I’m sure on harder difficulties it becomes more of a consideration, but as a mechanic, it shouldn’t be obsolete at any difficulty level.Īnd that’s the problem with both of these new factions, in that both never completely land with what they’re trying to accomplish. However, once you do get to the stage where you’ve done enough missions, your Luck just stays at maximum and it becomes something you don’t even consider anymore. It’s a useful way to encourage you to follow Sun Ce’s story and embrace his reckless missions and need for a strong Court. Completing various missions can see this Luck restored. It also pays to keep it high for better bonuses. There’s also the Reckless Luck counter, which declines over time and needs to be kept above zero to keep Sun Ce alive. The Shared Experience mechanic which pools experience and allows you to spend it on whoever you feel needs a boost goes hand-in-hand with this new Court dynamic, keeping you in control. Rewards are based on how experienced your Court is, so surrounding yourself with high-level followers is key. However its focus on tactical expansion along the Yangtze river and having to deal with the looming threat of the bandit Yan Baihu felt more engaging. Sure the “rise from nothing to greatness” story isn’t novel, even in the story of Three Kingdoms. Sun Ce’s campaign felt much more in keeping with the balance required, whilst still adding some interestingly tweaked mechanics. And there were times when I longed for a campaign without such restrictions. But, at times it can often feel restrictive, almost like the game is punishing you for playing a way you need to play to maintain balance. When it works, it feels liberating, akin to the energetic warrior Lü Bu is portrayed as. Whilst it’s clear the focus of the Lü Bu campaign is relentless combat, you still can’t ignore the financials or well-being of the population you have taken control of. But as those who have invested time in Three Kingdoms will know, it’s easy to over-stretch yourself, and find yourself struggling to survive. It certainly puts the emphasis on all-out combat which is enthralling at the start. Defeat legendary warriors, and you’ll also gain access to bonuses in the Greatest Warriors Panel.
This, in theory, means you can keep moving from enemy to enemy all in one turn if enough are in close proximity. Opting for the aggressive Lü Bu, you’ll have Momentum at your disposal, which allows you to replenish your movement range after beating an enemy in battle. Both storylines are about betrayal, hence the DLC title, but also about each warlord trying to establish their credentials and earn respect from others.Īs is customary now with Three Kingdoms DLC, each of these storylines adds not only new units to discover but also some new mechanics unique to each story. Alternatively, you could opt for Sun Ce’s journey in the South of China as he seeks to step out as a vassal of Yuan Shu and establish his own faction. The new content sees you able to take control of Lü Bu and his power-struggle with Cao Cao. The crucial difference is now, Dong Zhuo is dead, slain by Lü Bu, and as such, all the various warlord factions are again vying for supremacy.
Although for the first time, I’m not as convinced it was the new content that was keeping me hooked, rather than the addictive main game itself.Ī World Betrayed – the third DLC for Total War: Three Kingdoms – is set in a slightly later time period, 194 CE. And it’s fair to say that I felt exactly the same way whilst playing the latest A World Betrayed DLC. The urge to just play through one more season, one more year, conquer just one more foe is too hard to shake. Far too frequently I lose entire evenings in its vast world of strategy, battles and diplomacy. That inescapable truth that as much as I’m consuming Three Kingdoms, it’s also consuming me. Over the many hours I’ve invested in Total War: Three Kingdoms since its launch, I’m always struck by the same feeling.
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