Historical Faction Members

[Spartan198]

I'm curious - how many of you guys and gals have ever run upon faction members (either yours or others) bearing historical names? These are who I've found in my campaigns to far:
Hannibal Barca - Rebel faction member I bribed during my first Punic campaign
Hamilcar Barca - Numidian family member I tried unsuccessfully to bribe during said campaign (edit: ran into who I believe is this individual again and may have misread,actual name possibly being "Himilcar",not "Hamilcar",and henceforth NOT historical)
Gaius Octavius - My faction leader in my current Julii campaign
Alexander the Great - Earned this nickname for my conquest of the entire southern Mediterranean during my last Seleucid campaign :2thumbsup:
Gaius Marius - Faction heir alongside Gaius Octavius in my current Julii campaign.

I'm just curious as to how many of you all have encountered anyone bearing historical names.

[Marcus Furius Camillus]

Lucius Ahaenobarbus ( NERO ! )- adopted faction member during Julii campaign

Gaius Verres - adopted faction member during Julii campaign

[Spartan198]

It's great when you can conquer a region with the general who historically did so.

[Quirinus]

Whoa...... it would be cool to encounter Mithradates for Pontus or something.

I encountered Gaius Octavius too, when I was playing the Carthagenians. Corrupt bastard, though, I bribed him and promptly sent him to spearhead the invasion of Italy. ~:D

Oh, and I've encountered Vercingatorix once, I think, as a captain for Gaul.

Antiochus, the faction leader for the Seleucids, was a real person though-- became king about 11 years before the start of the game at the assassination of his father, the eponymous Seleucus.

[Spartan198]

I've actually run into Vercingetorix as a captain several times,but it's possible it could just be a lowly soldier bearing the name. The name Alexander is common to the Hellenic factions,after all. And I actually had the same problem with Octavius as you,but I edited his traits to make him Augustus Pre-born! :laugh4:

[Paradox]

I remember running into Pyrrhus against the Seleucids, I don't think he was the faction leader though.

[Paradox]

Hannibal Barca - Rebel faction member I bribed during my first Punic campaign
Sorry for the double post, but I can see why they made Hannibal Barca a Rebel Faction Leader instead of a Carthaginian, it's because historically, his homeland deserted him and he received no reinforcements but still advanced onto Rome.

[Telys]

I was playing a greek campaign last night and ran across a few historical name. Though not in the right time. I had a diplomat name Ephialtes, another diplomat named Aristotle, And a General named Menelaos of Sparta.

[Spartan198]

Don't sweat double post,no big deal. Anyhow,my "hiring" of a rebel Hannibal Barca occured in the Sahara region a few turns after I'd annexed Numidia's last settlement,so it's possible he could have been a Numidian family member.

[Paradox]

Well, according to the files, "Hannibal Barca" and even his brother are listed as one of the Carthaginian names you randomly get, the game would've been better if you started with Hannibal.

I have a question, does Gaius Julius Caesar appear at some point in the game? Because I've seen Gaius Cornelius Scipio many times.

[Quirinus]

Don't they only list the two names, without the cognomen? Meaning, it should be only 'Gaius Julius', shouldn't it?

By the way, what files would you check for a list of the possible names?

[Paradox]

There's a bunch of middle names listed in the files.

Program Files > The Creative Assembly (or Activision) > Rome - Total War > Data > ???

You'll find it on one of the "desc_...." files.

[Quirinus]

Aiee.... it must be because mine is v1.3, I can't see any middle names, neitehr 'Hannibal' is in the Numidian name list, nor do Numidians have surnames. :S Also, there is, mysteriously, a list for a faction called 'Illyria'.

It's descr_names, right?

[Paradox]

Yes, that's right. Don't search for Hannibal in Numidia, search for it in the Carthage section, you'll find many familiar names.

[Barbarian]

If I remember right, I once bribed Vercingetorix as Brutii, and he got a high seat in the Senate :beam:

Have met tons of historical characters. Out of those, who have not been mentioned I meet briton captain Budic often and in barbarian invasion huns always get Attila as one of their family members.

