonuses for looting and recruiting mercenaries for short campaigns. Playing for these tribes was also not particularly easy, but new interesting experiences could be gained.

Daughters of Mars

Unit pack with female units. It is also not particularly needed and you can do without it without compromising the gameplay. The Germans and nomads received several not very strong units, the value of which was questionable. For some reason they added gladiators, Gorgo skirmishers, etc. completely unhistorical rubbish. Pay for this? Brr, excuse me.

Hannibal at the Gate

Second provincial campaign for Rome II. The main role here was the famous Carthaginian commander Hannibal Barca, whose actions led to the start of the war, during which Rome found itself on the brink of disaster. The Roman consuls suffered severe defeats one after another, including the defeat at Cannae, and only Scipio Africanus managed to defeat the terrible Punian in open battle. Players here are invited to either repeat the military path of the Barkids and still turn the course of history in their favor, or take the side of the Romans and turn the Republic from a regional power into a serious force, which even the distant states of the Diadochi then had to reckon with. As a bonus, we were given the opportunity to play as Syracuse and several Spanish tribes. By the way, all these factions became available in the grand campaign, it’s just a pity that Syracuse in the grand campaign remained a collective farm without walls...

Culture of the Black Sea colonies

I can’t imagine where Pergamum suddenly became a Black Sea colony. Let this remain on the conscience of the developers. The Bosporan kingdom (called Cimmeria) was in any case begging to become a full-fledged playable power, like Pergamon. Colchis was supposed to demonstrate an outlandish mixture of Caucasian and Hellenic features in one state. Another thing is that none of these factions were as well developed as the others available: many very units were repeated, and there were disappointingly few original troops. Well, at least they allowed us to play for Pergamon and create an Anatolian power out of it, which is what actually happened in history. Along the way, SA made Massilia (finally!) playable. Moreover, it is absolutely free. I don’t understand what prevented me from unlocking this faction even after the release of “Caesar in Gaul” or “Hannibal at the Gates”.

Fury of Sparta

Another campaign for Rome II, where the player must take part in the Peloponnesian War on the side of one of the four major Greek factions (Sparta, Athens, Boeotia and Corinth). The apotheosis is the Persian invasion of Greece. The idea of implementing the Greek quarrels may have been sound, but the implementation once again let us down. And some even stated that this addition was actually a test run of the capabilities of the upcoming Attila Total War addon - the Persians attacking in the script were too similar to the Huns. The factions were given few units, and almost all of them were natural clones! There was a lot of criticism of this addition, and modders rushed to finish SA’s “creation.” But those who like to shout THIS IS SPARTAAA could be happy.

An Empire Divided

On November 30, 2017, after a very long break, along with a new patch, the downloadable campaign “Broken Empire” was released, dedicated to the crisis of the 3rd century and the era of “soldier emperors”. Much time has passed since those glorious times of establishing the power of Rome throughout the Mediterranean; for almost two centuries the empire seemed unshakable, but after the death of the last Caesar from the Antonine dynasty, the army is increasingly asserting itself. Emperors, according to the old tradition, continued to be recognized by the Senate for some time, but real power ended up in the hands of numerous soldiers, who, after the fall of discipline, began to raise and overthrow emperors at their own discretion. The consequence of this power leapfrog was an extensive crisis of the entire state and the growth of separatist sentiments, which resulted in the emergence of the so-called. "30 tyrants" who tried to seize supreme power with varying degrees of success. The player must choose one of the factions to put an end to the rebels and reunite the fractured empire. Of course, the political situation is fundamentally different from what we see in the classical campaign and for the most part we will have to fight with the same Romans, also the barbarian tribes now pose a much greater threat (they even managed to overcome the Roman borders and invade countries that had not known war for centuries peaceful provinces), and a new formidable power arose in the East - the Sassanid power.

Desert Kingdom Culture

On March 8, 2018, International Women's Day, the developers released perhaps the latest addition to R2TW - Desert Kingdoms Culture Pack. SA did not take into account the inhabitants of the sunny South for a very long time, but finally this omission was corrected - full-fledged factions of Kush (Meroe), Numidia, Saba and Nabatea appeared in the game. These states stretched across the entire southern part of the strategic map and were not even related to each other; they were united by the fact that their states were located in the extreme South, and the troops were mostly represented by exotic desert warriors with bonuses appropriate for this. Some of them are able to boast of untold wealth, and some of them are among the best mounted warriors, but they are all located on the edge of the world, therefore, it will be somewhat easier for them to expand due to the lack of the need to have several fronts.

