Rome: Total War
From GameWinners
Cheat Codes
Cheat mode
Press ~ (unshifted) during game play to display the console window. Then, enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function.
| Effect | Code |
|---|---|
| Display help for desired command | <command> ? |
| 10% cheaper units in campaign mode | gamestop or bestbuy |
| 40% bigger elephants in campaign mode | oliphaunt |
| Walls fall down in siege in battle map mode | jericho |
| Increase money1 | add_money <1-40000> |
| Add population to indicated city | add_population <city name> <number> |
| Attacker or defender automatically wins next auto resolved battle. | auto_win <attacker or defender> |
| Creates a unit in the selected settlement or characters army with the stats you input | create_unit <settlement or character> <unit ID> <amount> <exp or armor or weapon> |
| Toggle fog of war | toggle_fow |
| Give character the trait at indicated level | give_trait <character> <trait> <number> |
| Complete all building in construction queue; can only be used once | process_cq <city name> |
| Complete all military units in recruitment queue; can only be used once | process_rq <city name> |
| Lists all traits | list_traits |
| Move indicated character to desired coordinates | move_character <name> <x,y> |
| Give points for indicated character's trait | give_trait_points <character> <trait> <number> |
| Force opponent to accept diplomatic proposal | force_diplomacy <accept, decline, or off> |
| General invincibile in combat | invulnerable_general <character> |
| Changes date | date <year> |
| Kill indicated character | kill_character <character> |
| Change season | season <summer or winter> |
| Capture indicated city | capture_settlement <city name> |
| Toggle tabbed output window display | toggle_tow |
| Toggle camera restrictions | toggle_restrictcam |
| Give character an ancillary | give_ancillary <character> <ancillary> |
| Reset character to start of turn settings | character_reset |
| Show cursor position and region ID | show_cursorstat |
| Toggle the terrain to display various data sets; no parameter resets to normal | toggle_terrain |
| Give character points for trait | give_trait_points |
| List all available ancillaries | list_ancillaries |
| Give the character movement points | mp <value> |
| List all characters in the world or those belonging to a faction | list_characters |
| Show landing positions available to the AI from a given region; default hides them | show_landings |
| Apply filter to world map coastlines | filter_coastlines |
| Toggle strategy map coastline display | toggle_coastlines |
| Set health of building of the specified type in a settlement | set_building_health <value> |
| Set maximum speed of turn processing during AI round | ai_turn_speed <value> |
| Set aerial map overlay depth bias for minimum zoom | amdb_min <value> |
| Set aerial map overlay depth bias for maximum zoom | amdb_max <value> |
| Set aerial map overlay offset towards camera | amdb_offset <value> |
| Zoom to specified aerial map zoom | zoom <value> |
| Set denominator of the faction ranking graph interval (calculated as number_of_turns divided by denominator); if 0, then denominator will be set to number_of_turns for an interval of 1 | set_ranking_interval <value> |
| Regenerate radar | regenerate_radar |
| Adjust sea bed to specified height | adjust_sea_bed <value> |
| Reload all vertex shaders | reload_shaders |
| Reload all textures | reload_textures |
| Fire | toggle_game_update <mt, toggle, reload, or int> |
| Toggle everyone's spying ability to perfect and infinite range | toggle_perfect_spy |
| Toggle building debug mode | building_debug |
| Force display reset cycle | reset_display |
| Toggle underlay | toggle_underlay |
| Toggle overlay | toggle_overlay |
| Set diplomatic stance between the two factions | diplomatic_stance <value> |
| Unknown | shadow |
| Unknown | ie |
| Add all ancillary to the character info display | test_ancillary_localisation |
| Toggle display of simple performance times of game update vs. display | perf_times |
| Ignite all piggy winks | burn_piggies_burn |
| Test the event message specified in descr_event_enums.txt | test_message |
| Display defensive terrain features | show_terrain_lines |
| Toggle message collation (sets all factions) | message_collation_set |
| Toggle show all messages to all factions | show_all_messages |
| Clear all stacked messages | clear_messages |
| Unknown | puppify_my_love |
| Unknown | reapply_rigid_model_influence |
