History Characters / TotalWarThreeKingdoms

* NobleSavage: The Nanman unnoticeably more primitive than any other playable group in the game [[note]]They are the only playable group which has mutually exclusive Reforms.[[/note]] but are portrayed as fundamentally good people despite that.

* AuthorityGrantsAsskicking: Warlord, bandit leader, raider, and as a Champion type hero, no slouch in combat.

* AuthorityGrantsAsskicking: In a DarkHorseVictory anticipated by no one, he defeated and killed Sima Jiong despite being heavily outnumbered. When Sima Yong and Sima Ying warred against him, he also proved to be more than a match for the both of them and was only defeated due to Sima Yue's treachery.

* TheBeastmaster: Mulu specializes in recruiting Animal units, particularly WarElephants.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Mulu has both the "solitary" trait, which reduces the Satisfaction of generals in the same army, but also the "wise" trait, which increases the Satisfaction of said generals by an even greater amount.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Mulu has both the "solitary" trait, which reduces the Satisfaction of generals in the same army, but also the Wise trait, which increases the Satisfaction of said generals by an even greater amount.

* ArcherArchetype

* ArcherArchetype: A Master archer, as well as quiet and reserved.

[[folder:Cao Cao]]

[[folder:Dong Zhuo]]
!!Dong Zhuo
->''"Only power yields victory. Only strength can rule."''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/51503742_2407279316013921_1393731108188717056_n_71.jpg]]
->Dynasty: Zhou
[[caption-width-right:350:The Tyrant]]

With the young Emperor as his puppet, Dong Zhuo rules the Han through cruelty and fear. He took control by taking advantage of the chaos engulfing the Han dynasty after the death of Emperor Liu Hong, solidifying his rule through the massacre of the Eunuchs. Raging with the fire of past indignities, the tyrant will stop at nothing to scour away all those traitors to his cause. His will and ambition to rule are matched only by the power of his armies and the strength of his adopted son and greatest commander, Lü Bu. It is through them that Dong Zhuo would see the entire land subjugated and at his feet, and only the coalition formed by the other warlords has any chance of stopping him.

* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: He rules through fear and intimidation rather than love and generosity, but his actions have brought about a key point that Machiavelli himself warned against: a ruler must, above all, avoid being ''hated''. Dong Zhuo is certainly hated.
* {{Acrofatic}}: Despite his girth, he's a Vanguard Hero (like Lü Bu or Zhang Fei) and can be reliably thrown against RedShirt troops in battle. If he duels enemy characters, he'll do the same acrobatic {{Wuxia}} moves as everyone else, even those characters younger and slimmer than him.
* AmbitionIsEvil: In his own words, none can match his ambition. Likewise, none can really match his villainy.
* ArchEnemy: He's this to the members of the coalition, who all joined together specifically to stop him.
* BeardOfEvil: A big, shaggy beard -- with curled mustachios to boot! -- to complement his evilness.
* BigBad: Serves as this in the early stages of the 190 CE bookmark, where he is the main antagonist to the warlords. However, his scripted death at the hands of Lü Bu in the early campaign stages (should the player not choose his faction) makes him more similar to a StarterVillain.
* BigBadWannabe: He's a formidable villain, but when he seized the Emperor, his ego wrote a check that his ass couldn't cash. His starting position has him at war with almost the entire map, the Han Empire is a dying elephant unable to effectively support him, and his [[TheDragon Dragon]] is EvilerThanThou. Even if Lü Bu doesn't kill him, holding Chang'an and the Emperor is a nearly-doomed endeavor.
* CharacterTic: His campaign map animation has him stand with his fists on his hips, communicating both his power as well as his arrogance.
* DespotismJustifiesTheMeans: He has no thought for the suffering of the people or a desire for peace (unlike the leaders of the coalition) or even a special grudge against the Han power structure (unlike Zheng Jiang). He just wants ''power'', and does not hesitate to crush anyone in his way to get it.
* EvilLaugh: Lets out a hearty one at the end of his trailer, reveling in his power and the certainty of his victory.
* EvilOverlord: A standard example. What unites almost every other playable faction in the game is that they all hate and fear him; except for Liu Biao and Ma Teng, they all start off hostile to him as well.
* EvilSoundsDeep: The Tyrant has an impressive baritone.
* FallenHero: Surprising though it may be, his Total War bio states: "Dong Zhuo was a chivalrous youth with a talent for horseback archery who spent his earlier years traveling the Qiang region and befriending many great men of valour." Suffice to say, by 190 CE, he's no longer the man he once was.
* FatBastard: As is traditional [[note]]It was recorded in ''Records of the Three Kingdoms'' that after Dong died, his corpse was left on the streets with a lit wick placed on his navel. The wick burned for several days on the fat of the corpse. It was said that the light from the flame could last for days.[[/note]], he is depicted with a ''massive'' gut in the 190 CE bookmark. Pity the horse that has to carry him. Averted in the ''Mandate of Heaven'' bookmark, where his younger self is [[FormerlyFit slimmer]].
* FauxAffablyEvil: Gives a courtier a [[SmugSmiler 'friendly']] smile in his trailer, while his narration firmly cements him as a [[MightMakesRight tyrannical]], [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans unrepentant despot]].
* {{Hypocrite}}: If you reject his peace offers, he will usually claim that "your greed is repellent".
* IControlMyMinionsThrough: Fear. This is an in-game mechanic called "Intimidation", the purpose of which is to bully his subjects through fear-based tactics to keep them in line.
* MightMakesRight: See his page quote. His trailer's narration makes abundantly clear that the only things that matter in his mind are power and strength, while morality is at best irrelevant.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: He and his faction dress primarily in red and black, and he's easily the least sympathetic character of the game.
* RegentForLife: With the young puppet Emperor effectively his prisoner, he's well on his way to becoming this at the start of the 190CE scenario.
* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids: In his own words: "Only power brings victory. Only strength can rule. Only ''fools'' think otherwise."
* SmugSnake: He is absolutely certain of his victory and considers the coalition opposing him naïve fools, even comparing himself to a tiger and his enemies to dogs. His overconfidence is evident just in his posture and body language. Anyone who has read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms -- or the history of the Three Kingdoms period -- knows that this overconfidence is going to bite him ''hard''.
* StarterVillain: Despite his BigBad status, he's scripted to be killed by Lü Bu relatively early in the campaign.
* TooDumbToLive: As in the books, Dong Zhuo retains Lü Bu as his personal bodyguard (a man whose character is the Chinese archetype for "opportunistic treachery") even after they start feuding over a woman. If the player sticks to the script, it proves just as fatal.
* TinTyrant: Wears an impressive and ornate suit of full armour at all times. He began to do this after a failed assassination attempt by Cao Cao made him [[ProperlyParanoid justifiably paranoid]].
* UnlockableContent: In a CallBack to earlier Total War games, the player can unlock him and his faction by defeating his army in battle or achieving the rank of Emperor in a campaign.
* VillainousGlutton: He certainly didn't get that belly by exercising and eating right.
* TheVillainSucksSong: His character trailer features the recitation of a passage from the ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms'', basically saying that Dong Zhuo is a tyrant who will ruin the Han dynasty and keeps the imperial court in line through fear.

!!UsefulNotes/LuBu
->See his folder further down

!!Zhang Liao
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zhang.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Heavenly Dragon General]]
Zhang Liao is a model of professionalism and organization, having led many successful campaigns over his military career. Valued by any army he is a part of, Zhang Liao often uses his sharp negotiation skills and his even sharper blade to ensure victory. In "A World Betrayed" campaign, he joins up with Lu Bu's faction.

Historically, he was regarded as one of Cao Wei's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Elite_Generals Five Elite Generals]].

* NobleTopEnforcer: Although an honorable man and AFatherToHisMen, he remains loyal to the Han Empire, and thus leads under Dong Zhuo. He also becomes this to the BloodKnight Lu Bu in the "A World Betrayed" campaign.


!!Li Jue
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lulu_zhang_li_jue_5.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Vicious Strongman.]]
A brutish general under Dong Zhuo's command. In the "A World Betrayed" campaign, Li Jue leads his own faction, usurping Dong Zhuo's position of Chancellor of the Puppet Emperor after his death.

* BloodKnight: Disregards politics and diplomacy, seeing it as a means of a continuation of war.
* DumbMuscle: Like Lu Bu, Li Jue is better as a general rather than a ruler and the Han Empire dissolves a lot faster with him in charge.
* EnemyCivilWar: After Dong Zhuo's death, Li Jue and Guo Si turn on each other for whatever lands Dong Zhuo had. In ''A World Betrayed'', Li Jue is revealed to be the Victor and thus has control over the crumbling Han Empire.
* SuckSessor: Is an even worse ruler than Dong Zhuo, who could at least control his land through fear and intimidation. Fittingly, while Dong Zhuo is considered a BigBad before his death, Li Jue is treated much less substantially in ''A World Betrayed'', despite having the Han Empire as his Vassal.

