About This Content http://store.steampowered.com/app/214950/Total_War_ROME_II__Emperor_Edition/?snr=1_5_1100__1100The Desert Kingdoms Culture Pack introduces four new playable factions to Total War: ROME II. The Kingdoms of Kush, Saba and Nabatea fall under the African/Arabian subculture, while the Masaesyli are of Numidian origin. These factions are native to the deserts of Africa and Arabia. Surviving these harsh environmental conditions has forged them into hardy warriors who use the shifting desert sands to their advantage in battle. While culturally similar, each faction boasts unique new unit rosters which offer different military strengths. Each faction also has new building chains and technology trees, playing to their strengths and further differentiating their playstyles.Alongside their individual Faction Traits, the Desert Kingdoms all share the following Cultural Traits:Desert Warriors: +10% morale for all units during battles in the desertDeep-rooted Traditions: Penalty to research rateMeroe (The Kingdom of Kush) A major regional power with vast resources derived from its trade in gold, jewels and exotic hides, Kush has been overshadowed by its more powerful and famous northern neighbour, Egypt. In the early 3rd century BC, king Ergamenes decided to wrest power away from the priests of Amun, and moved the capital from Napata to Meroe. The priests would no longer decide the fate of the kings and queens.The shift of capital also marked something of a break from Egyptian culture with Hellenistic, Indian, Persian and African influences making their way through the trade routes. The kings and warrior queens would sit on the throne and rule with authority and conviction to protect the riches of Nubia. Even the Romans could not conquer Meroe, and preferred to trade instead.A regional powerhouse with a surfeit of natural treasures and fertile land, Kush is well equipped to prosper and once again vie for power against the mightiest empires in the world. Key Features:Affinity for Egyptian/Hellenistic cultureHigher probability of female characters in politicsTrading kingdom (ivory, exotic hides, iron, gold)Faction Traits:Disciplined Workforce: Bonus income from slaves, reduction in slave decline, Reduced Public Order penalty from slaves.The Land of the Bow: cheaper, better archer units.Kush Unit Roster:Melee Infantry:T1: Slave InfantryT2: SwordsmenT2: Kushite Slave InfantryT3: Shotel WarriorsT4: Armoured Shotel WarriorsT4: Disciples of ApedemakSpear Infantry:T1: Nubian SpearmenT2: Kushite Slave SpearmenT3: Leopard WarriorsPike Infantry:T2: Kushite PikesMissile Infantry:T1: TribesmenT1: Slave SlingersT2: Nubian BowmenT2: ArchersT3: Kushite ArchersT4: Royal Kushite ArchersMelee Cavalry:T2: Aethiopian CavalryT2: Desert CavalryT3: Armoured Desert CavalryT4: Kushite Royal GuardSpecial:T2: Desert ChariotsT3: African ElephantsT4: African War ElephantsT4: Scythed ChariotsNabataeThe Nabataeans were great builders and pioneers of advanced construction techniques. They were the first civilization to use cement extensively, and built remarkable watertight reservoirs, ensuring a plentiful supply of potable water. Even when under threat from powerful foes like the Seleucids and Judeans, their progressive society enabled them to flourish and prosper.The Nabataeans were very literate and had a remarkable degree of gender equality for an ancient civilization, with women participating in both political and religious matters. Nabatae was an important crossroad for the spice trade, serving as a conduit between the southern kingdoms that produced frankincense and myrrh, and the wealthy eastern and western empires who were its primary buyers. Preserving all this wealth at such a geographically strategic location demanded a well-trained military and a strong navy. Nabatae had both, bolstered by excellent engineering and exploitation of the surrounding environment, making their capital city of Petra a nigh-impregnable bastion.Key Features: Hellenic influence: may recruit Hellenic-themed units for battleSilk road traders: Bonus to trade and diplomacySkilled masons: bonuses to construction and fortification Friends of Rome: diplomatic bonus with Roman factions/allies Roman tactics: some native