Factions

There are currently 45 factions playable in the Ancient Empires Grand Campaign. These are divided into cultural groups, with each faction representing a unique historical state or tribe and each faction including its own unique, historical units.

## **Rome & Carthage**

#### Historical Situation

Carthage has ruled the western Mediterranean for centuries, but has been challenged and beaten by the rising Roman Republic in the First Punic War. Both states believe that only one can be the true dominator of the western Mediterranean and this has now come to a head. Both Rome and Carthage now stand poised to commit their largest forces and most famous commanders- Hannibal and Scipio- at the plains of Zama in north Africa. The victor will decide the fate of these two republics.

#### Cultural Traits

**Imperial Ambition**

* Imperial Ambition: +2 military integrity for each ongoing war
* Provincial Rule: -10% administrative costs factionwide
* War Machine: Faster recruitment in capital cities

#### Factions

* Roman Republic
* Carthage

## **The Diadochi**

#### Historical Situation

The Diadochi, "the successors," are the rival families and states who filled the vacuum left by the death of Alexander the Great and the fragmentation of his empire. By 202BC their faction leaders are still the descendants of the original companions of Alexander, and they have not forgotten their grandfathers feuds. These Hellenistic states are the dominators of the eastern Mediterranean, as powerful as Rome and Carthage, and are determined to reclaim all of Alexanders empire as the only true successor state.

#### Cultural Traits

**The Diadochi**

* Alexander's Legacy: -30% resistance to foreign occupation
* Exchange of Traditions: +10% research rate for civic developments
* Pike Phalanx Armies: +2 XP per turn for all Pike units

#### Factions

* Seleucid Empire
* Ptolemaic Kingdom
* Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
* Macedonian Kingdom

## **The Greek City States**

#### Historical Situation

As they have for centuries, the Greek States remain in continual war and trade around the Aegean sea, but are now dragged into the larger wars of the Diadochi. However the power of the Greek states remains high despite their small size and they still wield considerable influence, enough that their loyalties and forces are much coveted by the feuding Diadochi, putting each Greek State in a position to change the course of history.

#### Cultural Traits

**Greek City States**

* City State Independence: +3 Melee Defence when fighting in own or allied territory
* Schools of Philosophy: +10% research rate
* Traders and Merchants: +5% income from trade agreements (tariff bonus)

#### Factions

* Achaean League
* Cretan City States
* Rhodian League
* Pergamese Kingdom

## **Black Sea States**

#### Historical Situation

The borders of the Black Sea have long been fertile ground for migrants and colonists, with numerous Greek-founded colonies dotted along its coasts. These colonies have a distinctly Greek character but each have merged to some degree with the respective native cultures their colony sits upon, giving them each unique identities and military forces. Now they continue to trade, but they may find that the black sea is too small for each colony to have a fair share.

#### Cultural Traits

**Maritime Colonies**

* Blacksea Traders: +10% increase to maritime trade
* Escort Ships: +10% Campaign Movement Range for Navies
* Foreign Nobility: +15% native discontent due to foreign leadership

#### Factions

* Bithynian Kingdom
* Bosporan Kingdom
* Colchian Kingdom
* Pontic Kingdom

## **Eastern Kingdoms**

#### Historical Sitatuation

The Kingdoms of the East hold fast to the legacy of the Persian Achaemenid Empire despite being sidelined, shrunken and even subjugated by the hated Greek Diadochi. The eastern states each have their own cultures and military forces, but all remember their heritage and are biding their time to throw the Greeks out and re-establish Eastern domination.

#### Cultural Traits

**Eastern Dynasties**

* Multiculturalism: -25% native discontent from being a cultural melting pot
* Tributary Treaties: +100% extra income from vassals
* Weak Dynasties: Suffers severe penalties from low Political Power

#### Factions

* Cappadocian Kingdom
* Median Kingdom
* Parthian Kingdom
* Armenian Kingdom

## **African and Arabs**

### Historical Situation

For centuries, on the southern fringes of the Greco-Roman world, the desert kingdoms have existed as wealthy and relatively stable providers of exotic goods, animals and spices. Now as their distant trade partners expand and conquer, the desert kingdoms are facing new challenges, new trading partners, and new threats to their stability, their income and their ancient land.

