A Guide to the Differences of the Roman factions

[Deux]

The Romans at first glance appear to be different coloured replicas of each other and this has lead to some confusion on the boards as to their exact differences. This guide will hopefully go so far as to make it clear to everyone what makes them unique as factions and stop people from completing the game as a Roman then moving straight onto a different culture. Of course, aside from Rome: Total War each of the houses boasts a remarkable history from the Victor of Zama to the Conqueror of the Gauls.

The House of Julii

The House of Scipii

The House of Brutii

[Deux]

The House of Julii

Rome is a place where tradition and history count for much. The legends of the city’s founding are important, and the powerful patrician families are directly descended from the first followers of Romulus. These heroic times demanded harsh, decisive action, and this is a tradition that the often-conservative Romans have maintained to this day. The Romans, including the Julii family, are people for whom politics and war are all or nothing affairs.
The Fates have not always been kind to the Julii. They are a patrician family but one whose star has not always been in the ascendant. The family’s fortunes have declined and then risen over the centuries, so much so that they may almost be considered vaguely parvenu: upstarts newly arrived to wealth, power and authority. With the loss of position and status in the past, the other powerful factions of Rome look down (if only ever so slightly) on these ‘new men’ of Rome. The Julii have had to adjust to the realities of politics and power in Rome, and have cultivated their popularity with the common people. The rule of Rome may lie with the Senate for now, but the Julii know that the people also have a say in government. The Senate and the patrician classes need the plebeians to at least go along with their actions.
This populist attitude to the common people puts the Julii at odds with the other great families. Which approach will lead to great power within Rome has still to be decided. The Julii have a commanding position in northern Italy that means they will be in vanguard of any struggle against barbarians. Success there can be translated into political power in Rome itself, as the mob always loves winners...


Starting Position/ Armies

The House of Julii are one of three Roman factions available to the new player at the start of the game. The House of Julius Caesar, conqueror of the Gauls, fittingly has the long-haired trouser-wearers as their primary enemy and the game suggests a war in barbarian lands.
They start out with two settlements, Ariminum and Arretium. Both are wealthy, developed towns in the north of Italy.





They also have a strong standing military which, if left, will be a drain on your resources. Luckily the Senate always asks you to take the minor settlement of Segesta with a reward of 5000 Denarii and there are Gauls on your doorstep so the army will be put to good use. The Barbarians are to be found over the other side of the mountain range and they will more than likely be the source of the majority of your towns later on in the game if you are to complete the victory conditions



Temples

As The Julii you have the option of choosing from three temples unique to them; Ceres, Bacchus and Jupiter.



Ceres is the God of growth and Fertility, useful early on for towns such as Segesta but may lead to squalor later on with too much population.
Bacchus is the God partying and although this may seem like a good idea, expect your generals to have alcoholic traits when the Temples are fully constructed. You may also find your Generals to be strategic experts, plus three and four stars, Bacchus may be worth the gamble.
Jupiter is the God of Rome, the most balanced Temple of the Julii with no nasty side effects. Jupiter allows the recruitment of Arcani, the battle assassins of Rome.




Gladiators



Rome is famous for Gladiatorial games and the Coliseum is a vital part of Roman life. What better way to show this in-game than recruitable Gladiators. The Julii have access to Samnite Gladiators at the Amphitheatre level of the games buildings. Heavy shock troops such as these are ideal for flanking and routing the enemy.

[Deux]