| Toggle display of campaign map flowing water | toggle_flowing_water |
| Toggle display of network stats | nw_stats |
| Toggle pr mode | toggle_pr |
| List all units in an army | list_units |
| Show victory message for faction for short or long campaign | victory |
| Trigger advice | trigger_advice |
| Damage wall of settlement | damage_wall <none, gate, or breach> |
| Open victory scroll declaring that the given faction is the victor | test_victory_scroll |
| Trigger unit upgrade effect | upgrade_effect |
| Force local player's alliance to win the battle | force_battle_victory |
| Force local player's alliance to lose the battle | force_battle_defeat |
| Output positions of all units in the battle to the specified file | output_unit_positions <filename> |
| Show all valid processed paths in pathfinder | show_battle_paths |
| Show all valid processed paths in pathfinder for specific unit given a unit ID | show_battle_paths_for_unit <value> |
| Show the street plan for the settlement | show_battle_street_plan |
| Display a marker at x, y for t seconds | show_battle_marker <value> |
| Display a circle at x, y of r radius for t seconds | show_battle_circle <value> |
| Remove faction from the game | kill_faction <value> |
| Create diplomacy mission | diplomacy_mission |
| create event at position | event <value> |
| Switch player control to specified faction; old faction may not act correctly as AI faction | control <value> |
| Create building of the specified type in a settlement | create_building <value> |
| Disable AI | disable_ai |
| Halts turn sequence just before the start of the specified faction's turn, or the current faction if no faction given | halt_ai <value> |
| Restarts an AI turn sequence | run_ai |
| Eliminate Arse trait line | give_trait "Arse" "<character name> " 0 |
| Eliminate Feck trait line | give_trait "Feck" "<character name> " 0 |
1. You must do this on the campaign map, and can only be done once per game. After the first time, you must save, quit, and restart the game to use it again. However, the latest patch will allow the codes to be used multiple times.
, , , , and
Cheat mode (alternate)
Note: This procedure involves editing a game file;
create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text
editor to edit the "preferences.txt" file in the game
folder. For unlimited ammunition, change the value of the "LIMITED_AMMO:"
line from "TRUE" to "FALSE". You can do the
same for for morale, fatigue, fog of war, etc. values. Note: You
must start a new campaign for the changes to take effect.
Building debug mode commands
Use the following commands after enabling the building_debug code.
- Toggle view modes: [Tab]
- Reset mode: [Right Shift] + [Tab]
- Go back modes: [Left Shift] + [Tab]
- Damages building under pointer: G
- Display plaza: P
Creating units examples
Note: You can only do this once per game session and
the codes are case-sensitive.
Create_unit "Arretium" "roman arcani" 5 units max 8 offense max 8 defense max 8 experience points max:
- create_unit "Arretium" "roman arcani" 5 8 8 8
- create_unit "Kotais" "greek silver shield pikemen" 5 8 8 8 8
- create_unit "Kotais" "east hoplite brazen shield" 5 8 8 8 8
An example of the earlier incorrect cheat for Oliphant:
- Create_unit "Arretium" cheat oliphants" 5 8 8 8 8 Yubtseb Elephants (or replace it with merc elephants)
An example of a city with two names:
- create_unit "Campus_Iazyges" "roman heavy onager" 5 8 8 8 8
- create_unit "Campus_Alanni" "roman praetorian cohort urban i "
"Urban Cohort"
Note before using the create_unit code, look at the "Export descr_unit_enums" file first. If you type in a unit name it will not work. However, if you open this file with a text editor, the first name of the five names of each unit is the name you must type in for it to work. For example, if you type create_unit "Syracuse" "spartan hoplites" 2 9 9 9 9 it will not work, because the unit is not recognized. However, if you type create_unit "Syracuse" "greek hoplite spartan" 2 9 9 9 9 it will work. The name "greek hoplite spartan" appears in the "export descr_unit_enums file".
Create population examples
Note: You can only do this once per game session and
the codes are case-sensitive.
Example:
- add_population Arretium 5000
An example of a city with two names:
- add_population Campus_Sarmatae 5000
Completing building example
The same principle holds true for completing building
under construction: Note: You can only do this once per game session
and the codes are case-sensitive.