Rise of the Republic

To the delight of fans of the game, the developers, along with a new patch for the 5-year-old game, released another DLC. It tells about the gray times when Rome was one of the small Italian states, with difficulty fighting off the unwashed Gauls, whom several centuries later it would drive under its kaliga. The range of available factions is quite wide and offers the most different options completing the campaign, which is good news. Herself game card provides a chance to fight in a very detailed Italy with the unique city of Rome. Of course, the military lines of Rome and its opponents have been radically changed, so that you will be guaranteed immersion in a completely different era.

Help me get to the top!

A total of 117 factions were declared. The player will have to choose from 8 (excluding DLC) available factions. Factions are conventionally divided into four cultures - Barbarian, Greek, Roman and Eastern; the differences between them are much more significant than in past games. Each cultural type has its own strengths in trade, warfare, politics and agent skills. The development of technology will also differ, but the main directions are the same for everyone - civil, military and technical. In addition, some factions are divided into families available to players, each of which will have its own unique advantages. Much more attention is paid to the player’s interaction with the faction’s internal political system. Sometimes you will have to confront her. The game characters will have to combine the roles of a politician and a commander.

Map of all factions in the game

8 available Factions (excluding DLC)

Roman Republic - With their victory over Pyrrhus, the Romans achieved a dominant position in the Apennine Peninsula. The young republic is full of strength and ambition. Roman society is quite militarized - military service is mandatory for all citizens. The army of the republic is famous for its excellent training and organization. The Romans are significantly superior to the surrounding peoples in the art of metalworking, and the republican system ensures relative peace of citizens and protects them from popular unrest. The player will be able to lead one of three powerful families - the Yunievs, the Yulievs or the Kornelievs. Another feature of playing for Rome is the presence of the Senate.

A short prologue campaign has been introduced into the game, designed to teach the player the main points of tactics and strategy. Historically, the period of action in it corresponds to the period of the early Republic, starting in 316 BC. e. during the Second Samnite War. Although the historicity in the prologue is broken - the names of the two consuls of this year are precisely indicated, it is said that they were defeated at the head of a united army, the consul Spurius Rutilus was captured, and the consul Marcus Lenatus died of wounds on the third day after the Battle of Capua. In reality, in this year, Lucius Aemilius Mamercinus Priverna, a dictator, was appointed to conduct the war, and both consuls were in Rome.

Carthage - Once a Phoenician colony, at the time of the game a powerful Mediterranean power. The Carthaginians had colonies throughout the western Mediterranean and had a strong navy. The few citizens of this country are mainly engaged in trade, so most of the army is made up of mercenaries. According to legend, the city was founded by Queen Dido, who fled from Fez after her brother Pygmalion, king of Tyre, killed her husband Sychaeus in order to take over his wealth.

Throughout the history of Carthage, the city's inhabitants were renowned for their business acumen. According to the legend about the founding of the city, Dido bought from a local tribe as much land as an ox's hide could cover. She cut the skin into narrow strips and, making a circle out of them, took possession of a large plot of land. Therefore, the citadel erected at this place was called Birsa, which means “skin.” The strongest unit is considered the “Sacred Squad”, in which the Carthaginian aristocracy serves. Carthage is also famous for its war elephants.

Macedonia

Macedonia - On the bones of Alexander the Great's empire, his generals, the Diadochi, founded their own states. Now Macedonia is just a shadow and a fragment of the former empire. This kingdom is surrounded by Illyrians, Thracians, and Greeks. Macedonia is led by a king who rules on behalf of the people. The treasury receives its main income from agriculture and timber extraction, as well as taxes on shipping and the extraction of precious metals.
The Macedonian army has remained virtually unchanged since the times of Philip II and Alexander.

The backbone of the army is still made up of the famous Macedonian infantry, as well as good cavalry; Macedonia's position at sea is traditionally weak. The king of Macedonia is Antigonus II Gonatas, the grandson of the famous commander Alexander, Antigonus the One-Eyed.

Iceni - Celtic tribe living in southeast Britain. The Iceni are a proud people and fierce warriors. Warriors cover their bodies with ritual drawings and tattoos, which significantly distinguishes them from other Celtic tribes. Iceni warriors are equipped with large oval or rectangular shields and are armed with swords and spears. Before the actual confrontation, slings and javelins are used to create disorder in the enemy's ranks. The infantry is supported by maneuverable chariots and light cavalry.

The Iceni have their own capital - Venta Icenorum - a large trade and religious center. The Iceni economy is based mainly on agriculture, but is distinguished by fairly developed monetary relations, based on coins of their own mintage. In addition, the Iceni greatly excelled in the art of iron processing. They have every chance of becoming the dominant tribe in Britain.

Arverni - One of the most powerful tribes of central Gaul. The Arverni are ruled by kings and tribal leaders. Positions are usually achieved during wars, since nobility is valued along with military and leadership qualities. Druids occupy an important place in Arverni society. In addition to matters of cult, they seriously influence politics, including issues of war and peace.

The Arverni are renowned artisans and goldsmiths, and have one of the most sophisticated and advanced cultures in the barbarian world. Elite units are formed from the aristocracy, ordinary people they are armed mainly with a spear or throwing dart, and use an oval shield for protection; The Arverni also have good cavalry. The neighboring Gallic tribes are ready to recognize the Arverni ruler if he is powerful and successful enough.

Suevi - Under this name, a whole group of Germanic tribes living in the northeast of Germany and united by a common language and beliefs is united. Their society is governed by elected leaders. To distinguish themselves from commoners, aristocrats braid their hair in a special way.

The craftsmanship of armor and weapons is very underdeveloped. Swords are quite rare; Suebi warriors go into battle armed with a short spear and shield. Despite this, Suebi warriors are respected and feared. The most ferocious warriors become berserkers. The Suebi's favorite battlefield is the thicket of the forest; they prefer to attack from ambush. The Suebi despise the civilized world and enjoy considerable influence among neighboring tribes.

Parthia is a young state; most recently this country was part of the Seleucid Empire. As a result of the invasion of the Parni tribe, Arshak became the ruler of Parthia and the founder of a new dynasty. The population of Parthia is quite diverse; the cultures of the Greeks and Persians, as well as many small nations, coexist on this land. The Parthians are tolerant of other cultures. The treasury is replenished through agriculture, and the Great Silk Road also brings its benefits.

The striking power of the Parthian army is made up of heavy cavalry, where both rider and horse are clad in heavy armor. The nomadic tribes supply their troops with unsurpassed horse archers. Infantrymen use spears as well as a variety of thrown weapons. There are many mercenaries serving in the army, using Seleucid weapons and tactics.

Hellenistic Egypt is closely connected with the culture of the Greek world, but also retains many of the original Egyptian traditions. Dynasty in 305 BC. e. After the death of Alexander the Great, it was founded by Ptolemy, since then the country has become a cultural and commercial center under the influence of the Macedonian rulers. Ptolemy was a general under Alexander, and after sudden death the king was appointed to rule Egypt. When Alexander's empire fragmented, Ptolemy declared his independence and secured Egypt from the encroachments of his rivals during the Diadochi Wars (322-275 BC). Adopting Egyptian religion and customs, the Ptolemies soon became pharaohs, continuing a long tradition of building magnificent temples and monuments. However, under them the study of Greek culture and science was actively encouraged, so that a higher class of Greco-Egyptians emerged. But everything was not always harmonious; Greek troops were stationed throughout the country, veterans settled anywhere, and the privileges of Greek citizens led to frequent and bloody uprisings by the natives.

Mixing Greek and Egyptian fighting styles gives the Ptolemaic pharaohs an army that is technically advanced and well-balanced, but still respects the leadership of heroes. Pikes and spears are used skillfully, and military units are divided into skilled swordsmen, scythe-wielding chariots, and more exotic units such as African war elephants. Egypt's location on the Mediterranean Sea forces the country to maintain a significant fleet in order to protect its trade and colonial interests.

Free Content (FreeLC)

This faction initially came as a bonus for those who pre-ordered the game (and there were quite a few of them).

Pontus is a state formed under the strong influence of Greek and Persian cultures. This kingdom occupies the northeastern part of Asia Minor. In the south it borders with Cappadocia, and in the east with Colchis. It was formed in 302 BC. e., when Mithridates I Ktist (Founder) took advantage of the turmoil and confusion of the era of the Diadochi and proclaimed himself king of Pontus. The coastal location favors the development of trade; precious metals, iron and timber are mined in the mountains. River valleys are used for agriculture.