PS: Play until the middle of the first century BC, maybe a character named Gaius Julius Ceasar will appear :2thumbsup:

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

I have also had Hannibal Barca, as a rebel. Seems to be fairly common.:beam:

Funniest I had, was Spurius Maelius (guy who tried to overthrow the Republic) as the Julii, the next candidate for marriage was Ahala (the guy that killed him).:2thumbsup: Sadly though this Ahala was Julianus rather than Servilius.

I also had a Gaius Julius, who was useless, and Publius Ventidius who defended Asia minor against the Ptolmeys rather than the Parthians.

[Spartan198]

If I remember right, I once bribed Vercingetorix as Brutii, and he got a high seat in the Senate :beam:

Have met tons of historical characters. Out of those, who have not been mentioned I meet briton captain Budic often and in barbarian invasion huns always get Attila as one of their family members.

PS: Play until the middle of the first century BC, maybe a character named Gaius Julius Ceasar will appear :2thumbsup:
I made a copy of the descr_names file and have searched it over numerous times,but the name "Caesar" doesn't seem to be present,so as much as we would like that to happen,I doubt it will. But the furthest I've played is only to about 127 BC,though,so you never know who'll show up. I never exactly expected to have Hannibal Barca himself leading Carthage!

P.S. - Just yesterday I bribed Marcus Antonius from the defunct Brutii. Then I sent him to govern Alexandria,while my faction leader,Gaius Octavius (aka Augustus pre-born) rules in Rome!

Edit - I wonder if it would be possible to modify the file and add it?

[Spartan198]

Aiee.... it must be because mine is v1.3, I can't see any middle names, neitehr 'Hannibal' is in the Numidian name list, nor do Numidians have surnames. :S Also, there is, mysteriously, a list for a faction called 'Illyria'.

It's descr_names, right?
Yeah,Ive seen the "Illyria" list,too. Don't quite remember for sure if any of the names appeared in the campaign. The only Illyrians to spawn are Illyrian mercenary skirmisher units,but my armies are always packed too full of infantry,cavalry,and archers to make use out of them.

[Paradox]

Not Caesar, "Gaius Julius" is the one you should be looking for.

[mrdun]

I had a ten star General, Gaius Julius, I took over most of Gaul but was repeatedly attacked by a 7 star Vercingetorix who was about 20 yr old. I only accept marriages when their names are historic, sulla, marius, octavian etc.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

I have to admit I prefer it when the names are historical, but I'm a bit more lenient. I had a Sempronius once as well, but not Tiberius, Gaius or Gracchus... shame.:no:

There are loads of historical names in there you just have to look out for them. And don't expect them to pop up every time.

[Spartan198]

Just came off a BI campaign as the Eastern Empire and couldn't wait to post! Lived possibly my greatest battle ever - 7-star general/faction leader and army met face to face with Romano-British warlord Artorius Castus (King Arthur!). He cut me to pieces and set my entire British invasion back by years (game years,I mean).

No,I'm not the least bit ashamed of this one at all! :2thumbsup:

[Punicus]

I once had an Alexander the Great as well. I've had some Hamilcar's and Hannibal's but never with Barca at the end of the name.

[Good Ship Chuckle]

If I'm not mistaken I believe the Seluecids start out with a historical figure. Their faction leader is Anitochus (III).

He was a Selucid King that ruled from 223 to 187 BC, so the time is roughly right. You can check this encyclopedia to see for yourself. http://www.reference.com/search?r=13&q=Antiochus%20III

He fought every one from Egyptians, Romans, to rebel greek cities, and Jewish insurrection. He eventually earned the name "Antiochus the Great" (Antiochos Megas):rifle:

[TruePraetorian]

I my campaigns i've seen a Hanibal Barca and some other barca that sounded familiar...I right now have a Gaius Julius at 12 years old :beam: and have seen a captain vercingetorix but never the man. I've also seen a marcus brutus (even though common) and a I ran across an Alexander in Macedon but he wasn't "The Great" yet.

