East of Rome
Contents
Introduction
East of Rome is a modification for Medieval 2: Total War Kingdoms concerned with the world of Late Antiquity, and especially, though not exclusively, the late Roman Empire centred on its capital at Constantinople.
The sixth century is considered, with the hindsight of the historian of the early 21st century to be a period of great change, and yet, for the average man or woman living in the year 519, when the EoR mod begins, it must have seemed like little had changed. The towns and cities of the Eastern Mediterranean were ruled, as they had been for the past five hundred years, by a Greek speaking administration on behalf of a primarily Latin Roman Empire. A few hundred miles to the East, the mudflats of Erak, 'Mesopotamia' to the Greeks, were ruled, just as they were a thousand years previously, by a Persian. Between these two great Empires, the small kingdoms of the Caucasus continued to jostle for influence, fully part of neither a Roman, nor an Iranian world. Even in the lands of the West, lost to Rome's Empire in the previous century, nothing seemed to have "fallen"- still Roman aristocrats taxed flourishing towns and cities to support their luxurious lifestyles in rural villas- the only difference in the year 500 compared to the year 400 is that they were now aided and abetted in this by new, Germanic rulers.
Features
Factions
- Alemanni
- Ardhan (Alwanians)
- Antes
- Avari (Avars)
- Bulgari (Bulgars)
- Gut-Thiuda (Crimean Goths)
- Imperium Romanum (Eastern Roman Empire)
- Regnum Francorum (Franks)
- Banū Ghassān (Ghassanids)
- Gibiðaz (Gepids)
- Hayatheliten (Hephthalites)
- Banū Lakhm (Lakhmids)
- Samepho Kartlis (Kingdom of Kartli)
- Samepho Lazikis (Kingdom of Lazica)
- Parskahayastan (Persarmenia)
- Langobardi (Lombards)
- Regnum Italiae et Gothorum (Ostrogothic Kingdom)
- Ērānšahr (Sasanians)
- Sclaveni (Slavic Tribes)
- Regnum Vandalorum et Alanum (Vandals)
Emergent Factions:
Map
The brand-new East of Rome Map covers an area from modern Germany to Afghanistan and from Siberia to North Africa.
The map focuses on the eastern Mediterranean sea and the Middle East, both hotspots of sixth century history. The lands on this map are among the wealthiest and most advanced on earth at the time and have seen many great empires rise and fall. Through them pass the great trade routes of antiquity, most famous of which is the silk road. However, the steppes and woods to the north and the deserts in the south are both home to poorer, but aggressive peoples that will try to seize control of rich cultural centers along the Mediterranean coast and the Mesopotamian valleys.
Religions
The game offers ten all-new religions that dominated the world of late antiquity. Each has its own building tree and individual character traits. Most importantly, every character, including faction leader and heir, has his own religion. Since religion played a very important role in the time, a character's religion will be a decisive trait that will define his loyalty and his view on the world.
In East of Rome the religion of the faction leader will determine the state religion. This may cause great instability, but will also give new opportunities to the player.
The following religions will make an appearence in East of Rome:
- Chalcedonian Christianity ([1])
- Arian Christianity ([2])
- Monophysite Christianity ([3])
- Nestorian Christianity ([4])
- Islam ([5])
- Paganism ([6])
- Zoroastrism ([7])
- Shamanism ([8])
- Judaism ([9])
- Heresies/ Local Religions
Units
East of Rome features 250+ new units. All are based on historical research and reflect a realistic roster of every faction at the time.
Gameplay
The mod plays in a very turbulent time, marking the final end of the classical world and the onset of what we know now as the Middle Ages. Rome's unified hegemony has gone from the West, and, even if it remains strong in the East, troubles are rising across the frontiers. In Iran, meanwhile, the Sasanian monarchy is undergoing a period of renewal and rebirth, in the process building an almost new pan-Iranian state.
As a player of the large empires at the centre of the map, namely the Roman Empire, the Ostrogothic Kingdom and Sasanian Iran, your task is to preserve your traditional heritage and wealth while fending off barbarian tribes from the north and south. It is of utmost importance to create the much-needed stability and internal peace to be able to eventually expand your inherited territory once more.
As a player of either the northern Germanic and Steppe tribes or as the southern Arabs, your task will be to carve out a largest possible piece out of the old world and claim it for yourself. To triumph over the old powers, it is necessary to build an respectable empire on your own and to wait for the right moment to deal the death blow to the classical World!
Sub-Campaigns
In the process of developing East of Rome the team will release several sub-campaigns, all of which are stand-alone mods that will later be incorporated into the main game. Every campaign focuses on a different geographical area, a different timeframe and a different setting.
The Danube Limes
The first of these sub-campaigns will be the The Danube Limes campaign. It focuses on the lower Danube and Balkan area and begins in 591 AD. Its setting is the Slavic Migration onto the Balkans and the Balkan campaigns of the Roman emperor Maurikios. The player can choose either to defend the Roman Empire from this new barbarian threat or to capture a new homeland for the countless Slavic tribes south of the Danube. He can also choose to lead the powerful Steppe people of the Avars against the weak Romans and eventually capture the queen of cities, Constantinople.
More sub-campaigns are planned, they will be revealed as the mod development continues.
Team
Team Leader:
Mappers:
2D Artists:
Modellers:
Coders/Scripters:
Researchers & Historians:
Contributors
- Nakharar
- Invasio Barbarorum II Team
- The Great Conflicts Team
- Basileia Total War Team
- _Tiberias_
- Dak28
- Bulgaria Total War Team
- Davide.Cool
- ImperiumIV
- Charge
- Absinthia
- Pacco
- Magus
- Argent Usher
- Dewy
- Daxter
- Magus
- Arn
- Disgruntled Goat
- Haedar