units may use Roman army formations/abilities Faction Traits:Stonecutters: Faster, cheaper construction of main settlement-chain buildingsIncense Traders: Bonus income from incense trade Nabatae Unit Roster:Melee Infantry:T1: Desert LevyT2: Nabataean SwordsmenT2: Nabataean Axe WarriorsT3: Noble SwordsmenSpear Infantry:T1: Levy SpearmenT2: Caravan GuardT2: Desert HoplitesT3: Armoured Desert HoplitesT3: Heavy Desert SpearmenT4: Rekem Palace GuardPike Infantry:T2: Desert PikemenT3: Nabataean Thorax PikeMissile Infantry:T1: SlingersT1: Levy SkirmishersT2: TribespeopleT3 Nabataean Light PeltastsT3: Nabataean Heavy ArchersShock Cavalry:T3: Desert Heavy LancersT4: Hellenic Desert CataphractsMelee Cavalry:T1: Desert CavalryT2: Camel SpearmenT2: Arabian CavalryT3: Armoured Desert CavalryT3: Nabataean Noble CavalryT3: Armoured Camel SpearmenMissile Cavalry:T2: Camel ArchersSpecial:T2: Desert ChariotsT4: Scythed ChariotsSabaThe Sabaean kingdom lies in the harsh lands of the southern Arabian Peninsula. Even in such inhospitable conditions, however, these ingenious people thrived. They built dams, invented new irrigation techniques and became masters of water-efficiency. The Sabaeans were also excellent sailors, and had strong trade relations with peoples across the Red Sea. Not warlike by nature, the Sabaeans charged mercenaries with the protection of their trade routes and caravans. That said, they were a resilient people of tough character, who made formidable foes for anyone who dared threaten their great capital city of Marib. Even the Romans could not best them during their expedition in the early 1st century.Key features: Camels as predominant cavalry, with superior armored camels Excellent use of javelins and chariots Agricultural and fertility bonuses from the famous Marib Dam Incense production provides diplomatic and trade bonusesGreat Dam of Ma’rib: A unique building type which provides faction wide bonuses to agriculture and fertility and can be upgraded with technologies, but requires upkeep to maintain. Faction Traits:Incense Traders: Bonus income from tariffsHired Armies: Access to cheaper, stronger mercenary units Saba Unit Roster:Melee Infantry:T1: Desert LevyT2: Mercenary Maas Gat MaraudersT2: Sabaean SwordsmenT3: Noble SwordsmenSpear Infantry:T1: Desert SpearmenT2: Sabaean SpearmenT2: Caravan GuardT4: Marib Royal GuardMissile Infantry:T1: SlingersT1: Levy SkirmishersT2: TribespeopleT2: Sabaean ArchersShock Cavalry:T2: Camel LancersT3: Sabaean Camel CataphractsT3: Desert Heavy LancersT4: Marib Camel CataphractsMelee Cavalry:T2: Desert CavalryT2: Camel SpearmenT2: Arabian CavalryT3: Mercenary Himyar CavalryT3: Armoured Camel SpearmenT4: Royal Marib CavalryMissile Cavalry:T2: Camel ArchersT3: Royal Camel ArchersSpecial:T2: Desert ChariotsNumidiaPrior to Numidia’s founding after the 2nd Punic war, its people were divided into two Berber tribes: the Massyli and the Masaesyli. Both were skilled warriors and there were many rivalries between them.The Massyli had strong relations with Carthage, a key reason for the Massaesyli aligning with Rome when the opportunity came. Through many twists and turns, both tribes ultimately unified into theK kingdom of Numidia, under the Massylian king Massinissa. He ruled for an astonishing 54 years, transforming his kingdom into a prospering North African power.Key Features:Affinity to Cartage and Latin cultureExtensive Roman influence in battleCavalry-focused faction Faction traitsDesert Ambushers: +50% chance of successfully launching an ambushNumidia Unit Roster:Melee Infantry:T1: Slave InfantryT2: Numidian Light InfantryT2: Gaetuli TribesmenT3: Desert LegionariesT3: Desert CohortSpear Infantry:T1: Numidian SpearmenT2: Desert VigilesT3: Armoured Numidian SpearsT4: Numidian Noble InfantryMissile Infantry:T1: TribesmenT1: Tribal SlingersT2: Numidian JavelinmenT3: Heavy Numidian SkirmishersShock Cavalry:T2: Numidian RidersT3: Armoured Numidian RidersMelee Cavalry:T2: Desert CavalryT3: Armoured Desert CavalryT3: Desert Legionary CavalryMissile Cavalry:T1: Gaetuli Horse SkirmishersT2: Numidian CavalryT3: Armoured Numidian CavalryT4: Numidian Noble CavalrySpecial:T2: Desert ChariotsT3: Armoured Desert ChariotsT4: African Elephants 