[Quirinus]

I just encountered a "Quintis Sertorius" on my Scipii game. No, he wasn't a son-in-law. He wasn't adopted.

https://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o100/mr_cereal/sertorius_spy.jpg
I laughed my ass off when I saw this.

[The Wandering Scholar]

:furious: I had a marriage opportunity with as Julii for a "caesarion" unfortunately I clicked the wrong option, a chance lost possibly for ever. He was useles but he could have had a Gaius somewhere down the line.

Earlier I was besieged by two Gaullic armies controlled by a "Captain Conan" Ha they're called Conan and they are Barbarian..

[Punicus]

Just noticed that in my current campaign the Dacians have a general by the name of Attila - well, had a general by the name of Attila. ~:)

[Quirinus]

Yeah! It's odd, how the Dacians have the name 'Attila'. In my Scipii game, the Dacians had a Captain Attila and actually got promoted to family member just before the Thracians wiped them out. Pity. I would have wanted to assassinate Attila myself. :laugh4:

[Spartan198]

At least you haven't run into Artorius Castus yet in BI. :laugh4:

[o_loompah_the_delayer]

I had an Aulus Plautius, but as an admiral (three stars) not a general. I used him to ferry over the army to invade Britain.

[Quirinus]

Can Admirals get cognomen? I thought admirals functioned like captains, mostly.

[The Wandering Scholar]

ooo I have never seen that. yes I thought is was Captain Plautius. Are you playing with vanilla rtw 1.5 o_loompah_the_delayer ?

[Hannibalbarc]

Dacian family member, Attila.
https://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb102/db_b/gen.jpg

[The Wandering Scholar]

Barbarian aswell

[Hannibalbarc]

Another one, to bad she can't be a general:laugh4:.
https://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb102/db_b/boudicca.jpg

[The Wandering Scholar]

I watched that film last night, Boudica. Not a bad film.

[Flying Pig]

I have a suspicion that Arturus for the brits is built in so he always spawns!

[Omanes Alexandrapolites]

All family trees do seem to always branch out in a specific way. All starting characters in my campaigns always seem to have the same children in every campaign. The same applies to their children and their subsequent offspring. They also often seem to develop similarly in every campaign also.

I'm not too sure, but there probably is something hardcoded which makes this happen - its the same in modifications also. It may be the order the system looks in the name database, or it may be based on a different more obscure system.

~:)

[Telys]

Can Admirals get cognomen? I thought admirals functioned like captains, mostly.
Every admiral I've seen only goes as captain, but I believe once they get to legendary admiral they get "the navigator" epithet.

[Quirinus]

All family trees do seem to always branch out in a specific way. All starting characters in my campaigns always seem to have the same children in every campaign. The same applies to their children and their subsequent offspring. They also often seem to develop similarly in every campaign also.

I'm not too sure, but there probably is something hardcoded which makes this happen - its the same in modifications also. It may be the order the system looks in the name database, or it may be based on a different more obscure system.

~:)
I've noticed that too, but their character potraits tend to be random, I think. So are their traits. Gyras can be Alexander reborn in one game and a meek, efficient administrator in the next. That's why I don't think it's hardcoded.

[The Wandering Scholar]

Gyras always starts the same as that is coded.

Take Brennus out of Alesia, move him to rome with a large force from all around Gaul and sack it!

[Quirinus]

Hah? Is he? I'm not sure, I was just using a random Greek name. :laugh4: Which faction was he from? For some reason, the name sticks to me.

[Spartan198]

Gyras is the Macedonian faction heir at the start of the campaign. He's in Larissa,I think.

[The Wandering Scholar]

He sure is. Quite an able general

[Spartan198]

When he's not a useless lunkhead,like that time the AI charged him headlong into a Spartan phalanx during one of my past campaigns. :dizzy2:

[The Wandering Scholar]

Haha the mighty AI strike gold again :beam:

[Spartan198]

It's not always something to complain about,just sometimes.

PS - Someone earlier in the thread mentioned that it would be cool to run into Mithrades with Pontus (but I can't find the post). Actually,Pontus' starting faction leader is named Mithrades,though it's the wrong time for him to be the historical Mithrades. Still a "historically-named" king,though,right?

