The first edition of 0 A.D. will allow the player to control any of six ancient civilisations from the pre-common era. Each culture will be represented at the peak of its civilisation, somewhere along the timeline of 500 B.C. to 1 B.C.
Though a momentous task, we are working to ensure that each culture provides a unique yet balanced gameplay experience. Each civilisation will have a unique set of buildings and units, and have notable strengths and weaknesses that must be learned and exploited by the player to be used effectively.- The Roman Republic: The great conquering imperial powerhouse that swept across Europe, the western shores of the Mediterranean and North Africa in its early days as a republic. The Romans are notable for their regimented military, powerful siege engines, broad range of naval vessels, politics, and adaptation to change.
- The Carthaginian Empire: will have the strongest navy in the game; the fiercest contendors on the high seas. They were also masters of naval trade, extending their trade routes even beyond the pillars of Hercules and circumnavigating Africa. They deployed towered War Elephants on the battlefield to fearsome effect, and had defensive walls so strong, they were never breached.
- The Celtic Tribes: The Britons and Gauls are the antithesis of the rigid organisation of Rome. A fierce horde of woad-painted Celtic warriors charging across the plains was a fearsome sight. They considered the bow and other ranged arms to be a weapon of cowards, and excel in hand-to-hand combat. Not known for their machines of war, they have minimal navy and siege. They construct mostly wooden buildings, which are fast and inexpensive to construct, though far less robust than their stone counterparts.
- The Hellenic States: Controlling the representatives from the Hellenic region, the player has the power of Sparta, Athens and Macedonia at his command. As the forebearers of philosophy, democracy, geometry, and hellenistic art and architecture, they are considered to be civic minded. However, do not discount the strength of their stone structures, the resolve of a hoplite in phalanx formation, or their historic ability to steal victory against seemingly insurmountable odds.
- The Iberian Tribes: The Iberians were fathers of the art of guerilla warfare, capable of lightning strikes against an opponent and withdrawing before he can mass an offensive. Their foot units are some of the fastest and most rapid-firing in the game, particularly their Balearic Slingers. A number of their ranged units also have the unique ability to fire flaming missiles. Toledo steel grants them superior metal weaponry.
- The Persian Empire: The Persian Empire is the most cosmopolitan civilisation, levying a wide variety of troops from their vassal satrapies. Their infantry are weak and poorly-equipped, little more than cannon fodder, but can be massed in vast numbers. They have the strongest (though most expensive) cavalry in the game, and are the only civilisation that features all forms of cavalry, including the fearsome cavalry archer. Their cavalry is equally exotic, including camelry, mahout elephants, and scythed chariots. They are known for their lavish wealth, grand architecture and strong trade empire through the Silk Road.
In future Expansion Packs, we hope to expand the number of available cultures by incorporating additional civilisations from 1 A.D. to 500 A.D. So expect this section to grow after 0 A.D. is released! The list will not be finalised until the first edition has gone gold, but possible civilisations include the Germanics, Vandals, Sarmatians, Late Rome, Imperial Rome or Eastern Rome, Saxons, Parthians, Huns, Dacians, Goths. |