- process_cq Arretium process_cq Campus_Sarmatae
Give Trait Edit examples
First, select a trait from the list in the "Export_descr_character_traits" file in the "\activision\rome - total war\data\" folder. Use a text editor to view the file and the Traits Name will be at the top. Use the give_trait code with the desired trait's name and the level. For example, give_trait "Aulus" "RomanHero" 5. Note: Traits have a assortment of levels. Check the "descr_character_traits" file to see what the maximum level they can be. This is determined by the number of levels listed. They range from 1 to 5. They are in order from the weakest level of the trait to the strongest. For example, Level 1 would be listed as Local Hero the weakest trait for the Hero Trait; where as level 5 would be the strongest, which is listed as Legendary Hero.
Note: The best traits are as follows.
| Trait | Code |
|---|---|
| Best Administration trait | give_trait "GoodAdministrator" "<character name> " 3 |
| Best Ambushing trait | give_trait "GoodAmbusher" "<character name>" 3 |
| Best Berserk trait | give_trait "Berserk" "<character name>" 2 |
| Best Bravery trait | give_trait "Brave" "<character name>" 5 |
| Best Command trait | give_trait "GoodCommander" "<character name>" 5 |
| Best Defender trait | give_trait "GoodDefender" "<character name>" 5 |
| Best Discipline trait | give_trait "Disciplinarian" "<character name>" 1 |
| Best Drinking/Sobriety trait | give_trait "Drink" "<character name>" 1 |
| Best Energy level trait | give_trait "Energetic" "<character name>" 4 |
| Best Faith trait | give_trait "PublicFaith" "<character name>" 3 |
| Best Poetry trait | give_trait "PoeticSkill" "<character name>" 2 |
| Best Rhetoric trait | give_trait "RhetoricSkill" "<character name>" 3 |
| Best Siege Attack trait | give_trait "GoodSeigeAttacker" "<character name>" 4 |
| Best Siege Defense trait | give_trait "GoodSeigeDefender" "<character name>" 4 |
| Best Strategy trait | give_trait "StrategicSkill" "<character name>" 3 |
| Best Warlord trait | give_trait "Warlord" "<character name>" 4 |
| Best Xenophobic trait | give_trait "Xenophobia" "<character name>" 3 |
| Best Attacker trait | give_trait "GoodAttacker" "<character name>" 5 |
| Best Speaking trait | give_trait "InspiringSpeaker" "<character name>" 3 |
Getting rid of traits
If you do not like a character's trait, insert the Anti Trait which can be found below the trait in the "descr_character_trait" file. For example, give_trait "Aulus" quot;Coward" will rid the character of the Roman Hero trait. Do not put a level on an anti trait.
Extra money
Note: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the "descr_strat" file in the "\activision\rome - total war\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign" folder. Scroll down to find the following section and change the Denari value from "5000" to "999999".
;>>>> start of factions section <<<< faction romans_julii, comfortable caesar denari 5000 settlement
Better units
Note: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the "descr_strat" file in the "\activision\rome - total war\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign" folder. Scroll down to find the faction to change. In this section there is a line that starts with the word "unit" that allows values relating to experience (0-9), armor rating (0-3), weapon level (0-3) to be changed. Once edited, you can copy and paste that line up to twenty times to create that number of units in that army.
Note: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the "export_descr_unit" file in the "\activision\rome - total war\data" folder. It will be a huge data source for unit information, were you can edit the units to your pleasure. To make your archers more powerful, scroll down and find the quot;roman_archer_auxillia" entry about two thirds of the way down. Each unit has its information set together with a break between the other unit information. The unit names are at the top. Go down to "stat_pri" of the "archer auxillia". The first number is the attack power. You can increase this to about 70. You increase it more, but it will not count the attack higher than the maximum number. The next number is for when the unit charges, and how much bonus it gets to its attack from that. Next is what the unit fires (if they can shoot anything). After that is the unit range of the weapon (increase this). After that is the ammunition per man (increase this). You now have a very powerful archer unit for all Romans to use. At the bottom is the ownership. You can delete the other
faction names if desired, so only you can use them.
