Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War Profile Preview - The Greeks

Rise & Fall: Civilizations of War is the upcoming real-time strategy game that will let you raise an ancient army and wage war on neighboring civilizations. You can lead Roman, Greek, Egyptian, and Persian armies into battle, from both the traditional top-down real-time strategy view, or by diving down into the fray thanks to hero command, which lets you take direct control of a legendary hero of the era. With the game's June ship date approaching, we're taking a close look at the Greeks, and we've got the info on their heroes, units, and special advisors. And after you're done getting briefed on the Greek's capabilities, download and try the single-player demo.

The Greeks

Although the Greeks traditionally had a smaller army than their foes, they made up for their size deficiency by fielding one of the best-equipped and trained armies in the world. In keeping with historical accuracy, that dynamic has been re-created in Rise & Fall.

Heroes

Alexander the Great (356 BC to 323 BC): Armed with a sword and shield, Alexander the Great can quickly slice through legions of enemy soldiers. If the situation is especially dire, though, he'll unleash the Bow of Zeus, which fires arrows that have been doused with naphtha. When one of these arrows strikes a human target, it immediately sets that person (and any others foolhardy enough to be close by) ablaze, turning the surrounding area into an inferno. Alexander is an excellent all-around hero. Every time he kills an enemy soldier, he gains extra glory. On the other hand, Alexander has limited abilities using his bow and arrow.

Achilles (circa 1200 BC): Achilles is a master of all forms of combat, but his weapon of choice is the Sword of Poseidon, a weapon of ferocious capabilities and a gift from his mother. Able to withstand an amazing amount of damage, Achilles wades into battle without fear. Achilles' "Fanaticism of the Gods" is a mighty battle cry that inspires his soldiers to unbelievable ferocity in combat. This ability also renders Achilles near-invulnerable for a short period of time. As Achilles reaches higher levels, his cry affects ever-larger groups of his men. Weaknesses: Achilles is slower and less agile than most units, and while he can use the bow and arrow, he is at heart a true swordsman.

Units

Greek Swordsmen: The heart of the Greek army are the swordsmen, highly trained and disciplined soldiers who can easily hold their own against other melee units in the game.

Greek Spearmen: Not only are the spearmen an effective defense against raiding enemy cavalry, they can also form an impenetrable offensive wall that moves across the field of battle, cutting down any who stand before them.

Greek Cavalry: Alexander the Great was a brilliant equestrian, a trait that his cavalry also shared. The Greek cavalry are fast, deadly, and experts at flanking maneuvers.

Greek Archer: Although not as powerful as their Egyptian counterparts, the archers in the Greek army are still quite lethal, preferring to unleash a barrage of flaming arrows upon enemy defenses.

Greek Military Trainer: The mightiest Greek warriors became military trainers. These battle-hardened individuals train other friendly troops on the battlefield, increasing their morale and fighting ability.

Greek Fire Raiser: This ancient "flame thrower" inspired absolute terror in the hearts of enemy soldiers who saw it lumbering across the battlefield. Capable of raising a burst of flame, the fire raiser would incinerate anyone and anything that crossed its path.

Greek Spartan: Because of its limited size, the Greek army relied heavily on training. The Spartan, which is recruited at your barracks, automatically trains any idle soldiers, ensuring that when conflict does arrive, they'll be ready.

Advisors

No general, regardless of his military prowess, can manage an entire military campaign all by himself. And that's why real-world leaders such as Alexander the Great relied on trusted advisors to help them manage key aspects of their campaign.

In Rise & Fall, your advisors are your trusted friends and comrades, each of whom provides you with special bonuses and abilities. Instead of purchasing upgrades to unlock new technologies, you will hire experts in each field. Here are just a few of the key Greek advisors you can employ.

Greek Philosopher: All philosophy has its roots in ancient Greece, as great thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle espoused their beliefs to multitudes of people and influenced the actions of every Greek leader, including Alexander the Great.

Benefit: Some of the greatest thinkers in all of history came from ancient Greece. The result of hiring one is a morale bonus. Happy troops are hard-fighting troops.

Greek Surgeon: The most famous Greek physician and surgeon was Hippocrates, who applied scientific standards to the study of medicine and helped it move beyond the superstitious and paranormal. He was also the creator of the Hippocratic Oath, a set of beliefs that is still used by doctors today.

Benefit: Healing wounded units is an efficient way to maintain the size of your fighting force; the surgeon helps to keep your soldiers on their feet.

Greek Botanist: Led by Aristotle, the Greeks began a large-scale effort to catalog and research plant life. One of Aristotle's students, Theophrastus, named many of the plants, and is often called the father of botany. This research let the Greeks create numerous remedies and medicines from plant life, and also gave them insight into which forests were the best for harvesting lumber.

Benefit: Vastly improved harvesting capabilities.

Greek Siege Worker: Using siege weapons on the battlefield was an innovation of the ancient Greeks, who used the earliest catapults against their enemies. Alexander the Great saw additional uses for catapults, and instead of simply using them against fixed enemy positions, he'd also use them against Persian ground forces. Catapults were designed and built by master weaponsmiths called siege masters.

Benefit: The final outcome of any major conquest involves laying siege to your enemy's cities. Be prepared by employing the finest, most durable siege weapons available.

Greek Chef: Few things in ancient Greece were appreciated more than a big feast, which is why chefs were so valued. Their culinary expertise kept them in constant demand as the desires of the Greek people forced them to create increasingly extravagant meals.

Benefit: Decent food motivates your citizens to work harder.

We've now covered two of the four playable civilizations; you'll be able to pit all four against each other when Rise & Fall ships later this year.