How many of the playable factions will be Hellenic?

[Sharpe]

We all know how influential Phillip and Alexander of Macedon were and how the phalanx, hammer and anvil method was used by the Diadachi and emulated by many neighboring nations.

As there are only 8 playable factions in Rome 2, I ask this - How many will be Hellenic? It could be argued that Carthage is a Hellenic nation, but I won't class it as one for now.

But the other major powers at this point were pre-dominantly Hellenic. Macedon, The Seleucid Empire, The Ptolemaic Empire, The Attalids, the list goes on. They all have had an undeniable influence on the course of history in this time period. That could mean over half the playable nations could be Hellenic.

I am not complaining by any means, hell, I would probably be happy with plenty of Greek soldiers to play with, but am just curious to see how diverse the playable factions will be. Perhaps some larger factions will be cut from being playable to make things more diverse?

[alex man142]

I think that three of the eight will be Greek; Macedon, the Seleucids, and Egypt. All three are very different, but still Greek so there's an incredible amount of diversity. Besides the Greek, I think that there will be two barbarian factions, Rome, Carthage, and an Eastern faction, probably Parthia.

[♠ Thomas Cochrane ♠]

I think that three of the eight will be Greek; Macedon, the Seleucids, and Egypt. All three are very different, but still Greek so there's an incredible amount of diversity. Besides the Greek, I think that there will be two barbarian factions, Rome, Carthage, and an Eastern faction, probably Parthia.

I would like to agree that these are good guesses, but we already know that Sparta will be its own faction separate from Syracuse or Athens for instance. At first I thought that this could be along the lines of the "3 family" type features (as in, they're all Greek in the end), but then the same would have to be said of the Gallic and Germanic Tribes. This way each of them would be one faction, with multiple "families" playable beneath that "national" subheading. This simply doesn't make sense. Buuuut then it could well be the case; wouldn't be the first time CA has done something that doesn't make sense. I'll be excited to see the next faction reveal, as it should answer us in this...

[MathiasOfAthens]

I think that three of the eight will be Greek; Macedon, the Seleucids, and Egypt. All three are very different, but still Greek so there's an incredible amount of diversity. Besides the Greek, I think that there will be two barbarian factions, Rome, Carthage, and an Eastern faction, probably Parthia.

There will be a "Greek" faction but it wont be a Greek faction. It will be a single city state. CA has already said the greeks will be separated into city state factions. I dont know if any will be playable. I doubt any of them will be. I suspect only Macedon, the Seleucids and the Ptolemies will be playable. Or only the Macedonians and Seleucids because they were Romes enemies and the Ptolemaic Empire was more of an ally and later a vassal/protectorate.

[Durendalv2]

There will be a "Greek" faction but it wont be a Greek faction. It will be a single city state. CA has already said the greeks will be separated into city state factions. I dont know if any will be playable. I doubt any of them will be. I suspect only Macedon, the Seleucids and the Ptolemies will be playable. Or only the Macedonians and Seleucids because they were Romes enemies and the Ptolemaic Empire was more of an ally and later a vassal/protectorate.

Sparta was the only Greek City-state with some autonomy at this time, I'd put my money on them being the Greek faction. I think only one of Alexander's offshoot kingdoms will be playable.

[Durendalv2]

I think that three of the eight will be Greek; Macedon, the Seleucids, and Egypt. All three are very different, but still Greek so there's an incredible amount of diversity. Besides the Greek, I think that there will be two barbarian factions, Rome, Carthage, and an Eastern faction, probably Parthia.

If Macedon is playable, then I think the Sleucids will be scrapped. "Greece" and Macedon will porobably be the only two Hellenic factions. I think Egypt will have some Hellenic units, but will reflect Ptolemaic Egypt, which was a hybrid state.

[spartan_warrior]

Pretty much what alex said, 3 - Macedonia, Seleucids and Ptolemies. Add on 2 barbarian factions - a Gallic tribe and a Germanic tribe. And a eastern faction - Parthia. This will give a good distribution of geographic starting positions and a good selection of the import players during this period, at least the best which can be represented in 8 factions.

[Sharpe]

I agree with you guys. Hard to imagine a Rome with no Greek cities though.

[spartan_warrior]

I agree with you guys. Hard to imagine a Rome with no Greek cities though.

