Roman families; old acquitances and new.
For those of you senators, Dictators, freed Gladiatiors, Eastern Tradesmen, Greek child-molestating-prophet-philisophers, tribesmen, Republicans and Emperialists and others that played the original Rome: Total War will probably recognize your first ever campaign as the leader of one of the so called, 'Roman families'. All sharing units, culture and events during the gameplay, the only differences were slight; the colors, whom differed from the typical Roman red to Red, Green and Blue(with the senate faction using the Eastern Empire color of twilight), and the campaign objectives.
Many weren't satisfied with this, as it had both historical accuracies aswell as inaccuracies reflected by what is known. In the sequel however, it is confirmed that Rome will be one split and safe faction.
HOWEVER. (dramatic music hrm rhm)
YOU WILL STILL CHOOSE TO LEAD A ROMAN FAMILY.
This is a new function. It is stated, that each will provide the player with a bonus in ways of culture, commerce and combat. You will have to work along and against your other families, and once maybe even take on the senate and rule the Romans as an Emperor, or stay the Republic.
Carthage will also function in this way, while we're at it. Most of you probably know this, but whatever. I felt for posting some research I made after noticing various connections.
Now, let us take a look on these families. Let us begin with the Cornelia
The Cornelia was one of the most famous Roman gentes, and they consisted of more illustrious men rather than any other house of the Republic. The first ever member of this family to rise into the rank of Consul in the senate, was Servius Cornelius Cossus Maluginensis(that's a long one), who held that position back in the early days of the Republic; 485 before the birth of Jesus Christ. The Scipiones branch of the Cornelia were the ones to fend of the Carthaginian forces of Hannibal during the Second Punic war and as many of y'all know, Scipio Africanus was the man to defeat Hannibal. Now, you probably recall the faction Scipii, their objectives consisting of defeating Carthage aswell as Numidia; The Cornelia Family in Rome II will thus be a reflection of the family of blue you might've played as. Due to the Cornelians participating in the Punic Wars they will possibly be the ones to hold the Military bonus of the Roman families, but maybe the Cultural bonus due to the Cornelia being the family of some of the famous Romans.
The next confirmed family is the Julia
The Julia, or gens Julia or gens Lulia was another prominent family of the Senate. The first member of this patrician family to become a Consul was Gaius Julius Lulus, in the year 489 BC, five years before Servius Cornelius Cossus Maluginensis(let us shorten it to SCCM.) of the gens Cornelia rose to the status of Consulship. Under his Consulship, the two Italian tribes Volsci and Coriolanus commenced war against Rome. Another Gaius Lulus was nominated dictator in the year of 352 during bad times with the Etruscans. Gaius Julius Caesar was well known for his campaign against the Barbarian tribes of Gaul(hence why the faction Julii in the original is tasked with destroying this "nation"), and in his later years rising to the status of Dictator, and after some less than pleasant events his Nephew Augustus rose to the title of Emperor of Rome. Due to being precursors to Julius Caesar, praised for his tactical and military knowledge, perhaps the Julia will be the family to have the bonus of the Armies? Recall their color scheme in the original; red, which was the symoblic nyanse of the Empire which could be seen as a hidden message. This is the real Roman faction, this is the one that in the real History ascended to great power, play theese.
And finally, the Junia
The Junia has always been one of the most celebrated Roman families. Before the times of Roman Democracy, they were a Gens of high prominence, and Lucius Junius Brutus was the nephew of the last Roman King and he was one of the first Roman consuls. The two brothers Tiberius and Titus Brutus of the Family were executed for treason in 509 BC, the last days of Monarchy in Rome. Another pair of brothers, Decimus and Marcus created the first Gladiatorial combats in Rome ever in the year 264 BC, the year the first Punic War started. Other prominent parts of their history include founding of colonies, and backstabbing: Decimus Junius Brutus was one of the conspirators against Julius Caesar.
As I see it the Junia have always been one of the families with a knack for profit; heralding from wealthy kings, founding the first Gladiatorial games in Rome, founding of Colonies. Judging by these, it is possible that the Junia will be the Family with the bonus of Commerce.
But, what happend to the Brutii? Shouldn't they be the third and final family of Rome? Not really no, since the Bruttii was a tribe living in the Adriatic coast, the starting region of the Brutii faction in Rome. The Brutii weren't Romans, they hated the Romans. They allied other tribes against Rome, sent troops to King Pyrrhus and hoped for Rome to extinguish like a tide against flames. The Junia and Bruttii have a "connection" however, as the Consul Gaius Junius Babulcus of the gens Junia was the one to beat them into submission after Pyrrhus defeat. However, the Bruttii wouldn't stop to defy Rome, and supported Hannibal when he entered Italy. After Hannibal and the Bruttii leaders defeat, they ceased to excist and their land taken by the Romans once again.
So then, to sum it up: the Families in Rome II will be a certain nod at the starting factions of the predecessor, while historical innaccuracies are seriously polished up. And now to my overview of each family's bonuses, and how I believe they will look like, judging by various feats of each during the span of history.
Gens Cornelia: Cultural benefits
Gens Julia: Military benefits
Gens Junia: Economical benefits
Note that all of this is merely my own perspective and how I believe it would look like, and how the ideas came up. If you got anything that goes against this and proves me wrong on some matter, or if this has been confirmed somewhere and I missed it() then go ahead on post; shame on me.
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Re: Roman families; old acquitances and new.
I think you're probably right about the families. And I'm really excited to see how the internal politics work, I imagine it'll add an incredible new dynamic to the game
Originally Posted by |Sith|Galvanized Iron