1075eedd30 Title: Total War: ROME II - Desert Kingdoms Culture PackGenre: Simulation, StrategyDeveloper:CREATIVE ASSEMBLYPublisher:SEGAFranchise:Total WarRelease Date: 8 Mar, 2018 Total War: ROME II - Desert Kingdoms Culture Pack Xbox Download Code This DLC would be better called SJW, shoddy research and lazy approach pack. Im serious.First of about so called "research" made by CA. Total War games are not exactly renown for their strict historicity, as todays pro-inclusivity folks like to say they would be better called - "historically authentic" aka we will put whatever BS we want in historic setting and market game as historical. And frankly im rather OK with that. After all Total War games were never strictly historical and always were riddled with different anachronistic or outright false\/fantasy stuff. But with this DLC CA pretty much jumped the shark in regards with both - historicity and modern day political pandering. But back to "historicity". Im fairly sure that CA in RTW2 was heavily borrowing from Europa Barbarorum, it should be rather apparent for anyone who played this RTW1 mod. In some cases unit rosters between EB and RTW2 are near identical. EB devs back in the day put alot of effort to fix rather glaring historical blunders of RTW1, but due to limitation of older game they could not cover everything. So factions of Kush, Nabatea and Numidia were not present in EB1, although they are to appear in EB2 ( except Kush ), a mod for MTW2 that is currently in development and has alot of developers diaries on planned futures and factions with very indepth description of research behind development. And it is once again apparent that someone in CA used others work for profit. Except used it this time rather lazily and badly. Unit rosters of new factions do partially resemble described in EB2 developer diaries but in reality are simple assets flips with near zero work behind them. If in EB2 you would need to go trough a sweeping reforms in order to gain new "civilized" units as one of those poor tribal desert kingdoms, in RTW2 you have zero problems with fielding heavy hellenic cavalry as arabic Nabatean state. Numidians on the other hand saw a resurgence of dreaded "imitation legionaries" that were widely laughed at back in RTW1 times, while Sabeans in addition to their EB1 roster got fantasy battle camels and to add insult - heavily armored variants too. I think any person that actually studied history would laugh at a mere mention of war camels. I know that RTW2 already had those abominations in Beasts of War DLC, but i ignored it and never bought. Now i have to endure those historic abominations, yack. As for the Kush... well it should be obvious for anyone that actually it is this DLC main SJW dish - "im a nasty woman, here me roar" faction. It has everything any SJW would ever want - 50% chance of female general, all female units with literal - "roaarr" in description for maximum cringe, mixed male\/female units with description of being selected from best sons and daughters and other similar cringy stuff. Altough it is rather funny and a bit strange that low tier Kush "slave" units are men only, so im not sure about the message there. ;DSo TLDR: unit rosters are borrowed from EB1 and EB2, historical background of units is either non existent or warped, return of the dreaded "imitation legioners" from RTW1, return of dreaded war camels, lazy asset flipping in models and finally SJW "im a nasty woman, hear me roar" cringe fest.Final verdict: BAD, after fixing alot of RTW1 historic blunders CA made gigantic step back. At first i was very exited about this DLC when it came out, as i love unexplored and underrepresented regions, im genuinely interested in Africa and Asia. I could endure SJW stuff, but coupled with very shoddy and lazy approach to other factions it was a last straw that broke this war camel back. If you dont like shoddy historicity avoid this DLC alongside with Beasts of War and Daughters of Mars.. This DLC doesn't work although installed in library.
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Total War: ROME II - Desert Kingdoms Culture Pack Xbox Download Code
Updated: Mar 10, 2020
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