Total War: ROME II Black Sea Colonies Culture Pack

[sertorio67]

The Black Sea Colonies Culture Pack introduces three new playable factions into the ROME II Grand Campaign: Cimmeria, Pergamon and Colchis.

Originally citizens of the Greek States, these pioneering peoples have settled far from home, intermingling their customs with those of far-flung societies to create unique cultures of their own. The Black Sea Colonies bring a rich new gameplay flavour to ROME II through their unique traits, battlefield units and buildings, and hybrid unit-rosters.

Black Sea Colonies Cultural traits:
Greek Knowledge: +5% to research rate
Far from Home: +2 cultural conversion


Cimmeria

Background:
The Cimmerian Bosporus has been fought over for its resources and strategic importance for millennia. The adventurous Greeks of Miletus, in Asia Minor, formed several colonies around the Black Sea coast during the 6th and 7th centuries BC in order to exploit its resources for trade with the wider Greek world. By the beginning of the 5th century BC their government had gravitated from classical Greek democracy to control by a single family. The current ruler, Satyrus, conquered nearby Greek cities, heralding the birth of the Cimmerian Kingdom, and a dynasty of rulers that endures to this day. Despite this strength, Cimmeria remains under threat from the surrounding nomadic tribes, and from the avaricious gaze of nearby Pontus, whose military strength may yet prove its undoing.

Faction Traits:
Tyrants: +5% corruption
Bosporian Fertile Lands: +5% wealth from agricultural buildings
Multiculturalism: -25% unhappiness from all foreign cultures in own territories

New units:
Scythian Hoplites: Armed in the Greek style with spear and shield, these medium infantry are solid defenders.

Cimmerian Heavy Archers: A truly multirole unit, these heavily-armoured archers trade their bows for spears when the enemy draws close.

Cimmerian Noble Infantry: Noble Infantry are drilled to a peerless standard in the classic hoplite style.

Picked Peltasts: Accurate and determined, these javelin-armed skirmishers can pack a devastating punch.

Unit roster:
Greek/Scythian hybrid

Unique Buildings:
Prytaneion
Rose Marl Building
Sanctuary of Demeter


Pergamon

Background:
Although a minor player up to that point, Pergamon came to prominence during the struggle of Alexander the Great’s Successors for control of his fragmented empire. An ambitious lieutenant named Philetaerus acquired control over the fortress city and led Pergamon into a new golden age of culture and learning, building an impressive acropolis and a temple to Pergamon’s patron goddess, Athena. Not yet a kingdom in the truest sense, the time is right for expansion beyond its current borders. There are also new threats to be faced from Galatia, the duplicitous Pontus and Cappadocia. Pergamon must be strong if it is to meet these challenges and fulfil its destiny as a mighty Successor state.

Faction Traits:
Great Builders: -10% to all building costs
Military Underdogs: +10% non-mercenary recruitment cost
Town Growth: +4 growth in all provinces

New units:
Agema Spears: The cream of Pergamon’s infantry, these elite defenders will hold the line against the odds.

Pergamon Noble Cavalry: Hardy and proud, the lance-wielding Noble Cavalry of Pergamon can execute a devastating charge.

Picked Peltasts: These elite, javelin-armed skirmishers are trained to a superior standard.

Unit roster:
Greek/Hellenic/Galatian hybrid

Unique buildings:
Great Altar of Pergamon
Library of Pergamon
Spring of Asclepius
Baths of Asclepius
Sanctuary of Asclepius

Unique technology:
Pergaminus


Colchis

Background:
Far to the east of the Black Sea, at the very edge of the Greek world, lies Colchis. A place of legend, it is said to have been the final destination on Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece. Around the 6th century BC, Greek traders from Militus arrived to construct a thriving mercantile economy from this former Persian satrapy. Its current ruler controls a powerful Greek trading state with strong Scythian influences and a nobility who extol the finest qualities of both cultures. His warriors fight in the Greek fashion, yet the ferocity of their nomadic past is very much alive. As such, Colchis has set out to conquer much of the land around it - to absorb further Scythian tribes, and as many former-Persian lands as possible, into his burgeoning empire.

Faction traits:
Trade Crossroads: +15% trade income
Golden Legacy: Major diplomatic penalty with Greek factions
Assimilation: +4 happiness from presence of other cultures

New units:
Colchian Nobles: Heavily armoured and drilled to blunt the mightiest charge, Colchian Nobles are a force to be reckoned with.

