Rome: Total Realism
Encyclopedia
Rome: Total Realism is a complete modification pack for the computer game Rome: Total War
, intended to rectify historical inaccuracies in the original game. The mod has been featured in several major gaming sites and magazines, such as PC Gamer (US), PC Gamer (UK), and GameSpot
. Rome: Total Realism, being a mod for Rome: Total War v1.0/1.2, had an estimated 80,000 downloads on the first day after version 6.0 was released. It was followed by versions 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and finally 6.0 Gold, a compilation of all the previous patches and additional features. The unofficial "Platinum" Edition is a port of 6.0 Gold for the newer RTW v1.5 / BI v1.6, with some bug-fixes for problems found in 6.0 Gold and some new content (2 new playable factions, 4 turns per year).
The RTR team is currently working on Rome: Total Realism VII
: Grand Campaign, which uses the newer Barbarian Invasion
(expansion to Rome: Total War) engine and further improves historical accuracy, as well as introducing new game-play concepts. Several previews have been released on the RTR forum.
was extremely successful and has been used to animate several historical TV programs (including the tactical simulation Time Commanders
), numerous gamers expressed disappointment with the historical inaccuracy of the game. These inaccuracies were acknowledged by the game's creators, Creative Assembly
, who admitted the inclusion of numerous anachronism
s and inaccuracies in order to improve gameplay
experience.
The most severe criticism was reserved for the game's depiction of Ancient Egypt
. Rome portrays the Egypt
ian faction more as the Pharaonic Middle-Eastern empire of the tenth century BC rather than the Ptolemaic
successor state
to Alexander's empire it actually was in the period of the game (270 BC–AD 14). The developers of Rome stated that a chariot
-dominated Egypt that matched their consumers' expectations was considered more fun, and a sounder business strategy, than yet another phalanx
-based Hellenistic race to match the four already present in the game (the Greek Cities
, Macedon
, the Seleucid Empire
and Thrace
). The RTR developers concluded that the wildly differing starting conditions and other differences between the Ptolemaic Empire and, for instance, Macedon
, provided sufficient distinction to provide a unique playing experience without having to resort to adding units from previous millennia. The Egyptian faction has therefore been completely remodeled to better reflect its armies of the time.
The RTR mod also includes hundreds of minor gameplay modifications, altering both the strategic and tactical fields of the game.
Later released was The Iberian Conflict (or T.I.C.), the first in a planned series of "mini-campaigns" that would lead up to the eventual release of RTR VII: Grand Campaign. The Iberian Conflict focuses on Hamilcar Barca
's conquest of Iberia. A few months ago the latest release was presented: Fate of Empires (or F.O.E.). It focuses on the western Mediterranean.
at the expense of other forms of infantry, cavalry, and archers.
(Alexander the Great's successors). Their armies tend to rely heavily on high-quality cavalry, and evidence of Greek influence is present due to Alexander the Great's recent conquest of the area just 50 years prior to the starting date of the game.
are a unique faction. Rebels can be informally divided into three groups based on how they operate on the campaign map: Brigands and Pirates (who raid trade routes and attack fleets), Deserters and Freed Slaves (who attack armies of their former faction), or Independent Kingdoms and Rebel Cities (who generally isolate themselves unless they are attacked).
Rome: Total War
Rome: Total War is a PC strategy game developed by The Creative Assembly and released on by Activision...
, intended to rectify historical inaccuracies in the original game. The mod has been featured in several major gaming sites and magazines, such as PC Gamer (US), PC Gamer (UK), and GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
. Rome: Total Realism, being a mod for Rome: Total War v1.0/1.2, had an estimated 80,000 downloads on the first day after version 6.0 was released. It was followed by versions 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and finally 6.0 Gold, a compilation of all the previous patches and additional features. The unofficial "Platinum" Edition is a port of 6.0 Gold for the newer RTW v1.5 / BI v1.6, with some bug-fixes for problems found in 6.0 Gold and some new content (2 new playable factions, 4 turns per year).
