Total War: Rome II - Massagetae Faction (Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack)

The Massagetae

“Power, Independence, Defence”
The Massagetae are a fierce nomad tribe with a long history of destroying civilized armies, as their utter crushing of Cyrus the Great and his Persian army attests. From their steppe homeland, they have the power to sweep down on nomad and settled enemies alike, taking what they will and moving swiftly on to new victories and new conquests. By using their strengths as horsemen, there is little they cannot achieve.

Historically, there is a good chance Herodotus was confused about the identities of the various steppe peoples. While he used the term Massagetae to describe these people, a word that translates as “great Getae", the original Getae were a Dacian tribe, not Scythian or nomadic. Herodotus also described them as living beyond the Caspian Sea. He did, however, say that they resembled the Scythians but with their own customs and practices. In particular, he mentions strange funeral rites that involve cooking and eating important men who die honourably. Quite sensibly, any who died of horrid diseases were not eaten…
As a nomadic people, The Massagetae are adept raiders, and capable of recruiting troops at a rapid rate from their home province. Their pastoral lifestyle leads to greater profit through an abundance of livestock, and their fierce sense of independence means they will fight hard to preserve their territory. At the diplomatic table however, they find it hard to curry favour with the Eastern Peoples, who frown upon their nomadic lifestyle.

Available in the Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack.

Total War: Rome II - Roxolani Faction (Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack)

The Roxolani


“Persistence, Commerce, Conflict”
The Roxolani or ‘Bright Alans’ are a Scythian-speaking collection of tribes of the Sarmatian people. As might be expected of steppe nomads they are fine horsemen, ruthless warriors, and merciless towards their enemies. Like all steppe nomads, there are many forces drawing them south and east away from the steppes: the prospect of easy pickings from soft and sedentary civilized people is foremost among these reasons.
The harsh reality of steppe life and tribal politics is that tribes have to be aggressive, or be crushed by other steppe tribes. The Roxolani were sometimes allies of the Dacians, and fought alongside them against the Romans. There are Roman claims that Legio III Gallicia and its supporting auxiliaries destroyed a 9,000-strong raiding force of Roxolani in 69 AD. This sounds more like the destruction of a complete cavalry army; however, the Roxolani took their revenge a generation later by wiping out Legio XXI Rapax. The Romans came to consider the Roxolani a threat and, while recruiting some as auxiliaries, fortified their frontiers against them. These masters of bow, lance and horse offer a significant threat to less mobile forces.

As a nomadic people, The Roxolani are adept raiders, and capable of recruiting troops at a rapid rate from their home province. Keen to expand, they are also accomplished traders and fierce warriors, and they fight with great zeal in foreign territory. However, as a result of their expansionist ways, they must work harder to gain the trust of other nomadic tribes.

Available in the Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack.

Total War: Rome II - Scythia Faction (Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack)

Scythia


“Craftsmanship, Pride, Might”
In their own eyes, the Royal Scythians are better than everyone else. This is not their problem, but a simple truth. All other tribes, even other Scythians, are no better than slaves and deserving of the same level of consideration, which is to say absolutely none: such is the fierceness of their pride.
According to legend, all Royal Scythians are descended from Colaxais, the youngest of three brothers, and the one who was given divine golden gifts. The favour of the gods has stayed with his descendants ever since. Golden they might be, but the Royal Scythians can still see that there are rich pickings to be had among the ‘civilized’ folk to the south and west of their steppes.

The Scythians were regarded as dangerous barbarians by the Greeks and other civilized peoples, and when faced with the crushing charge of the Scythian Royal Horse, few would disagree. The writings of Herodotus explain nearly all of Scythian culture by reference to Greek equivalents, and the Scythian versions are usually found wanting. To be fair, Herodotus was a product of his time and background. Nonetheless, the Scythians do seem to have been uniquely uncompromising in their approach to war and personal violence, and this seems to have added to their aura of dread.

As a nomadic people, The Scythians are adept raiders, and capable of recruiting troops at a rapid rate from their home province. They are noted for their craftsmanship and the profit this brings, and their skill with the bow is known far and wide. However, their culture lies at odds with that of the Hellenic States, resulting in a lack of common ground in parley.

Available in the Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack.