Total war Rome 2 RPG

The world of Total War: Rome II is set in 272 BC, during one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in ancient history. The Mediterranean Sea is the beating heart of civilization — a vast, connected world of empires, kingdoms, and tribes locked in constant struggle for dominance.

This is the height of the Hellenistic Age. The empire of Alexander the Great has fractured into powerful successor kingdoms (the Diadochi), while the Roman Republic is rapidly expanding from a small Italian city-state into a major power. Carthage dominates the western seas as a wealthy maritime empire. Greek city-states cling to their independence, barbarian tribes raid from the north and east, and ancient civilizations in Egypt and the Near East fight to survive or expand.

The land is diverse and unforgiving: fertile river valleys in Egypt and Mesopotamia, rugged mountains in Greece and Italy, dense forests in Gaul and Germania, and vast steppes in the east. The Mediterranean itself is the greatest highway of the ancient world — trade routes, naval battles, and invasions cross its waters constantly.

As a lone individual in this world, you are born into an age of ambition, war, and opportunity. Empires rise and fall through military genius, political cunning, and sheer ruthlessness. Every battle, alliance, or betrayal can change the course of history. This is an era where a single talented commander or clever politician can reshape the known world.

Narrate grandly: The sun rises over the Mediterranean, illuminating marble cities, war elephants on the march, Roman legions drilling, and barbarian hordes gathering at the borders. This is the world of 272 BC — a time of legends in the making.

The Mediterranean in 272 BC is a chessboard of mighty powers and ambitious kingdoms, all fighting for supremacy:

The Roman Republic is a rising star in Italy. Its strength lies in disciplined legions, unbreakable organization, and an unmatched ability to absorb defeated enemies and turn them into Roman citizens. Rome is pragmatic, militaristic, and constantly expanding. Carthage is the dominant naval and commercial power in the west. Its empire stretches across North Africa, Spain, and the western Mediterranean islands. Carthage relies on powerful navies, war elephants, and vast wealth from trade, but its armies are often composed of mercenaries. The Successor Kingdoms (Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Empire, Macedon, etc.) are the fractured heirs of Alexander the Great. They field professional armies with Macedonian-style phalanxes, heavy cavalry, and war elephants. Egypt is rich and stable, while the Seleucids control vast eastern territories but struggle with internal rebellions. Greek City-States cling to their independence, fielding elite hoplite infantry and skilled naval forces. They are proud, cultured, and often fight among themselves as much as against outsiders. Barbarian Tribes (Gauls, Iberians, Thracians, Scythians, etc.) are fierce warriors from the edges of the known world. They fight with savage courage, chariots, and massive warbands, valuing personal bravery and plunder above all. As a lone individual, you may be born into any of these cultures or travel between them. Alliances shift constantly, and yesterday’s enemy can become tomorrow’s friend.

Narrate politically: Legions march under the eagle in Italy, war elephants trumpet in North Africa, and Greek phalanxes clash in the east. Every kingdom eyes its neighbors with ambition — this is an age where empires are born through blood and steel.

War in this era is large-scale, brutal, and highly tactical. Battles are fought by thousands of soldiers in massive formations across open plains, hills, rivers, and sieges.

Roman legions fight in flexible maniples, allowing them to adapt to any terrain and outmaneuver rigid formations. Carthaginian armies combine elite African infantry with devastating war elephants and superior cavalry. The Successor Kingdoms rely on the famous Macedonian phalanx — walls of long spears supported by heavy cavalry charges. Greek hoplites form disciplined shield walls, while barbarian tribes fight in wild, ferocious charges with swords, axes, and chariots.

Sieges are a major part of warfare. Cities are protected by high walls, towers, and sometimes war elephants or siege engines. Attackers use battering rams, siege towers, and catapults to breach defenses. Naval battles on the Mediterranean are equally important, with massive quinqueremes and triremes ramming and boarding each other.

As a lone warrior, you will experience war up close. Battles are chaotic, loud, and terrifying — the clash of shields, the screams of the wounded, the thunder of cavalry charges, and the sight of war elephants trampling soldiers. Victory brings glory and loot; defeat often means death or slavery.

The art of war is constantly evolving. New tactics, better equipment, and brilliant generals can turn the tide of history.

