The Romans waging war against the Carthaginians during the Punic Wars. Notice the distinct Corinthian architecture featured only in civilizations that are exclusive to Rise of Rome.
The Romans are primarily an offensive civilization and can also make a good defensive civilization as well due to the cheaper cost of building infrastructure. With the Logistics technology in the Bronze Age, the Romans can implement a powerful rush strategy, swarming the enemy and closing in with at most 100 swordsmen. Although they produce, thanks to a combination of the attack speed bonus as well as access to Chain Mail Infantry, the best Legionaries in the game (fully upgraded even better than the Choson Legion despite its 240 HP), the player cannot rely on them too heavily since they are only effective against a certain type of units and can be easily countered by other Iron Age units. A combined assault of mixed units must be implemented in order to ensure a true military victory.
The Romans are one of a few civilizations that work well in both land and water maps since they have full access to Iron Age technologies found at the Dock. One major drawback is that they lack crucial upgrades found at the Stable and the Archery Range, making them ineffective at quick rushes. The best cavalry they can train is the Scythe Chariot while the best archer they can produce is the Improved Bowman. Other than these drawbacks, the Romans are still considered one of the best civilizations available in the game since their civilization bonuses are effective from the Stone Age to the Iron Age. This makes the Romans only one of a few civilizations that are effective in both random map and the Deathmatch mode of the game. Usually, most civilizations in the game are powerful in only one game mode and weaker in the other, however, just like the Yamato, the Romans are an exception to this.
If the computer controls this civilization on deathmatch settings with a sufficient amount of surplus resources, their entire army will consist of Legionaries, Helepolises and Heavy Catapults. They may occasionally train Priests or Scythe Chariots. On random map settings, they will almost exclusively produce mass swordsmen supported by siege units/priests, after initially training Axemen during the Tool Age.
Strengths and Weaknesses[]
Strengths[]
- They produce the finest infantry from the Barracks, having the strongest Legions in the game.
- Romans can begin to flex their muscles once they reach the Bronze Age.
- Powerful Iron Age Technologies are open to them.
- Their offensive capabilities progress faster as the game progresses.
- Cheaper buildings and towers allow for a more efficient economy.
Weaknesses[]
- Lack Tower upgrades beyond the Sentry Tower.
- Their defensive position weakens once Iron Age is reached.
- Lack crucial upgrades found in the Temple.
- Cannot train powerful units at the Archery Range.
(The third weakness applies for range and conversion speed, otherwise they are one of the strongest civilizations priest-wise. Also, if they convert priests of a civilization with Afterlife available and researched, the range penalty doesn't apply.)
