Home Gaming Total War: Rome II Caesar in Gaul expansion announced

Total War: Rome II Caesar in Gaul expansion announced

2 min read
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Total War Rome 2 Gaul (8)

Hail Caesar! Strategy games may be fewer in number these days, but what few there are happen to pretty damn good. Take Total War: Rome II, which scratches several itches with various formations and tactics. The game has done pretty well, and it looks like Rome will be expanding soon.

Titled Caesar in Gaul, the expansion will see the Roman emperor wage war on ye olde France. According to Sega and Creative Assembly, Caesar in Gaul will have more detailed maps of Gaul and Brittania and four playable factions such as:

  • The Gallic Averni
  • The Germanic Suebi
  • Rome
  • The Belgic Nervii

“We’ve released a number of DLC packs and free content updates for Rome II, but this is our most substantial so far”, said Mike Simpson, Creative Director of the Total War series on the press release.

We’ve always planned to focus more closely on some of the key conflicts of the ancient world, and Caesar’s war in Gaul is the ideal place to start. We’ve also improved the game considerably since launch, and that process continues as we move onto substantial feature and gameplay improvements.

There’s no word yet if the campaign will culminate in all of Gaul being conquered, save for one village on the Gallic coast populated with indomitable warriors who drink a magic potion that gives them frightening strength, especially when some fat guy starts whacking your Roman legions with a menhir.

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But the following features will be making their way into the expansion, which I’ve copied and pasted below:

New campaign map: The expanded map of Gaul and southern Britannia brings 18 provinces to conquer, fully detailed with resources, settlements, capitals, and new environmental effects.
Greater focus on characters: Play through the campaign with faction-leading avatars such as Caesar and Vercingetorix.

24 turns per year & seasons: A shorter campaign timespan (58-51BC) means each in-game year is split into more turns. As the calendar changes, so do the seasons, bringing seasonal gameplay effects and stunning visual alterations.

New mid-game challenge mechanics: Caesar in Gaul replaces Rome II’s civil war with different, conflict-appropriate mechanics. As barbarian players progress, they’ll begin to feel the mailed fist of Rome as heavy intervention forces are sent to Gaul. Likewise, Roman players will see the tribes rebelling and forming alliances.

Compact, focussed multiplayer campaign: With a tighter geographic scope and faction-roster, 2-player campaigns are more focussed and less time-consuming than the full Rome II campaign.
New historical battle: Surrounded and outnumbered, take on the role of Caesar as he fights the last desperate, decisive engagement of the Gallic War: the battle of Alesia.

New Total War: Rome II playable factions: Alongside the factions playable in Caesar in Gaul, several playable factions are also unlocked in the full Rome II campaign: the Nervii, the Boii and the Galatians.

New units: A raft of new battlefield units is unlocked for the Boii, the Galatians, the Nervii and the Gallic tribes, plus new auxiliary and mercenary units.

Caesar in Gaul is out on December 12, and he would really appreciate it if you can lay down your arms next to his feet, instead of on top of them this time.

Last Updated: December 4, 2013

46 Comments

  1. But do you get Asterix and Obelix fighting against you… if yes… then you automatically lose 😛

    Reply

    • Rock789

      December 4, 2013 at 08:44

      Man, I’d love a proper Asterix & Obelix game again… That would be shweet!

      Reply

      • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

        December 4, 2013 at 08:46

        Agreed, I haven’t played an Asterix and Obelix game for a LONG time

        Reply

      • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

        December 4, 2013 at 08:48

        also… DUM… DUM DUM DUM… DUM DUM DUM… DUM DUM DUUUUUUUUMMMMM

        Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 4, 2013 at 08:55

        SMACKSMACKSMACK pafpafpafpaf

        So much win!

        Reply

      • Kromas

        December 4, 2013 at 08:55

        The used to be an old arcade game (if you don’t know what an arcade is you wouldn’t know who Asterix is 😛 ) that was quite fun.

        Reply

        • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

          December 4, 2013 at 08:56

          That was the last one I played… on an emulator… lol

          Reply

        • Rock789

          December 4, 2013 at 09:17

          Yup… Still have that on emulator, me thinks. Awesome game! Why can’t they bring something like that back?

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 4, 2013 at 08:58

        They can make it like Dynasty Warriors only you fight Romans

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief of Souls

      December 4, 2013 at 08:54

      Indeed

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief of Souls

    December 4, 2013 at 08:57

    BUT ONE VILLAGE IS STILL HOLDING OUT TO THE INVADERS!!!

    Reply

    • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

      December 4, 2013 at 08:57

      I think I need to Getafix of Asterix and Obelix again… need to find my rom and emu….

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 4, 2013 at 08:58

        That would be Fulliautomatix and not very Unhygienix

        Reply

        • Hendrik

          December 4, 2013 at 10:00

          He’s on a roll!

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief of Souls

            December 4, 2013 at 10:02

            I’m just showing off my Vitalstatistix

          • Hendrik

            December 4, 2013 at 10:16

            Okay dude, jy won! Btw, my favourite name in Asterix is that guy in Laurel Wreath who is like the chief of the kitchen, Goldendelicious!!

          • Admiral Chief of Souls

            December 4, 2013 at 10:20

            There is also a Goldenslumbus, I think he was a decurion in Asterix and the Banquet, once they smacked him unconscious, sang a little “Goldenslumbus” lullabye!

          • Hendrik

            December 4, 2013 at 10:22

            There was also a Crismus Bonus in asterix the Gaul. O my word, there should be like a Asterix and Obelix exam!

