Ave Captain! The game is made so that you start out only being able to play as the Roman factions, then as you defeat other factions you can play them in ensuing games. However, some of us want to play other factions right away, and there is a way around that.
If you have RTW version 1.2 then download the mod here. If you have version 1.5 download this one instead. You can check your version level by starting the game and going to Options. It will display the version number in the upper right corner.It is just 6 files, 4 of which are backups in case something happens to your originals. Just unzip them to their relative folders. You will have to replace the two original files with the all factions playable ones in the mod however. They are campaign_descriptions.txt which is in your \Rome Total War\Data\text\ folder, and descr_strat.txt, which is in your \Rome Total War\Data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign\ folder.
Make a backup of your originals if you want to play it safe. Either move them to another folder or just rename them something else. Then go to the campaign_descriptions_(Patch1.2)ALL-FACTIONS-PLAYABLE.txt file and rename it campaign_descriptions.txt. Finally go to descr_strat_(Patch1.2)ALL-FACTIONS-PLAYABLE.txt and rename it descr_strat.txt.
When you are done the beginning of your descr_strat.txt file will look like this:
; Custom campaign script generated by Romans Campaign Map Editorcampaignimperial_campaign
playable
romans_julii
romans_brutii
romans_scipii
egypt
seleucid
carthage
parthia
gauls
germans
britons
greek_cities
romans_senate
macedon
pontus
armenia
dacia
numidia
scythia
spain
thrace
slave
end
unlockable
end
nonplayable
end
And the middle of your campaign_descriptions.txt file will look like this:
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_ROMANS_SENATE_TITLE}SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ROMANUS
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_ROMANS_SENATE_DESCR}SPQR. Live fast and die hard.
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_ARMENIA_TITLE}Armenians
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_ARMENIA_DESCR}We are the army of mean men.... Ar-mean-men-ians, or just call us Armenians.
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_DACIA_TITLE}Dacians
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_DACIA_DESCR}We dancin Dacians can whip dem dam Thracians.
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_NUMIDIA_TITLE}Numidians
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_NUMIDIA_DESCR}Are you a-kiddin, we are a-Numidian.
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SCYTHIA_TITLE}Scythians
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SCYTHIA_DESCR}We are the people who reap wheat. We have big scythes... fear us!
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SPAIN_TITLE}Iberians
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SPAIN_DESCR}We are Iberians. We want to become Spanish. Help us!
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_THRACE_TITLE}Thracians
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_THRACE_DESCR}We are Thracians. We are Borg. We will assimilate you.
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SLAVE_TITLE}Rebels
{IMPERIAL_CAMPAIGN_SLAVE_DESCR}I am Spartacus. I must break you!
[This message has been edited by SubRosa (edited 04-09-2007 @ 05:23 PM).]