Five mighty foreign tribes

In China, there are foreign tribes that surround the factions competing for hegemony. There are five tribes, "Wuhuan", "Xianbei", "Qiang", "Shanyue", and "Nanman", each of which possesses powerful troops. While it has always been important to deal with conflicts in the central areas of China, now players must think twice about strategies on the borders where tense battles can now emerge.
Wuhuan Survivors of the Donghu, who were nearly wiped out by the Xiongnu during the era of the Early Han, and became known as the Wuhuan after the survivors held out on Wuhuan Mountain. They were known for their excellent cavalry, and lived nomadic lives in tents as they searched for water and pasture. They hunted birds and beasts for food, drank yogurt, and wore skin pelts. Those who showed valor or leadership became elders who led the tribe. They had no given names, so they used the names of elders and heroes.
Xianbei Survivors of the Donghu, who were nearly wiped out by the Xiongnu during the era of the Early Han, and became known as the Xianbei after the survivors held out on Xianbei Mountain. The land was wide, extending as far east as the Liao River and as far west as Xiyu. They used the soft fur of martens as premium coats. In addition to hunting and ranching, there were those who practiced agriculture.
Qiang A nomadic tribe in the northwest. During the era of the Early Han, they expanded their forces outside the Great Wall along with the Xiongnu, but in 54 BC, the Xiongnu had a series of internal conflicts that led to the Qiang's decline. They then repeatedly rose in revolt, but were persecuted in the Later Han, and then migrated to stable regions upstream Wei River such as Jincheng, Longxi and Hanyang. Ma Chao, who was of Qiang blood, rose in rebellion when Cao Cao marched on Zhang Lu.
Shanyue The Shanyue were a tribe of people who lived in mountainous regions separated from castles. They had a tradition of cutting their hair short and covering their bodies with tattoos. At the end of the era of the Later Han, when the Han invaded Jiangnan, they regularly stirred up disputes. In order for Sun Ce, Sun Quan, and others to advance north, it was necessary to suppress the Shanyue, leading to frequent battles.
Nanman The tribal states established in the southern region of Yi Province known as Nanzhong. Though governmental forces tried to suppress them during the Early and Later Han, they had difficulties eliminating them due to logistical issues, as well as being resisted with guerilla tactics. In the novel, when Zhuge Liang attacks Meng Huo, the Shu Army is forced to endure harsh tropical weather, forests teeming with beasts, poison swamps, among other trials. They also had trade routes into India and central Asia.

Trade with foreign tribes

If players decide to open trade with the foreign tribes of the region, they can send envoys to develop their relations after acquiring certain geographic advantages. For example: conquering Yo Province allows friendships to form with Wuhuan, while conquering Bing Province allows strong relations to form with Xianbei. Players will also have the option to deploy their troops to conquer these tribes.

Outlander Officers under your command

Once players form strong relations with, or successfully conquer a foreign tribe, an "outlander officer" will join their forces.
As outlander officers who join the player's faction can move freely between their cities and can take the field, they are at a strategic advantage. However, they will return to their tribes if players cannot retain their diplomatic status and/or geographic advantages, or if other tribes conquer their tribes.

Powerful Outlander Officers

Outlander officers utilize the “Siyi” formation to gain the upper hand in mountainous areas or forests. In fact, each tribe has a unique trait assigned to them -- Qiang officers can activate “Bow Cavalry”, while Xianbei officers are equipped with “War Chariot”.
Strategically recruiting outlander officers with desired traits will be pivotal in unifying China, while ensuring the officer’s conditions are favourable will ensure they do not leave the ally forces, as these units can easily turn on the player’s forces if their relationship changes for the worst.

The new “Geographical Advantages” bring dramatic changes to strategies

Players are able to acquire geographical advantages once they have conquered a certain amount of cities within a province, with each province boasting its own unique advantages to help turn the tides in battle. The strategies players should choose will vary dramatically depending on the geographical advantages they aim for. Battles of offense and defense towards the unification of the land will unfold in fresh new ways.

