The Houses of Rome

[Rex_Romanorum]

As is well enough known by now one of the main issues historical realists have with Rome Total War is the way the Roman Republic is portrayed - as four independent but hard-code-allied factions in their own right who ultimately take orders from the Senate and People of Rome. The three families who represent the politicians and generals of the early Republic in the game are the Julii (based no doubt on the actual Caesar family, who only really rose to prominence under Gaius Julius Caesar and his adopted son Octavian / Augustus), the Scipii (of Punic War fame), and the Brutii (no doubt based on the family of Marcus Junius Brutus, the man who would go on to assassinate Julius Caesar).

What I'm asking is, if the rather simplistic gameplay mechanic of the S.P.Q.R. "superfaction" and it's three subservient factions could be improved on, and maybe made a little more subtle (that is, less noticeable), do people here think it could have a place in a future Total War game? For instance superfactions and the independent factions that comprise them would be a great way to demonstrate, in a future game, the complex nature of the Holy Roman Empire (countless independent states all owing allegiance to one central authority figure) or even the various power relationships in the Feudal System.

If the mechanic was improved upon, as I said, this could also create the scenario in a future game where the player could start off as the governer of a small territory and work their way up through underhanded dealings and such to owning larger and larger territory until they overthrew their ruler and took complete power for themselves. In a way, the Total War map would not simply be horizontal (in terms of attacking enemies to the north, south, east and west), but vertical as well (you'll have the potential to move up and down in rank and importance in your faction). What do people think? Is the "Superfaction" model one CA should revisit in more detail for future titles? I'd love to hear your ideas

[Vercingetorix King of Gauls]

It's an interesting idea, but I don't know much about HRE, so I can't really help you...

[Punic Hoplite]

That is an interesting angle you got there. Perhaps make Pope-like figure from MTW2 for the barbarian tribes (Celts, Germans) to symbolize the king of that people, and in order to eliminate the king permanently, you must kill/conquer all the tribes.


And one way I could see this applied to the Romans is have a Roman faction, of which you are subservient to (and I mean totally, like give you money and a troop limit, say 20 units or something, not like RTW where you are the big dog) and you can go and conquer places for the glory of Rome. In a way, you'd be playing very much like a horde, except you get more perks. And the more glory, the more money you can spend on troops of your own, and the more men the Senate will allow you to have. Eventually, you'll have enough men to challenge the Senate, and can initiate the Civil War.