[Quirinus]

A somewhat off-topic question here, but if I want to edit the avaliability of names, like adding a few names and removing a few names in descr_names, do I need to edit the descr_names_lookup as well?

Didn't want to create a new thread about this.

[Spartan198]

A somewhat off-topic question here, but if I want to edit the avaliability of names, like adding a few names and removing a few names in descr_names, do I need to edit the descr_names_lookup as well?

Didn't want to create a new thread about this.

I'm a novice modder (my editing of family members' traits and ancilliaries is done in-game with cheats),so I'm not really sure. Your best bet would be to check the Scriptorium to first see if there are any tutorials. But if not,the best thing to do is to start a thread in the Modding Questions. That's where I go.

But I do like the idea of adding and removing names via personal preference. I'll definitely be watching for an answer to this one.

Gaius Julius Caesar,please stand up!

[The Wandering Scholar]

edit everything with "names" i think there is 2/3 files..

[whtdoesitmatta]

To edit the starting characters just go in the same file that you go into to unlock all the factions I believe.

[Spartan198]

To edit the starting characters just go in the same file that you go into to unlock all the factions I believe.

Can you edit factions to start with a specifically named character? Like if I wanted the Greek starting faction leader to be named "Narkissos" or something (or even name him after me?)?

[Quirinus]

To edit the starting characters just go in the same file that you go into to unlock all the factions I believe.
No, I don't mean the starting characters, I mean the avaliability of names, so that the next son-in-law or son married/born into the family will have different names.

This is for my Massiliote Greek game-- it'd be odd for my son-in-laws to all come from Greece when I'm long-established in Gaul. Plus, seeing "Attalus of Tolosa" or "Eugenius of Lugdunum" or whatever would impart a sort of flavour to my game, I suppose. :beam:

EDIT: SpartanGlory198, I think so, though I haven't tried it.

[The Wandering Scholar]

I dont think that place of birth counts for cogomen.

Spartan GLory has to be in the names files

[Spartan198]

I was gonna name a character "Travis of Sparta". :laugh4:

[Quirinus]

I dont think that place of birth counts for cogomen.
It does, at least for Greek and barbarian and eastern family members.

For example:
Greek: Doros of Sparta, Kallimachus of Pella, Eugenius of Himera
Barbarian: Leukon of Segovia, Rianorix of Verulamium, Ambiorix of Aduatucorum
Eastern: Madyes of Satala, Melchior of Nishapur, Bagabigna of Charax

....etc, etc.

~:)

[Spartan198]

Been playing Extended Greek Mod since yesterday and found Pyrrhus of Epirus in southern Italy (but he's present at start),and I got a Leonidas of Sparta later on in the campaign (as the Greek City-States).

[Emperor Mithdrates]

My julii faction leader, Augutus Julii (The first emporer of Rome) just happened to have a greek, philosophical, slave called Plato. The man who said....
"Only the dead have seen the end of war!"

[Hound of Ulster]

I think it just generates names for characters from a list for each basic culture. The historical names you guys have found are probably little 'in-jokes' inserted by the programmers.

[TWConqueror]

I've run into Captain Vercingetorix quite a few times.

Several admirals and captains have been called "Augustus"

And playing Alexander he became "Alexander the Great" but then he became "Alexander the Butcher".

[Emperor Mithdrates]

My current Carthaginian faction heir has a philosophical slave from greece called Plato.
You know, that guy who has his saying on the RTW loading screen.
"Only the dead have seen the end of war"

[Julius_Nepos]

I'd also like to report my recent sighting of Gaius Julius in my latest Julii campaign. He came of age with no traits at all and was eventually know as "Gaius the Lewd" I did get him some command stars in battle, and he did crank out a number of relatively useful heirs but in the end I was quite disappointed, I was hoping he'd be quite the general! I also had a Marcus Brutus back in the day, though he too fell short of his namesake.

[Spartan198]

I also had a Marcus Brutus back in the day, though he too fell short of his namesake.

What,you mean he didn't help the Senate murder your faction heir?

No,just kidding,lol. :laugh4: