14 DAY TRIAL // The faction list of the new Total War: Attila continues to expand, as it has been revealed that the Ostrogoths and the Franks will also be part of the game, with each choice designed to give players an interesting set of strategic options and an experience that’s different from the classic one linked to either the Romans or the Huns.
The Ostrogoths, who started life under the name Greuthungi according to the official site, are at this point in history a shadow of their former selves, after having to face the power of the invading barbarian hordes, and they now live on the edges of the Empire and pull off jobs as mercenaries.
The developer state that “The Ostrogoths’ long relationship with Roman culture, civic and military matters lends them much credence, to the point where they face little resistance from the local populace when occupying Roman territories. In such circumstances, they also have access to Roman military assets to strengthen their numbers.”
The Franks are situated in the lower Rhine region and are led by Faramund, who is trying to choose between attacking Roman assets or trying to find new territory to expand to, while also respecting the alliances he has at the start of Total War: Attila.
The confederation of tribes will ultimately become one of the major power players in Western Europe and will lead to the creation of modern France after centuries, but gamers will have to carefully maneuver them in order to bypass their initial challenges.
The Franks are capable warriors, and in Total War: Attila, they will be able to grow in ferocity as more of them fall on the battlefield.
The Western Roman Empire is also part of the game, weak at first both militarily and financially, and gamers will have to make some tough decisions in order to make it a powerful force once more.
Attila is not Barbarian Invasion
Total War: Attila is a standalone title which uses the core engine that also powered Rome 2 but with a series of changes designed to fit the new period.
The fact that barbarians are invading and the Roman Empire is collapsing allows The Creative Assembly to do some interesting things with the impact of disease and climate change and with city abandonment mechanics.
The combat section of the strategy title will also be enhanced with a new system for fire, which can affect entire units and cause them to flee.
The AI is also supposed to perform better than in Rome 2, especially when it comes to siege battles.
Total War: Attila will be offered only on the PC and will be launched in 2015.