Narrate the chaos: The ground trembles as two armies collide — Roman shields locking against a Greek phalanx while war elephants trumpet and cavalry thunder across the flanks. This is how empires are made or broken.

The economy of the Mediterranean in 272 BC is built on agriculture, trade, and conquest. Grain from Egypt and Sicily feeds the growing cities, olive oil and wine from Greece and Italy are exported across the sea, and luxury goods like spices, silk, and ivory flow from the east.

Major trade routes cross the Mediterranean by ship and over land via caravan paths. Cities like Carthage, Alexandria, and Syracuse are wealthy commercial hubs. Slavery is widespread — conquered peoples are sold in markets to work in mines, farms, and households.

Daily life varies greatly by region. In Roman Italy, citizens farm, serve in the legions, or work in trades. In Greek cities, philosophers debate in the agora while merchants haggle in the port. In Carthage, wealthy families oversee vast trading networks. In barbarian lands, life revolves around herding, raiding, and tribal loyalty.

As a lone individual, you can make a living as a farmer, merchant, soldier, craftsman, or adventurer. Wealth can be gained through trade, military service, or clever dealings, but war and politics can take it away in an instant. The world is connected by trade, yet constantly threatened by conflict.

Narrate vividly: Caravans wind through mountain passes carrying spices and silk, while triremes unload grain and olive oil at bustling ports. In the markets, merchants from every nation haggle under the Mediterranean sun.

Religion and culture are deeply intertwined with daily life and warfare in this era. Every nation worships its own gods, and divine favor is believed to decide the outcome of battles. Romans honor Jupiter and Mars, Greeks pay tribute to Zeus and Athena, Carthaginians worship Baal and Tanit, and barbarian tribes have their own tribal deities.

Temples are centers of power and community. Priests perform sacrifices, interpret omens, and bless armies before battle. Culture is rich and varied — Greek philosophy, Roman law, Egyptian monumental architecture, and Celtic oral traditions all flourish side by side.

As a lone individual, you are part of this living tapestry. You can rise through military service, political cunning, trade, or religious influence. A talented general, clever diplomat, or skilled merchant can change the course of history. Loyalty, ambition, and timing are everything.

The world is dangerous and full of opportunity. One great victory, one clever alliance, or one bold decision can elevate you from a nobody to a legend remembered for centuries.

Narrate personally: You stand before the temple as priests offer sacrifices to the gods, asking for victory in the coming campaign. In this world, your actions will echo through history — for good or ill.

Armies in 272 BC are the most important tool of power in the Mediterranean. Every faction fields forces that reflect its culture, resources, and military tradition.

The Roman Republic relies on the legendary manipular legion system. Legions are divided into flexible maniples of 120 men, allowing them to adapt to any terrain. They fight with pilum javelins, gladius swords, and large scuta shields. Supporting them are allied Italian troops, cavalry, and siege engines. Roman armies are professional, disciplined, and excel at prolonged campaigns and sieges.

The Successor Kingdoms (Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucids, Macedon) still use the Macedonian phalanx — long sarissa spears forming an impenetrable wall of points, supported by elite Companion cavalry and war elephants. Their armies are professional but expensive, relying on heavy infantry and shock cavalry.

Carthage fields a mix of citizen troops and large mercenary armies from across the Mediterranean (Numidian cavalry, Iberian infantry, Gallic warriors). Their greatest strength is war elephants and a powerful navy.

Greek City-States field citizen hoplites in tight phalanx formations, supported by peltasts and cavalry. They are brave but often politically divided.

Barbarian tribes (Gauls, Iberians, Thracians) fight in wild, ferocious warbands with long swords, spears, and chariots. They excel at ambush and shock charges but lack discipline in prolonged battles.

As a lone individual, you can serve as a soldier, officer, mercenary, or even a general. Understanding different army compositions is essential for survival and success in this age of constant war.

Narrate militarily: The Roman legion advances in perfect order, maniples shifting like a living machine, while across the field the Seleucid phalanx stands like a forest of spears, elephants trumpeting behind them.

Diplomacy in 272 BC is as important as warfare. Alliances are constantly formed, broken, and reformed as factions fight for supremacy. Treaties, marriages, tribute payments, and political marriages are common tools of power.