The RTR team is currently working on Rome: Total Realism VII
Rome: Total Realism VII
Rome: Total Realism VII or is a complete modification for the computer game Rome: Total War intended to correct and enhance the historical accuracy of the original game. RTR VII is also intended to add a heightened sense of enjoyment...
: Grand Campaign, which uses the newer Barbarian Invasion
Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion
Barbarian Invasion is the first expansion for the personal computer game Rome: Total War which takes the action forward to the period of the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The Rome Total War Gold Edition includes both the original game as well as the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack. The...
(expansion to Rome: Total War) engine and further improves historical accuracy, as well as introducing new game-play concepts. Several previews have been released on the RTR forum.
Purpose
Although the original game Rome: Total WarRome: Total War
Rome: Total War is a PC strategy game developed by The Creative Assembly and released on by Activision...
was extremely successful and has been used to animate several historical TV programs (including the tactical simulation Time Commanders
Time Commanders
Time Commanders was a series of programmes made by Lion TV and PlayGen for BBC Two that ran for two seasons from 2003 to 2005. The programmes, originally hosted by Eddie Mair and more recently by Richard Hammond, featured a specially made game engine to reenact historical battles. A team of four...
), numerous gamers expressed disappointment with the historical inaccuracy of the game. These inaccuracies were acknowledged by the game's creators, Creative Assembly
Creative Assembly
The Creative Assembly is a British video game developer established in 1987 by Tim Ansell and based in the West Sussex town of Horsham. An Australian branch is also operated from Fortitude Valley, Queensland...
, who admitted the inclusion of numerous anachronism
Anachronism
An anachronism—from the Greek ανά and χρόνος — is an inconsistency in some chronological arrangement, especially a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other...
s and inaccuracies in order to improve gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
experience.
The most severe criticism was reserved for the game's depiction of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
. Rome portrays the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian faction more as the Pharaonic Middle-Eastern empire of the tenth century BC rather than the Ptolemaic
Ptolemaic Kingdom
The Ptolemaic Kingdom in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. It was founded when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt, creating a powerful Hellenistic state stretching from...
successor state
Diadochi
The Diadochi were the rival generals, family and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for the control of Alexander's empire after his death in 323 BC...
to Alexander's empire it actually was in the period of the game (270 BC–AD 14). The developers of Rome stated that a chariot
Chariot
The chariot is a type of horse carriage used in both peace and war as the chief vehicle of many ancient peoples. Ox carts, proto-chariots, were built by the Proto-Indo-Europeans and also built in Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. The original horse chariot was a fast, light, open, two wheeled...
-dominated Egypt that matched their consumers' expectations was considered more fun, and a sounder business strategy, than yet another phalanx
Macedonian phalanx
The Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Persian Empire and other armies...
-based Hellenistic race to match the four already present in the game (the Greek Cities
History of Greece
The history of Greece encompasses the history of the territory of the modern state of Greece, as well as that of the Greek people and the areas they ruled historically. The scope of Greek habitation and rule has varied much through the ages, and, as a result, the history of Greece is similarly...
, Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
, the Seleucid Empire
Seleucid Empire
The Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
and Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
). The RTR developers concluded that the wildly differing starting conditions and other differences between the Ptolemaic Empire and, for instance, Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
, provided sufficient distinction to provide a unique playing experience without having to resort to adding units from previous millennia. The Egyptian faction has therefore been completely remodeled to better reflect its armies of the time.
The RTR mod also includes hundreds of minor gameplay modifications, altering both the strategic and tactical fields of the game.
Later released was The Iberian Conflict (or T.I.C.), the first in a planned series of "mini-campaigns" that would lead up to the eventual release of RTR VII: Grand Campaign. The Iberian Conflict focuses on Hamilcar Barca
Hamilcar Barca
Hamilcar Barca or Barcas was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair....