!!Jia Xu
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lulu_zhang_jiaxu.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Blade In the Dark.]]
Jia is a strategist who has been highly praised for his sly wit. He has been described as a person who shares the same intellect as Chen Ping and Zhang Liang. Serves under Dong Zhuo in "Rise of the Warlords" campaign, but can also be found through a random special event if he leaves Dong Zhuo, or in the recruitment pool.

* BackStab: Is one of the few Strategists that have a damage ability, with it being this in essence.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Leaves Dong Zhuo's faction after his death, offering his services to anyone that has the power to rule.
* TheSpymaster: Gives bonuses to the Spy Network if he is the Faction Leader, Faction Heir, or Prime Minister.

[[folder:Gongsun Zan]]
!!Gongsun Zan
->''"Long have I fought to protect the empire from foreign invasion; now I must fight to save it from internal strife!"''
->Dynasty: Yan
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gongsun_zan.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Ironfist General.]]

A childhood friend of Liu Bei, Gongsun Zan earned a reputation as a fierce warrior, defending the empire against foreign foes beyond the border. Gongsun Zan rules his lands with the same martial mindset with which he governs his forces – on the dangerous fringes of the empire, military precision in all things must be observed.

* {{Foil}}:
** To Yuan Shao, the other great warlord of the northeastern plains. Gongsun Zan is a hard-edged soldier who rose to his current position largely through merit and runs his domain like an army. Yuan Shao comes from a great lineage, is a bit of an UpperClassTwit who values style over substance, and specializes in diplomacy and alliances.
** He also serves one to Ma Teng. Both are Vanguards who specialize in cavalry. But while Gongsun Zan's White Horse Cavalry specializes in quick battles due to providing scare, Ma Teng's Qiang Cavalry have fatigue immunity, excelling at prolonged battles. Furthermore, Gongsun Zan starts off at the near east end of the Map while Ma Teng starts off at the far West. They also both start out with one of the Famed White Tiger Generals, Ma Chao for Ma Teng, and Zhao Yun for Gongsun Zan. But while Gongsun Zan is part of the coalition, Ma Teng remains loyal to the Han.
* FourStarBadass: Gongsun Zan made his name commanding his army on the northern border. Unlike most faction leaders, whose special mechanics tend to emphasize their nobility and governing credentials, Gongsun Zan is an uncompromisingly ''military'' warlord. His armies fight together (and reinforce at a longer range than most other factions') and his generals also serve as governors wherever they're stationed (instead of "administrator" being a court position).
* HorseArcher: His unique units are horse archers from the northern steppes.
* KnightInShiningArmor: His "Warlord Legends" entry refers to him as "The Knight," he earned his position by defending China's northern frontier against the barbarians, and he rides a white horse. While he is not BornInTheSaddle, he's actually the finest shock cavalry commander in the Empire and a contender for the best cavalry commander, period. And while pragmatic, he's one of the more morally decent warlords.
* SimpleYetAwesome: He does not have any fancy faction mechanic, but his faction has strong cavalry bonus and a very tenable starting position. Once he has defeated his surrounding warlords, he can focus on building his base while being protected by the Yellow River.
* WhiteStallion: All of his cavalry units exclusively ride on white horses. Historically, he used it as a psychological tactics against the northern tribes, exploiting their belief that white horses were sacred.

!!Zhao Yun
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zhao_yun.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Light in the Dark.]]

Zhao Yun has a steadfast sense of moral duty and will always do what he thinks is right, no matter how dangerous. As a charismatic and skilled warrior, Zhao Yun fights for justice, and will follow none but the most righteous of warlords.

* LightIsGood: Wears primarily white, and was known for his heroic nature.
* OneManArmy: A trait shared by fellow legendary warrior; Lü Bu. While Lü Bu is all about damage, Zhao Yun, being a Sentinel, is more about being a StoneWall Tank.
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: Somewhere from turn 10 or so on, he can get a special event to defect to Liu Bei's faction, even if he is on excellent terms with Gongsun Zan. [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear He also takes all his gear with him]] when that happens.
* WeaponSpecialization: He uses a spear, which is noteworthy because other Sentinels cannot use them.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Kong Rong]]
!!Kong Rong
->''"The people deserve so much better than the barbaric warlords offer! Under my wise guidance, we will rebuild."''
->Dynasty: Qi
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kong_rong.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Master Scholar.]]
Kong Rong earnestly believes that the bureaucracy of China can only succeed through the support of education. Focusing on wisdom and learning, Kong Rong tries to encourage prosperity through knowledge and insight to better the people and the economy.