Unit roster:
Greek/Eastern hybrid

Unique Buildings:
Temple of the Golden Fleece
Trade Centre
http://www.gamersgate.com/DLC-TWR2BS...s-culture-pack

[kamikazee786]

Really CA ?

[john duca]

I thought Emperor Edition was the final release...this DLC is just a money grab...just leave this trash rest in peace.

[Doe3000]

I thought Emperor Edition was the final release...this DLC is just a money grab...just leave this trash rest in peace.

I always assumed more DLC culture packs were on the way. For instance from release day we've had a Brittonic tribes and Germanic tribes list on the Faction menu screen, although we only have the Iceni listed for Britannia, and the Suebi for Germania. Expect a Brittonic and Germanic culture pack in the future.

Personally I'm looking forward to seeing them. I hope they add the Caledones, Ebdani and Demetae as playable factions.

[RexImperator]

Personally I'm happy to get Pergamon and Kingdom of the Bosporus, but I do wonder what happned to Massalia.

[Draikz]

7€. XD


Buying.


Aha.


Sure.

[Karnil Vark Khaitan]

Didn't you guys see those winged helmets!!! I like them =3

[texoman81]

since when was Pergamon on the Black Sea? Colchis wasn't even Greek. It was a Kartevelian (Georgian) kingdom. This is the weakest faction pack yet. Bosporus is the only one really worth adding (yet they insist on calling it by its Bronze Age Name).

Massalia as the free dlc is a nice addition.

[Darios]

since when was Pergamon on the Black Sea? Colchis wasn't even Greek. It was a Kartevelian (Georgian) kingdom. This is the weakest faction pack yet. Bosporus is the only one really worth adding (yet they insist on calling it by its Bronze Age Name).

Massalia as the free dlc is a nice addition.

Yeah, Pergamon should be considered "Greek" culture rather than "Black Sea Colonies". Mind you the DLC is called "Black Sea Colonies", not "Greek Black Sea Colonies" so Colchis is a cool addition.

It looks like a really cool DLC to be honest. Cimmeria is probably going to become one of my favorites. I do not really care for Pergamon but it is a faction that many people have demanded for over a year now so I am happy that they will have their day.

I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised to see CA making such a strong emphasis on the Black Sea region, especially since we've already gotten Daco-Thracian and Scytho-Sarmatian DLC. There are going to be some very interesting battles going on near the shores of the Pontos Euxinos very soon.

For instance from release day we've had a Brittonic tribes and Germanic tribes list on the Faction menu screen, although we only have the Iceni listed for Britannia, and the Suebi for Germania. Expect a Brittonic and Germanic culture pack in the future.

I'm not quite sure about this. Britannia and Germania simply wasn't a very important part of the world during this time. I don't think there is enough archaeological/historical evidence to differentiate various Germanic and Briton tribes from one another (militarily wise) to the point where one could make new factions with unique/different units. Even the rosters for the Suebi and Iceni are more generic Germanic/British placeholder rosters rather than anything unique that they are historically attested to have possessed. I think that there was a chance for the Germanic tribes before everyone started demanding new Suebi units and CA ended up giving them lots of new units that could have been given to the Cimbri and made playable. I don't believe that there is really any way to make to make various Germanic and British tribes unique therefore we have not seen cultural packs for them yet.

[Doe3000]

I'm not quite sure about this. Britannia and Germania simply wasn't a very important part of the world during this time. I don't think there is enough archaeological/historical evidence to differentiate various Germanic and Briton tribes from one another (militarily wise) to the point where one could make new factions with unique/different units. Even the rosters for the Suebi and Iceni are more generic Germanic/British placeholder rosters rather than anything unique that they are historically attested to have possessed. I think that there was a chance for the Germanic tribes before everyone started demanding new Suebi units and CA ended up giving them lots of new units that could have been given to the Cimbri and made playable. I don't believe that there is really any way to make to make various Germanic and British tribes unique therefore we have not seen cultural packs for them yet.

True, there is a dearth of archaeological and historical information for ancient British and Germanic armies. That is why I expect the culture pack will include a number of generic looking barbarian unit types (like the ones we've seen in Rome II already) except with minor stat boosts and new names such as 'Silurian ambushers' or 'Pictish Woad Warriors'. It's similar to the DLC unit packs for Shogun 2. They looked exactly like the samurai already included in the game, except with stat boosts and some minor cosmetic update such as a different 'sashimono' attached to their backs. I think the main importance is to add new factions for the British and Germanic tribes. After all, you can't have the game menu listing 'Germanic tribes' (emphasis on the plural - tribes) and then only having one faction to play as.

