Which DLCs are recommended?

[Keone]

I bought Rome 2 near the release of the game. I didn't get a chance to put many hours into it and want to pick it up again. I'm just wondering if the base game would be enough to enjoy it fully or are there any DLCs I should also pick up to make the game even better?

[RalphRoberts]

Get the DLC for factions/campaigns that interest you. Most are only the type of thing that matter if you actually plan to play the faction (culture packs) or campaign (Wrath of Sparta, Hannibal, etc.). Exceptions being the Daughters of Mars and Beasts of War unit packs, which I can't really recommend for the current price.

[Welsh Dragon]

Well, if you haven't played since near launch a lot has changed (for the better in my view) and there's been quite a lot of additional free content too.

Hang on a sec and I'll dig out the two guides I wrote that may help.

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.

[Keone]

Originally posted by Welsh Dragon:

Well, if you haven't played since near launch a lot has changed (for the better in my view) and there's been quite a lot of additional free content too.

Hang on a sec and I'll dig out the two guides I wrote that may help.

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.

Thanks... I'll appreciate those links.

[Welsh Dragon]

Guide 1:

Emperor Edition - A quick guide.

(You will now have Emperor Edition, as it was a free upgrade for existing owners.)

Emperor Edition contains the base game and all the free content, specifically:

•Rome II Base Game (8 playable factions, Rome, Carthage, Macedon, Iceni, Arverni, Suebi, Parthia, Egypt.)
•Patches 1 - 15 (including the Patch 15/Emperor Edition major overhaul.)
•Imperator Augustus Free Campaign (10 playable factions in that.)
•6 Free DLC factions ( Pontus, Seleucid, Baktria, Armenia, Getae, Massilia)
•Free Battle of Pydna Historical Battle.

You'll also get Patches 16 and 17 automatically downloaded when you install.

Emperor Edition does not contain the paid additional content, specifically:

•4 Culture Packs (Greek States, Nomadic Tribes, Pirates & Raiders, Black Seas Colonies)
•3 Campaign Packs (Caesar in Gaul, Hannibal at the Gates, Wrath of Sparta)
•2 Unit Packs (Beasts of War, Daughters of Mars)
•Blood & Gore DLC.

Emperor Edition is a rerelease that accompanied the Patch 15 Major Overhaul, rather than a Game of the Year edition. (Also it's a free update for anyone who had Rome II, or whoever buys an old disc copy of Rome II even now. It functionally replaces Rome II, so everyone who plays Rome II has Emperor Edition these days.)

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.

[Welsh Dragon]

Guide 2:

Rome II DLCs: A Quick Guide

I have all the DLCs (except Blood & Gore, as it doesn't interest me.) Really they depend on what you're after. I personally feel that they are all value for money based on the enjoyment I've got out of them, and when they're on sale even better.

As for the DLCs I'll split them into categories:

Culture Packs:

These each add 3 new factions that you can play. Different people will rate them differently. They each have different starting positions in campaign, unique traits and units, some have their own culture. Some also offer different playstyles (Nomadic Tribes are basically all Cavalry, Black Seas have hybrid rosters so a mix of units, Pirates & Raiders can hire mercenaries a lot cheaper, but their upkeep is also increased, and Greek States use Hoplites a lot.)

Campaign Packs:

These cost a little more, but you generally get 3 new factions AND a campaign that can have it's own mechanics and challenges. The Campaigns are each fought on new maps, which provide a much more detailed environment and allows for all sorts of options you can't do in the main campaign.

CAESAR IN GAUL and HANNIBAL AT THE GATES both have focused campaigns in a shorter time span (so each turn is only a few weeks, rather than a year as is the case with Rome II.)

Each offer 3 new factions for the main game, some of which also feature in the DLC campaign, including two of my personal favourites Nervii (in Caesar, Belgian warriors who like to ambush) and Lusitani (in Hannibal, a faction that's low on armour, but high on javelins and guerilla warfare.)

WRATH OF SPARTA is set much earlier than even Rome II's start. If you really like Hoplite warfare and Greek history then it's meant to be a lot of fun. But some people really don't like it, so it's really up to you. NOTE: This is the only DLC to not add anything to the Grand Campaign (the main Rome II campaign) nor custom/multiplayer battles (though you can play the Wrath of Sparta campaign in multiplayer campaign modes.)

Unit Packs:

Add units funnily enough. Beasts of War adds animal based units, which can be fun and I believe Suebi players specifically like the Wolf Warriors I think it adds. Daughters of Mars adds female units to the battlefield for some factions, which can fill some niches in those factions (Lusitani Swordswomen are one of my favourite units.)

Conclusion:

The Steam store pages for the different DLCs give you a good overview of what's in each DLC, and if you want an idea of the history/feel of the factions (and a useful guide to which factions are in which DLC) try here: http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/Factions

But really it depends how much you want to invest in your new game. I personally don't feel any of them are essential for single-player (I don't play multi) but at the same time I don't regret buying any of them because of the added variety and hours of enjoyment I've got out of them.

Hope that helps. Any questions please feel free to ask and I will try to answer them.

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.

[Welsh Dragon]

Hope those help.

I would say, you've probably got enough to be getting on with with just the main game, so in your shoes I'd probably hold off on the DLCs till they are on sale, which may well be in the next few weeks, as the Winter Sale is coming. Rome 2 and DLC often seems to turn up in the Steam Winter Sale. Also if you add any DLC you are interested into your wishlist, Steam will notify you when they are on sale price/discount.

Also worth noting that some of the free factions are a good way to get an idea of the DLC factions.

Want to try Greek hybrid rosters like Black Seas Colonies? Massilia.are Greek/Celtic
Want to try out the Balkans Culture of Pirates and Raiders? Getae are a Balkans tribe.

Hope that all helps. If you have any more questions I'll try to answer them in the morning. I need some sleep.

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.

[Harper]

WD, Thanks for sharing your guides, as I appreciate the additional information. Regards, Harper

[Welsh Dragon]

Originally posted by Harper:

WD, Thanks for sharing your guides, as I appreciate the additional information. Regards, Harper

Happy to help. I keep meaning to turn them into actual Steam Guides, as these questions come up often, but never get around to it.

All the Best,

Welsh Dragon.