Kong Rong starts with the Traits Sincere, Nice and Cunning. He is not playable in the ''Mandate'' bookmark, as he is then serving directly under the Han court.

* BadassBureaucrat: Like any of the Legendary Characters, Kong Rong is quite the badass. The fact that he's largely a non-combat character renowned for his intelligence, education and skills at commerce doesn't change that.
* BirdsOfAFeather: Despite his disdain for the warlords, Kong Rong and Liu Bei are natural friends due to both being kind, honest people. Sharing enemies in the local Yellow Turbans just cements their relationship and makes Kong Rong Liu Bei's closest friend who isn't part of the Shu brotherhood.
* CulturedBadass: Kong Rong has access to an unique building chain called "Public Education", and much of his character is based on his well-educated, pleasant personality. He's also a formidable commander of archers and artillery.
* DeadpanSnarker: Infamously so. His sharp tongue got him executed.
* FamousAncestor: Is the 20th-generation descendant of Creator/{{Confucius}}. It comes as no surprise that the most scholarly character in the game is descended from the most influential scholar in Chinese history.
* GameplayAndStorySegregation: He begins the game at war with Dong Zhuo and the Han. He was a Han governor, not a member of Yuan Shao's coalition, and was largely opposed to the warlords.
* GenreSavvy: As a lover of history, Kong Rong knows all too well what a civil war means for China -- death, destruction and chaos. Instead, he emphasizes education and population growth for the people, which he believes will lead to greater stability for the nation in the future. The civil war will pass eventually, and when the people yearn for peace, they need the means and knowledge to do so; permanently, hopefully.
-->''The empire, long united, most divide; long divided, must unite."
* HonestCorporateExecutive: Kong Rong is the resident trade-focused leader, and also starts the game with the "Nice" and "Sincere" traits.
* MirrorCharacter: To Liu Biao. Both are Imperial governors, great scholars and pacifistic by preference, but they have very different origins and strategies. Liu Biao is a traditionalist and member of the Han Dynasty who focuses on court etiquette and stabilizing the Han, while Kong Rong is a progressive minor noble who, while not ''against'' the Han, focuses on trade and education to build a foundation for whatever Empire comes after the war.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: {{Downplayed}}. Kong Rong has no desire to take control over China and considers himself loyal to the Han. He'll only attempt to take control after the Han Emperor abdicates. On the other hand, he's not actually pro-Han in practice - he's got more important things on his plate than fighting over the Emperor, but he starts out at war with Dong Zhuo and the Han, and his closest ally is the warlord Liu Bei.
* NiceGuy: He's got the "Nice" trait, and is dedicated to protecting and providing for his people. This doesn't prevent him from being [[DeadpanSnarker a first-class smartass]], though.
* {{Pacifist}}: Known for his dedication to peace and prosperity. Enforced by his main mechanic which becomes less powerful by having many armies.
* SmugSnake: Averted; he isn't one, but his portrait and smile makes him look like one.
* YoungFutureFamousPeople: In-game, he's this in the ''Mandate'' bookmark, serving under the Han and Emperor Liu Hong. Historically, by this time, he was already famous. [[note]]At the age of sixteen, he took in a scholar named Zhang Jian, who was wanted due to the second [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disasters_of_the_Partisan_Prohibitions Disaster of the Partisan Prohibitions]]. When the authorities found out, Rong, his brother Bao and their mother all claimed to be the one responsible for taking in the fugitive. In the end, Kong Bao was executed, but Rong's bravery won him much praise.[[/note]]

!!Taishi Ci
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/taishi_ci.jpg]]
A skilled archer and honest above all else, Taishi Ci always honours his word. Loyal to the end, he will do all that he can to serve his masters well, even if that means endangering his own life. There is no man more trustworthy than the virtuous Taishi Ci.

* ArcherArchetype
* BringHelpBack: He can be sent away in a special event to seek help against the Yellow Turbans. Historically he did exactly that.
* YoungerThanHeLooks: One of the game's more extreme examples. Looking at his portrait, one would never guess that he was only ''34'' at the start of 200CE.

