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{{Total War}}
 
{{Total War}}
'''Rome: Total War''' (sometimes abbreviated here to '''RTW''') is a popular computer game in the [[:Category:Total War Series|Total War Series]] which combines turned based strategic play on a campaign map with real time battles which can include thousands of troops. The game was developed by [[Creative Assembly]] and released on September 22, 2004.
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'''Rome: Total War''' (sometimes abbreviated as '''RTW''') is a strategy game in the [[:Category:Total War Series|Total War Series]] which combines a turn-based campaign map with real time battles. The game was developed by the [[Creative Assembly]] and was released on September 22, 2004.  
  
Imperial Campaign play starts in 270 BC and is set on a map including Europe, the Mediterranean part of Africa and the Middle East. 
+
==Gameplay==
  
==Gameplay==
 
See [[Rome: Total War and Expansions]] for game-play considerations common to [[Rome: Total War]], [[Barbarian Invasion]] and [[Alexander]].
 
  
 
===Campaign Play===
 
===Campaign Play===
The Player takes control of one of the many factions, and attempts to emulate or exceed the historic achievements of the faction.
+
[[Image:Radar_map1.jpg|thumb|right|A radar map of the Imperial Campaign's map]]
 +
 
 +
The Imperial Campaign starts in 270 BC and ends in 14 AD. Each year consists of two turns. The player controls one of the playable factions on the campaign map with the goal of conquering new regions in order to achieve victory. They can build various structures, expand their cities and move around characters. When the armies of two factions meet each other, they will engage in battle. The player can choose between auto-resolving the battle and fighting it themselves on the 3D battle map.
 +
 
 +
====The Campaign Map====
 +
[[Image:RTW campaign map.jpg|thumb|right|Screenshot of RTW's main campaign map]]
 +
 
 +
Rome: Total War's Imperial Campaign map includes Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, parts of North Africa and the Middle East. The campaign map offers many different features. Along with various locations such as settlements and ports there are also several different campaign map characters. Amongst those are generals, captains, diplomats, spies and assassins. The settlements and characters are controlled by the different [[Factions (RTW)|factions]] which fight against each other in order to achieve supremacy. Each faction can only see areas which its characters have scouted and regions which are out of sight are covered by the Fog of War, though new information may be negotiated from other factions through diplomacy. Movement around the campaign map is different from earlier games, giving characters more detailed movement than the previous "Risk-style" system.
  
 
====Factions====
 
====Factions====
:''*See main article:[[Factions in RTW]]''
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:''-See the category [[:Category:RTW Factions|Rome: Total War Factions]] for individual pages''
  
Initial play is restricted to the three playable Roman factions, the [[Julii (RTW Faction)|Julii]], [[Scipii (RTW Faction)|Scipii]] and [[Brutii (RTW Faction)|Brutii]] with other factions becoming accessible after successful completion of a campaign. The three playable Roman factions are allied to each other and the [[Senate (RTW Faction)|Senate]]. The Senate issues missions to each of the Roman factions, successful completion of [[Senate missions]] improves your factions standing with the Senate.  A high popularity level is necessary to be able to initiate a civil war against one of the other Roman factions.
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In [[Rome: Total War]] there are 21 factions, 20 of which can be made playable, and the slave/rebel faction. The three 'Roman Houses' ([[Julii_(RTW_Faction)|Julii]], [[Brutii_(RTW_Faction)|Brutii]] and [[Scipii_(RTW_Faction)|Scipii]]) are playable from the beginning of the game. The three playable Roman factions are allied to each other and the [[Senate (RTW Faction)|Senate]].The Senate issues missions to each of the Roman factions, successful completion of [[Senate missions]] improves your family's standing with the Senate, while military successes and expansion increase your prestige in the eyes of the masses.  A high popularity level is necessary to be able to initiate a civil war against one of the other Roman factions.  
  
Other factions designed to be played after successful completion of your first campaign are:
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The rest of the playable factions can be unlocked either by finishing the short or long campaign with any of the originally playable factions or by editing [[descr_strat.txt]] in your Rome: Total War directory (more information on which can be found [[HowTo:Unlock All Factions|on this page]]). It is also possible to unlock the factions that aren't considered 'playable' by the game through the manipulation of the same text file. It should also be noted that destroying any 'playable' faction in the Imperial Campaign that currently isn't unlocked will result in it being unlocked.  
[[Egypt (RTW Faction)|Egypt]], [[Seleucid Empire (RTW Faction)|Seleucid Empire]], [[Carthage (RTW Faction)|Carthage]], [[Parthia (RTW Faction)|Parthia]], [[Gaul (RTW Faction)|Gaul]], [[Germania  (RTW Faction)|Germania ]], [[Britannia (RTW Faction)|Britannia]] and the [[Greek Cities (RTW Faction)|Greek Cities]].
 