The Roman Republic is a master of diplomacy, often turning defeated enemies into loyal allies through citizenship and protection. Carthage uses wealth and trade agreements to build coalitions. The Successor Kingdoms frequently make and break alliances through royal marriages and territorial deals.

Ambassadors travel between capitals carrying gifts, threats, and offers. Spies and agents work in the shadows, spreading rumors, bribing officials, or assassinating rivals. Betrayal is common — today’s ally can become tomorrow’s enemy when interests change.

As a lone individual, you can become a diplomat, spy, or political advisor. A well-placed marriage, a clever treaty, or a timely betrayal can change the fate of nations. Politics is a dangerous game where words and gold are as powerful as swords.

The world is a web of shifting alliances. No friendship is permanent, and no enemy is eternal.

Narrate politically: In the torch-lit hall, the Roman ambassador offers a treaty while the Carthaginian envoy watches with cold calculation. One wrong word or hidden bribe could spark a new war across the Mediterranean.

Daily life in 272 BC varies greatly depending on your social class and location.

Citizens in Rome, Greek cities, and Carthage enjoy rights and participate in politics. They work as farmers, craftsmen, merchants, or soldiers. Life revolves around the forum, agora, or marketplace — debating, trading, and attending festivals.

Slaves form a large part of society. Many are war captives or debtors. They work in mines, farms, households, and workshops. While some are treated harshly, others gain freedom through service or talent and can rise in society.

Women have limited but important roles. In Rome they manage households and influence politics behind the scenes. In Sparta and some Greek cities they enjoy more freedom. In the East, noblewomen can wield significant power.

Barbarian tribes live in simpler, more communal societies centered around warrior elites, farmers, and druids or shamans.

Festivals, religious ceremonies, and public games are central to social life. The Olympics, gladiatorial games (emerging in Rome), and grand processions bring people together.

As a lone individual, your social class determines your opportunities. A citizen can rise through politics or military service. A slave can earn freedom. A barbarian can become a feared warlord.

Narrate socially: In the bustling forum, citizens debate politics while slaves carry goods and noblewomen watch from shaded balconies. Life in the city pulses with ambition, duty, and the constant shadow of war.

Travel in 272 BC is both essential and extremely dangerous. The Mediterranean is connected by sea lanes and overland roads, but every journey carries risk.

Major trade routes include the Via Appia in Italy, the Royal Road in the East, and the sea lanes controlled by Carthage and the Greek navies. Merchants travel in large caravans or convoys for protection, carrying grain, olive oil, wine, slaves, metals, and luxury goods.

Dangers on the road are constant: bandit gangs, rival armies, shipwrecks, pirates in the Mediterranean, and barbarian raids in the north. A lone traveler is especially vulnerable. Many hire mercenaries or join caravans for safety.

As a lone individual, travel is a core part of your story. You can walk the roads as a merchant, messenger, mercenary, or adventurer. Every journey offers opportunities for profit, glory, or danger. Crossing from Italy to Greece or from Egypt to Carthage can take weeks or months and change your life forever.

The roads and seas are where fortunes are made and lost, and where legends begin.

Narrate adventurously: The caravan stretches along the dusty road, guards watching the hills for bandits. In the distance, the sea glimmers — another long and dangerous journey through a world at war.

In 272 BC, a single person can still change the course of history. This is an age of great individuals — generals, kings, politicians, and adventurers who rise from nothing to shape empires.

You can begin as a simple farmer, soldier, merchant, or exile and through skill, ambition, and luck become a powerful general, influential senator, wealthy trader, or feared warlord. The Roman Republic rewards talent and service. Greek cities value oratory and philosophy. Carthage values wealth and cunning. Barbarian tribes value personal bravery and leadership.

The path to greatness is never easy. You must navigate politics, win battles, forge alliances, and survive betrayals. One brilliant victory can make you a hero. One mistake can end your story.

As a lone individual in this world, you are not just a spectator — you are a potential legend in the making. Your choices in war, diplomacy, and personal ambition will write your own chapter in the history of the Mediterranean.

The age of legends is not over. It is happening right now.

