Civilization: Principate Romans news

These guys are based on 1st and 2nd century Roman Empire, the Principate era, when the emperor was considered the 'First Citizen.' It was later in the Dominate era when the emperor was considered 'Lord.' The army and architecture of this time is mostly Italic and Greek inspired, though they start to receive Eastern-style units, like Syrian Auxiliary Archers.

Summary

The Romans controlled one of the largest empires of the ancient world, stretching at its peak from southern Scotland to the Sahara Desert, and containing between 60 million and 80 million inhabitants, one quarter of the Earth's population at that time. Rome also remained one of the strongest nations on earth for almost 800 years. The Romans were the supreme builders of the ancient world, excelled at siege warfare, and had an exquisite army and efficient navy.

Team Bonus

Client-States

• Allies gain the protection of Rome by giving a +10% attack bonus to allied Roman units within their territory.

Civ Bonuses and Features

Testudo Formation

• The Romans commonly used the Testudo or 'turtle' formation for defense: Legionaries were formed into compact squares with twelve men on each side, standing so close together that their shields overlapped like fish scales.
• Roman infantry can form a Testudo, with very great armor protection but slow speed and low defensive attack capability.

Imperial Superpower

• Imperial Phase grants +50% Civic Center radius increase instead of the usual +25% increase for other factions.

Centurio

• Roman Legionary Swordsmen gain an extra 4th rank, that of Centurion, with champion-level stats and abilities.

Professional Army

• Since the Roman Empire of this age had a 100% professional army, the infantry of the Principate Romans cannot gather resources, but they can build military buildings, like defense towers, barracks, and fortresses.
• Gathering resources is performed by Citizens and Slaves (see 'Notable Units').

Some Unique Technologies

Lorica Segmentata

• Melee Infantry +2 hack armor

Brick-Faced Concrete

• Structures -20% cost.

City Watchmen

• The Cohortes Vigilum tech lets buildings automatically repair by +1hp/sec.

Greco-Roman Architecture

• Structures +20% health.

Slave Quarters

200 200

• Slaves cost 0 population.

Heroes

Octavian Augustus

• The first Roman emperor, though he always pretended to 'restore the Republic' even unto his death. Octavian, or 'Augustus', put an end to 50 years of civil war and ushered in an era today we call 'Pax Romana,' or 'The Roman Peace', which lasted for over a century.
• "Pax Romana" aura

Titus Flavius

• Titus conquered Judea and burnt the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. Later, he became emperor upon his father's death and quickly became a beloved ruler. When Mount Vesuvius erupted during his reign and destroyed Pompeii, Titus used his own money to help the survivors of the disaster recover. He is also reknown as the builder of the famed Roman Colosseum.
• "Benefaction" aura

Trajan Augustus

• The greatest expansionist emperor of the Roman Empire. Trajan conquered the Dacians, beat back the Germans, and nearly conquered all of the Parthian Empire before having to turn back due to old age.
• "Optimus Princeps" aura

Notable Units

Roman Citizen (Civis Romanum)

50 2

• Trained at Civic Center
• Support Citizen
• Builds civic and economic buildings, gathers resources (but not very well). Very good at building.
• Because of greater health and great aura effect, cost 2 pop.
• "Slave Ownership" aura: Nearby slaves gather +25% faster. Range: 15 meters.

Male Slave (Servus)

25 25 1

• Trained at Storehouse
• Support Slave
• Gathers only. Good at mining and dying.

Female Slave (Serva)

25 25 1

• Trained at Farmstead
• Support Slave
• Gathers only. Good at farming, foraging, and dying.

Legionary Swordsman (Legionarius)

• Trained at Legionary Barracks
• Sword Infantry
• 4th rank to Centurion

Legionary Guardsman (Lanciarius)

• Trained at Legionary Barracks
• Javelin Infantry
• Starts at Elite rank (like how Triarius is trained at Elite rank for Republican Romans), so is more expensive than other Javelin Infantry.

Auxiliary Spearman

• Trained at Auxiliary Barracks
• Spear Infantry
• All Auxiliary units are treated as Mercenaries, but cost 1 pop.

Syrian Auxiliary Archer

• Trained at Auxiliary Barracks
• Acher Infantry
• All Auxiliary units are treated as Mercenaries, but cost 1 pop.
• Has greater armor than other Archer Infantry, so is more expensive

Batavian Cavalry

• Trained at Auxiliary Barracks
• Spear Cavalry
• All Auxiliary units are treated as Mercenaries, but cost 1 pop.

Auxiliary Scout Cavalry

• Trained at Auxiliary Barracks
• Javelin Cavalry
• All Auxiliary units are treated as Mercenaries, but cost 1 pop.

Evocati Officer (Evocatus Praefectus)

• Trained at Fortress and Army Camp
• Champion Sword Infantry

Praetorian Cavalry

• Trained at Fortress and Army Camp
• Champion Sword Cavalry

Onager Catapult

• Built in the field by soldiers (even in enemy territory) after researching Field Artillery
• Stone Thrower siege weapon
• "Wild Ass" special tech gives the Onager greater power, but reduces health for each stone throw

Notable Buildings

Triumphal Arch (Arcus Triumphalis)

• The Triumphal Arch is required in order to unlock City Phase
• Civic buildings resist capture better while it exists

Temple of Vesta

• The Temple of Vesta is required in order to unlock Town Phase
• Greatly increase the capture resistance of nearby structures and health of nearby units.

Tenement (Insula)

• The Insula (tenement) replaces the Domus (house) from the Republican era. It is larger and gives 25 population instead of 10 and has double health. Consequently, it also almost costs twice as much and takes longer to build.

Army Camp

• Sometimes it was a temporary camp built facing the route by which the army is to march, other times a defensive or offensive (for sieges) structure. Within the Praetorian gate, which should either front the east or the enemy, the tents of the first centuries or cohorts are pitched, and the dracos (ensigns of cohorts) and other ensigns planted. The Decumane gate is directly opposite to the Praetorian in the rear of the camp, and through this the soldiers are conducted to the place appointed for punishment or execution. It has a turf wall, and it's surrounded by a canal filled with water whenever possible for extra defense. Many towns started up as bigger military camps to evolve to more complicated cities.
• Train soldiers and siege weapons from neutral or enemy territory.

Siege Walls

• Turf and wood walls built by legionaries during sieges. Can be built in neutral and enemy territory to strangle enemy towns
• Hadrian's Wall technology upgrades them to stone

Auxiliary Barracks

• Train Auxiliary unit, such as Syrian Archer and Batavian Cavalry. Auxiliaries are like mercenaries (train fast, cost metal instead of food, train limit of 30), but their train limit is increased by 10 for every mercenary camp captured by the player.

Wonder

• Amphitheatrum Flavium, aka The Colosseum.