I know, but given the 8, I don't think they warrrant making the cut. I do expect the eventual release of factions through DLC, ideally I think the best way for CA to do this would through a pack containing several factions. So a barbarian pack adding a Iberian, Briton, and Dacian tribe. A greek pack adding Athens, Sparta, and Pergamon. A eastern/steppe pack comprising Pontus, Armenia, and the Sarmatians. Etc.

[eregost]

I know, but given the 8, I don't think they warrrant making the cut. I do expect the eventual release of factions through DLC, ideally I think the best way for CA to do this would through a pack containing several factions. So a barbarian pack adding a Iberian, Briton, and Dacian tribe. A greek pack adding Athens, Sparta, and Pergamon. A eastern/steppe pack comprising Pontus, Armenia, and the Sarmatians. Etc.

I like this idea of multiple factions per DLC pack. Rome 2 has a lot of great factions worth exploring and I do hope we get to see at least another 8 factions as DLC. They don't all have to be as unique as the starting 8, that simply isn't possible. As long as they're fairly priced, I'd lap them up.

[Clodius]

I know, but given the 8, I don't think they warrrant making the cut. I do expect the eventual release of factions through DLC, ideally I think the best way for CA to do this would through a pack containing several factions. So a barbarian pack adding a Iberian, Briton, and Dacian tribe. A greek pack adding Athens, Sparta, and Pergamon. A eastern/steppe pack comprising Pontus, Armenia, and the Sarmatians. Etc.

Although Athens was not in any way a significant state after its defeat in the Lamian War of 323-322 BC.

Syracuse was a far more important power as were the Achaean and Aetolian Leagues and Rhodes while Athens remained politically and militarily passive through the whole third and second centuries.

Pergamum however was a major power.

And Bithynia and Pontus while under non-Greek dynasties were also fundamentally Hellenistic (not BTW Hellenic) states.

[Clodius]

I know, but given the 8, I don't think they warrrant making the cut. I do expect the eventual release of factions through DLC, ideally I think the best way for CA to do this would through a pack containing several factions. So a barbarian pack adding a Iberian, Briton, and Dacian tribe. A greek pack adding Athens, Sparta, and Pergamon. A eastern/steppe pack comprising Pontus, Armenia, and the Sarmatians. Etc.

Although Athens was not in any way a significant state after its defeat in the Lamian War of 323-322 BC.

Syracuse was a far more important power as were the Achaean and Aetolian Leagues and Rhodes while Athens remained politically and militarily passive through the whole third and second centuries.

Pergamum however was a major power.

And Bithynia and Pontus while under non-Greek dynasties were also fundamentally Hellenistic (not BTW Hellenic) states.

And lets not forget Macedonia which after Carthage was the only power to challenge the Romans significantly in three wars.

[Sharpe]

Certainly seems the trend nowadays. DLC factions.

[spartan_warrior]

I won't mind that too much if CA does what they say they intend to do by making factions have a distinct unique feel to them, with different play styles. If they do this and make the factions really detailed I'll be willing to buy addition factions through DLC, if they don`t well then I probably won`t buy them.

[Sharpe]

Yeah for sure. New agents, units, buildings, formations. I'm not actually against DLC when its reasonably priced.

But I look at the Black Ops 2 season pass which costs as much as the game so your basically paying £80 for a single game.

[Larkin]

It may well be that it's 8 factions you can start with, then you unlock more after winning a campaign.

I'm sure there will be mods, even if it's the simple code change that we could do in Rome or Medieval II, or versions of All Clans Playable which open them all up for us. Considering Macedon wasn't playable in Rome one I'm somewhat sceptical as to its use in Rome II, but that's just me.

[spartan_warrior]

then you unlock more after winning a campaign.

Unlocking factions by winning the campaign won't happen, CA has confirmed this. All playable factions are available from the start.

[Sherm]

I prefer Macedonia, instead of a factions rapresenting a greek city. They could be added with DLC, especially Syracuse, one of the most important greek cities of the era.

[Eofor]

I'd want only one Diadochi state because they were all very similar in terms of military organization and tactics and the slots would be better used on factions that would offer legitimately unique experiences both on and off the battlefield.
Also, CA, PLEASE pull a CD Projekt Red and release new content free, that would earn the respect of your fanbase just as quickly as mod tools if not more so.

[Sharpe]

Probably worth mentioning that different political families and factions are playable within Rome and Carthage, so that could bring some changes. Maybe unique units and bonuses.