Narrate personally: You stand at the crossroads of history. With a sword in hand and ambition in your heart, the fate of cities and nations may one day rest on your decisions.

The Roman Republic fields the most disciplined and adaptable armies of the era. The backbone is the Roman Legionary, equipped with the iconic scutum (large rectangular shield), pilum (heavy throwing javelin), and gladius (short stabbing sword). Armor is typically the lorica hamata (chain mail) or early lorica segmentata (segmented plate). Officers and elites wear bronze or iron helmets with horsehair crests and carry the gladius and pugio (dagger).

Legionaries fight in flexible maniples of 120 men, allowing them to maneuver in any terrain. They throw pilum to disrupt enemy formations, then close in with the gladius for brutal close-quarters combat. Supporting troops include velites (light skirmishers with javelins), equites (Roman cavalry), and allied Italian troops. Artillery consists of ballistae and onagers for sieges.

Roman equipment emphasizes practicality, standardization, and mass production. Every soldier carries tools for building camps and roads. This system allows Rome to fight prolonged campaigns and recover from defeats better than any other power.

As a lone warrior serving Rome, your equipment defines your role — from the humble hastatus with basic gear to a veteran princeps with superior armor and weapons.

Narrate Romanly: The legionary line advances in perfect order, pilum shafts darkening the sky before the gladius flashes in the sunlight as the maniples crash into the enemy phalanx.

Carthage relies on a professional core supported by a vast mercenary army drawn from across the Mediterranean. The elite Sacred Band consists of heavily armored citizen infantry wearing bronze cuirasses, helmets, and carrying long spears and round shields. Carthaginian cavalry is excellent, often Numidian light horsemen armed with javelins and small shields.

The true strength of Carthage lies in its diverse mercenaries: Iberian and Gallic infantry with long swords and oval shields, Libyan heavy spearmen in linen armor, and the famous war elephants — massive beasts armored with bronze plates and carrying towers with archers or javelin throwers.

Naval power is supreme: massive quinqueremes with reinforced rams and boarding bridges. Carthaginian equipment is expensive and high-quality, reflecting their wealth from trade. They favor combined-arms tactics, using elephants to break formations and cavalry to flank.

As a lone fighter in Carthaginian service, you might wield a mercenary’s long sword or ride with Numidian cavalry. The variety of equipment makes their armies unpredictable but sometimes difficult to coordinate.

Narrate Carthaginianly: The ground trembles as war elephants charge forward, towers filled with archers, while Iberian swordsmen and Libyan spearmen advance behind them in a colorful wave of steel and bronze.

The Successor Kingdoms (Ptolemaic Egypt, Seleucid Empire, Macedon, etc.) inherit Alexander’s military legacy and field the most visually spectacular armies of the era.

The core is the Macedonian phalanx — professional infantry wearing bronze or linen armor, greaves, and helmets, armed with the fearsome 6-meter sarissa (long pike). They form an impenetrable wall of spear points supported by elite Companion Cavalry in heavy bronze armor wielding long lances (xyston) and swords.

War elephants are a signature weapon, often armored and carrying towers with archers. The Seleucids and Ptolemies also field heavy cavalry (cataphracts in some eastern armies) and light skirmishers (peltasts and Cretan archers).

Equipment is high-quality and standardized: bronze muscle cuirasses, decorated helmets, and beautifully crafted shields. Officers wear purple cloaks and carry ornate weapons. Hellenistic armies excel at set-piece battles with combined arms — phalanx holding the center while cavalry strikes the flanks.

As a lone warrior, serving a Successor king means access to the best equipment of the age, but also constant political intrigue and shifting loyalties.

Narrate Hellenisticly: The phalanx advances like a forest of spears, bronze armor gleaming, while Companion Cavalry thunder on the wings and war elephants trumpet behind the lines.

The Greek city-states field proud citizen armies centered around the classic hoplite. Each hoplite wears a bronze cuirass or linen armor, greaves, a large round hoplon shield, and a Corinthian helmet. They fight with the dory (spear) and xiphos (short sword), forming the legendary phalanx — a tight wall of overlapping shields and protruding spears.

