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The 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 desert
Deep-rooted Traditions: Penalty to research rate

Meroe (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 culture
  
• Higher probability of female characters in politics
  
• Trading 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

Infantry

/>T2:

Swordsmen

/>T2:

Kushite

Slave

Infantry

/>T3:

Shotel

Warriors

/>T4:

Armoured

Shotel

Warriors

/>T4:

Disciples

of

Apedemak

Spear Infantry:

T1:

Nubian

Spearmen

/>T2:

Kushite

Slave

Spearmen

/>T3:

Leopard

Warriors

Pike Infantry:

T2:

Kushite

Pikes

Missile Infantry:

T1:

Tribesmen

/>T1:

Slave

Slingers

/>T2:

Nubian

Bowmen

/>T2:

Archers

/>T3:

Kushite

Archers

/>T4:

Royal

Kushite

Archers

Melee Cavalry:

T2:

Aethiopian

Cavalry

/>T2:

Desert

Cavalry

/>T3:

Armoured

Desert

Cavalry

/>T4:

Kushite

Royal

Guard

Special:

T2:

Desert

Chariots

/>T3:

African

Elephants

/>T4:

African

War

Elephants

/>T4:

Scythed

Chariots

Nabatae

The

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 battle
  
• Silk road traders: Bonus to trade and diplomacy
  
• Skilled 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 buildings
  
• Incense Traders: Bonus income from incense trade

/>Nabatae

Unit

Roster:

Melee Infantry:

T1:

Desert

Levy

/>T2:

Nabataean

Swordsmen

/>T2:

Nabataean

Axe

Warriors

/>T3:

Noble

Swordsmen

Spear Infantry:

T1:

Levy

Spearmen

/>T2:

Caravan

Guard

/>T2:

Desert

Hoplites

/>T3:

Armoured

Desert

Hoplites

/>T3:

Heavy

Desert

Spearmen

/>T4:

Rekem

Palace

Guard

Pike Infantry:

T2:

Desert

Pikemen

/>T3:

Nabataean

Thorax

Pike

Missile Infantry:

T1:

Slingers

/>T1:

Levy

Skirmishers

/>T2:

Tribespeople

/>T3

Nabataean

Light

Peltasts

/>T3:

Nabataean

Heavy

Archers

Shock Cavalry:

T3:

Desert

Heavy

Lancers

/>T4:

Hellenic

Desert

Cataphracts

Melee Cavalry:

T1:

Desert

Cavalry

/>T2:

Camel

Spearmen

/>T2:

Arabian

Cavalry

/>T3:

Armoured

Desert

Cavalry

/>T3:

Nabataean

Noble

Cavalry

/>T3:

Armoured

Camel

Spearmen

Missile Cavalry:

T2:

Camel

Archers

Special:

T2:

Desert

Chariots

/>T4:

Scythed

Chariots

Saba

The

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 bonuses
  
• Great 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 tariffs
  
• Hired Armies: Access to cheaper, stronger mercenary units

/>Saba

Unit

Roster:

Melee Infantry:

T1:

Desert

Levy

/>T2:

Mercenary

Maas

Gat

Marauders

/>T2:

Sabaean

Swordsmen

/>T3:

Noble

Swordsmen

Spear Infantry:

T1:

Desert

Spearmen

/>T2:

Sabaean

Spearmen

/>T2:

Caravan

Guard

/>T4:

Marib

Royal

Guard

Missile Infantry:

T1:

Slingers

/>T1:

Levy

Skirmishers

/>T2:

Tribespeople

/>T2:

Sabaean

Archers

Shock Cavalry:

T2:

Camel

Lancers

/>T3:

Sabaean

Camel

Cataphracts

/>T3:

Desert

Heavy

Lancers

/>T4:

Marib

Camel

Cataphracts

Melee Cavalry:

T2:

Desert

Cavalry

/>T2:

Camel

Spearmen

/>T2:

Arabian

Cavalry

/>T3:

Mercenary

Himyar

Cavalry

/>T3:

Armoured

Camel

Spearmen

/>T4:

Royal

Marib

Cavalry

Missile Cavalry:

T2:

Camel

Archers

/>T3:

Royal

Camel

Archers

Special:

T2:

Desert

Chariots

Numidia

Prior

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 culture
  
• Extensive Roman influence in battle
  
• Cavalry-focused faction

/>Faction

traits

• Desert Ambushers: +50% chance of successfully launching an ambush

Numidia

Unit

Roster:

Melee Infantry:

T1:

Slave

Infantry

/>T2:

Numidian

Light

Infantry

/>T2:

Gaetuli

Tribesmen

/>T3:

Desert

Legionaries

/>T3:

Desert

Cohort

Spear Infantry:

T1:

Numidian

Spearmen

/>T2:

Desert

Vigiles

/>T3:

Armoured

Numidian

Spears

/>T4:

Numidian

Noble

Infantry

Missile Infantry:

T1:

Tribesmen

/>T1:

Tribal

Slingers

/>T2:

Numidian

Javelinmen

/>T3:

Heavy

Numidian

Skirmishers

Shock Cavalry:

T2:

Numidian

Riders

/>T3:

Armoured

Numidian

Riders

Melee Cavalry:

T2:

Desert

Cavalry

/>T3:

Armoured

Desert

Cavalry

/>T3:

Desert

Legionary

Cavalry

Missile Cavalry:

T1:

Gaetuli

Horse

Skirmishers

/>T2:

Numidian

Cavalry

/>T3:

Armoured

Numidian

Cavalry

/>T4:

Numidian

Noble

Cavalry

Special:

T2:

Desert

Chariots

/>T3:

Armoured

Desert

Chariots

/>T4:

African

Elephants

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