Thanks to their trade connections, the Pontians are well aware of everything that is happening in other countries. The rulers of Pontus try to maintain friendly relations with other Hellenistic states. During war, Pontus relies on a strong navy and infantry. The culture of Pontus is largely Persian, but the Pontic rulers are aware of the role of Greek technology and culture in the development of their state. Due to its location on the periphery of the Greek world, Pontus has developed and increased its potential over the centuries and at the time of the game it is perhaps the strongest Hellenistic state.

Seleucids

For some reason, this faction was not included in the list of playable ones from the very beginning, but modders quickly made it available, discovering along the way that it was actually ready for play (it had a full-fledged line of troops and a ruling dynasty). Soon the developers made the Seleucids available for play. This dynasty has always been one of the favorites among players: a difficult situation, a collapsing huge power, powerful troops and aggressive neighbors make playing for the descendants of Nikator very interesting.

The Seleucids were a Hellenistic monarchy formed during the collapse of the empire of Alexander the Great. The core of the state was the Middle East, at the height of its power it included part of Asia Minor, Syria, Phenicia, Palestine, Mesopotamia, Iran, parts of Central Asia and present-day Pakistan. It was the most important center of Hellenism, the main link between Greek and Eastern cultural traditions. During the era of its power, it included: Asia Minor, the Levant, Persia, the Pamirs and part of Pakistan.

Having begun its expansion into Greece, the empire encountered the army of the Roman Republic, which inflicted a series of defeats on it. As a result, the eastern part of the country by the middle of the 2nd century BC. e. was captured by the Parthians under the leadership of Mithridates I. The Seleucids continued to rule in Syro-Phenicia until the conquest of the country by the Armenian king Tigranes II. After which, the Seleucid state as an independent entity was liquidated. The reigning queen from the Seleucid dynasty was captured and executed a few years later by order of the Armenian king. In 64 BC. e. the former western part of the territory of the Seleucid state was turned into a Roman province.

Bactria is a Hellenistic state in Central Asia, formed as a result of the collapse of the Seleucid Empire. It is a flat country in the middle reaches of the Amu Darya. The borders of Bactria in the north are the spurs of the Pamirs, in the south - the Hindu Kush. The heart of Bactria was a vast oasis in the desert delta of one of the rivers flowing from the spurs of the Hindu Kush.

The center of the oasis was the city of Baktra (or Baktr/Balkh), which gave its name to the entire country. Western European scientists call Bactria a geographical region, the northern border of which was the Amu Darya River. Bactria was distinguished by its advantageous geographical location at the crossroads of routes from north to south (from the Great Steppe to India and to the Ocean coast) and from west to east (from the Mediterranean countries to China). This situation, along with the fabulous fertility of the region (Strabo: “...in Bactria there are grains the size of our ears”), allowed Bactria to occupy a prominent place in history since time immemorial.

Zalmoxis was revered as the only god. Herodotus called the Getae those “who believe in their immortality” (getas tous athanatizontas), “because according to their belief they will not die, but will go to Zalmoxis.” Zalmoxis “taught that neither he, nor his guests, nor their descendants would die, but would only go to another place where they would live forever, enjoying all the benefits.”

Since the Getae lived in lands little known to the Greeks, but were well known to them by name, this gave rise to a lot of fantastic reports - especially in late antiquity. Thus, Julian the Apostate reported the victory of the Getae over the Goths. In addition, during this period it became generally accepted to transfer toponyms and ethnonyms from the heyday of Greek civilization to modern times.

In Byzantium back in the 12th century. it was customary to call all the nomads of the Northern Black Sea region Scythians, up to the Pechenegs and Polovtsians, without taking into account whether these tribes were really somehow connected with each other. This should be taken into account when evaluating late reports of geth. Thus, Jordan considered the Goths to be the continuers of the history of the Getae. This view has no basis other than simple consonance, and is explained by the desire to ancientize the history of its people, since according to ancient concepts, a people who did not have a centuries-old past could not count on respect.

There was a lot of controversy regarding the addition of Armenia to the game. But one fine day, SA added it, which was a good surprise for most players in the series.