[[folder:Liu Bei]]
!!Liu Bei
->''"Never do an evil act just because it is trivial; never leave a good act undone just because it's small."''
->Dynasty: Shu Han
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/liu_bei.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Humble Brother]]

Liu Bei was born in 161CE in Zhuo County (Zhuo Commandery). He grew up poor, yet he was a descendant of Liu Zhen, a son of Liu Sheng and a grandson of Emperor Jing. Empathetic with the common folk, he easily gained the people’s trust and support. This particular trait made him a feared adversary to his enemy Cao Cao. For Liu Bei, Dong Zhuo represents chaos, and he wants nothing more than to see corruption uprooted and the Han dynasty restored. There are even those who urge Liu Bei to save China from madness and restore the collapsing dynasty. To this end he has sworn an oath in the Peach Garden to save China.

Liu Bei starts with the traits Humble, Kind and Fraternal.

* ArchEnemy: He is this to Cao Cao; where Cao Cao is ruthless, he is kind. Where he is respected for his undoubted talents, Liu Bei inspires loyalty through good rule. Their rivalry is even kick-started in the game by way of Liu Bei's first dilemma (in 190 CE start date).
* BadassCrew: He literally has two sworn brothers who start out with the best interpersonal relations in the game, all of whom are ready to kick some ass. In the later start dates, Zhao Yun is also part of his faction; in the 194 CE start date, should Cao Cao force Lyu Bu into a corner, Lyu will also offer to join, which can complicate things if not handled well.
* BashBrothers: With his two sworn brothers Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei after the Peach Garden Oath. They also start with the highest affinity together and therefore the best supporting stats in battle.
* BigGood: Just looking down his trait list ('Kind', 'Humble') and his title 'Leader of the People' clearly sets him up for this. And at least in this game, where the above character description comes from, he is meant to be this.
* BenevolentBoss: His traits and history paint him as someone who is consistently merciful and kind. One of this special abilities in battle is to essentially cheer on his troops and inspire UndyingLoyalty among them because of this.
* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Even if he is meant to be TheHero, he sure knows how to drive the knife in deep to most of the other warlords he meets.
** Starting in 194 CE, should Cao Cao force Lyu Bu into a corner, Lyu (also famous for his ChronicBackstabbingDisorder) will offer to join the faction. Ironically, despite Lyu's reputation, making him faction heir is the safest way to secure his loyalty; it helps that Liu doesn't have a heir at the time.
* DesignatedHero: He has wonderful traits in the game and a heroic backstory, but the player may choose differently, and in the Romance he often stabbed people in the back as he went along.
* DualWielding: The few times he's described fighting in the Romance, he uses dual jians.
* FolkHero: Even the nearby Yellow Turban leader admits that he is a man who truly cares about the people. The historical Liu Bei also tried to cultivate this image, though he was actually much more ambitious and ruthless.
* FontAnachronism: He is the only warlord whose name is written in simplified Chinese (刘备) instead of its proper form in traditional Chinese (劉備), possibly to differentiate from Liu Biao (劉表) below since both of them belong to the royal Liu family. However, this happens only in promotional posters and the correct character is written on Liu Bei army's banners.
* FounderOfTheKingdom: Founder of the Kingdom of Shu Han, despite not always winning his battles in the Romances. One of the most powerful players on the board as a result by the time the Three Kingdoms period starts. [[note]]Shu Han is the name ascribed to Liu Bei's Kingdom in post-Three Kingdoms history, but during Liu Bei's time, his kingdom was the 'Han', and he fought to restore the dynasty. [[/note]]
* TheHero: He is supposed to be this in the Romance, though obviously many of the characters are sympathetic and can challenge this. In the game, his traits and the trailers set him up in this way. See DesignatedHero above.
* ImpoverishedPatrician: Prior to taking power, he's a descendant of the imperial Liu clan who works as a shoemaker.
* MagneticHero: His schtick. Competent, virtuous people flock to his banner. His playstyle is even described as based on "Companions".
* ModestRoyalty: One of his defining traits.
* RightfulKingReturns: Unlike the other warlords, Liu Bei is not seeking to establish a new dynasty. He is a prince of the Han (several generations removed), and it's their dynasty's Mandate that he intends to restore.
* RoyalBlood: Liu Bei claimed to be the descendant of Liu Sheng, Prince of Zhongshan, son of Emperor Jing and brother to Emperor Wu. However, Liu Sheng was a figure from 300 years prior to Liu Bei's birth, and was notorious for his hedonistic lifestyle that led to him siring at least 120 sons. No wonder Liu Bei would claim to be a descendant of Liu Sheng, because that lineage was impossible to verify.
* WorkingClassHero: Starts off as one, anyway. His starting rank isn't "Noble" like most other faction leaders, but "Shoemaker", and he also starts with no territory of his own. He has a very expansive playing style, however, so he often ends up one of the more successful warlords by the mid-game.
* ZergRush: As long as Liu Bei himself leads his faction, the deployment cost for all his militia units is halved, so most battles involving him will feature lots and lots of low-tier units... led by [[KeystoneArmy some rather powerful unique generals with great equipment]].

