Faction Overview#
Faction Categories#
| Category |
Factions |
Core gameplay |
| Agricultural settled factions |
Western Rome, Eastern Rome, Sassanid Persia, Aksum |
Settlement building, territorial defence, steady development |
| Barbarian settled factions |
Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Franks, Anglo-Saxons |
Building and raiding side by side, gradually urbanising |
| Nomadic factions |
Huns, Alans, Sarmatians, Gepids |
Wandering migration, surviving by raiding, searching for a place to settle |
| African/Eastern factions |
Aksum, Sassanid Persia, Yemen |
Distinctive administration and religious management |
Major Factions in Detail#
Western Roman Empire#
| Attribute |
Value |
| Start date |
395 AD |
| Starting territory |
Italy, Gaul, Spain, North Africa |
| Faction trait |
“Twilight of the Empire” — loyalty falls in every province each turn |
| Starting legions |
6-8 |
| Starting economy |
★★★★★ Extremely high |
| Starting military |
★★★★☆ High |
| Research direction |
Military and civil in equal measure |
Strategy notes
Eastern Roman Empire#
| Attribute |
Value |
| Start date |
395 AD |
| Starting territory |
Greece, Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt |
| Faction trait |
“Light of the East” — research speed +10%, trade income +15% |
| Starting legions |
4-5 |
| Starting economy |
★★★★★ Extremely high |
| Starting military |
★★★☆☆ Medium |
| Research direction |
Weighted towards civil technology |
Strategy notes
In the early phase it is advisable to consolidate the eastern defences and keep the peace with Sassanid Persia (for at least the first 30 turns). Use your economic advantage to train elite units step by step and prepare for later expansion. The defence of Constantinople is crucial — if it falls, the entire economic system collapses.
The Huns#
| Attribute |
Value |
| Start date |
395 AD |
| Starting territory |
Black Sea steppe (no fixed cities) / Pontic Steppe (no fixed cities) |
| Faction trait |
“Storm of the Steppe” — cavalry movement range +20%, raiding income +25% |
| Starting legions |
2-3 |
| Starting economy |
★☆☆☆☆ Extremely low |
| Starting military |
★★★★★ Extremely high |
| Research direction |
Raiding replaces research |
Strategy notes
Sassanid Persia#
| Attribute |
Value |
| Start date |
395 AD |
| Starting territory |
Iranian plateau, Mesopotamia |
| Faction trait |
“King of Kings” — vassal state taxation +30%, tribute system |
| Starting legions |
5-6 |
| Starting economy |
★★★★☆ High |
| Starting military |
★★★★☆ High |
| Research direction |
Military technology first |
Strategy notes
The Visigoths#
| Attribute |
Value |
| Start date |
395 AD |
| Starting territory |
Lower Danube region |
| Faction trait |
“Barbarian Alliance” — diplomatic relations with barbarian factions +20, raiding income +15% |
| Starting legions |
2 |
| Starting economy |
★★☆☆☆ Low |
| Starting military |
★★★☆☆ Medium |
| Research direction |
Raiding and settlement in equal measure |
Strategy notes
Minor Factions at a Glance#
| Faction |
Type |
Special ability |
| Ostrogoths |
Barbarian settled |
Iron output +15% |
| Franks |
Barbarian settled |
Infantry training cost -15% |
| Anglo-Saxons |
Barbarian settled |
Naval movement range +20% |
| Alans |
Nomadic |
Cavalry armour +10% |
| Sarmatians |
Nomadic |
Shock cavalry attack +15% |
| Gepids |
Barbarian settled |
Stake construction speed +20% |
| Aksum |
African |
Maritime trade income +20% |
| Saxons |
Barbarian settled |
Combat in forests +10% |
| Yemen |
African |
Slave trade income +25% |
| Aurelian |
Barbarian settled |
Iron output +15% |
Faction Selection Decision Tree#
| Your preference |
Recommended faction |
| You like defending and counterattacking |
Western Roman Empire |
| You like economic development |
Eastern Roman Empire |
| You like aggression and expansion |
The Huns |
| You like medium difficulty |
Sassanid Persia |
| You like a challenge |
The Visigoths |
| You like naval power |
Eastern Roman Empire |
| You like fighting with cavalry |
The Huns |
| You like the barbarian style |
The Franks |
Comparison of Starting Economies#
| Faction |
Starting income |
Army upkeep |
Net income |
| Western Roman Empire |
~8000 |
~6000 |
~2000 |
| Eastern Roman Empire |
~7000 |
~4000 |
~3000 |
| Sassanid Persia |
~5500 |
~3500 |
~2000 |
| The Huns |
~500 |
|
|
| The Visigoths |
~1500 |
~1200 |
~300 |
Faction Unique Buildings#
| Faction |
Unique building |
Effect |
| Roman Empire |
Imperial province building |
Increases tax revenue and public order |
| Barbarians |
Tribal hall |
Increases raiding income and tribal loyalty |
| The Huns |
Nomadic camp |
Provides mobile supplies and training |
| Sassanids |
Tribute palace |
Manages vassals and tribute |
| Africans |
Trade port |
Increases maritime trade income |
Difficulty Rating by Faction#
| Faction |
Difficulty |
Starting advantage |
Starting disadvantage |
| Western Roman Empire |
★★★★★ |
Vast territory, many armies |
Collapsing economy, heavy border pressure |
| Eastern Roman Empire |
★★★★☆ |
Stable economy, advanced technology |
Threatened on all sides, weak military |
| The Huns |
★★★☆☆ |
Powerful cavalry, high mobility |
Cannot construct buildings |
| Sassanid Persia |
★★★☆☆ |
Good economy, strong armies |
Far from the main theatres of war |
| The Visigoths |
★★☆☆☆ |
Central position, great potential |
Weak starting strength |
| The Ostrogoths |
★★☆☆☆ |
Flexible movement |
No fixed territory |
Faction Diplomatic Relationship Networks#
| Faction |
Natural allies |
Natural enemies |
Neutral parties |
| Western Roman Empire |
Eastern Rome, Carthage |
All barbarians |
Sassanids |
| The Huns |
Avars |
All settled factions |
Sassanids |
| Sassanid Persia |
Armenia |
Eastern Rome, Aksum |
Most barbarians |
| The Visigoths |
Ostrogoths |
Western Rome |
The Huns |
| The Vandals |
None |
Eastern Rome |
Most factions |
Notes on Faction Unique Mechanics#
| Faction |
Unique mechanic |
Explanation |
Advantage |
| The Huns |
Nomadic migration |
The capital can be migrated at any time |
Flexible and mobile |
| Western Roman Empire |
Senate system |
Senate resolutions influence policy |
Stable internal politics |
| Sassanid Persia |
Vassal system |
Manages multiple vassal states |
Resource supply |
| Aksum |
Trade network |
Gains bonuses from long-distance trade |
Economic advantage |
Previous chapter: Getting Started