's conquest of Iberia. A few months ago the latest release was presented: Fate of Empires (or F.O.E.). It focuses on the western Mediterranean.
Major changes
- Seventeen playable factions. The original game only offered eleven playable factions, with all but the three Roman families needing to be unlocked by completing the game as a Roman faction. As of version 6.0 gold, the faction roster removes the Britons and ThraceThraceThrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
, condenses the four RomanAncient RomeAncient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
factions into one, and adds IllyriaIllyriaIn classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
and BactriaBactriaBactria and also appears in the Zend Avesta as Bukhdi. It is the ancient name of a historical region located between south of the Amu Darya and west of the Indus River...
. The Mod also renamed several factions to improve historical accuracy, such as giving Spain its classical name, IberiaIberian PeninsulaThe Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. - The majority of the units on the tactical map have been given new skins, and several new units have been created. Two hundred new textures and models have been added in total. "Faction colours" have been removed. In Rome, armies were colour-coded by faction, for ease of playability: all of the Egyptian units wore bright yellow clothing, Julii wore red, mercenaries green, rebels gray, and so forth. In RTR these colours have been abandoned, and most soldiers wear rather similar shades of greyGreyGrey or gray is an achromatic or neutral color.Complementary colors are defined to mix to grey, either additively or subtractively, and many color models place complements opposite each other in a color wheel. To produce grey in RGB displays, the R, G, and B primary light sources are combined in...
, yellowYellowYellow is the color evoked by light that stimulates both the L and M cone cells of the retina about equally, with no significant stimulation of the S cone cells. Light with a wavelength of 570–590 nm is yellow, as is light with a suitable mixture of red and green...
and brownBrownBrown is a color term, denoting a range of composite colors produced by a mixture of orange, red, rose, or yellow with black or gray. The term is from Old English brún, in origin for any dusky or dark shade of color....
, the colours of undyed cloth. This reflects their probable historical modes of dress, as at the time, dyes for clothing and ornamentation were extremely expensive. - The statistics of all units have been adjusted and rebalanced. The effect is to increase the length of battles, by reducing the rate at which soldiers kill enemies, and the effectiveness of most missile units has been decreased. One of the most prominent of these changes is increase in the viability of cavalryCavalryCavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, especially when charging. This better reflects cavalry's historic role as an influential member of a classical army due to its mobility and the impact of its charge. It is also modelled with much longer lances than those portrayed in Rome: Total WarRome: Total WarRome: Total War is a PC strategy game developed by The Creative Assembly and released on by Activision...
, which were too short for a realistic charge.
- New "Area of Recruitment" gameplay mechanic. In Rome, there was virtually no restriction on the units a faction could train in a given province: for example, CarthageCarthageCarthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
could train exactly the same units in their capital city of Carthage as they could in their distant colonies in SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The exceptions were that Roman First Cohorts could only be recruited in RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
; SpartaSpartaSparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
n hopliteHopliteA hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek city-states. Hoplites were primarily armed as spearmen and fought in a phalanx formation. The word "hoplite" derives from "hoplon" , the type of the shield used by the soldiers, although, as a word, "hopla" could also denote weapons held or even...
s could only be recruited in Sparta or SyracuseSyracuse, ItalySyracuse is a historic city in Sicily, the capital of the province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in...
; and elephantElephantElephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
and camelCamelA camel is an even-toed ungulate within the genus Camelus, bearing distinctive fatty deposits known as humps on its back. There are two species of camels: the dromedary or Arabian camel has a single hump, and the bactrian has two humps. Dromedaries are native to the dry desert areas of West Asia,...