### Cultural Traits

**Frontier Kingdoms**

* Cultural Ambiguity: +50% to building conversion cost
* Exotic Trade: +30% income from trade agreements (tariff bonus)
* Experienced Pastoralists: +25% wealth from animal husbandry farming income

### Factions

* Numidian Kingdom
* Garamantian Tribes
* Nabatean Kingdom
* Sabaean Kingdom
* Kushite Kingdom

## **Celtic Tribes**

### Historical Situation

Celtic Tribes have spread gradually across Europe for centuries, loosely united by a shared cultural heritage and related language groups, but often still distinct in their individual cultures and forces. What they do share is a fierce disposition in battle and a love for war. By 202BC the Galatian sacking of Delphi was still within living memory of some, and the Romans have not forgotten Brennus' sacking of Rome. Ever restless, the Celts could at any moment strike out against their rich neighbors.

### Cultural Traits

**Tribal Civilisation**

* Peasant Class: +15% bonus income from agriculture
* The Civilised Barbarians: Bonus to diplomatic relations with other Barbarians
* Tribal Rule: Suffers severe penalties from low Political Power

### Factions

* Boii
* Caledonii
* Arverni
* Kingdom of the Galatians
* Iceni

## **Iberian Tribes**

### Historical Situation

The tribes of Hispania are united in only two things, fierce independence and skilled warriors. Otherwise, they have many differences in culture, lifestyles and disposition. The northern and western tribes are Celtic, while the southern and eastern are Iberian and have no love for their Northwestern neighbours. Hispania is a threatened land; Carthaginian incursion and conquest has slowly increased for centuries, whilst the possible defeat of Carthage by Rome will only replace their holdings, as they have already claimed southern Iberia. Iberian tribal feuding may result in foreign conquest of the peninsula, unless there is one tribe that can achieve true dominance.

### Cultural Traits

**Iberian Spirit**

* Fiercely Independent: +2 morale when fighting in owned or allied territory
* Technological Innovators: +15% research rate for military developments
* Tribal Rule: Suffers severe penalties from low Political Power

### Factions

* Turdetani
* Arevaci
* Cantabri
* Gallaeci
* Lusitani

## **Germanic and Belgic**

### Historical Situation

The Germanic tribes are yet to make their name in the world, the rumblings of their great future migrations are just beginning, they are still a people unknown, deep within the forests of Germania. For now their goals are to conquer and gain domination over their tribal neighbors before building up their military and technological strength and challenging the civilised folk to the south.

### Cultural Traits

**Warlike Society**

* Culture of War: +2 public order for every concurrent war with a neighbouring faction
* Warrior Populace: +2% replenishment base rate to all forces
* Tribal Rule: Suffers severe penalties from low Political Power

### Factions

* Nervii
* Cimbri
* Marcomanni
* Suebian Confederacy
* Helisii

## **Balkan Tribes**

### Historical Situation

The tribes of the Balkans are culturally diverse and distinct, however they all share a proximity to the Greeks to their south, which have for centuries diffused their culture into Balkan lands as well as drag the Balkan tribes into their conflicts, through mercenaries or politics. This has had a profound impact on these tribes who can now be considered semi civilised. After all, if the Macedonians were once considered as Barbarian by those most southern Greeks, could not the Balkan tribes follow suit?

### Cultural Traits

**Tribal Kingdoms**

* Cultural Melting Pot: -20% public order penalties due to foreign cultures
* Greek Influence: +5% research rate
* Tribal Rule: Suffers severe penalties from low Political Power

### Factions

* Kingdom of the Odryssians
* Kingdom of the Dalmatians
* Kingdom of the Getae

## **Steppe Tribes**

### Historical Situation

The tribes of the vast Steppe are once again on the move, looking for greener pastures, perhaps literally. An Indo-Iranian people, the tribes have diversified enough to have significant differences, but their nomadic lifestyle, skilled cavalrymen and brutal nature all remain as shared characteristics. Having grown closer to Greek culture, many have begun to migrate westwards, looking for land to settle, people to fight and riches to claim.

### Cultural Traits

**Nomadic Tribes**

* Craftsmanship & Metalworking: +20% income from industry
* Nomadic Lifestyle: no cost of colonising regions
* Tribal Rule: Suffers severe penalties from low Political Power

### Factions

* Roxolani
* Scythian Tribes
* Saka
* Tauri