How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience!

How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience!

UPDATE 1: A BIG THANK YOU!

As of today, 30/03/2021, this guide, which I didn't expect to gain so much attention, reached 25 ratings which was enough for the Steam system to give it its first stars! It also has almost 1000 views and over 40 favourites!

From what I saw, all 25 people (including me, I wont lie :P), gave it a thumbs up! Whatever the case, I want to thank everyone who liked, commented, "favorited" and also those who gave the guide some Steam awards! I really appreciate it all! I just hope this guide helped some of you make Rome 2, a more enjoyable experience.

Like I noted before, Ill keep updating the guide if I see some nice mods to add to the collection.

Thank you all again!

UPDATE 2: ANOTHER BIG THANK YOU!

The date is 30/04/2021 (wow, exactly a month after the 1st update) and the guide has surpassed the 100 rating mark!

I just want to say another big thank you to everyone who has given this guide a thumbs up rating, favorited it and given it a steam award!

I'm glad I was able to help people make Rome 2 a better experience for them!

Thank you all again!

Mod 1 - Faction UI Overhaul


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 11
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 12
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 13

Are you tired of the boring and bland Rome 2 campaign UI that's literally the same for each faction? Look no further! Even though this mod is such a little thing, it will help you immerse yourself more in the campaign.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1414968360

Mod 2 - NordoPic: 3D Unit Cards


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 17

Tired of the sometimes confusing and boring looking Rome 2 cards? Do you miss the classic Rome 1 and Medieval 2 style? Look no further! This amazing mod not only does the job for the Vanilla units, but supports dozens of great unit mods!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=889779885

Mod(s) 3 - Benjin's Generals Collection!


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 21

How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 22

This collection is a must to make your campaigns better! These amazing mods not only introduce more realistic and better looking faces for the current developed factions, but add an aging system for the characters and even an equipment system, so when your character levels up, he will visually be upgraded.

Currently, the only developed factions are the Romans, Greeks and Punics.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1415360013

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1949431188

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1623319395

Mod 4 - Traits, Talents And Toadies: Character Overhaul


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As the title suggests, this mod revamps the trait and talent trees for characters and armies! I personally found the vanilla character trait tree poorly done, as I never had an idea what route my character should go with, this one makes the experience much better!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=204849860

An example of the roman army tree:

Mod 5 - More Trade Ships & Carts


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As a Medieval 2 and Rome 1 player, I always loved seeing all the trade carts and ships going around the map. Sadly in Rome 2, this feature wasn't as good, as even though my Empire was vast, and in the economy tab it said I earn a lot from trade, I only saw a few trade ships going around, this mod fixes that!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1552194598

Mod 6 - Better Building, Skill And Trait Icons - Emperor Edition


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One of the most needed mods out there! This mod revamps the building icons by showcasing information what each building does! Very simple and small but yet much appreciated!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=334025876

Mod 7 - Wonders Of The Ancient World


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 42
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 43
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 44
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 45

Remember the effects the great wonders of the ancient world provided your faction in Rome 1? Well this mod brings this feature back properly! With tons of wonders in the game and well made effects.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=821192894

Mod(s) 8 - Graphic/Texture And Lighting Mods!


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 49
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 50
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 51

3 essential mods that make the Campaign look much nicer. It brings textures from Total War Attila but it revamps the lighting to suit the theme of antiquity, makes the sea and cities look nicer. Highly recommended to use all mods at the same time!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1596495418

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1515544433

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2420691432

Mod 9 - Enhanced Particles


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 57
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 58
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 59

This mod makes the battles just much look better with added dust effects, the screenshots speak for themselves!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=358921596&searchtext=particles

NOTE, MERELY SUBSCRIBING TO THE MOD DOES NOT DOWNLOAD THE MOD, READ THE DESCRIPTION OF THE MOD'S PAGE

Mod 10,11 - Minor And Major Factions

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=187299520

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=233589292

These 2 mods do what the titles suggest! Minor factions stay minor (although it is not impossible for them to become strong) and the major factions have a much higher chance of expanding and becoming strong!

Mod 12 - Female Generals: 0% Spawn Rate And No Female Generals

Before some of you start attacking me for including this (you know who you are :P) , hear me out.

This mod is a personal preference of mine, as I believe without it, the historical atmosphere gets ruined. I downloaded this mod when I was playing a campaign as Rome and I noticed half or most of the European tribes were literally controlled by women. (No, I am not exaggerating).

So this mod isnt exactly a "must", unless you want a more authentic and accurate historical atmosphere :)

The starting female rulers like Queen Teuta do not get removed.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1522989335

Mod 13 - Pikemen Start Battles With Pikes

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=204682595

Mod 14 - Bloody Battles (Animations Mod)

This mod I cannot recommend enough! Especially if you have the blood and gore DLC. It makes the battles much more cinematic by making animations a norm, and completely removes the "heart attacks" some soldiers seem to face during the battles. Personally for me this is a must as I love zooming in into the battles.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1442229567

Mod 15 - Roman Models Extravaganza


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 79
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 80
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 81

How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 82

This awesome mod updates the Roman helmets, armor, equipment and other items into more high quality and accurate models!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1506238217

Mod 16 - Grand Campaign Map - Modern Theme


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 86
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 87
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 88

A wonderful mod that makes the atmosphere of the game much better. There's other map mods out there but this one is personally my favorite.

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE MOD WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY IF YOU DO NOT MOVE IT ABOVE THE WONDERS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD MOD IN THE MOD LOADING ORDER, THAT IS BECAUSE THAT MOD ALSO CHANGES THE MAP BY ADDING WONDER ICONS.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=266987729

Mod 17 - Two Turns Per Year

This mod is needed especially if you enjoy role playing. Getting sick and tired of your high ranking generals you grew attached to dying so fast? This mod fixes it! As characters will age half as fast now. I never understood why they made the default system 1 turn per year.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=186948023

Mod 18 - A World To Explore


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How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 97

I think the older Total War fans will highly appreciate this mod! It removes the city symbols in the fog of war area, meaning you'll have to do it like in Rome 1 or in Medieval 2 by discovering the settlements gradually.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=207117759

WORLD BEFORE:

WORLD AFTER:

Mod(s) 19 - Sebidee's Standalone Roster Expansions


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How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 104
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 105
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 106

The link bellow sends you to the popular collection of Sebidee's expansions to the faction unit rosters! As there's too many to count, I'm just providing the link to them all. It adds tons of flavor to the factions! From what I have seen, it's balanced and Sebidee says he made sure each unit fits with each faction in a historic way.

https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=1081921939

Mod 20 - Faction Party Colours


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How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 111

Another simple mod which changes the political party colors into better ones.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1420323727

BEFORE MOD:

AFTER MOD:

Mod 21 - Historically Correct Testudo Formation

If you love playing as Romans you need to get this mod! It makes the testudo useful and accurate just like it was in Rome 1, hence your legionnaires will actually survive multiple waves of arrow fire!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1465654710

Mod 22 - Removed General Predictions


How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 120
How to make vanilla Rome 2 a much better and more authentic experience! image 121

Believe it or not, I've been asking for this type of mod for a long time. I always hated the system of Rome 2 where it showed the exact number of how much of your forces you would lose, this mod completely removes that! It also goes a step further and removes the balance of power bar, which makes the game much more hardcore, you will have to think twice before initiating battles and check the enemy army composition more carefully!

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2644361750

Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2425064814					

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