Egypt (RTW Faction)

Egyptian General's Bodyguard.

Egypt are one of the playable factions in Rome: Total War. They can be played after successfully completing a campaign as a Roman faction or if unlocked by modding / cheats.

Game Play

Starting Position

Egypt is wealthy desert empire located in the north Africa. In the beginning it owns few cities wich are:

• Alexandria: Capital city with high public order. It also has a wonder, Pharos at Alexandria , biggest lighthouse in the known world built by Alexander the Great.

• Memphis: Second biggest city of Egypt, this one has Pyramid wonder.Pyramid at Giza increases population loyalty to owning faction regardless of culture.

• Thebes: Southern city in upper Egypt, Thebes is only a small one when you begin.

• Salamis: Located on island it is very rich city, especially because of mines and naval trade.

• Jerusalem: Very big and very unhappy city that is also rich. If it revolts Judean Zaelots own it.

• Sidon: Also big city bordered with Seleucid Empire, it is important to keep it well garrisoned and ready to deal with Seleucian threat.

Win Conditions

Long campaign: Hold 50 provinces including Rome

Short campaign: Hold 15 provinces and outlast or destroy Armenia and Seleucid Empire

Units

Units are cheap and light. They are fantastic desert units because of the high desert bonus that they get when fighting in desert. Their generals have fantastic chariot archer bodyguards, which fire at enemy from great distance. Their cavalry is fast and swift, including light cavalry, camel archers, chariot archers, heavy chariots, and other specialist light cavalry. They also have many phalanx formations. These include the basic Nubian spearmen all the way to the elite Pharoah's Guards. Their archers area also very good. They can recruit elite Pharoah's Bowmen.

Unique Units

• Pharaoh's guards: Fantastic pikemen that may enter phalanx formation. They are well armoured and combined with Pharaoh's Bowmen they are deadly. They are armored from head to toe with a conical helm and a long mail shirt.

• Pharaoh's bowman: Deadly archers that are fantastic in desert, also have a good hand attack when run out of arrows. They are armored similarly to their compatriots in the phalanx, i.e., Pharoah's Guards.

• Desert Axemen: Cheap, powerful infantry. Very good against opposing infantry. They are quick, and carry a powerful axe and square wooden shield.

• Chariots, Egypt has many chariots;

• First and deadliest of all are fast chariot archers that can fire from long distance to soften enemy ranks. When the enemy comes close they automatically retreat, unless the skirmish option is toggled off.

• Second there are Egyptian chariots that use powerful charge and hand-to-hand to crush the coming enemy.

• Third there are Generals bodyguard, great and swift, this chariots are fantastic archers

Keep in mind that all of these are also excellent at routing the enemy due to the morale damage they impose by just standing near enemy troops. However, beware the fact that they can also run over your own troops when charging.

Strategy guides

First of all, there is the threat from the Seleucid Empire to the north east. They are a big empire, very capable of causing problems. A possible tactic is to attack them very fast (at turn 2-3) and take Antioch and then expand at your own will. Once Antioch is taken, Seleucid resistance crumbles. It's generally best to take on the Seleucids early as their early game units are inferior to yours, but their late game units are quite strong. However, a second possible tactic is to make an alliance with the Seleucid Empire and while it lasts make a big army in your border cities to counter their betrayal when it happens, as it undoubtedly will at some stage.

See Also

• Factions in RTW

RTW Factions
Armenia | Britannia | Carthage | Dacia | Egypt | Gaul | Germania | Greek Cities | The House of Brutii | The House of Julii | The House of Scipii | Macedon | Numidia | Parthia | Pontus | Scythia | Seleucid Empire | Senate | Spain | Thrace | Rebels