Total War: ROME II - Nomadic Tribes Culture Pack is a strategy expansion for the PC game Total War: ROME II. It adds a new playable culture with three factions that emphasize mounted warfare, rapid army assembly, and raiding mechanics drawn from steppe traditions.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around managing nomadic settlements on the campaign map while commanding cavalry-heavy armies in battles. Players recruit units through expanded home province slots and benefit from reduced cavalry costs via the Nomadic Horde military tradition. This tradition also extends army movement range and boosts morale during fights in enemy lands. Raiding generates extra income compared with other factions, and livestock herding forms the base of food and revenue systems.
Each faction receives tailored traits. The Roxolani earn wealth from migrant trade and fight with greater strength on foreign soil. The Royal Scythians gain income from craftsmanship and excel with bows. The Massagetae defend their territory more effectively and profit from animal husbandry. All three share cultural bonuses to recruitment speed and looting efficiency. Research occurs through specialized tents and conclaves that accelerate technology development, while religious structures dedicated to steppe gods provide targeted improvements to cavalry performance, agent effectiveness, and public order.
Settlements feature tent and yurt chains instead of stone buildings. The food chain starts with Sheep Pens and advances through Weaver and Yurt Maker structures. A separate Camp chain upgrades from Nomad Camp to Wagon Camp and Royal Camp, increasing livestock income. Stables progress from Wild Horses to Large Herd and Royal Herd, supporting the heavy reliance on mounted units. The religious chain culminates in the Kurgan Field wonder, which enhances cultural influence and livestock revenue.
Game Modes
Players access the new factions in single-player and multiplayer campaigns. Custom battles and multiplayer battles also support the full roster of nomadic units. Campaign objectives include unique military, economic, and cultural victory conditions plus bonus goals tied to steppe history. Faction-specific events and dilemmas appear during play.
Battles highlight peerless horsemen and archers. Melee, bow, javelin, and spear cavalry form the core of every army, with limited infantry options. The Massagetae roster focuses on armored units such as Saka Noble Armoured Lancers, Saka Cataphracts, and Saka Cataphract Horse Archers. The Roxolani emphasize close combat through Sarmatian Royal Lancers, Sarmatian Riders, and Sarmatian Horsemen. The Royal Scythians prioritize ranged attacks with Royal Horse Archers and Scythian Royal Skirmishers.
Factions and Military Traditions
The Royal Scythians represent the elite of nomad society, combining martial skill with a taste for gold and ornate equipment. The Massagetae operate as a confederation of fierce warriors whose history includes defeating Cyrus the Great. The Roxolani rise as the Scythians weaken, viewing settled empires as sources of wealth to be seized from horseback.
These factions operate under the Nomadic Horde tradition, which favors speed and cavalry recruitment. Their independence grants extra recruitment capacity in home provinces and superior raiding returns. Victory conditions diverge from standard sets, requiring players to balance conquest with economic growth from herding and trade.
Is It Worth Playing?
The pack delivers a cavalry-centric playstyle suited to players who enjoy rapid strikes and steppe-themed armies within Total War: ROME II campaigns. It provides distinct building chains, research paths, and unit rosters that differ from the base game factions. Those seeking varied campaign experiences on the PC version of the strategy title may find value in the three new options and their associated mechanics.
Support for the content remains available through the established single-player and multiplayer systems of the base game. The expansion integrates directly into existing campaign and battle modes without requiring additional purchases beyond the pack itself.