Another thing you can do is change Peasants into Phalanxmen, or Hoplites. Go to "roman_peasants", and scroll down to "formation". Next to "horde", type , Phlanx, (include the commas and space). They can now form a phalanx, and will have spears. You may have to change the original formation from "horde" to "square" to do this. However, you cannot add the formation "testudo" to Peasants and expect for them to have big shields.
Exceed unit limit
Note: This was done in v1.00. Use the following trick to get more units than you are supposed to in that unit or set. For example, if there is a cohort of 81 troops (this should work for any number of troops regardless of type, culture or unit number setting), if 70 are lost in battle bring them to a settlement that can retrain them. Add them to the retraining query, than drop another full cohort of that type on the retraining cohort so that the retraining query displays the full amount that the cohort is supposed to have. Then, end the turn. That cohort should now have 151 units in it.
Cheap mercenaries
Note: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the "descr_mercenaries" file in the "\activision\rome - total war\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign" folder. Locate the line that appears as:
unit merc barbarian infantry, exp 0 cost 750 replenish 0.06 - 0.19 max 2 initial 1
Change only the cost by setting it to "1", so the line now appears as:
unit merc barbarian infantry, exp 0 cost 1 replenish 0.06 - 0.19 max 2 initial 1
Do the same to all mercenary units. Note: Do not add mercenaries
in new places as it will prevent you from ever playing the campaign.
All factions
Note: This procedure involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the "descr_strat" file in the "\activision\rome - total war\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign" folder. At the top of the page it will have something like this:
campaign imperial_campaign playable romans_julii romans_brutii romans_scipii end unlockable egypt seleucid carthage parthia gauls germans britons greek_cities end nonplayable romans_senate macedon pontus armenia dacia scythia spain thrace numidia slave end
Change it to the following:
campaign imperial_campaign playable romans_julii romans_brutii romans_scipii end unlockable egypt seleucid carthage parthia gauls germans britons greek_cities macedon pontus armenia dacia scythia spain thrace numidia end nonplayable end
Hints
Starting nations
Successfully complete a full Campaign mode ((50 nations and take out SPQR) to unlock the corresponding starting nations: Egypt, Gaul, Germany, Sluicid, and Spain.
Easy money
Start with the Juli faction, Red Roman. Listen to their
first mission. Take that rebel town, then make a few Diplomats.
Spread them out everywhere, then start asking for trade rights.
The more money you can get, the better. Also, if you know you
or your allies will not attack them, you can ask for an alliance.
Another good method is to build all the farms, roads, ports, and
mining things you can do in a settlement.
Stand off
When you are outnumbered, have low forces, and know
that you will lose, get a good stand off position by gathering
all of your remaining forces, and go to a hill or the highest
position if possible. If that is unavailable, go into the forests.
Then, gather your forces and put all archers in the very back,
all medium to close ranged missile weapons in middle, and all
of your spearmen in the front with the legionnaires, swordsmen,
etc. just behind. If you have elephants or horses, put them javelins.
Then, with the spearmen formation, you can either wait for the
enemy to hit the spearmen then charge with horses. However it
would be better to horse charge them when they are in archer or
javelin range, then keep bombarding them. Next, use all of your
swordsmen to attack after the enemy hits the spearmen. Then, use
all of your forces to charge, except for the archers. Move them
away from the fight and keep bombarding. This is also a good choke
point defensive maneuver.
Defend your settlement
Use the following tactic to fight an outnumbered foe
at your settlement. If you know that you cannot defend your walls
because there is too much ground to cover and you forces will
be to thin to stop them, then follow this strategy. Put all your
armies in the central plaza of the city. According to their location,
put your light infantry blocking the path of where they would
go after the walls break through. Remember that you want to make
a small chokepoint so that they can fight only one way and not
surround you. Then, put your heavy infantry behind the light infantry
and put your cavalry on the flanks so that you can attack them
at the sides. When they attack and are charging at you infantry,
order all the infantry (including heavy infantry) to charge. Then,
have your cavalry cut the enemy's retreat and attack their flanks.
If this is successful, their front and rear will be attacked,
allowing you to crush them. Note: This cannot be done against
human players.