Supporting troops include peltasts (light skirmishers with javelins and small shields) and Cretan archers. Cavalry is limited but effective, often Thessalian horsemen. Greek equipment is beautiful and functional, with ornate helmets, decorated shields, and high-quality bronze weapons.

Greek warfare emphasizes discipline, phalanx cohesion, and heroic individual combat. Hoplites are citizen-soldiers who train from youth and fight for their city’s honor. In battle they present an almost impenetrable front but struggle against more flexible Roman maniples or flanking cavalry.

As a lone Greek warrior, your equipment reflects your city’s pride — a finely crafted hoplon shield and spear that has been passed down through generations.

Narrate Greekly: The hoplite phalanx locks shields in perfect formation, bronze gleaming under the sun as spears bristle outward like a deadly hedgehog, ready to receive the enemy charge.

The barbarian tribes of Gaul, Iberia, Thrace, Scythia, and Germania fight with fierce individualism and raw power. Their equipment is varied and often impressive.

Gauls use long slashing swords (spatha), large oval shields, and chain mail or leather armor. Many fight naked or painted with woad for intimidation. They employ chariots and elite noble cavalry.

Iberians favor the deadly falcata (curved sword) and small round shields, excelling in close combat and guerrilla warfare. They wear linen armor and distinctive helmets.

Thracians and Scythians are masters of horse archery, using composite bows, javelins, and light cavalry tactics. They wear scale armor and carry curved swords.

Barbarian equipment is practical and intimidating: tattoos, torcs, and trophies from defeated enemies are common. They fight in wild warbands with little formal discipline but incredible ferocity and courage.

As a lone barbarian warrior, your equipment reflects your tribe’s pride — a finely forged sword, a painted shield, and the scars of many battles.

Narrate fiercely: The Gaulish warband charges screaming, long swords flashing and shields clashing, their bodies painted blue and their hair spiked with lime, a tide of raw barbarian fury.

Morality in the Mediterranean of 272 BC was pragmatic, hierarchical, and deeply tied to honor, family, and community survival rather than universal ethics. Honor (timē in Greek, dignitas in Latin) was the highest virtue — losing face through cowardice, betrayal, or public humiliation was worse than death for many. Revenge was not just accepted but expected: an insult to your family or your god demanded retribution, often violent. This code of vendetta ran through Greek, Roman, and barbarian societies alike.

Slavery was universal and unquestioned. Most people saw slaves as property or war spoils — beating, branding, or killing them carried no moral weight. Sexual violence against captives was common and rarely condemned. Women’s virtue was tied to chastity and obedience; adultery by a wife could lead to divorce, beating, or death, while men faced almost no consequences for infidelity.

Religion shaped morality more than philosophy. Sacrifices, omens, and divine favor decided right and wrong. Breaking an oath sworn in the name of a god was considered the worst sin — worse than murder. Hospitality (xenia in Greek) was sacred: harming a guest or refusing shelter was a crime against the gods themselves.

Daily life was brutal by modern standards: infanticide of deformed or female babies was routine, public executions were entertainment, and torture was standard in interrogations. Yet the same societies valued friendship, loyalty, and generosity within the community. The line between “us” and “them” was sharp — outsiders, barbarians, and slaves were often seen as less than fully human.

Narrate realistically: A father turns away from his newborn daughter left on the hillside — the gods will decide her fate. Meanwhile the family next door prepares a feast for a guest, because to refuse hospitality would bring divine wrath upon them all.

Reactions to victory and defeat were extreme and public. Victory brought ecstasy and arrogance: triumphant generals were hailed as near-gods, parades filled the streets, and spoils (slaves, gold, weapons) were displayed for all to see. The victorious side often massacred surrendering enemies or sold entire populations into slavery — mercy was seen as weakness. The Roman triumph, the Greek victory ode, and the barbarian feast of severed heads all celebrated dominance in the most graphic ways.

Defeat brought shame that could last generations. A defeated general might commit suicide to preserve honor (as many Greek and Roman commanders did). Survivors of a lost battle were often ostracized, enslaved, or executed by their own people for cowardice. Families of the fallen carried lifelong dishonor if the defeat was seen as avoidable or dishonorable.

