Slavery in Rome Total War

[Steppe Merc]

Has there yet been a deffinetive answer to how slavery will be covered in Rome Total War? The Greco-Roman world had a very large slave trade, espically Romans. So I was wondering how this would work? Would it be as simple and boring as it's just part of the income of the provinces? Or each time you capture a province, or soldiers, you have the option of selling them as slaves, or executing them which seems to me more fun. It have two parts: one part is after a battle, your captured prisoners, in addition to the execute or ransom, you could sell them into slavery, which would make money and make your home city happy. The other part could be after you take over a province, you could enslave all, a portion of, or none of the people, depending how angry you want them to be at you.
Of course, all of this is just wishing, but I was wondering what you thought, and if any deffintive answer had been given yet.

[Colovion]

I know in MTW:VI at the end of a Rebellion it would say "Enslave All" "Enslave ringleaders" etc.... but I don't recall noticing any increase in my income....

[Steppe Merc]

I'm pretty sure that was only for the Muslims, and it was instead of executing them, I think. No money was gained, as far as I can tell.

[Colovion]

I'm pretty sure that was only for the Muslims, and it was instead of executing them, I think. No money was gained, as far as I can tell.

Yeah true.

Hopefully most/all of the factions have this option. It may go something lilke:

Enslave:

Get an increased amount of income each turn/year but the payout works better in the long run and isn't as immediately satisfying to your coffers.

Ransom:

Possibly get a lump sum for the troops you take prisoner. This is a larger amount of money and is good for a quick jolt to your economy but in the long run won't do for you as much as slaves. It is also not certain that the enemy will buy their troops back - so hopefully something is setup so that if there is no buy-back then they immediately are enslaved.


At least that is how I would do it....

[Jeanne d'arc]

U should be given the options to enslaving or killing the prisoners , eich will create its own vices and virtues for your king.
Enslaving them would gain you money and accumen.
Killing them would make u a feared leader and in return provinces are less likely to rebel.

Just maybe u could let them all go free but what fool does that? U should get "crackbrained" vice for that at least.

[Steppe Merc]

Slavery should also make your people happy. Espically in Rome, the Romans took great delight in parading their newly captured slaves in Triumphal marchers.
Also, big import people should be able to be captured. For example, Cleopatra's sister was enslaved and was used against enemies of Rome who might support her. The same fate was instore for Cleopatra before she killed herself. My point is, say if you capture the king or prince or something, you could enslave them to give a massive happiness boost for you, and make your enemies a lot more likely to give up/ sign a treaty with you.

[USMCNJ]

or you could skin the king, and then use his face to set up a play for your people.

i think slavery should be a big part, see in how population now effects the number of soldiers you can raise in a city, or how many people you have farming and doing other tasks. (or atleast that;s what they told us 2 years ago)

[afrit]

I read somewhere that in RTW when you capture a city you can keep its population, execute the population or enslave the population. The last option would distribute half the occupied population among your other cities. Can't recall what happens to the other half (presumably killed?).


Dunno how this will affect V&V or income.

Afrit

[nightcrawlerblue]

This could add a whole new dimension to the game actually.

You could add momentum (will to fight) as a new factor. I mean, if you enslave a town that had these soldiers' wives and children in it, they'll fight a lot harder and a lot longer to kill you.

So you could enslave a town for some money but if you do that then there's a large chance that the next battle you start against that enemy is not going to be so easy.

[Maedhros]

If you enslave the pop, and half are sent to your cities, maybe the other half remain to hold down the existing city while Roman colonists move in to give orders.

Are the ones you send back sold at auction, or? sent to work on your personal lands? Fast money or slow money


We should be also becareful, I'm sure they left open a "slave revolt" option.

The more slaves you take probably increases this risk, and makes for bigger revolts.

[Leet Eriksson]

There is mention of slave units in the Unit list in barkhorns thread....

Either they are real slave units, or slavic units..

[Steppe Merc]

I don't think the Slavs were around at this time....

[Longshanks]

I don't think the Slavs were around at this time....

The Slavs were around, they were known as the Veneds at the time. IIRC they were living in parts of Poland and the Baltics during the game's timeframe. They were far from the borders with Rome of course.

[lars573]

The slavs IIRC came into being after the huns tore threw the area of the russian steppes in the 5th century. The hunnic invasion by the way that caused large numbers of germans and goths to move into the roman empire and weaken the western half fatally. I'm not sure what caused the slavs and the Magyar/Ungyar to migrate out of the Russian steppes they did, in the dark ages.

As for slavery in RTW it was far to prevalent in the ancient world not to be included. Hell greek and roman civilization were built by slave labour.

[d6veteran]

Roman Legionnaires received a portion of the profits from selling captured enemy into slavery. A veteran Legionnary depended on that extra income for a comfortable retirement. You can guess the effect this had on morale as well.