Always make sure that you have at least two units in your settlement
garrison that can form a phalanx. The more the better, but two
is the minimum you should have if you want to keep your settlements
safe from attack. Mercenary Hoplites are available to all factions
and are very effective at defending settlements. From where the
enemy breaches the walls (be it through the gate or from the walls),
there will usually be two roads leading from their position to
the center of your settlement. The enemy will divide their forces
to send down both these roads. By placing your phalanx troops
in the center of the road, backed up by other infantry, you can
create a wall of pikes that cannot be flanked, Any unit that is
not also in phalanx formation will be reduced to a small group
of routing cowards in no time, even elephants. If you find that
the enemy has plenty of phalanx troops, do not worry. Place your
phalanx wall slightly further back in the center of the settlement.
Place a unit of cavalry, preferably heavy cavalry, in a position
so that when the enemy phalanx emerges into the center of the
settlement, their flank becomes exposed. Then, smack your cavalry
into the flank and the unit will be destroyed in seconds. Timing
is essential in this strategy. If you charge too soon, your cavalry
will end up being mobbed by enemy troops. If you charge too late,
the enemy can maneuver towards your cavalry. Even if the enemy
has overwhelming forces, you can guarantee that even if they do
manage to wipe out your garrison, their own force will be so badly
damaged that they probably will not be able to hold the settlement
for long.
Taking a settlement
Note: This only works when you attack, and when the
enemy has a wooden palisade or walls. When you want to take a
settlement and you are totally outnumbered, get two gate rams.
When you are deploying, take half of ypur troops and move them
over to one gate. Leave your general with the first group. The
enemy should send only horses to the second group. Bring good
soldiers so that you can charge in after you attack. If done correctly,
then the enemy should stay attacking the first group. Leave your
archers with the first group to "rain fire on the enemy".
You would probably take the settlement. Note: This works best
against barbarians and sometimes rebels.
Before you actually enter the town, village, or city, soften up
the enemy with ranged weapons. Breach the wall at multiple points
and attack the town square from all sides if possible. Also, try
not to bring ranged-only units into the city. Instead, leave them
outside the walls; or if this is too far, bring them to the inside
edge of the wall.
Defeating spearmen
Always attack from behind when fighting spearmen. The best way is to attract a band of spearmen is to send some units close to them. Do not engage them to fight. Once they start chasing your army units, start attacking with your cavalry from behind the spearmen. They should start to run in a minute.
Defeating cavalry
A spearmen wall is an effective way to take out enemy cavalry units. Do not let the enemy cavalry to engage your ranged units.
Defeating elephants
Elephants are the biggest and toughest unit. Use your rangers on elephants. Elephants can crush the biggest army in minutes.
Defeating chariots
Chariots can cause a mess on the battlefield. Use your archers on them.
Defeating the Senate army
Do not if you see a large Senate army around Rome. Their army consists of obsolete units such as Hestatai and Princepes. They can easily be crushed with Legionary Cohorts, Legionary Cavalry, Onagars, etc. Note that as soon as you do away with the Senate, the other loyal Roman factions will declare war on you.
Easy wins
If you are being attacked with a small force, when you are setting up your units make them go as far away as possible. The enemy will get tired, thus giving your units a higher chance of victory.
Fighting in open areas
When fighting in an open area, attack with ranged units
first, then send your cavalry to the flanks. Do not attack with
the cavalry just yet. Instead, bring your main force directly
into the enemy force and bring your cavalry in to close off their
escape path. This strategy can allow you to win battles against
forces three times your size.
Kill an entire faction
You will need at least one light cavalry and a town
or city (recommended) with a big army. Send your light cavalry
near an enemy capital and attack it. Stop attacking it and retreat.
Once you have retreated you will find that when you pass a season,
the enemy army from their capital will come with their king. They
will attack you again. Retreat and keep doing this until they
reach your big army capital. They will attack it. You should be
able to defeat them.
Play as another faction
Use the following trick to playing as a faction without having to complete the game. Train an army that fills a town. Take half the army (and general, in case you need to hire mercenaries).Take out the faction that you want to play as (for example, Egypt, Parthia or Britannia). Go to the menu and it should appear as a faction you can play as. You can now start a campaign as them. Note: This will not work for certain factions, such as the SPQR.