  
====The Campaign Map====
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The factions are divided by the game files into cultures as follows:
[[Image:Radar_map1.jpg|Extent of Imperial Campaign Map]]
 
  
The map for the imperial campaign includes Europe, the Mediterranean part of Africa and the Middle East, see the above image of the radar map from the game.  
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*'''Barbaric Factions:''' [[Germania  (RTW Faction)|Germania ]], [[Britannia (RTW Faction)|Britannia]], Dacia, [[Gaul (RTW Faction)|Gaul]], Spain, Scythia
 +
*'''Roman Factions:''' The House of Julii, The House of Brutii, The House of Scipii, The Roman Senate
 +
*'''Egyptian Factions:''' [[Egypt (RTW Faction)|Egypt]]
 +
*'''Eastern Factions:''' [[Parthia (RTW Faction)|Parthia]], Armenia, Pontus
 +
*'''Carthaginian Factions:''' [[Carthage (RTW Faction)|Carthage]], Numidia
 +
*'''Greek Factions:''' [[Greek Cities (RTW Faction)|Greek Cities]], Macedon, [[Seleucid Empire (RTW Faction)|Seleucid Empire]], Thrace
 +
   
  
[[Image:RTW campaign map.jpg|Screen shot of RTW Campaign Map]]
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=====Multiplayer Terminology=====
 +
In RTW Multiplayer Communities, the term '''Skirmish Faction''' refers to a Faction that is weak in pitched battles but is strong on hit-and-run attacks.
 +
Brittania, Dacia, Egypt, Gaul, Germania, Parthia, and Scythia fit the definition of '''Skirmish Faction''' as their Unit Rosters contain fast units such as cavalry and chariots but no heavy infantry. As a result, they are weak and can be difficult to use in competitive gameplay against stronger factions with heavy infantry such as Rome, The Greek Cities, and Macedon.
  
The above screen-shot shows a number of the features of campaign map play, settlements, ports, campaign map characters etc.  The area to the top of the screen-shot is dark because Fog of War is enabled by default in the game.  Fog of War means you can not see what is happening in neighbouring areas unless they are in one of your campaign map characters line of sight. 
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====Units====
 +
::''-See main article:[[:Category:RTW Units|Rome: Total War Units]]''
  
 
===Battle Play===
 
===Battle Play===
 +
[[File:RTW-battle-scene.png|thumb|right|Screenshot of large battle in RTW]]
 
Battles in Rome: Total War can be epic events containing thousands of individual soldiers.
 
Battles in Rome: Total War can be epic events containing thousands of individual soldiers.
:''*See [[Rome:_Total_War_and_Expansions#Battle_Map_Play|Rome: Total War and Expansions]] for details of the battle play common to all three games.
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:''-See [[Battle Map Play - RTW]] for elements specific to Rome: Total War.
 +
 
  
 
==Historic Accuracy==
 
==Historic Accuracy==
Various criticisms have been levelled at the game in regards to historical inaccuracies see:
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Various criticisms have been levelled at the game in regards to historical inaccuracies. The splitting of Roman territory into that of the Senate and then those of three families is somewhat ahistorical, as is the simplification of Roman politics, a mechanism which has been removed from many mods of the game in order to introduce a greater variety of factions. The treatment of the Greek Cities as one unified body, governed from Sparta, as well as the arming of hoplite units with long pikes, makes the Greeks a rather inaccurately represented faction. Other inaccuracies include the large and unified territories of many barbarian tribes, much like the Greeks, and the fielding of Bronze Age Egyptian troops rather than those of the Ptolemaic era.
:[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome:_Total_War#Historical_inaccuracy  Wikipedia article]
 
 
 
 
 
==Reviews==
 
* '''Gamespot''' - Score 9.1 - Editors Choice Award ''"The results are nothing short of spectacular, helping make Rome: Total War the very definition of an epic strategy game...."'' [http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/review.html read more]
 
 
 