Armenia's key location for trade between the Black and Caspian Seas has sprouted new cities and ushered the country into an era of prosperity that will allow it to regain its former glory. Tigranes the Great took advantage of the instability in the Seleucid Empire and captured Syria in 83 BC. e., and the marriage alliance with Pontus soon strengthened the position of Armenia as one of the largest kingdoms of the East.

Seeing rapid growth Armenia and the aggressive advance of Pontus to the west, Rome was forced to intervene by sending an army that would cut down both kingdoms in size. Armenia was deprived of most of its territories and forced to become a client state. And so, this once proud state, now suppressed, receives news of instability in Rome caused by the death of Caesar...

Trade connections guarantee prosperity, mountains provide refuge during attacks, and the cataphract cavalry has no equal. Having managed to quickly build an empire once, will Armenia be able to rise to the challenge of circumstances and repeat it?

Massalia

The twelfth free content update for Total War: Rome 2 brought a new faction to the game - Massilia, along with the paid add-on Black Sea Colonies.

The Greeks established their colony in Massilia around 600 BC. Founded by the Phocians, it was intended to gather the region's resources and conduct trade from the natural harbor of Massilia. By the early 4th century BC, the former trading post had developed into one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, its influence even spreading into Gaul along the Rhone rivers and Durance. Massilia is an oligarchy ruled by noble families. The population is a mixture of Greek settlers, Gallic locals and various foreign traders. Despite the level of cultural integration, some Gallic tribes still see the city as a desirable prize. Carthage also wants to control or destroy this trading rival. Both want Massilia's great wealth for themselves, and will stop at nothing. Massilia is a collection of skilled traders and articulate diplomats, but being somewhat conservative, the population is less tolerant of foreign cultures within its borders. In battle, her warriors display a combination of Gallic and Greek fighting techniques and weapons.

According to local legend, the history of the city began as a love story between Hyptida, the daughter of Nan, king of the Ligurian tribe, and the Greek Protis: the Greeks landed on the shores of Provence at the moment when King Nan decided to marry off his daughter. To do this, he convened a feast at which Hyptidas would choose a groom. It was to the Greek Protis that she handed her cup of wine. The couple received part of the coast as a wedding gift, on which they founded a city called Massilia.

Massalia gradually became a large, prosperous trading city and founded numerous trading posts along the Mediterranean coast and up the Rhone.

Seasons and miracles

Seasons and wonders of the world have been added to the base game on the battlefields. This addition was included in the 11th free update.

This tiny addition appeared after the release of the Caesar in Gaul campaign. It added the change of seasons to the larger campaign and the long-awaited wonders of the world, the list of which was not limited to just the seven classic ones. Mount Damavand, the Bam fortress, Stonehenge and other interesting wonders, with their own bonuses, were also awarded the title of miracle. After patch 11, this content began to be included in the game by default.

"Warriors of Augustus"

["August Warriors"]

"Warriors of Augustus" was released simultaneously with the paid "Daughters of Mars". It finally dawned on the SA that it was time to create not only all sorts of fantastic units, but also normal troops. Especially for those factions whose lineup is offensively meager. The Suebs (i.e., all Germans) were added 5 units, which greatly diversified the gameplay. Even the sorcerers turned out to be useful, reducing the morale of the enemy (these units were only available as garrison units). Two units of horse archers for nomads have also been added.

Emperor Augustus Campaign

["Emperor August"]

A year after the release of the game, CA made a great gift for all fans of the series by releasing a new global campaign dedicated to the fall of the Roman Republic and the war of the Second Triumvirate.

The balance of the game was once again greatly shaken up, new units and factions were added (Armenia and Marcomanni) and the opportunity to either unite Rome under the banner of Octavian Augustus, Mark Antony, Sextus Pompey and Marcus Lepidus, or, on the contrary, crush the Romans for the peoples hostile to them, in in particular, for the Parthians. I personally consider this campaign to be one of the best additions to a game worthy of the name of Augustus.

Battle of Pydna

It’s hard to even call it full-fledged content. Just a simple historical battle, which, apparently, did not make it into the game initially due to tight deadlines. This battle took place on June 22, 168 BC. (a solar eclipse helped accurately date the fateful battle for Macedonia) and ended in the complete defeat of the Macedonians. In the battle, the player must repeat the success of consul Aemilius Paulus. The battle, as designed by CA, is designed for fairly skilled players.

After the defeat of Philip V, Macedonia practically became a Roman province. Philip's heir Perseus tried to correct this; after his death, he declared the independence of Macedonia. Rome had no choice but to send troops to Macedonia to put the upstart in its place. But Perseus did not want to give up without a fight. The Battle of Pydna is a battle that took place in 168 BC. This battle involved the Roman army under the leadership of Mitellus, against the Macedonian army under the command of Andriscus. In battle, Roman discipline defeated Macedonian courage.

There were also other additions: for example, Epirus and Elephants and the expansion of the Carthaginian troop line. They're like" To the Warriors of Augustus", patched holes in the gameplay, i.e. the developers corrected their shortcomings, and therefore I decided not to devote special paragraphs to them.

Paid content (DLC)

Caesar in Gaul

One year was equal to 12 (twelve) moves! It was necessary not only to conquer lands, but also to be able to hold them. An additional and most important factor was the change of seasons - so in winter it was very fraught to conduct military campaigns and most often during the “dead” season, opponents were busy licking their wounds and strengthening positions in the regions. A new feature was leaders who could not be killed, but only wounded. Each playable faction had its own immortal leader with his own special abilities that provided huge bonuses in battle. Rome received Caesar, and the Gallic tribes received Vercingetorix.

Caesar in Gaul is a stand-alone campaign for Total War: ROME II, focusing on Julius Caesar's war of conquest against the Gallic tribes. The campaign is based on Caesar's Notes on the Gallic War. Players can choose between four factions involved in this conflict: Arverni (Gauls), Suebi (Germans), Nervii (Belgians) and Rome. The Caesar in Gaul campaign covers a shorter period of time (58 - 51 BC) and a smaller area of territory than the base game, but it features Gaul and the southern coast of Britain in more detail, and more factions (playable and non-playable) .

The campaign features a number of famous generals and historical statesmen, such as Gaius Julius Caesar or Mark Antony and Vercingetorix, who the player recruits or fights with, depending on the chosen faction. A new historical battle has been added to the campaign - the Battle of Alesia, which became a turning point in the Gallic War, leading to the capture of Vercingetorix. In the Battle of Alesia, the player's task is to siege a Gallic fortress under the command of Vercingetorix. In addition to the playable factions in the new campaign, Caesar in Gaul introduces three new factions to the base game: the Nervii, Boii, and Galatians.

Hannibal at the Gate

Second provincial campaign for Rome II. The main role here was the famous Carthaginian commander Hannibal Barca, whose actions led to the outbreak of a war during which Rome found itself on the brink of disaster. The Roman consuls suffered severe defeats one after another, including the defeat at Cannae, and only Scipio Africanus managed to defeat the terrible Punian in open battle.

Players here are invited to either repeat the military path of the Barkids and still turn the course of history in their favor, or take the side of the Romans and turn the Republic from a regional power into a serious force, which even the distant states of the Diadochi then had to reckon with. As a bonus, we were given the opportunity to play as Syracuse and several Spanish tribes. By the way, all these factions became available in the grand campaign, it’s just a pity that Syracuse in the grand campaign remained a collective farm without walls...

Players will travel to the Western Mediterranean during the Second Punic War, as part of the new campaign they will take part in the confrontation between Scipio and Hannibal and understand the “geopolitical situation.” 5 new factions and, of course, new units will be available. Rome and Carthage will receive updates to the civilian technology tree.

Fury of Sparta

The last campaign for Rome II today, where the player must take part in the Peloponnesian War on the side of one of the four major Greek factions (Sparta, Athens, Boeotia and Corinth). The apotheosis is the Persian invasion of Greece. The idea of implementing the Greek quarrels may have been sound, but the implementation once again let us down. And some even stated that this addition was actually a test run of the capabilities of the upcoming Attila Total War addon - the Persians attacking in the script were too similar to the Huns.

The factions were given few units, and almost all of them were natural clones! There was a lot of criticism of this addition, and modders rushed to finish SA’s “creation.” But those who like to shout THIS IS SPARTAAA could be happy.

This campaign is dedicated to the Greco-Persian War. Athens, which turned the union of poleis into its empire, became a strong and influential country in Attica. Sparta, Corinth and the cities of the Boeotian League unite in a coalition against Athens. The Persians make sure that neither side gains too much strength.

Culture of the Black Sea colonies