The Amazons: Hyperboria
At the very northeast area of the map there is a "hidden settlement" blocked by trees. It is and only accessible from the west. It leads to Hyperboria, a rebel settlement with very powerful Amazon chariots.
Conquering Rome
Start a custom battle. Have 10,000 Denerii. Select a team that has Onagers, or at least Heavy Onagers. Fill one row of units with Onagers. Fill the rest with strong infantry (for example, three Armored Elephants, three War Elephants, and three Normal Elephants. During the battle, use your row of Onagers to fire at a piece of wall. Note: Enable Fire Ammo for better results. Wait until the wall is destroyed. Use your infantry to take out the men inside the city. Do not forget to take out the archers.
Sieges
Note: This only works for settlements with a Large
or Epic Stone Wall. Make sure you have at least two Archer units,
and at least one Onager if possible. If not, just having the Archers
is fine. You also need Infantry and Cavalry; however if you have
the ability to build a large or Epic Stone Wall, then this should
not be a problem. First, array your archers onto the walls either
side and on top of the gate if possible. Then, place your infantry
in a semicircle around the gate, taking care not to block the
entrances to the walls. If you have Onagers, place them far enough
back for them to be able to fire over the walls. Cavalry should
be placed at strategic points as you see fit. When the attacking
army starts, look at the siege engines they have. If they have
Siege Towers, tell your Onagers to fire flaming ammunition towards
the towers. This will set them alight and raze them, rendering
them useless. If the enemy has a Ram, tell your archers to fire
flaming arrows onto it. This will also raze the ram, rendering
it useless. If the enemy has Onagers, look at where he is aiming
and redeploy your troops to the weak location. If the enemy breaches
the gates, he should be running directly into a ring of swords,
backed up by cavalry. If he gets onto the walls, simply deploy
a unit onto the wall, with archers behind. This method will stop
armies much larger than the army inside the city. For this to
work well, you need about twelve units: two Archers, one Onager,
five Infantry and about four Cavalry.
Cavalry charge
If you have a large force of Heavy Cavalry and not much else, you can use these units to throw back a much larger army. Just when the battle starts, pause game play and assign each individual Cavalry unit to attack one unit from the enemy's side. Try to go for an even distribution if possible. Then, select all of your Cavalry units and resume game play. Next, order your men to run or to charge. The combined force of your Cavalry coming forward at a charge is enough to frighten most troops or throw them back. Your own casualties are usually light to moderate. Note: Do not attempt this if your squaring off against elephants, as you will not win.
Pig-apults
in instant action mode, put in a full no upgrades army
of armored elephants against a full army of no upgrades incendiary
pigs. They will charge each other when the battle is entered.
The Senate will light all their pigs, but there will be flaming
catapult shots coming from the elephants. The force of the elephants
hitting the flaming pigs will send them flying through the air.
This causes them to take the appearance of a catapult blast.
Faster movement
If you are facing a long walk before engaging enemies, just increase the "Game Speed" setting. Do not let your army run to the destination.
Public order
When squalor is overwhelming your cities, remove your
garrison and governor to let it rebel. Then, crush them and enslave/exterminate
them. The decrease in population is the short term cure for squalor.
Removing culture penalty
Destroy the foreign shire/temple and wait for one turn.
Blockades
If the Senate asks you blockade a port, etc., you can
go blockade it for the last turn and not have to do it for the
entire five.
Lose with as much damage against opponent
When you get into a fight that you know you cannot
win and you cannot run, use the main body of your force to attack
the enemy and have ranged units fire at them. Slam your cavalry
into the rear of the enemy, then pull them away again. Send them
back in and pull them out. Keep repeating this, and you can at
least cause the enemy to lose as much of his forces as possible.
If you are going to a battle that you cannot win but you have
dogs, let the dogs on the front of the main force of the enemy.
Retreat your troops. The dogs will still attack and kill lots
of enemies, without losing soldiers. The dogs are very quick and
small to kill. After the battle, attack the enemy. If you are
still outnumbered, buy mercenaries. The enemy will now have less
troops than you. Of course, you can still attack with your main
force when all the dogs are dead.

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