* '''Gamespy''' - ''"Pros: Incredibly deep, addictive strategy with a historically authentic feel. Tons of gameplay modes. Cons: Less than stellar AI can get on your nerves...."'' [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/rome-total-war/550385p1.html read more]
 
  
* '''IGN''' - Score 9.4 - Editors Choice Award ''"Personally, I've never given a score this high before but Rome Total War is without a doubt one of the best games I've ever played. The combination of subject matter, game mechanics, and outstanding visuals add up to one of the best experiences you'll have on the PC...."'' [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/550/550373p1.html read more]
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==Main Differences to Earlier Total War Games==
 +
A major difference between Rome and earlier games in the [[:Category:Total War Series|Total War Series]] is the way the in campaign battle maps are generated. From Rome onwards, the battle map is generated to match the area of terrain where the armies are actually located, including the adjacent mountains, rivers, forests and settlements. This allows a greater level of strategy in planning battles to suit the armies involved, as well as plan ambushes in forested terrain.
  
 +
Movement around the campaign map is different from earlier games.  Instead of moving 'Risk' style from one region to another, armies and characters on the map have a certain amount of "movement points" which determine how far they can travel per turn, depending on the type of troops and any effects of the commander. Terrain also varies the possible extent of movement, with forests and hills slowing travel while roads increase speed when they are developed.
  
 
==Expansions==
 
==Expansions==
*[[Barbarian Invasion]] released on September 27, 2005.
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*[[Barbarian Invasion]], released on September 27, 2005.
*[[Alexander]] released on June 19, 2006 - initially available by download only, but subsequently included in the [[Total War: Eras]] combined pack.
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*[[Alexander]], released on June 19, 2006 - initially available by download only, but subsequently included in the [[Total War: Eras]] combined pack.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
Line 54: Line 62:
 
* [[Europa Barbarorum]]
 
* [[Europa Barbarorum]]
  
===External Links===
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 +
==External Links==
 +
===Players Guides===
 +
* [http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=38382 frogbeastegg’s Guide to Rome: Total War and the Barbarian Invasion] at the Guild
 +
* [http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=45315 Quietus' Rome: Total War Guide] at the Guild
 +
 
 +
===Reviews===
 +
* '''Gamespot''' - Score 9.1 - Editors Choice Award ''"The results are nothing short of spectacular, helping make Rome: Total War the very definition of an epic strategy game...."'' [http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/rometotalwar/review.html read more]
 +
 
 +
* '''Gamespy''' - ''"Pros: Incredibly deep, addictive strategy with a historically authentic feel. Tons of gameplay modes. Cons: Less than stellar AI can get on your nerves...."'' [http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/rome-total-war/550385p1.html read more]
 +
 
 +
* '''IGN''' - Score 9.4 - Editors Choice Award ''"Personally, I've never given a score this high before but Rome Total War is without a doubt one of the best games I've ever played. The combination of subject matter, game mechanics, and outstanding visuals add up to one of the best experiences you'll have on the PC...."'' [http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/550/550373p1.html read more]
 +
 
 +
===Official Sites===
 
* [http://www.totalwar.com/ Official Game Website]
 
* [http://www.totalwar.com/ Official Game Website]
 
* [http://www.totalwar.com/microsites/en/alexander/index.htm Official Alexander expansion site]
 
* [http://www.totalwar.com/microsites/en/alexander/index.htm Official Alexander expansion site]

Revision as of 09:04, 16 March 2020

Total War Series
Total War Series main article

Total War: Pharaoh

Total War Saga: Troy

Total War: Three Kingdoms - Portal

Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia

Total War: Warhammer - Portal

Total War: Attila

Total War: Rome II - Portal

Total War: Shogun 2 - Portal

Napoleon: Total War

Empire: Total War

Medieval II: Total War - Portal

Rome: Total War & Remastered Portal

Medieval: Total War

Shogun: Total War


Rome: Total War (sometimes abbreviated as RTW) is a strategy game in the Total War Series which combines a turn-based campaign map with real time battles. The game was developed by the Creative Assembly and was released on September 22, 2004.

Gameplay

Campaign Play

A radar map of the Imperial Campaign's map

The Imperial Campaign starts in 270 BC and ends in 14 AD. Each year consists of two turns. The player controls one of the playable factions on the campaign map with the goal of conquering new regions in order to achieve victory. They can build various structures, expand their cities and move around characters. When the armies of two factions meet each other, they will engage in battle. The player can choose between auto-resolving the battle and fighting it themselves on the 3D battle map.

The Campaign Map

Screenshot of RTW's main campaign map

Rome: Total War's Imperial Campaign map includes Europe, the Mediterranean Sea, parts of North Africa and the Middle East. The campaign map offers many different features. Along with various locations such as settlements and ports there are also several different campaign map characters. Amongst those are generals, captains, diplomats, spies and assassins. The settlements and characters are controlled by the different factions which fight against each other in order to achieve supremacy. Each faction can only see areas which its characters have scouted and regions which are out of sight are covered by the Fog of War, though new information may be negotiated from other factions through diplomacy. Movement around the campaign map is different from earlier games, giving characters more detailed movement than the previous "Risk-style" system.

Factions

-See the category Rome: Total War Factions for individual pages

In Rome: Total War there are 21 factions, 20 of which can be made playable, and the slave/rebel faction. The three 'Roman Houses' (Julii, Brutii and Scipii) are playable from the beginning of the game. The three playable Roman factions are allied to each other and the Senate.The Senate issues missions to each of the Roman factions, successful completion of Senate missions improves your family's standing with the Senate, while military successes and expansion increase your prestige in the eyes of the masses. A high popularity level is necessary to be able to initiate a civil war against one of the other Roman factions.

The rest of the playable factions can be unlocked either by finishing the short or long campaign with any of the originally playable factions or by editing descr_strat.txt in your Rome: Total War directory (more information on which can be found on this page). It is also possible to unlock the factions that aren't considered 'playable' by the game through the manipulation of the same text file. It should also be noted that destroying any 'playable' faction in the Imperial Campaign that currently isn't unlocked will result in it being unlocked.

The factions are divided by the game files into cultures as follows:


Multiplayer Terminology

In RTW Multiplayer Communities, the term Skirmish Faction refers to a Faction that is weak in pitched battles but is strong on hit-and-run attacks. Brittania, Dacia, Egypt, Gaul, Germania, Parthia, and Scythia fit the definition of Skirmish Faction as their Unit Rosters contain fast units such as cavalry and chariots but no heavy infantry. As a result, they are weak and can be difficult to use in competitive gameplay against stronger factions with heavy infantry such as Rome, The Greek Cities, and Macedon.

Units

-See main article:Rome: Total War Units

Battle Play

Screenshot of large battle in RTW

Battles in Rome: Total War can be epic events containing thousands of individual soldiers.

-See Battle Map Play - RTW for elements specific to Rome: Total War.


Historic Accuracy

Various criticisms have been levelled at the game in regards to historical inaccuracies. The splitting of Roman territory into that of the Senate and then those of three families is somewhat ahistorical, as is the simplification of Roman politics, a mechanism which has been removed from many mods of the game in order to introduce a greater variety of factions. The treatment of the Greek Cities as one unified body, governed from Sparta, as well as the arming of hoplite units with long pikes, makes the Greeks a rather inaccurately represented faction. Other inaccuracies include the large and unified territories of many barbarian tribes, much like the Greeks, and the fielding of Bronze Age Egyptian troops rather than those of the Ptolemaic era.

Main Differences to Earlier Total War Games

A major difference between Rome and earlier games in the Total War Series is the way the in campaign battle maps are generated. From Rome onwards, the battle map is generated to match the area of terrain where the armies are actually located, including the adjacent mountains, rivers, forests and settlements. This allows a greater level of strategy in planning battles to suit the armies involved, as well as plan ambushes in forested terrain.

Movement around the campaign map is different from earlier games. Instead of moving 'Risk' style from one region to another, armies and characters on the map have a certain amount of "movement points" which determine how far they can travel per turn, depending on the type of troops and any effects of the commander. Terrain also varies the possible extent of movement, with forests and hills slowing travel while roads increase speed when they are developed.

Expansions

See Also


External Links

Players Guides

Reviews

  • Gamespot - Score 9.1 - Editors Choice Award "The results are nothing short of spectacular, helping make Rome: Total War the very definition of an epic strategy game...." read more
  • Gamespy - "Pros: Incredibly deep, addictive strategy with a historically authentic feel. Tons of gameplay modes. Cons: Less than stellar AI can get on your nerves...." read more
  • IGN - Score 9.4 - Editors Choice Award "Personally, I've never given a score this high before but Rome Total War is without a doubt one of the best games I've ever played. The combination of subject matter, game mechanics, and outstanding visuals add up to one of the best experiences you'll have on the PC...." read more

Official Sites