Geographical Advantages

Province Geographic Advantage Effects of Geographical Advantages
You Province Wuhuan Friend Foreign commands can be used with the outlander force 'Wuhuan'.
Bing Province Xianbei Friend Foreign commands can be used with the outlander force 'Xianbei'.
Ji Province Prestige When the price of stipends decrease, the loyalty of officers is less likely to decrease.
Qing Province High Reputation The range of auto-conquer for all area overseers is increased.
Xu Province Craftsman Attacks from bases by your force are strengthened, and the amount of durability restored is increased.
Huainan Spy The execution costs for all sub-commands under the force command 'Plots' are reduced.
Yan Province Trusted When foreign relations improve, the amount of improvement is increased.
Yu Province Community Ties The number of days required for Search, Employ, Plots, Foreign, Trade, Transfer, and Summon is decreased. (The greater the distance, the greater the effect.)
Sili Daqin Trade with Daqin (Rome) is possible.
Jingzhao Anxi Trade with Anxi (Parthia) is possible.
Liang Province Qiang Friend Foreign commands can be used with the outlander force 'Qiang'.
Yang Province Shanyue Friend Foreign commands can be used with the outlander force 'Shanyue'.
Jiao Province Tianzhu Trade with Tianzhu (India) is possible.
Northern Jing province Academic Doctrine EXP obtained and EXP obtained by subordinate officers is increased.
Southern Jing province Rhetorician The chance of successfully employing free officers or prisoners is increased.
Yi Province Guishuang Trade with Guishuang (Kushan) is possible.
Nanzhong Nanman Friend Foreign commands can be used with the outlander force 'Nanman'.

A series first! Trade with Eurasian empires

Once certain geographical advantages are unlocked, players can open-up trade routes with Eurasian countries – a series first! The four great empires that existed during the same era, Daqin (Rome), Anxi (Parthia), Guishuang (Kushan) and Tianzhu (India) can now become trade partners.
More specifically, the geographical advantage of Sili, Jingzhao, Yi Province, and Jiao Province allows trade with Rome, Parthia, Kushan, and India, respectively.

Gains from trade

Through developing strong relations with each empire, players will earn techniques or books, teaching special tactics. Some of these abilities are extremely powerful, so players must carefully consider their relations with Eurasian empires, while at the same time preventing enemy forces from commencing trade.

Trading Goods

Tianzhu

Manusmriti

This speciality increases Politics by 10 and prolongs life.

Arthashastra

All development values will increase for the area.

Garuda Formation

The Manoeuvre, Siege, and Demolish of Crane formations are strengthened.

War Elephants Tome

A tactic is learned that causes damage to durability and enemy area units.

Guishuang

Buddhist Sutra

This speciality increases Intelligence by 10 and prolongs life.

Amitabha

The effect duration for the tactic "Apply all status ailments" is lengthened.

Chakravarti Transportation

Movement is increased for Transport formations on a Mountain Path, Low Mountains, Mountains, or High Mountains.

Asura Formation Tome

A tactic is learned that causes damage to enemy area units and decreases defense.

Anxi

Arash's Bow

This speciality increases Strength by 10 and ensures withdrawal.

Cataphract

The effect of the tactic "Damage" is strengthened.

Persian Cavalry

The defence of Awl formations is strengthened.

Parthian Shot Tome

A tactic is learned that causes damage to enemy area units and makes them disordered.

Daqin

The Art of Tactics

This speciality increases Leadership by 10 and ensures withdrawal.

Legion

The cooldown period between activating tactics is shortened.

Catapult Tactics

Catapult formations can attack from a distance.

Shield Wall Tome

A tactic is learned that increases the defense of allied area units, and recovers wounded troops.