units could only be recruited in provinces that have those animals as resources. In RTR, the units that can be recruited in a province depend in large part on the province itself. Gallic infantry, for instance, can only be recruited in GaulGaulGaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, but can be recruited there by any faction which controls it. Still, all factions do have their own typical units that can be recruited in any of their territories once the appropriate buildings have been constructed. - Redesigned campaign map. The map was extended east towards IndiaIndian subcontinentThe Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
. This shows the historical extent of the various eastern powers, such as ParthiaParthiaParthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
and the SeleucidsSeleucid EmpireThe Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
, the borders of which stretched far beyond the edge of Romes campaign map. In Rome the Parthians' starting position was split in half by the Caspian seaCaspian SeaThe Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
, with no eastern expansion possible; since a very early war with the Seleucid Empire was extremely common, it made Parthia one of the most difficult factions to play. Due to the absence of Persia and modern day Iran, the Seleucids were also extremely restricted by their small Mediterranean, Babylonian and Asia Minor territories, which often led to them being destroyed by Pontus, Egypt and Armenia early in the game. - New, optional music from two composers, including a version of Ailein duinnAilein duinnAilein duinn is a traditional Scottish song for solo female voice, a lament that was written in Gàidhlig for Ailean Moireasdan by his fiancée, Annag Chaimbeul . In 1788, Ailean, a sailor, set off with his ship to Scalpay, Harris, where he and Annag would be married...
used for the credits. - The RTR website also hosts other mods which stack onto the RTR package; these are also fan-made, but are not officially supported by the RTR designers. The mods make other changes, such as adding factions, changing the game years to four turns/year (rather than two), changing animations and formations, and integrating changes from Barbarian Invasion.
Roman
There is only one Roman faction in the game. All four factions from RTW have been condensed into one.- The Republic of RomeRoman RepublicThe Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
starts out with control of Central Italy. The Romans have many Legionary infantry and supporting auxiliary troops but lack in quality cavalry. They are still the only faction allowed to construct amphitheaters and construct highways over paved roads, in keeping with Roman history.
Barbarian
Barbarian factions have both distinct advantages and disadvantages. Unlike civilized factions, they cannot build stone walls, nor roads better than basic ruts, which inhibits their strategic movement. More importantly, their technology is limited to only three city levels, as opposed to five for civilized factions. Thus they tend to research their most advanced units more quickly than other factions. Barbarian armies are undisciplined and rely on brute force and numerical superiority. Barbarian infantry have greater attack but lower defence in comparison to infantry of other factions.- The GaulsGaulsThe Gauls were a Celtic people living in Gaul, the region roughly corresponding to what is now France, Belgium, Switzerland and Northern Italy, from the Iron Age through the Roman period. They mostly spoke the Continental Celtic language called Gaulish....
start out with a very large territory mainly in modern France and northern Italy. The Gauls have good swordsmen and archers, but little cavalry and even fewer special units, making the Gauls a rather basic barbarian faction.
- The IllyriansIllyriansThe Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
are a Greco-Barbarian faction that starts out with control of modern day Croatia and Albania. It has many capable skirmishers and Greek-inspired Hoplites with some cavalry choice.
- The GermansGermansThe Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
begin to the northeast of Gaul and the east of Britannia, in what today would be considered The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden. German forces include superb but undisciplined infantry, few cavalry choices, and a few different units of axemen.
- The IberiansIberiansThe Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
are a semi-civilized Barbarian nation that begins on the Iberian peninsula, and controls all of modern Spain and Portugal except for the central and southern areas, which are controlled by Rebels and Carthage, respectively. They are a Carthago-Barbarian faction who combine elements of both cultures. Their units include solid fanatical infantry units with some cavalry choices. The Iberians, unlike other Barbarian factions, have the option to build stone walls in minor cities.
- The ThraciansThraciansThe ancient Thracians were a group of Indo-European tribes inhabiting areas including Thrace in Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Thracian language – a scarcely attested branch of the Indo-European language family...
rely mainly on heavy infantry, notably the falx-wielding troops available early on in the game. They are located in eastern Europe around modern Bulgaria.