!!Guan Yu
->''"You face Guan Yu, God of War! You face your doom!"''
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/guan_yu.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Big Brother.]]
Guan Yu is a fierce and noble general serving under Liu Bei. One of the greatest warriors in China with a keen intellect, Zhang Fei looked up to him as his older brother. His magnificent beard was known throughout the land, and he was often nicknamed ‘Beautiful Beard’ by his peers.
Guan Yu starts with the traits Intimidating, Stoic and Fraternal.

* AGodAmI: Somehow starts with the WarGod epithet already in 190, a good few years before he earns it and centuries before people would officially acknowledge it. Judging from some battlefield quotes he also seems to believe in his own divinity.
* GodOfWar: After his death, he was very literally defied across China for his prowess as a warrior and duelist.
* GoodFortuneFromGod: For some reason, he is also worshipped in many Chinese small businesses hoping for riches and good fortune. [[note]]He was deified and given titles by various emperors who lived centuries after him.[[/note]]
* HeroKiller: To his enemies. His dueling skills can easily lead to Guan Yu slicing his way through many enemy characters, sometimes all in the same battle.
* OneManArmy: He's perhaps the only warrior that can compete with [[TheAce Lu Bu]] in this regard. However, in-game Guan Yu seems to be the better duelist, while Lu Bu is the better overall fighter.
* RedOniBlueOni: The stoic Blue Oni to Zhang Fei's loud and boisterous Red Oni.
* TheStoic: Guan Yu rarely emotes, even while in battle.

!!Zhang Fei
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zhang_fei.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Impulsive Brother.]]
Zhang Fei is a stubborn, strong warrior with a fierce temper who refuses to back down or retreat. Liu Bei and Guan Yu, his oath brothers, command his deepest loyalty and he’d sacrifice himself for them in an instant.
Zhang Fei starts with the traits Fiery, Intimidating, and Fraternal.

%%* BloodKnight:
* BoisterousBruiser: Natch. "I AM ZHANG YIDE, COME AND MEET YOUR DOOM!"
* DiscOneNuke: Zhang Fei starts off as what appears at first glance to be an above-average vanguard. However, his true power is only apparent if you send him charging into the enemy ranks alone. Zhang Fei's unique armor gives him and his retinue fatigue immunity, which means Zhang Fei, through charging the enemy ranks over and over all by his lonesome, will kill near half the enemy army before having to retreat from accumulated damage from regular soldiers.
* DrunkenMaster: Zhang Fei's love for wine was played up in the Romance, to the point where enough of it would make him enter an unstoppable rage.
* GeniusBruiser: While he certainly looks the part of the mindless warrior, Zhang Fei actually composed most of the cunning tactics of the Peach Garden Brothers' career in history. Even in the Romance, he uses his image as a mindless brawler to obfuscate his strategic abilities.
* RedIsViolent: As a Vanguard, Zhang Fei thrives when he is murdering infantry-men by the hundreds.
* RedOniBlueOni: The Red Oni to calm and collected Blue Oni Guan Yu.

!!Zhuge Liang
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zhuge_liang.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Sleeping Dragon.]]
Zhuge Liang is the Imperial Chancellor of the state of Shu. An incredibly shrewd strategist and accomplished scholar. Zhuge Liang chose to join Liu Bei after seeing that he was a noble man of the people. Constantly thinking one step ahead, he remains calm and calculated.

* AdaptationalWimp: PlayedWith. While he participates in battle unlike his historical self, Zhuge Liang doesn't have his mystical wind powers like in the ''Romance''.
* HumbleHero: In contrast with his more arrogant rival Sima Yi; Zhuge Liang is a humble man of great ability. This sense of humility was one of the reasons why he joined the Noble Liu Bei.