The House of Scipii


The city of Rome has a violent foundation legend, one that mirrors much of the political and military infighting that happens between the great families of Rome. Romulus murdered Remus for jumping over the walls of the city, and then named himself King and renamed the city in his own honour. The patrician families of Rome claim descent from the adventurers, exiles and warriors Romulus recruited to help establish his city. The Scipii should be numbered among these ancient bloodlines.
They are not, perhaps, of quite the first rank, although this in itself means that they are keen to prove themselves the equal of any other Romans, but they are certainly among the optimates, the aristocracy of the city, and have been for many generations. They are important people, used to the privileges of rank and the usages of power, both to further Rome’s ambitions and that of their own family. They have also produced able politicians and generals – the two go hand-in-hand in Rome, as political success rarely comes without success on the battlefield.
They are, however, unusual in a couple of respects for a Roman family of the old ways. Firstly, they are extravagantly wealthy. Wealth is one thing, and this always brings power with it, but their use of wealth has sometimes surprised more conservative Romans (and Romans are nothing if not conservative). The Scipii also have a taste for Greek learning and culture, again something that surprises and concerns the conservative elements. Nevertheless, despite these un-Roman ways, the Scipii have the political skills and military competence to make their family greatest in Rome, and possibly the rulers of the known world. They may only directly control a couple of provinces in Italy and Sicily, but their ambitions are boundless... and realistic.

Starting Position/ Armies

The House of Scipii, victors of the Punic war, hold two territories but unlike the other Romans they hold one on the island of Sicily which is Messana and Capua their capital near Rome. The will be expected to push into North Africa and deal with the threat of Carthage and Numidia to safeguard Rome.





They have a fairly strong starting army, especially if you bring the two hastati units and family member from the mainland to help in the war against the Greeks and the Carthaginians. Their first Senate mission is to take Syracuse which is well guarded by a decent garrison.

Temples

The House of Scipii have perhaps the best set of unique Temples out of the three Roman factions. Their Temples give them the fearsome Arcani, Golden upgraded armour and a mighty war ship which comes in very handy against the Carthaginians who are powerful at sea.



Gladiators



Rome is famous for Gladiatorial games and the Coliseum is a vital part of Roman life. What better way to show this in-game than recruitable Gladiators. When it comes to gladiators the Scipii are behind the other Romans as they have to wait until the third tier of public games building to be able to recruit the Mirmillo Gladiators, hardy shock troops well able for flanking manoeuvres.



Ships

The Scipii are able to recruit two more extra ships than the other Romans.

The Corvus Quinquireme

This unit is one of the most powerful units at sea on the game and is well worth the high recruitment and upkeep prices if you want supremacy out at sea. This ship is available with the Awesome Temple of Neptune.



Decere

Thanks go to Genius of the Restoration for remebering this ship. The Decere is the most powerful unit on the sea in Rome: Total War.

[Deux]

The House of Brutii

The founding of Rome is shrouded in legend. Legend has it, for example, that the Romans can trace their ancestry back to Aeneas, the hero who escaped from the sack of Troy. The founding of Rome also involves violence and murder. Viewed in a certain light, much of subsequent Roman history can be seen as a continuation of these aggressive ways. Since this time, the Romans have kept a fine tradition of warfare and high-stakes (or even murderous) politics.
The Brutii know all about Roman politics. The founding of the Republic of Rome involves them closely, as they have been at the heart of the Republic for centuries and can even claim to the ‘Father of the Republic’ in the family. Lucius Junius Brutus pretended to be an idiot for years to avoid being killed by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin), the last king of Rome, and then managed to lead his people in expelling the hated king after the rape of Lucrece. Casting aside his idiot persona, he became one of the first praetors, a ruling office of the patrician class established before the consulship was established. Lucius Junius Brutus even had his own sons executed for plotting to restore the Tarquins to power. And that’s power politics played out to the bitter end.
Membership of the patrician class is what sets the Brutii apart from the other Roman factions. They are counted among the old families of Rome, those related by blood, marriage or adoption to the founders. These are people who have always been important within the social hierarchy, people who would expect to have authority as a matter of course. This is why they now have control of southern Italy. The Brutii would not have expectations of power, however, if they had not been able to deliver the political and military skills that Rome requires. But now, perhaps, with Rome surrounded by enemies within and without, there is a chance to secure ultimate power, to become the new Imperators of a Roman Republic that extends throughout the known world…

Starting Position/ Armies

The House Brutii begin the game with two cities in the south of Italy, Tarentum and Croton. The main enemies of Brutus will be Greece and Macedon, then pushing further East later on in the game.