- The SarmatiansSarmatiansThe Iron Age Sarmatians were an Iranian people in Classical Antiquity, flourishing from about the 5th century BC to the 4th century AD....
are overwhelmingly composed of horse archers. The Sarmatians control an extensive territory but few provinces in Eastern Europe, roughly corresponding to modern Ukraine and the surrounding area.
Greek
The Greek factions are located in or near the eastern Mediterranean Sea, mainly on the Balkan peninsula and around Anatolia and also in modern Turkey. Greek armies tend to focus on extremely strong infantry which utilize the superior phalanx formationPhalanx formation
The phalanx is a rectangular mass military formation, usually composed entirely of heavy infantry armed with spears, pikes, sarissas, or similar weapons...
at the expense of other forms of infantry, cavalry, and archers.
- The Greek CitiesHellenistic GreeceIn the context of Ancient Greek art, architecture, and culture, Hellenistic Greece corresponds to the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the annexation of the classical Greek heartlands by Rome in 146 BC...
surprisingly start out with very little control in Greece. They have a good selection of hoplite infantry, including Spartans (the best infantry in the game), but little cavalry.
- The Kingdom of MacedonMacedonMacedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
's main force focuses largely on the Phalanx pikemen and hoplites with a good selection of cavalry. Macedon begins with territories in the north and east coast of the Aegean Sea.
- The Seleucid EmpireSeleucid EmpireThe Seleucid Empire was a Greek-Macedonian state that was created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. At the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today's Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.The Seleucid Empire was a major centre...
's main force is similar to that of Macedon, containing the same powerful hoplites and shock cavalry. However, its armies can also contain Eastern Warriors, war elephants, and cataphractCataphractA cataphract was a form of armored heavy cavalry utilised in ancient warfare by a number of peoples in Western Eurasia and the Eurasian Steppe....
s, giving it the most diverse troop selection in the game. The Seleucid Empire encompasses a strip of territory running from the Aegean coast to India.
- The Kingdom of Bactria is a Greco-Persian faction, with both Greek and Persian troops. They begin the game in modern Afghanistan and West China, and usually expand into India. Their units are made up of war elephants, Greek Phalanx, Eastern units and a wide selection of cavalry.
- The Ptolemaic EmpirePtolemaic KingdomThe Ptolemaic Kingdom in and around Egypt began following Alexander the Great's conquest in 332 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra VII and the Roman conquest in 30 BC. It was founded when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt, creating a powerful Hellenistic state stretching from...
has a mixed military; its units consist of Greek-influenced Phalanxes and African infantry. It starts out with control of today's Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, northern Libya, southern Turkey, eastern Crete, and Cyprus, as well as Rhodes.
African
African armies consist of fairly strong cavalry and, notably, elephants, but usually have weak infantry. This is a major disadvantage when facing the The Republic of Rome, as the Roman legions destroy most forms of infantry. Main elephant and cavalry support is required for Carthaginian success.- The Republic of Carthage has a variety of units which include a good mixture of infantry, high-quality cavalry and powerful elephants, but a poor selection of ranged troops, including a notable lack of archers. It is hurt by the fact that it cannot get infantry that is on par with the Roman legionaries until late in the game. It begins with territory in modern Tunisia and the surrounding area, along with colonies in southern Spain, Sicily, and Sardinia. Carthage is a very rich faction, and can often afford to employ units of mercenaries to bolster its ranks. However, under AI control, Carthage rarely gains much territory and is usually destroyed by the Romans and sometimes the Numidians.
- The Kingdom of NumidiaNumidiaNumidia was an ancient Berber kingdom in part of present-day Eastern Algeria and Western Tunisia in North Africa. It is known today as the Chawi-land, the land of the Chawi people , the direct descendants of the historical Numidians or the Massyles The kingdom began as a sovereign state and later...
has fast mounted and dismounted skirmisher units, as well as some light spear-armed infantry. Many Numidian units receive advantages when fighting in deserts. The faction can train its own version of the Roman legionaries. Numidia begins the game holding the North African land not possessed by Egypt and Carthage.