[[folder:Liu Biao]]
!!Liu Biao
->''"The lands are beset by conflict! I must restore order; our noble traditions must be maintained!"''
->Dynasty: Chu
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/liu_biao.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Gentleman of the Han.]]

The esteemed academic Liu Biao is known as one of the Eight Geniuses of Jiangxia: a group of scholars during the later Han era. [[note]]Historically, he was grouped with seven others because of his virtues and opposition to the eunuch faction during the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disasters_of_the_Partisan_Prohibitions Disasters of the Partisan Prohibitions]]. Exactly which group he belonged to differs according to the source. However, it isn't entirely wrong to call him a genius in his own right, as he led a group of Jing scholars in compiling a book of astronomy named "Jingzhou Xingzhan" (荊州星占; "Astrology of Jing Province"). This book survived for at least 400 years, as it was still cited by Tang-era scholars in their works.[[/note]] Governor of Jing Province, he’s a smart and charismatic man with an appreciation of etiquette, nobility, and the finer things in life. An accomplished administrator, and ever the traditionalist, Liu Biao wishes to preserve the status quo, earnestly hoping that the chaos will abate and reason will prevail.

* ActualPacifist: Pacifism is actually one of his in-game character traits, to the point that he and his faction will almost never go to war with anybody of his own accord. If he does, it is because either the other side attacked him first, or because one of his vassals roped him into it.
* ArchEnemy: To Sun Jian, if you follow the story. Of course, if you play either, you can just ignore their feud over the Imperial Seal and deal with more pressing issues -- Yuan Shu for Liu Biao, the very weak Han Empire holdings in the south for Sun Jian. In fact, *not* following this tends to make both sides considerably stronger.
* BadassBureaucrat: His unique faction resource is "Governance" which increases with political stability and competent government decisions.
* GentlemanAndAScholar: As the greatest of the old scholar-bureaucrats, this is to be expected. Only Kong Rong and later Zhuge Liang rival him in academic achievement, and he's a charismatic leader and master of courtly etiquette.
* GoodOldWays: He's doing his best to uphold the ancient traditions of the Han, even as the Empire crumbles around him.
* HegemonicEmpire: Liu Biao's reworked Governance mechanic takes a leaf out of Sima Liang's Jurisdiction in ''Eight Princes''. Liu Biao is encouraged to keep his own domain small and developed as well as to have many vassals.
* InadequateInheritor: Feels this way about both of his adult sons. The historical Liu Biao felt this way as well.
* MirrorCharacter: To Kong Rong. Both are Imperial governors, great scholars and pacifistic by preference, but they have very different origins and strategies. Liu Biao is a traditionalist and member of the Han Dynasty who focuses on court etiquette and stabilizing the Han, while Kong Rong is a progressive minor noble who, while not ''against'' the Han, focuses on trade and education to build a foundation for whatever Empire comes after the war.
* OlderAndWiser: He comes across as this due to his preference for peaceful alternatives to conflicts -- Sun Jian's absconding with the Imperial Seal and Yuan Shu's bid for emperorship notwithstanding.
* ThePatriarch: Of the Liu family, of which Liu Bei happens to also be a part of. If Liu Biao ever passes away, most of his territory will even pass to his relatives who belong to other factions.
* UndyingLoyalty: To the Han.

!!Huang Zhong
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/huang_zhong_45.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Of the Ageless Strength.]]

Huang Zhong may be elderly, but he has a youthful air and is still in strong health. He is known for being a brave and fierce warrior, and is a skilled archer who has a reputation for never missing.

* ArcherArchetype: A Master archer, as well as quiet and reserved.
* CoolOldGuy: He's scripted to be long-lived, meaning that you'll often see him kicking ass at the ripe old age of 90.
* FourStarBadass: He is one of the five famed 'White Tiger Generals'. He's also the oldest out of the lot.
* OldMaster: He's old, but underestimate his effectiveness at your peril.

[[folder:Ma Teng]]
!!Ma Teng
->''"The Han continues to be threatened by warlords and traitors. I must fight to preserve the empire!"''
->Dynasty: Liang
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ma_teng.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Protector of the West.]]

Although the exact details of Ma Teng’s birth are up for debate, many believe he was born in 156CE in Maoling County (Fufeng Commandery). He was a descendant of famed Eastern Han general [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Yuan_(Han_dynasty) Ma Yuan]]; his father was an esteemed officer of the Han Empire, but he was dismissed from his post after a mysterious dispute. Though his early life was one of great poverty, Ma Teng grew up to be an accomplished warrior, and was eventually granted the title of officer in the Han Empire. Now, as the storm of chaos rolls and thunders over Luoyang, he remains loyal to the Han, prosecuting the enemies of the Emperor above all else and aiding Dong Zhuo against the coalition formed against him. He's made playable in the ''Mandate'' bookmark with the patch accompanying the ''Fates Divided'' DLC.

