Special Sub-Topic: "Empire: Total War" Factions Click Here To Play: "Empire: Total War" Factions

In the year 1700, the first year of the main campaign, which four factions control territories on the Indian sub-continent?

Mughal Empire, Maratha Confederacy, Portugal, & Mysore. The United Provinces has control of the island of Ceylon just off the coast of India, but only Mysore, the Mughals, the Maratha Confederacy, and Portugal (in Goa) start out with territories on the mainland. Lucrative trade routes are to be found here including teas, spices, and ivory.

Which of these factions is not available to players in the single-player campaign mode?

Portugal. You can also play as the United States, but only if you have unlocked the last chapter of the "Road to Independence" scenario. All of the other small factions are currently unavailable to players, at least in the vanilla version of the game.

The Crimean Khanate starts out as a protectorate of what major (playable) faction?

The Ottoman Empire. The Crimean Khanate will be quickly destroyed in most games you play, often by the fifth or sixth turn! The Khanate is the last vestige of the huge Mongol empire of previous centuries.

Which of these Native American tribes is NOT represented in "Empire: Total War"?

Apache. Be careful of the Native American factions! They may start out small, but the low cost of the their units means they can field fairly large armies later on in the campaign. Many native factions share similar units, but they tend to be quick-moving and plentiful.

The British are one of the most powerful factions in the game, but even they must rely on alliances some of the time. Which two factions are allied with Great Britain at the beginning of the campaign?

The United Provinces & Hannover. Both Hannover and the United Provinces are protestant factions, making it easier to maintain alliances with them over time. The Thirteen Colonies begin the game as a protectorate of Great Britain, but will join you completely if you capture a few extra territories in the Americas. As the British you will almost certainly be going to war with France sooner or later, so no point trying to be friends!

Belgium, or Flanders as the game calls it, begins the regular campaign in the possession of what faction?

Spain. It may start out as a Spanish possession, but it often doesn't remain that way for long! Flanders acts as a buffer province between the United Provinces and France. In the Road to Independence scenario it actually starts out as an Austrian territory.

Which of these is not a real faction in "Empire: Total War"?

Latvia. One of the most interesting things about the game is the ability of new states or factions to emerge throughout the campaign. For instance, civil unrest in a far-flung territory could give birth to the US, Mexico, or even previously destroyed nations!

What are the two small independent nations/factions that make up the Caucasus region in central Asia?

Georgia & Chechenya-Dagestan. These two little nations can really cause you a headache if you happen to be playing as either Russia or the Ottomans. Both are unplayable, but can be turned into a powerful ally against regional rivals, and act as great buffer states between Russia and Anatolia.

Which faction has a particularly formidable cavalry unit called "Winged Hussars"?

Poland-Lithuania. Hussars actually first made their appearance as tough cavalry units in "Medieval II: Total War". Poland-Lithuania has an excellent assortment of cavalry, and the flat topography in the region makes them particularly effective.

The game is dominated by Christian factions, but a few factions follow their own religions. Which of these religions is NOT found in "Empire: Total War"?

Buddhism. The role of religion is much less important than in "Medieval II: Total War", but it still affects the civil unrest of a particular province. Catholicism and protestantism are considered separate religions for gaming purposes.