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.

Total War: ROME II - How Far Will You Go? - Launch Trailer - [UK]

An incredible period of history, the creation of the world’s first superpower, the dominance of a people, a culture and a defining way of life that still has repercussions today.

Over 2,000 years ago the Romans set out on a path that culminated in the creation of an empire the like of which the world had never seen, and may never see again. A time of glorious victories and bloody defeats, heroic and despotic men and women, families that tore each other apart in pursuit of the eternal city and the power it represented.

Some attained that prize, but only fleetingly. Many more failed. 

Watch our launch trailer and perhaps you can answer the question; How far will you go for Rome?

Total War: ROME II is out tomorrow, Sept 3, activating from 00:00 PST.

How to Play TOTAL WAR: ROME II - The Basics

There’s now a 'How to Play' beginners guide on Total War Wiki. This guide will show completely new and existing players how to navigate the campaign map, command your army and how to advance your province financially and technologically. 
So if you've been itching to get your friends involved and they're new to the series, share this page and get playing! 

wiki.TotalWar.com/w/How_To_Play

• Getting Started
  • Choosing Your Faction
  • Basic Movement Controls
  • Researching Technology
  • Advanced Movement Controls

• Advancing in your Campaign
  • Minor and Major Building Management
  • Economy and Trade Basics
  • Political Management
  • Agents and Actions

• Armies, Battles and Unit Abilities
• Combat Controls
• Unit Actions
• Cavalry Actions
• Naval Attacks
• Fortifications
• Special Abilities 

Getting Started

Choosing your faction

When starting your game you must first select a faction, there are many options for you to choose from and they each have their own traits that can assist you throughout your game. Choose wisely and read carefully to pick the faction that is right for you. (Watch the articles on the playable factions and previously mentioned.)

Getting Started With the Campaign
The campaign in Total War: ROME II may seem very daunting to a new player but if you start here you will find it easier to navigate.

Campaign basic movement controls
The video below shows you how to move around and view your faction within the campaign.
(Watch the video of "Control Campaign Basics" on http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Getting_Started)

Researching Technology
This video demonstrates the importance of technological advances to your prosperity as a faction.
(Watch the video of  "Tecnology Research" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Getting_Started)

Campaign Advanced Movement Controls
This video shows you how to manage your armies on your campaign map and how to issue orders.
(Watch the video of  "Controls Campaign Advanced 1" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Getting_Started)

Advancing in your Campaign
Once you understand how to navigate the controls and the campaign map, you can begin to advance your armies, technology and trade relations to ensure your growth and development.

Minor and Major Building Management
This video shows you how to understand your province and its settlements. You can also see how, as you come to command a whole province, it will enable you to issue edicts that may be very important throughout your campaign.
(Watch the video of  "buildings majorminorsettlements" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Advancing_in_your_Campaign)

Economy and Trade
The video below shows you how you can view your trade routes and how you use trade agreements to your advantage.
(Watch the video of  "Economy Trade" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Advancing_in_your_Campaign)

Political Management
This video shows you how there are many ways in which to have a successful and powerful faction, including political strength and bargaining.
(Watch the video of  "management politicalpower" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Advancing_in_your_Campaign)

 Agents Actions
Agents are an important part in shaping the outcome of your campaign. Their presence in your armies and cities can offer certain bonuses, or when deployed in an opposing army they can attempt to make them crumble from within and weaken morale.

(Watch the video of  "Agents Actions" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Advancing_in_your_Campaign)

Armies, Battles and Unit Abilities
Next we have the battles themselves, where the outcomes of these engagements can change the entire look of your campaign map.

Special Abilities
This video talks about your military special abilities, both in battle and on the campaign map by researching military technology and furthering the success of your army.
(Watch the video of  "Abilities SpecialAbilities" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Armies,_Battles_and_Unit_Abilities)

Combat Controls
It is importnat to know how to properly and efficiently use your army and how to quickly deploy groups or individual units.
(Watch the video of  "Controls Battle Advanced" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Armies,_Battles_and_Unit_Abilities)

Unit Actions
This video will give you tips about strengths and weakness in unit actions and the way in which these actions can be exploited by you, and the enemy.
(Watch the video of  "Units Infantry Pike Spear" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Armies,_Battles_and_Unit_Abilities)

Cavalry Actions
This video is an example of a specific cavalry unit that has different abilities than just your standard cavalry. It gives you advice how and when is best to deploy your unit to make the most of its advantages.

(Watch the video of  "Units Cavalry Shock 1" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Armies,_Battles_and_Unit_Abilities)

Naval Attacks
Naval battles give you many attacking options. Larger ships allow you to ram your opponent and deploy a boarding party, while smaller ships move quickly and can often engage opponents from afar.

(Watch the video of  "Units Naval AssaultClass" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Armies,_Battles_and_Unit_Abilities)

Fortifications
Defending your regions from attack is crucial. This video demonstrates how your armies can set up fortifications to prepare for incoming attacks. When in battle, this stance will allow to have many defensive advantages.

(Watch the video of  "ArmyStances Fortification 1" on  http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/How_To_Play_Total_War:_Armies,_Battles_and_Unit_Abilities)

ROME II Gets Technical...

While some technologies and advancements are familiar to all cultures, each faction in ROME II has its own tech tree with branches and advancements that allow you to tailor your empire’s approach to total conquest. Each tree starts with two main branches, Military and Civil, but you aren’t restricted to following just one.

Explore the Roman faction’s technological options in this gigantic graphic available through our panoramic viewer here on the Total War Wiki, and start planning your approach to ancient world domination. Will you exercise political or mercantile strength, or will you create the most incredible war machine the world has ever seen?


http://d3sfrpv2p43dtq.cloudfront.net/panorama6/index.html

Total War: ROME II - Legionary Kit with Mykel Hawke + Collector's Edition War Dog Unboxing

U.S. Army Special Forces ‘Green Beret’ combat veteran, Discovery Channel presenter and survivalist Mykel Hawke takes a look at the kind of equipment every Roman legionary was sent to war with over 1,500 years ago. How does it stack up to military standards today?

In this documentary short for Total War: ROME II, Hawke discovers exactly the sort of kit that would have kept the Roman army alive and fighting fit on the front line. From rations and footwear to swords and shields, each individual unit of eight fighting men represented the cutting edge of military might at the time and helped make the Roman Empire the first superpower.
http://youtu.be/f_fpOUQcAac


In what is surely the most anticipated unboxing in videogame history, Rally Point's Craig and Will attempt to unbox the Total War: ROME II Collector's Edition. There's one catch: they're being chased and attacked by trained war dogs. Trained... war... dogs.

Will they die? Will anything be left of them for the long drive home? Find out in the Total War: Rome II unboxing!
In what is surely the greatest (and funniest) unboxing in videogame history, Craig and Will attempt to show off the contents of the Collector’s Edition of Total War: ROME II while being attacked by war dogs. Trained war dogs, with teeth and everything. Welcome to “the unorthoboxing”! Video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZt2BkutcYs