# Welcome To Rome: Total War - Gold Edition

### These FAQs accompany version 1.3

Developed by The Creative Assembly
Developed for the Mac by Feral Interactive Limited
Published for Mac by Feral Interactive Limited

## FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

This document is intended to help you answer any questions that you may have about Rome: Total War - Gold Edition

1. In the Prologue, Control + A does not seem to work. Why?
2. Some of the key combinations mentioned in the Prologue don't work. What keys should I use instead?
3. How do I play the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack?
4. How do I play a LAN multiplayer battle in Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?
5. How do I play an online multiplayer game of Rome: Total War - Gold Edition using GameRanger?
6. How do I make sure GameRanger can find Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?
7. Where are my saved games stored?
8. When I press the Function keys (F1-F19) nothing happens. How do I use the Function keys?
9. Why does music in iTunes pause when I start playing Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?
10. I have two monitors attached to my computer. How do I change which screen the game runs on?
11. Rome: Total War - Gold Edition runs slowly on my computer. Is there anything I can do to increase the speed?
12. How do I get technical support for Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?
13. Can I play this game on a case-sensitive file system?
14. How do I rotate the camera angle in a game?
15. What is the purpose of Academies?
16. How do you play as a faction other than the Romans in campaign mode?
17. Public order is really low! What should I do?
18. What is the "rally point" function on the main map for?
19. How do you win favour with the people? i.e. When am I allowed to invade Rome?
20. How do I build forts on the main map, and what is their purpose?
21. I put my projectile weapons behind my troops and let my troops and the enemy fight, but most of my troops get killed and the enemy troops are almost unaffected. Why?
22. My huge cities are losing money fast, and my tiny towns are thriving! Why?
23. I want to train units that let me attack a city right away without having to siege. What buildings do I need?
24. Sometimes I can't move through a sea area because it will say "can't go through another faction's zone of control." What is this zone? Can I see its borders?
25. I have lots of Huge Cities but still no Legionaries! Why not?
26. Can I have more units per unit card?
27. How do I get the Legionary First Cohort? I don't see it on the Recruitment Scroll.
28. What is the meaning of the "Wait 1, 2, 3" indicators just before starting a battle?
29. Should I build up my outermost cities?
30. How do you set way points for troops during field battles?
31. The historical battles are very hard and I just can't win! Is something wrong with the game?

1. ### In the Prologue, Control + A does not seem to work. Why?

   The voiceover in the Prologue instructs you to hold down the Control key (ctrl) and press the A key in order to select all units on the Battle Map. On a Mac, the Control key is reserved for the secondary (right) click, so instead you must hold down the Command key (⌘) and press A.

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2. ### Some of the key combinations mentioned in the Prologue don't work. What keys should I use instead?

   Some of the default keyboard assignments have been altered in order to ensure that Rome: Total War is playable on as many Mac keyboards as possible. Here is a list of the modified commands from the Prologue along with their new key assignments.

   Command | Prologue | Actual
   --- | --- | ---
   Zoom Out | * | Alt (⌥) + Up Arrow
   Zoom In | / | Alt (⌥) + Down Arrow
   Rotate Up | + | Command (⌘) + Up Arrow
   Rotate Down | - | Command (⌘) + Down Arrow
   Track Unit | Delete | Alt (⌥) + T

   Also, note that where the Prologue refers to the Control key (ctrl), use the Command key (⌘) on the Mac.

   You can change or add additional key assignments in the Control Settings screen in the in-game Options menu.

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3. ### How do I play the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack?

   Rome: Total War - Gold Edition contains the Barbarian Invasion expansion pack. To play it, follow these instructions:

   1. Select the About tab from the pre-game Options window.

   2. Select the Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion option from the Select Game drop-down menu.

   3. Click the Play button. Barbarian Invasion will now start.

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4. ### How do I play a LAN multiplayer battle in Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?

   Playing a LAN multiplayer battle in Rome: Total War - Gold Edition is slightly different depending on whether you wish to host the battle, or simply join it.

   To host a game:

   1. Double-click on the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application icon. By default this is to be found in the Applications folder on your computer's hard drive.

   2. The Rome: Total War - Gold Edition pre-game Options window will appear. Select either Rome: Total War or Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion from the Select Game drop-down menu.

   3. Click on the Play button. The game will launch.

   4. From the Main Menu, select Multiplayer.

   5. From the Multiplayer menu, select LAN Battles.

   6. A dialog will appear prompting you to enter a player name. Enter your name, then click on the Tick button.

   7. The Lobby screen will appear. Select the Host a New Game button.

   8. The Host Game screen will appear, from which you can adjust your battle settings. You must enter a valid Game Name before you can continue.

   9. Select Host Custom Battle. If you selected Rome: Total War in Step 2, you will also be able to select Host Historical Battle.

   10. The screens that follow on allow you to customise your battle, including choosing your army. When you are happy with your settings on each screen, click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to proceed to the next screen.

   11. From the Customise Army screen (in a custom battle) or the Choose an Army screen (in a historical battle), click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to indicate that you are ready.

   12. The game will begin once all the players have indicated that they are ready.

   To join a game:

   1. Double-click on the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application icon. By default this is to be found in the Applications folder on your computer's hard drive.

   2. The Rome: Total War - Gold Edition pre-game Options window will appear. Select either Rome: Total War or Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion from the Select Game drop-down menu. You must select the same option as that selected by the host.

   3. Click on the Play button. The game will launch.

   4. From the Main Menu, select Multiplayer.

   5. From the Multiplayer menu, select LAN Battles.

   6. A dialog will appear prompting you to enter a player name. Enter your name, then click on the Tick button.

   7. The Lobby screen will appear with a list of available games. Select the game you wish to join, and click on the Join Selected Game button.

   8. The screens that follow on enable you to choose your faction and army. When you are happy with your settings on each screen, click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to proceed to the next screen.

   9. From the Customise Army screen (in a custom battle) or the Choose an Army screen (in a historical battle), click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to indicate that you are ready.

   10. The game will begin once all the players have indicated that they are ready.

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5. ### How do I play an online multiplayer game of Rome: Total War - Gold Edition using GameRanger?

   Before you play an online multiplayer game of Rome: Total War - Gold Edition, you must download and install GameRanger. The GameRanger application can be downloaded from http://www.gameranger.com/.

   You must ensure that GameRanger is able to find the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application. For information on how to do this, see How do I make sure GameRanger can find Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?, in these FAQs.

   When playing an online multiplayer game, we recommend that you choose the most powerful computer among those playing to host the game.

   To host a game:

   1. Double-click on the GameRanger application icon.

   2. The GameRanger application will open.

   3. Click on the Host button.

   4. The Host Game window will appear. When you are happy with your settings, click the OK button.

   5. Wait for the other player(s) to join the game. When you are ready to begin, click the Start button.

   6. The GameRanger application will launch the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application.

   7. The Rome: Total War - Gold Edition pre-game Options window will appear. Select either Rome: Total War or Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion from the Select Game drop-down menu.

   8. Click on the Play button. The game will launch.

   9. The Host Game screen will appear. Select Host Custom Battle. If you selected Rome: Total War in Step 7, you will also be able to select Host Historical Battle.

   10. The screens that follow on allow you to customise your battle, including choosing your army. When you are happy with your settings on each screen, click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to proceed to the next screen.

   11. From the Customise Army screen (in a custom battle) or the Choose an Army screen (in a historical battle), click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to indicate that you are ready.

   12. The game will begin once all the players have indicated that they are ready.

   To join a game:

   1. Double-click on the GameRanger application icon.

   2. The GameRanger application will open.

   3. From the list of available games, double-click on a Rome Total War game.

   4. When the host starts the game, Rome: Total War - Gold Edition will launch.

   5. The Rome: Total War - Gold Edition pre-game Options window will appear. Select either Rome: Total War or Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion from the Select Game drop-down menu. You must select the same option as that selected by the host.

   6. Click on the Play button. The game will launch.

   7. The screens that follow on enable you to choose your faction and army. When you are happy with your settings on each screen, click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to proceed to the next screen.

   8. From the Customise Army screen (in a custom battle) or the Choose an Army screen (in a historical battle), click on the Continue button (golden arrow) to indicate that you are ready.

   9. The game will begin once all the players have indicated that they are ready.

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6. ### How do I make sure GameRanger can find Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?

   Once you have downloaded and installed the GameRanger application, follow the on-screen prompts to set up a GameRanger account.

   Once you have done this, follow the instructions below to ensure the GameRanger application can find the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition applicaton:

   1. Double-click on the GameRanger application icon. By default, this will be in your Applications folder.

   2. The GameRanger application will open.

   3. From the GameRanger menu, select the Preferences option.

   4. The GameRanger Preferences window will appear. From the list of games, highlight the Rome Total War option, then click the Browse button.

   5. The GameRanger: Choose Game Application window will appear (it will look like your Finder). Select the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application.

   6. Click the Choose button.

   7. Close the GameRanger Preferences window.

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7. ### Where are my saved games stored?

   Your saved games are stored in your game's preferences folder.

   To open this folder, click the Open Preferences Folder button in the About tab of the pre-game Options window.

   You can also navigate to the preferences folder manually. It is stored in the Feral Interactive folder in your computer's ~/Library/Application Support folder (where the "~" symbol refers to your home directory).

   By default, the Library folder is hidden from your Finder. To open it, follow these instructions:

   1. Open the Finder.

   2. Open the Go menu from the main toolbar.

   3. Hold down the Alt (⌥) key. The Library option will appear.

   4. Click on the Library option. The Library folder will open in your Finder.

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8. ### When I press the Function keys (F1-F19) nothing happens. How do I use the Function keys?

   By default, Mac OS X uses the F keys to control items such as volume and brightness. To use an F key for a game command hold down the fn key, then press the F key you wish to use.

   To automatically enable the F keys, follow these steps:

   1. Open System Preferences ( Menu → System Preferences).

   2. Click on Keyboard or Keyboard and Mouse (depending on the version of Mac OS X you are running).

   3. Select the Keyboard tab.

   4. Check the Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys checkbox.

   The F keys will now work without using the fn key.

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9. ### Why does music in iTunes pause when I start playing Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?

   By default, music playing in iTunes will be paused when you start playing Rome: Total War - Gold Edition.

   To turn this feature off, follow the steps below:

   1. Double-click on the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application icon while holding the Command (⌘) key down. The pre-game Options window will appear.

   2. Select the Extras tab.

   3. Uncheck the Pause iTunes while playing Rome: Total War - Gold Edition checkbox.

   4. Select the Play button to start playing.

   To turn this feature back on at a later date, simply check the Pause iTunes while playing Rome: Total War - Gold Edition checkbox and then select the Play button.

   Holding down the Command (⌘) key while starting the game will also display the pre-game Options window.

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10. ### I have two monitors attached to my computer. How do I change which screen the game runs on?

    If you have more than one monitor capable of supporting Rome: Total War - Gold Edition connected to your Mac, you can choose which one to use from the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition pre-game Options window.

    To do this, follow the steps below:

    1. Double-click on the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition application icon while holding the Command (⌘) key down. The pre-game Options window will appear.

    2. Select the Displays tab in order to choose a monitor.

    Holding down the Command (⌘) key while starting the game will also display the pre-game Options window.

    NOTE: If you have two monitors connected to your Mac, you may experience a drop in performance.

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11. ### Rome: Total War - Gold Edition runs slowly on my computer. Is there anything I can do to increase the speed?

    There are several factors which have an impact on the speed at which Rome: Total War - Gold Edition runs. Please see the Rome: Total War - Gold Edition Performance Tips section in the ReadMe for ways to increase the speed at which the game runs on your computer.

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12. ### How do I get technical support for Rome: Total War - Gold Edition?

    Please read the technical support information in the ReadMe; this tells you what to check and if necessary, how to contact Feral Technical Support with your issue.

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13. ### Can I play this game on a case-sensitive file system?

    No. Rome: Total War - Gold Edition has been tested with the basic formatting option for Mac OS X, which is HFS+. This system is not case-sensitive and identifies files by name without checking capitalisation.

    The capitalisation of filenames is not consistent throughout the game. While this will not always prevent the game from running on case-sensitive file systems, it may lead to crashes and other unpredictable behaviour.

    If you have to run a case-sensitive setup and you experience problems with Rome: Total War - Gold Edition, please install the game on a standard formatted partition or read/write disk image. In most cases this will allow you to play the game on your machine.

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14. ### How do I rotate the camera angle in a game?

    If you deselect the Real-Time Strategy Camera option in the **Camera Settings** you will be able to rotate the camera up and down while in battle mode.

    To do this action while using the "Total War Style" keyboard setup, press the Command Key (⌘) + Up Arrow or the Command Key (⌘) + Down Arrow. In the "FPS Style" setup, press the R or the F key.

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15. ### What is the purpose of Academies?

    The main purpose of Academies is to train governors. From an Academy, a Scriptorium or a Ludus Magna, a governor can gain many traits and ancillaries (members of his retinue).

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16. ### How do you play as a faction other than the Romans in campaign mode?

    To unlock a faction you must defeat it in a campaign. You may also enable all the playable factions by using the Enable All Factions check box in the Advanced panel of the pre-game Options window.

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17. ### Public order is really low! What should I do?

    There are several ways to improve public order. You can lower taxes, hold more frequent Games and Races, upgrade the City, upgrade the Temple, upgrade the Arena, or train a better governor through Academies.