[Darios]

True, there is a dearth of archaeological and historical information for ancient British and Germanic armies. That is why I expect the culture pack will include a number of generic looking barbarian unit types (like the ones we've seen in Rome II already) except with minor stat boosts and new names such as 'Silurian ambushers' or 'Pictish Woad Warriors'. It's similar to the DLC unit packs for Shogun 2. They looked exactly like the samurai already included in the game, except with stat boosts and some minor cosmetic update such as a different 'sashimono' attached to their backs. I think the main importance is to add new factions for the British and Germanic tribes. After all, you can't have the game menu listing 'Germanic tribes' (emphasis on the plural - tribes) and then only having one faction to play as.

I think that the best way to depict a Germanic cultural pack would be to make the Lugii (Balto-Germanic hybrid faction) and the Bastarnae (Daco-Germanic hybrid faction) and probably make the Cimbri (generic Germanic faction) playable.

[Doe3000]

I think that the best way to depict a Germanic cultural pack would be to make the Lugii (Balto-Germanic hybrid faction) and the Bastarnae (Daco-Germanic hybrid faction) and probably make the Cimbri (generic Germanic faction) playable.

That'd be a good idea. I'd be interested in playing as the Bastarnae and Cimbri.

[texoman81]

I think that the best way to depict a Germanic cultural pack would be to make the Lugii (Balto-Germanic hybrid faction) and the Bastarnae (Daco-Germanic hybrid faction) and probably make the Cimbri (generic Germanic faction) playable.

A german cultural pack would have to include the Chersusci (that or make them the free dlc released at the same time). The Lugii were as much Celtic as they were German or Baltic but they would be an interest mix of units. The Bastarnae would be even better. They too were partially Celtic as well as having Scythian component or at least influence. Cimbri probably would be a logical final choice, but the way they are depicted in R2 they wouldn't really offer much new, but modders can flesh out the rosters.

He didn't say we shouldn't pay for DLC, but rather that DLC should give us something to deserve that money. This expansions offers very little new. Just new traits and missions is not worth $8. Right now without the DLC, the factions are already playable and we have much better units available than what they are including. Colchis only gets ONE unit. DLC should add new features, new factions (not just making existing factions playable), add cities to the map or give us something else to make it worth paying for. How does someone else saying they don't like this stop you from rejoicing this DLC?

[texoman81]

Yeah, Pergamon should be considered "Greek" culture rather than "Black Sea Colonies". Mind you the DLC is called "Black Sea Colonies", not "Greek Black Sea Colonies" so Colchis is a cool addition.

It looks like a really cool DLC to be honest. Cimmeria is probably going to become one of my favorites. I do not really care for Pergamon but it is a faction that many people have demanded for over a year now so I am happy that they will have their day.

I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised to see CA making such a strong emphasis on the Black Sea region, especially since we've already gotten Daco-Thracian and Scytho-Sarmatian DLC. There are going to be some very interesting battles going on near the shores of the Pontos Euxinos very soon.

If not a Greek colony, then who what kind of colony is Colchis? It is a native kingdom. If you read the faction descriptions, they are claiming Colchis is Greek/Eastern, just like Pontus. Neither Pergamon nor Colchis are a Black Sea colony. Before its roster was just a generic "Eastern" roster. It only had one unique unit, the Kartli axemen, but it was IDENTICAL to the generic eastern axemen. The DLC only adds Colchian nobles, which i'm assuming will be identical to another existing unit as well. This expansion pack offers very little for the $8 they want for it. We get 8 new units and added traits and missions for three factions, but loose the ability to play with these factions without paying. There are already better units available right now through mods, so the traits and missions is all that really will be added. Not worth paying extra for.


edit: make that 7 units, Pergamon and Bosporus share the picked peltast.

[Darios]

If not a Greek colony, then who what kind of colony is Colchis? It is a native kingdom. If you read the faction descriptions, they are claiming Colchis is Greek/Eastern, just like Pontus. Neither Pergamon nor Colchis are a Black Sea colony. Before its roster was just a generic "Eastern" roster. It only had one unique unit, the Kartli axemen, but it was IDENTICAL to the generic eastern axemen. The DLC only adds Colchian nobles, which i'm assuming will be identical to another existing unit as well. This expansion pack offers very little for the $8 they want for it. We get 8 new units and added traits and missions for three factions, but loose the ability to play with these factions without paying. There are already better units available right now through mods, so the traits and missions is all that really will be added. Not worth paying extra for.


edit: make that 7 units, Pergamon and Bosporus share the picked peltast.

