As you know, Rome is the most important (and also the most powerful) faction in the world of Rome: Total War, that's why it needs one special page to acquaint you with it.


After the helpful and informative tutorial campaign, you can tackle the main imperial campaign. You play as one of three powerful Roman families - the Julii, the Brutii, or the Scipii. As all three factions are Roman, there's literally no difference between them in terms of units and building types, though they do have different responsibilities.
Julii Faction
	Rome is a place where tradition and history count much. The legends of the citys founding are important, and the powerful patrician families are directly descended from the first followers of Romulus. These herois ctimes demanded harsh, decisive action, and this is a tradition that the often-conservative Romans have maintained to this day. The Romans, including the Julii family, are people for whom politics and warfare are all or nothing affairs. The Fates have not always been kind to the Julii. They are a patrician family, but one whose star has not always been in the ascendant. The family's fortunes have declined and risen over the centuries, so much so that they may be considered vaguely parvenu: upstairs newly arrived to wealth, power and authority. With the loss of position and status in the past, the other powerful factions of Rome look down (if only ever so slightly) on these "new men" of ROme. The Julii have had to adjust to the realities of politics and power, and have cultivated their popularity with the common people. The rule of Rome may lie with the Senate for now, but the Julii know that the people also have a say in the government. The Senate and the patrician classes need the plebeians to at least go along with their actions.
Brutii Faction
	The foundation of Rome is shrouded in legend. Legend has it, for example, that the Romans can trace their ancestry back to Aeneus, the hero who escaped from the sack of Troy. The founding of Rome also involves violence and murder. Viewed in a certain light, much of subsequent Roman history can be seen as a continuation of those agressive ways. Since this time, the Romans have kept fine traditions of warfare and high-stakes (or even murderous) politics. The Brutii know all about Roman politics. The founding of the Republic or Rome involves them closely, as they have been at the heart of the Republic for centuries and can even claim to have the "Father of the Republic" in their family. Lucius Junius Brutus pretended to be an idiot for years to avoid being killed by Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (Tarquin), the last King of Rome, and then managed to lead his people in expelling the hated king after the rape of Lucreca. Casting aside his idiot persona, he became one of the first praetors, a ruling office of the patrician class established before the consulship. Lucius Junius Brutus even had his own sons executed for plotting to restore the Tarquins to power...That's power politics played out to the bitter end. Membership of the ptrician class is what sets the Brutii apart from other Roman factions. They are counted among the old families of Rome, those related by blood, marriage or adoption to the founders. These are people who have always been important within the social hierarchy, people who would expect to have authority as a matter of course. This is why they now have control of southern Italy. The Brutii would not have any expectations of power, however, if they had not been able to deliver the political and military skills that Rome requires. but now, perhaps, with Rome surrounded by enemies within and without, there is a chance to secure ultimate power, to become the new Imperators of a Roman Republic that extends throughout the known world.
Scipii Faction
	The city of Rome had a violent foundation, one that mirrors much of the political and military infighting that happens between the great families of Rome. Romulus murdered Remus for jumping over the walls of the city, and then named himself King and renamed the city in his own honour. The patrician families of Rome claim descent from the adventurers, exlies and warriors Romulus recruited to help establish his city. The Scipii should be counted among those ancient bloodlines. They are not, perhaps, of quite the first rank, although this in itself means that they are keen to prove themselves equal to any Romans, but they are certainly among the optimates, the aristocracy of the city, and have been for many generations. They are important people, used to the privileges of rank and the usages of power, both to further Rome's ambitions and that of their own family. They have also produced able politicians and generals - the two go hand-in-hand in Rome, as political success rarely comes without success on the battlefield. They are, however, unusual in a couple of respects for a Roman family of the old ways. Firstly, they are extravagantly wealthy. Wealth is one thing, and this always brings power with it, but their use of wealth has sometimes surprised more conservative Romans (and Romans are nothing if not conservative). The Scipii also have a taste for Greek learning and cultutre, again something that surprises and concerns the conservative elements. Nevertheless, despite these un-Roman ways, the Scipii also have a the political skills and military competence to make their family greatest in Rome, and possibly rulers of the known world. They may only directly control a couple of provinces in Italy and Sicily, but their ambitions are boundless...and realistic.
There are already various reviews of Rome: Total War, but just in case you haven't read one. Thousands (in fact, up to 10,000) of individual soldiers will be rendered on the screen during a battle (each one with a different - desynchronised - animation, if you turn that option on), but this time they're rendered in full 3D with good graphics. You're no longer detached from the action: you can really zoom down in there and see two guys fighting, the elephants' charge resulting in a shower of bodies of whatever unit they ran into, archers firing flaming missiles...
You can unlock all playable factions by successfully completing an Imperial Campaign (Victory Condition: take and hold 50 provinces and Rome) or a short term Imperial Campaign (be the first to hold 15 provinces and Rome). The unlockable factions are: Egypt, The Seleucid Empire, Carthage, Parthia, Gaul, Germania, Britannia, and The Greek Cities (but in fact you can play all of them except the Rebels - go to the Modding page for that). If you can't wait to use one of those faction, you can unlock them by defeating the faction you want during a campaign, in order to unlock it as a playable side. These factions are worth unlocking, because they have access to unique units in the game, including chariots, my personal favorite War Elephant. If you have a vast army, you can choose which faction you want to annihilate. But it?s important to do the Senate Mission, for further details visit the Senate Missions page.