          • Admiral Chief of Souls

            December 4, 2013 at 10:35

            LOL, agreed!

  3. Admiral Chief of Souls

    December 4, 2013 at 08:59

    BOOOOM right in my childhood. Ahhh, what sweet memories

    Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    December 4, 2013 at 09:00

    Getafix. Get a fix. The man who dopes the whole village with drugs.

    Reply

  5. Admiral Chief of Souls

    December 4, 2013 at 09:02

    WHAT DO YOU MEAN ALESIA???? NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHERE ALESIA IS!!! SO THERE!

    Reply

    • Hendrik

      December 4, 2013 at 10:00

      HAHAHAH!!! Brilliant! You sir, are the man! I shall call you Chief Vitalstatistix from now on

      Reply

  6. Admiral Chief of Souls

    December 4, 2013 at 09:04

    What was everyone’s favourite Asterix book?
    I’d have to say all of them, but Asterix in Britain has just sooo much lulz!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 4, 2013 at 09:06

      The Twelve Tasks of Asterix

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 4, 2013 at 09:06

        Aye, also epic one that!

        Reply

      • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

        December 4, 2013 at 09:13

        That would be my favourite one

        Reply

    • Hendrik

      December 4, 2013 at 09:59

      Obelix and Co, or Asterix and the Goths.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 4, 2013 at 10:01

        Also one of my top one! Obelix an Co. You savvy?

        Reply

        • Hendrik

          December 4, 2013 at 10:02

          We’ll discuss it over a working lunch

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief of Souls

            December 4, 2013 at 10:05

            Heap big savvy

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      December 4, 2013 at 10:18

      Asterix and the big fight

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief of Souls

        December 4, 2013 at 10:19

        Cassius Ceramix LOOOOL

        Reply

  7. Admiral Chief of Souls

    December 4, 2013 at 09:12

    OBELIX IS NOT FAT!!!

    Reply

    • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

      December 4, 2013 at 09:13

      He’s just big boned… like Cartman… just better

      Reply

  8. TiMsTeR1033

    December 4, 2013 at 09:25

    Bloody hell those ARMIES! I suddenly want this game! RAGE WAR!!

    Reply

    • Vampyric Squirrel of the Sith

      December 4, 2013 at 09:28

      The armies look so awesome on this game, and you can have MASSIVE armies… the epicness is insane

      Reply

      • TiMsTeR1033

        December 4, 2013 at 09:28

        is it MP?

        Reply

      • No Longer SIR Twakkus

        December 4, 2013 at 09:52

        Do you have Rome 2? I heard there was a lot of problems during launch… buggy AI, bad economy and small unit count. I love TW series but I am holding off until all the bugs have been fixed.

        Reply

        • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

          December 4, 2013 at 10:09

          All the bugs have not yet been fixed. But they’ve come a hell of a long way to fixing it. I’m happy with the game. I was not happy with the game at launch.

          It’s still really superficial at some levels. I.e. generals (die too quickly and you never invest much in them anyway) and internal politics from Rome I is gone (there is none to speak of in Rome II besides the annoying civil war).

          *edit: Unit counts and AI have had a lot of work done to them and are better. Graphics issues still abound for me (GPU switching issues via laptop).

          Reply

          • No Longer SIR Twakkus

            December 4, 2013 at 10:50

            Good to hear it is moving forward. Sounded like a terrible game when it released. Dont understand how they could have stumbled so much with Shogun 2 being so successful? Only conclusion I could make is SEGA forcing them to release the game before it was ready. But will be definitely be picking it up on the next steam sale.

          • SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

            December 4, 2013 at 10:58

            It was clearly rushed and in many many places half arsed. I love the series, and even I was disappointed by it at release. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still the TW series. So everything you love is still there. But the soul from Rome I was missing. It just wasn’t better than Rome I. I can only describe it as being grander than Rome I. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just could have been so much more.

            But it’s back on the path to greatness now. I’m still losing countless hours to my playthroughs. And the community mods are great. Just increasing turns to 2 per year (as opposed to 1 per year) makes you care about generals more. Some mods even make it 4 per year, which gives you so much more time to plan and build an empire the way you want to. Not the rushed way the game sometimes forces you to.

            It is beautiful. And if you can pick it up in a sale, do it. It will be well worth your wait. Marching your Spartans into Egypt? Best. Feeling. Ever. Destroying the Seleucid Empire as Egypt? Cannot describe the satisfaction.

          • No Longer SIR Twakkus

            December 4, 2013 at 12:21

            Awesome man! I am a TW groupie so hearing this makes me very happy. Will definitely be picking it up next sale!

  9. SargonTheGreatPandaOfAkkad

    December 4, 2013 at 10:11

    “• Greater focus on characters: Play through the campaign with faction-leading avatars such as Caesar and Vercingetorix.”

    So you mean any fous on characters, then? Cause there is currently zero focus on characters in Rome II. 😛

    Reply

  10. Brady miaau

    December 5, 2013 at 09:12

    Ok, great. But is the campaign more playable now?

    Slow, slow, slow, slow! And my hardware is fairly decent. I have not tried in over a month.

    Reply

    • Iblis Bane

      December 6, 2013 at 12:15

      Patch 7 went live recently, with some framerate fixes, so you might see an improvement. I’m pretty happy overall, although I should really have waited for the sale. (It’s currently 50% off on Steam IIRC.) The release of the Nomadic Tribes DLC pushed me into getting it…couldn’t wait to cover the steppes with hordes of Scythian Horse Archers. Still at least 2 patches to come as well, so I’m holding off on modding it for now for fear of later mod compatibility issues.

      Reply

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