Yeah, CA doesn't care about your mods. It's their game and they're free to sell any content that they want. I'm not going to debate the morality of it, but that's the reality. If you wanna keep playing with these factions in your mods then you will have to pay for them.

Colchis was considered part of the Greek world to a certain extent as Greeks did begin to settle there after some time. As late as the 20th century there were still Greek speaking populations living on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. I think that CA should have done a bit more with this faction by adding Caucasian archers and other native units in order to give them a more unique feel. In any regard, it is what it is...I'm more excited about Cimmeria and Massalia than anything else. I hope that making Pergamon playable will make their AI more capable of standing up to Galatia. It's rather annoying how Galatia always conquers all of Anatolia everytime I play.

The Bastarnae would be even better. They too were partially Celtic as well as having Scythian component or at least influence.

I disagree. Roman writers have a way of referring to any barbarian culture that they were yet unaware of as Germanic or Celtic. There have been no Celtic finds east of the Carpathians and more than likely the Bastarnae (the name is Germanic in origin) were a Germanic tribe who migrated south and were Dacianized as their material culture was the same as for any other Dacian tribe. We also know that they allied with the Roxolani so there was probably a heavy cavalry element to them as well.

[texoman81]

Yeah, CA doesn't care about your mods. It's their game and they're free to sell any content that they want. I'm not going to debate the morality of it, but that's the reality. If you wanna keep playing with these factions in your mods then you will have to pay for them.

Colchis was considered part of the Greek world to a certain extent as Greeks did begin to settle there after some time. As late as the 20th century there were still Greek speaking populations living on the eastern shore of the Black Sea. I think that CA should have done a bit more with this faction by adding Caucasian archers and other native units in order to give them a more unique feel. In any regard, it is what it is...I'm more excited about Cimmeria and Massalia than anything else. I hope that making Pergamon playable will make their AI more capable of standing up to Galatia. It's rather annoying how Galatia always conquers all of Anatolia everytime I play.



I disagree. Roman writers have a way of referring to any barbarian culture that they were yet unaware of as Germanic or Celtic. There have been no Celtic finds east of the Carpathians and more than likely the Bastarnae (the name is Germanic in origin) were a Germanic tribe who migrated south and were Dacianized as their material culture was the same as for any other Dacian tribe. We also know that they allied with the Roxolani so there was probably a heavy cavalry element to them as well.

Im not claiming that don't have the right to make DLC, but just pointing out that this isn't worth paying for. I have the right to say that. They CLAIM they do care about mods and give them lip service, summits and awards then do everything they can to limit them.

Colchis was not part of the Greek world. Sure their were some Greek trading post along the coast as there were almost everywhere in the Mediterranean, but the faction of Colchis was not Greek as they are depicting it. They did not speak the Greek language. Although the roster is fully "Eastern" with not a single Greek or even greek influenced unit.

I'm well away that the Greeks and Romans didn't always distinguish the difference between German and Celtic, but thats not all i'm basing it one. The ethnic identity of the Bastarnae has always been debated by the experts. Celts used to occupy much of Europe, including much of what later became German territory. The most wildly supported opinion on both the Bastarnae and Lugii is that they formed from he merging or confederation of tribes of different origins that then had a lot of influence on each other. The area that the Bastarnae inhabit had produced artifacts from Scythians, Sarmatians, Germans, Celts, Dacians and Thracians. The overall ethnicity of both is thought to have changed over time. The bastarnae were likely originally Celtic then became Germanized over time. The origin of the word Bastarnae is also uncertain. Many think its means bastard, as they were so mixed ethnically. They were actually allied to Macedon through marriage alliances. Macedon got the Bastarne to attack the Dardanians, but the Dardanians repelled the Bastarnae. Now culturally by the time of our game, they were culturally largely Dacian, but there were still influence from other cultures. Simply calling them German/Dacian is oversimpying an interesting people. Try reading The Early Germans by Malcolm Todd.

[King Lars Porcena]

honestly the only faction ide play is the free-LC Massila. CA should've released the Etruscans as free-LC with Massila!

[Kraut and Tea]

I am actualy looking forward to this.

Especialy Pergamon.

[DeliCiousTZM]

Oh Hello Cimmeria, welcome to the rooster of Super powers

[Stingray1399]

CA keeps making content for Rome II keeping it alive

Gets called moneygrabber.

You just can't win with you guys.

It would be nicer if it actually was just adding content. Looks like I'll have to block the update by sticking to offline mode to be able to play as some of my favorite factions... Already went through this with Syracuse.