A new campaign “War Chronicles Mode” recreates classic scenes in Romance of Three Kingdoms

In the thrilling new War Chronicles Mode, five new short scenarios will be added to the battlefield, including “The Coalition Against Dong Zhuo”, the “Battle of Guandu”, the “Battle of Chibi”, the “Battle for Jing Province”, and the “Battle for Wuzhang Plains”.

Select Force

In this new mode, gamers will take command of forces which cannot be chosen in normal scenarios -- such as Zhou Yu in the “Battle of Chibi” and rivals Zhuge Liang or Sima Yi in the heated “Battle of Wuzhang Plains”.

Score Board

At the conclusion of each scenario, players will be evaluated and given a score according to several factors including how many turns were used, how many orders were consumed, and how many times a coordinated tactic was executed, testing the true skills of every gamer out on the virtual battlefield.

New options “False Information” and “Destroy Building” allow intellectual officers to play a more active part

False Information

 “False information” is a unit command which disseminates disinformation to enemy units and leads them into traps. If you lay a trap in advance and activate the command “false information” against a marching enemy unit, your previous commands will be suspended and your unit will deceive the enemy unit to move toward the ensuing trap.  

New Characteristic

With “False Information”, success depends on intelligence, so officers with high intelligence are going to play a more active part in battlefields than ever before. New officer characteristics referring to “false information” will also be introduced into the game, such as “Seer” and “Careless”, allowing officers to have more vivid and effective personality types throughout every campaign.

Destroy Building

In addition, the new “Destroy building” ability will enable players to sabotage structures on the map. Instead of simply marching units to destroy a building in a soldier’s way like in previous games, now you will be able to set traps like falling rocks to devastate buildings impeding your path to victory.

Experience some of The Three Kingdom's most epic moments with the addition of four new scenarios

The "Intentions of Two Yuans" (October 191) depicts how the ambition of warlords clashes after the Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition collapses. The "Battle of Chibi" (October 208) is the biggest turning point for Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the "Anti-Guan Yu Coalition" (July 219), Wei and Wu join forces to prevent Guan Yu from advancing north. And "The Conquest of Liaodong" (January 238) portrays the subjugation of Gongsun Yuan, the King of Yan, by Sima Yi.

In each scenario, players can choose from unique warlords who were active at several stages during that era. Check out the scenario

Events

In addition, a variety of classic events in Romance of the Three Kingdoms are included as event scenes. For example, "The Fall of Sun Jian" portrays Sun Jian's sudden death and "Zhou Yu's Estrange Plot" tells the story of how Cai Mao and Zhang Yun in Cao Cao's army were eliminated by Zhou Yu.

New "characteristics" make these unique officers shine even brighter.

The expansion pack will add new "characteristics" to make these unique officers shine even brighter.

"Plunderer" allows an officer to obtain gold and supplies when enemy units are defeated. "Ministrant" officers are more likely to be added to a co-ordinated attack regardless of relationships. Whether enemy or ally, troops are more likely to return alive when an officer is "Merciful", while they are less likely to be survived when an officer is "Violent". "Adamant" greatly decreases attack damage from buildings. Prisoners affiliated with a base for which a "Guard" officer is the governor will not be able to escape. These new "characteristics" are introduced to depict officers in a more realistic way.

Others

Grand UnificationNEW

In order to face the player's force, two forces will band together to form a single, stronger force. Once the player's force grows to a certain size, Grand Unification may occur, allowing for more than two forces to form a larger union with many advantages. A new and more thrilling challenge awaits you on your path to unify China.

Event Editor

The Event Editor allows players to create their own events by combining event backgrounds, speakers, messages, BGM, and officer images.

The features of the Event Editor will be adjusted in future updates.

Switch Kingdoms

When starting a new scenario in this newly introduced mode, the location of forces will be randomly shuffled causing events to unfold in new ways.

New terrain "Raging River"

Only Assault Ships or Roofed Boats can enter the new "Raging River" terrain . Experience deeper battles on water!

Chronology

Players can check their trajectory in the new "Chronology" feature.