12th playable faction

[Polemists]

Well CA has confirmed multiple times that in the single player only 12 will be playable, thus the countdowns, polls and everything else. It even lists it on official website.

A mod may be able to let you play the others, but they won't have as many features at the main 12.

[Sir Beane]

Given that CA are doing a Faction Feature for each of the 12 playable factions and have repeatedly stated that there are only 12 I don't think '36' can be accurate.

If you can quote a source and give us a link I'd be prepared to revise my position however. But the amount of info saying '12 playable factions only' has been overwhelming.

[A Very Super Market]

Aren't there only 12 playable factions in RTW, but a single mod will et you play the others?

[Lucidus]

Portugal, obvioulsy.

they aleast still held considerable overseas territories

- In the year 1700, it was the second/third largest colonial empire.
Spain was the largest empire.

Portugal were declining but..

Not exactly.
In the second half of the century, agents of the Portuguese Crown introduced political and economic reforms designed to "modernize" their commercial systems. The Pombaline reforms attacked vested interests, dismantled long-standing institutions, and lifted barriers to trade, all with the goal of boosting Crown revenues, expanding imperial commerce, and reducing territorial and economic encroachments by foreign powers. The resulting "golden era" was abruptly interrupted by the outbreak of the Wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon.

[theseus1234]

Well CA has confirmed multiple times that in the single player only 12 will be playable, thus the countdowns, polls and everything else. It even lists it on official website.

A mod may be able to let you play the others, but they won't have as many features at the main 12.

if there are only twelve, and the first 10 are european/middle eastern (ottomans), then i hope they go for more exotic factions like the iroquois or the mughals/some other indian faction. that would add a LOT of variety to the game.

and if the ease of modding that CA claims is to be believed, more features could be created?

[retep219]

Has anyone heard what they mean by "unplayable?" In Rome Total War, you could play any "unplayable" faction by modding descr-strat, but they were, in general, far less developed than any other faction (Harder campaign, more cloned units, and less units overall) Will it be the same in Empire? Or will the "unplayable" factions be truly unplayable?

[ThePianist]

By interest it would be Iroquois, then Persians, then Mughal. All others are probably very similar to some existing faction, except perhaps the Crimean Khanate, but the Persians would be similar enough.

However I assume "playable" means playable at the beginning, and all factions can be unlocked once you beat them. So I chose Mughal. For this reason: the Iroquois can be easily unlocked by playing as Americans, or British or French. The Persians can be easily unlocked by playing Russia or perhaps Uthman/Osman Empire. The Mughal are the only very far away one, and it would be more convenient that way, else you'd have to unlock it by fighting till the ends of "the world".

[Sir Beane]

By interest it would be Iroquois, then Persians, then Mughal. All others are probably very similar to some existing faction, except perhaps the Crimean Khanate, but the Persians would be similar enough.

However I assume "playable" means playable at the beginning, and all factions can be unlocked once you beat them. So I chose Mughal. For this reason: the Iroquois can be easily unlocked by playing as Americans, or British or French. The Persians can be easily unlocked by playing Russia or perhaps Uthman/Osman Empire. The Mughal are the only very far away one, and it would be more convenient that way, else you'd have to unlock it by fighting till the ends of "the world".

Factions are not unlocked by beating them. There are 12 playable factions, all of whom you will be able to use from the start. No more factions are playable, the only way to unlock them will be mods.

[General SupaCrunk]

Has anyone heard what they mean by "unplayable?" In Rome Total War, you could play any "unplayable" faction by modding descr-strat, but they were, in general, far less developed than any other faction (Harder campaign, more cloned units, and less units overall) Will it be the same in Empire? Or will the "unplayable" factions be truly unplayable?

Same as RTW.

[Polemists]

Well in theory we should find out the 11th faction today, I assume it's going to be Marthas and no one will be all that suprised lol.

We will see, not sure what time they usually release the info. I'd assume in about 8 hours or so, but I could be wrong.

[Sir Beane]

Well in theory we should find out the 11th faction today, I assume it's going to be Marthas and no one will be all that suprised lol.

We will see, not sure what time they usually release the info. I'd assume in about 8 hours or so, but I could be wrong.

If you go to the Factions page on the main site you can see that Austria's name and link has now moved to the left of the three columns rather than being in the centre like it was previously. That seems to be a good indication that thr site is abou tto be updated with a new faction.

[Polemists]

Well it's noon now, hopefully either nowish or at 1 they will announce it.

I am hopeful it will be one, as they need a hour to prepare the awesome demo announcement :)

[General SupaCrunk]

If you go to the Factions page on the main site you can see that Austria's name and link has now moved to the left of the three columns rather than being in the centre like it was previously. That seems to be a good indication that thr site is abou tto be updated with a new faction.

It was already moved few days ago