Public shaming was a powerful weapon. In Athens, ostracism exiled a man for ten years by popular vote. In Rome, a disgraced politician could be stripped of his toga and paraded in rags. Barbarian tribes often mutilated cowards or traitors as a warning to others.

The fear of shame drove men to extraordinary bravery — and extraordinary cruelty. A warrior would rather die fighting than live with the stain of cowardice. This made battles incredibly fierce and surrender rare unless escape was impossible.

Narrate intensely: The defeated commander falls on his sword before his men can drag him in chains. The crowd jeers and spits as the survivors are marched through the streets in rags, their families forever marked by the shame of the day.

The concept of “us vs. them” was absolute. Greeks called everyone non-Greek a “barbaros” (barbarian) — someone who spoke an unintelligible language like a babbling baby. Romans viewed non-Romans as inferior until they adopted Roman ways. Carthaginians saw Greeks and Romans as treacherous rivals, while barbarian tribes viewed all city-dwellers as soft and decadent.

Slaves were property, not people. They could be beaten, branded, sexually used, or killed at their master’s whim. Manumission (freeing a slave) was possible but rare and often came with conditions. Freed slaves (liberti in Rome) remained second-class citizens, often looked down upon.

Foreigners were distrusted and exploited. Greek cities often forbade non-citizens from owning land. Romans granted citizenship slowly and strategically. Barbarian tribes raided settled peoples for slaves and plunder, seeing them as legitimate prey.

Hospitality was a sacred duty toward guests of the same culture, but outsiders were fair game for robbery or enslavement. Piracy was widespread and socially accepted — many coastal cities profited from it.

These attitudes fueled endless war and exploitation. The line between civilized and barbarian was drawn in blood and contempt.

Narrate coldly: The victorious general surveys the captured women and children being branded and chained. “They are ours now,” he says simply. “The gods have given them to us as spoils.”

Honor and vengeance were the twin pillars of morality across almost every culture in 272 BC. An insult, theft, or injury to your family or honor demanded immediate and often violent response. Blood feuds could last generations — one murder leading to revenge killings that spiraled into clan wars.

In Greek culture, the concept of timē (honor/prestige) was central. A man who allowed an insult to go unpunished lost status in the eyes of his peers. In Rome, dignitas and auctoritas were worth more than life — a man would rather die than live in shame. Barbarian tribes valued personal bravery and revenge above all — a warrior who failed to avenge his kin was ostracized or killed.

Vengeance was often ritualistic. In some cultures, the killer would drink the blood of the victim or take their head as a trophy. In others, the family of the victim had the right to demand the killer’s life or heavy compensation (wergild).

This code made society extremely violent but also surprisingly stable within groups. Men feared dishonor more than death, so they fought bravely and kept oaths. Yet it also fueled endless cycles of violence between clans, cities, and nations.

As a lone individual, you carry your own honor. One insult unanswered can mark you as weak for life. One act of vengeance can make you a hero — or a target for the rest of your days.

Narrate vengefully: The young man sharpens his blade by firelight, whispering the name of the man who killed his brother. The blood debt will be paid — tonight or ten years from now, but it will be paid.

Women in 272 BC had limited rights but significant informal power. In Athens and many Greek cities, women were legally children under male guardianship for life — father, husband, or brother. They could not own property, vote, or appear in public courts. Yet in practice, wealthy women managed households, influenced politics behind the scenes, and controlled large estates through their sons.

In Sparta, women had far more freedom: they trained physically, owned land, and spoke openly in public. Roman women could inherit, run businesses, and divorce relatively easily, though they were still subordinate to men. In barbarian tribes, women often fought alongside men and held high status as priestesses or queens.

Children were valued primarily as heirs and labor. Female infants were frequently exposed (abandoned) if the family could not afford them. Boys were raised for war or citizenship; girls for marriage and motherhood. Education was for boys only in most places.

Family was everything — loyalty to kin trumped loyalty to city or king. A man would risk death to protect his family honor. Blood ties were sacred, and adoption or marriage alliances were powerful political tools.

The world was patriarchal and harsh, but family bonds were the strongest force holding society together.

Narrate intimately: The mother watches her son leave for the army, knowing he may never return. Yet she stands proud — he goes to defend the family honor and the gods of the hearth.