Some rely on client-nations or vassals to boost their economic growth, while others are more trade-focussed.

Some factions rely more on mercenaries for their military might some prefer to train their own. Players would be wise to keep an eye on such individuals… You’ll direct the actions of famous characters from history, and if they’re not out in the field commanding your armies, they’ll be politicking in the senate house, or its cultural equivalent. Players will need to work with – and in certain circumstances against – their faction’s internal political system. Some factions are split into a number of playable families, which bring further unique benefits to their base faction traits. Each will have its own dilemmas to face and different styles of army to manage. Each brings unique commercial, military and political strengths, its own agents and political system, and three tech trees representing civic, military and engineering disciplines. The playable factions represent key powers within the Greco-Roman, Barbarian, and Eastern cultures, and each offers a notably different and deeper form of gameplay experience from those in previous Total War games.

This page is your source for background information about each of the playable factions: their starting position on the campaign map, their civic and military focus, and some of their key battlefield units. Ranging from the Spanish coast to the far-flung, exotic kingdoms of the east, the campaign map for Total War: Rome II is breathtaking in scope, and a study in detail and variety.

Empire total war unlockable factions