Eastern
The Eastern factions represent the major states of the Middle East not ruled by the DiadochiDiadochi
The Diadochi were the rival generals, family and friends of Alexander the Great who fought for the control of Alexander's empire after his death in 323 BC...
(Alexander the Great's successors). Their armies tend to rely heavily on high-quality cavalry, and evidence of Greek influence is present due to Alexander the Great's recent conquest of the area just 50 years prior to the starting date of the game.
- The Kingdom of ParthiaParthiaParthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
's specialty is with mounted units, such as Persian cavalry and the horse archer. While its cavalry is extremely powerful, its infantry is weaker than those of other factions, which can make sieges difficult. The Parthians inhabit the land in central Asia east of the Caspian sea, and also have holdings to the north. In a typical game, their borders rarely expand and they are attacked constantly by Armenia, the Seleucid Empire, Bactria, and Pontus. Unlike the other factions, Parthia only receives access to one type of temple: The Temple of Zoroaster.
- The Kingdom of Armenia, like Parthia, has armies which contain strong cavalry. Armenia is the only faction with cataphract archers and Eastern heavy infantry, the latter being comparable to the Macedonian phalanxMacedonian phalanxThe Macedonian phalanx is an infantry formation developed by Philip II and used by his son Alexander the Great to conquer the Persian Empire and other armies...
. They also have their own version of Roman legionaries. The Armenian starting territory is located in the mountainous region of what is today Armenia, Georgia, and eastern Turkey.
- The Kingdom of Pontus is a Greco-Eastern faction, with Greek names and Greek gods. Their troops include fast-moving, javelin-armed cavalry, as well as phalanx troops and chariots. In the game, Pontus starts in northeast Asia Minor, in historical Greek colonies.
Rebels
The RebelsRebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
are a unique faction. Rebels can be informally divided into three groups based on how they operate on the campaign map: Brigands and Pirates (who raid trade routes and attack fleets), Deserters and Freed Slaves (who attack armies of their former faction), or Independent Kingdoms and Rebel Cities (who generally isolate themselves unless they are attacked).
User created mods
Rome Total Realism Mod allows mini-mods (sub-mods) within the mod itself to enhance the gaming experience. Some of the most popular mini-mods include MetroNaval, Ancient Empires, Extended Realism, and Imperator. These mini-mods modify even further the Rome Total Realism to sometimes allow a different type of a gameplay or balance the statistical issues within the mod.Newer versions
Since the mod's original release, the RTR Team has released several more mods in a series called RTR-VII:- The first, Rome Total Realism VII: The Iberian Conflict (TiC), focuses on the struggles of Hamilcar BarcaHamilcar BarcaHamilcar Barca or Barcas was a Carthaginian general and statesman, leader of the Barcid family, and father of Hannibal, Hasdrubal and Mago. He was also father-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair....
to conquer the Iberian Peninsular, setting CarthageCarthageCarthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
against Celtiberia. - The second release, Rome Total Realism VII: Fate of Empires (FoE), expands upon TiC to include the rest of the Western Mediterranean, including Italy, North Africa, Sicily and Southern Gaul. It starts in 280 BC, when Pyrrhus of EpirusPyrrhus of EpirusPyrrhus or Pyrrhos was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic era. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house , and later he became king of Epirus and Macedon . He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome...
invades Italy to try and bring about the end of Rome. What happens after that is for the player to decide. - The upcoming release, likely the last of the VII Series, is Rome: Total Realism VIIRome: Total Realism VIIRome: Total Realism VII or is a complete modification for the computer game Rome: Total War intended to correct and enhance the historical accuracy of the original game. RTR VII is also intended to add a heightened sense of enjoyment...
: Grand Campaign (RTR VII: GC). It expands on FoE to include the rest of Gaul, Greece, the Balkan areas, and part of Asia Minor. It aims to max out the capabilities of the RTW Engine.