14 DAY TRIAL // The latest faction to be revealed for the strategy title Total War: Rome 2 are the Suebi, the Germans who are threatening the interests of both the Gauls in modern day France and the expanding Roman empire to the south.
The lands across the Rhine river are rough and the Suebi are made up of a number of tribes who share language and religious beliefs and need to come together in order to prosper and expand.
The developers at The Creative Assembly state, “Heavily reliant on infantry and ambush tactics, raiding is their predominant form of conflict. Lightly equipped, most Suebi warriors make use of the framea, a javelin-like spear, as swords are a rarity. Often unarmoured they carried their rounded, oval or long, hexagonal shields into battle and wore little more than simple cloaks or other garments at times.”
The unique units of the Suebi will include the Berserkers, who are able to scare tougher enemies with their charge, and the Night Hunters who undertake missions where swift movement and surprise attacks are important.
Developers add, “standing out in battle is important. Kings and chiefs, although drawn from elite lineages, are elected, making their continuation of heroic traditions essential in uniting the tribes.”
The Suebi are very good at dealing with other barbarian tribes via diplomats, and they also have an edge when it comes to fighting smaller local powers.
Under the right leadership, the Suebi have the potential to unite for a single purpose, and Britannia, Gaul, and Iberia could easily be swept away under the weight of their numbers.
The downside is that the faction will face more unrest from civilized people that are conquered, which means maintaining a large empire will be more difficult.
Total War: Rome 2 will be launched only on the PC during the fall of this year.