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18. ### What is the "rally point" function on the main map for?

    If you set a rally point for a city, troops you create in that city will be deployed to that rally point. If you were planning to send new troops to a particular location anyway, setting a rally point will save you a few clicks.

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19. ### How do you win favour with the people? i.e. When am I allowed to invade Rome?

    Low taxes, well managed and happy settlements, good profits, being on good terms with the Senate and other factions, and in particular an expanding empire will help you win favour with the people. You can invade Rome when your popularity with the people is at the maximum possible level. You will receive a message that you are encouraged to take power. You don't need a certain number of armies and territories, but it is wise to have a large amount of both before invading Rome and triggering the civil war between the Scipii, Brutii, Julii, and the Senate.

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20. ### How do I build forts on the main map, and what is their purpose?

    A fort is a temporary settlement that stays up as long as troops remain inside. They can only be built by an army with a family member leading them. You build them by clicking on the army, clicking on the Construction button, and clicking Build Fort.

    The best use of forts is when the army is at risk of an attack they cannot win on the field. Once the fort has been built the situation resembles a siege, and your army gains the advantages that come with being a defender during a siege. Forts also help to reduce the number of rebels in your camp.

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21. ### I put my projectile weapons behind my troops and let my troops and the enemy fight, but most of my troops get killed and the enemy troops are almost unaffected. Why?

    This is due to "friendly fire"! Most of your projectile weapons will miss and hit your own troops that are in front of them instead of the units you tell them to attack. To solve this, either keep the projectile weapons in front, or keep them to the side.

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22. ### My huge cities are losing money fast, and my tiny towns are thriving! Why?

    This is because the cost of maintaining your army is split between the cities, based on their population. If a city has 50% of your total population, that city will pay 50% of the cost of your army. The cities making money ought to balance out your finances.

    Look at the Settlement Details scroll for details of where the money is going in each settlement. If you let a settlement rebel and then exterminate it, you simply spread the cost of your army on to your other settlements.

    Extermination won't help your finances! The best way to avoid losing money on your cities is to conquer, conquer, conquer!

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23. ### I want to train units that let me attack a city right away without having to siege. What buildings do I need?

    Siege weapons can be built at an Archery Range (Ballistas, Onagers for Dacians, Scythians and Spanish only) and its upgrades, Catapult Range (Scorpions and Onagers) and Siege Engines (Repeating Ballistas and Heavy Onagers).

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24. ### Sometimes I can't move through a sea area because it will say "can't go through another faction's zone of control." What is this zone? Can I see its borders?

    When you click on a unit, you'll see the region which it can move through in green. However, you will notice that if there are any enemy/neutral units in the region, the area around that unit will be red. This denotes the zone of control. If your unit ends a move in the zone of control, it can no longer move.

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25. ### I have lots of Huge Cities but still no Legionaries! Why not?

    To get Legionaries you must wait for the Marius Reforms.

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26. ### Can I have more units per unit card?

    Yes! From the Main Menu, go to Options → Video Options, and check the box marked Advanced Options and change the Unit Scale. This will only be applied to new campaigns you start, not your current one. Keep in mind that population cost and garrison effectiveness change with unit size.

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27. ### How do I get the Legionary First Cohort? I don't see it on the Recruitment Scroll.

    The Legionary First Cohort is a gift from the Senate, for completing a random mission, so you may have to be patient. You may prefer to train the Early Legionary Cohort instead, as it costs less.

    The Early Legionary First Cohort and Legionary First Cohort can both be trained from Rome only after the Marius Reforms from an Army Barracks (Large City) and Royal Barracks (Huge City).

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28. ### What is the meaning of the "Wait 1, 2, 3" indicators just before starting a battle?

    If you feel that the weather is unfavourable, for example if it is raining heavily and you have a lot of archers, then you can click the Wait button in order to wait a few more days before battle and see if the weather improves. As you do this the number next to Wait goes down. When it hits 0, you are stuck with the current weather.

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29. ### Should I build up my outermost cities?

    Some cities should be economic powerhouses and others should be military powerhouses. Both should be built up, although the economy takes priority. Frontier cities are always worth building up, as that is where the enemy is most likely to attack.

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30. ### How do you set way points for troops during field battles?

    Hold the Shift key (⇧) and right-click on the spots you want your troops to go to, in the order you want them to go there.

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31. ### The historical battles are very hard and I just can't win! Is something wrong with the game?

    In most historical battles you play as the side that lost, so the odds are stacked against you. Winning the battle of Lake Trasimeno as the Romans should be almost impossible—only true generals need apply!

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