They have a fairly strong military, albeit with no Triarii like the Juliu have at the start but they are the only Roman playable faction to begin with cavalry (Equites). Greece is probably one of if not the most wealthy part of the map when in the hands of a trade monster like the Romans. Lots of cities in a small area add to this effect and this should be your first major campaign.

Temples



All Roman faction have three unique Temples and The House of Brutii are no different. Their Temples are arguably a lot better than The Julii’s and provide the player with more benefits; they are Juno, Mercury and Mars.
Juno is the protector and she will give you health and happiness bonuses. The Temple of Juno will also half the culture penalty of any captured settlements you may take and so will help with public order.
Mercury is a trade Temple and will give you more money as trade is the key element of your income in Greece. Potentially the Temple of Mercury will increase your current income greatly.
Mars is the God of war. This Temple will give your generals war traits and your troops masses of experience before they have even made it out of the city. Also the Temple of Mars will allow you to recruit the fabled Arcani.

Gladiators



Rome is famous for Gladiatorial games and the Coliseum is a vital part of Roman life. What better way to show this in-game than recruitable Gladiators. The Bruii have access to Velite Gladiators at the Arena level of the games buildings which is one stage before the other Roman factions. Heavy shock troops such as these are ideal for flanking and routing the enemy.

[Deux]

There we go, version 1.0 is up. Took a lot more work than I was anticipating but i'm no stranger to hard work

What do you like? What don't you like? What have I missed out? Are there any factual mistakes which I have missed? How can this be improved?

[Genius of the Restoration]

Nice stuff. Did you omit the Decere on purpose? I think the Scipii get them if they upgrade their Awesome temple of Neptune to the Pantheon IIRC... could be wrong though.
The information about the starting units is good. Don't think I've seen that before in a guide. Excellent work!

[Deux]

I knew there was another ship! I think I overlooked it becuase I gave an overview of the Temples at Awesome Temple stage. I will add it shortly, thanks for pointing it out GotR. There we go, Decere added.

[Deux]

Updated, first of the banners added.

[Deux]

Name change update, hopefully that will make it a bit more clear as to what this guide actually contains. The other was a bit misleading.

[Genius of the Restoration]

This is quality stuff Deux. An additional possibility if you wanted to include it would be to say what each faction is likely to encounter and how they should prepare for this. For instance, it might be helpful for the Julii to have more cavalry because the barbarians can't defend against them as well, while the Brutii might take more heavy infantry and missiles to deal with spears.

[Drakedeath]

This is quality stuff Deux. An additional possibility if you wanted to include it would be to say what each faction is likely to encounter and how they should prepare for this. For instance, it might be helpful for the Julii to have more cavalry because the barbarians can't defend against them as well, while the Brutii might take more heavy infantry and missiles to deal with spears.

I've found that Warbands' stabbing spears are enough to make a unit if Equites think twice about charging them.

You might also include a guide of the mercenaries they're most likely to run into. For example,

Julii: Barbarian Mercenaries, Barbarian Cavalry Mercenaries, Spanish Mercenaries, Balearic Slingers, Illyrian Mercenaries
Brutii: Mercenary Hoplites, Mercenary Peltasts, etc.

[Deux]

This is quality stuff Deux. An additional possibility if you wanted to include it would be to say what each faction is likely to encounter and how they should prepare for this. For instance, it might be helpful for the Julii to have more cavalry because the barbarians can't defend against them as well, while the Brutii might take more heavy infantry and missiles to deal with spears.

I have edited the Scipii guide, I thought I had worded that quite wrongly once you pointed out early moves. I wil make the other two clearer shortly.

I've found that Warbands' stabbing spears are enough to make a unit if Equites think twice about charging them.

You might also include a guide of the mercenaries they're most likely to run into. For example,

Julii: Barbarian Mercenaries, Barbarian Cavalry Mercenaries, Spanish Mercenaries, Balearic Slingers, Illyrian Mercenaries
Brutii: Mercenary Hoplites, Mercenary Peltasts, etc.

To be honets, although it is a valid suggestion, adding mecenary units available would not really benefit the player when making a decision on which faction to use. Anybody can recruit them and the Mercenaries themselves are not too far away to be availiable to every faction. (+) For the idea though