* AdaptationDeviation: In the ''Romance'', Ma Teng is one the eighteen lords in Yuan Shao's coalition to overthrow Dong Zhuo. Here, he is in league with the tyrant.
* BadassBureaucrat: According to his Total War bio, his greatest skill lies in his understanding of the importance of military logistics. Many of his abilities will be centred on gaining bonuses to supplies and foraging.
* BornInTheSaddle: He's from the Qiang people of the northwestern steppes, as are many of his soldiers (the Qiang cavalry units).
* TheCameo: Appears in the Zheng Jiang trailer, emphasizing to a skeptical officer just how dangerous the Bandit Queen is.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: In the game, Ma Teng is a governor loyal to the Han. The real life Ma Teng joined force with Han Sui in open rebellion against the central government. This is addressed in the ''Mandate'' bookmark, where Ma is not part of the Han Empire. [[note]]Probably a case of PragmaticAdaptation, as Ma Teng was initially loyal to the Han. During the Liang Province Rebellion, the official Han governor of Liang Province, Geng Bi, gathered forces to put down the rebellion, and Ma Teng volunteered as a foot soldier. His skills in battle against the rebels were recognised and he rose through the ranks of the soldiery. However, when Geng Bi was killed in battle by the rebel army, Ma Teng switched sides and joined Han Sui.[[/note]]
* IAmNotMyFather: His bio states that the shame of his father's disgraceful removal still hangs heavy over his head, and he refuses to meet the same fate. Sadly, this has led to him aligning with Dong Zhuo (see below).
* ImpoverishedPatrician: His ancestor Ma Yuan was a famed general who served under Emperor Guangwu; Ma Yuan's daughter was Emperor Ming's empress and managed to rehabilitate her father's posthumous reputation. By Ma Teng's time, the name/lineage is all that's left.
* InSeriesNickname: His official nickname is 'Protector of the West'. The Total War bio additionally calls him 'The Loyalist'. [[note]]Also counts as a GeniusBonus, as it was probably meant to contrast him with his son Ma Chao, who was historically a "traitor" by declaring a rebellion against the Han (with Cao Cao as Chancellor).[[/note]]
* MeaningfulName: His surname (馬) means "horse", and he commands a cavalry-oriented faction with ties to the neighbouring steppe nomads.
* MyCountryRightOrWrong: Although not an evil man, he owes everything in his life to his service to the Han Dynasty and is keen not to see it crumble. Hence, his loyalty lies with the young Emperor and [[BigBad Dong Zhuo]].
* NobleTopEnforcer: Is loyal to the Han Dynasty and, by extension, Dong Zhuo. However, his bio states he's not on great personal terms with the tyrant, and treats his friends well.
* PeltsOfTheBarbarian: Wears furs as part of his armour, giving him a more rugged, yet still dignified, appearance in comparison to the other warlords.
* RagsToRiches: The son of a disgraced Han officer and a Qiang woman, Ma Teng grew up in poverty, having to sell firewood in his youth to make ends meet. However, his skill as a warrior and dedication to the Han have resulted in him becoming the protector of Liang province.
* TheRival: In 190 CE, Ma Teng begins play directly next to the Yellow Turban leader Gong Du, and the pair will inevitably target each other first.
** In 194CE and 200CE, Han Sui plays this role, as the alliance frays and eventually collapses.
* UndyingLoyalty: To the Han.
* WeUsedToBeFriends: At the start of the "A World Betrayed" campaign, Ma Teng makes it clear he no longer considers Han Sui a friend after the latter abandoned him to face defeat alone during their campaign against Li Jue.

!!Ma Chao
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ma_chao.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350: Most Brilliant Warrior.]]

Ma Chao is the son and heir of the warlord Ma Teng. He’s an accomplished warrior known for his aggression and bravery on the battlefield. He's also earned the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his magnificent armour.

!!Han Sui
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/han_sui.jpg]]

Another warlord of the north-west, Han Sui was Ma Teng's friend and ally. But by 194CE, the alliance had become badly frayed. Come 200CE, the two were openly at war.

Historically, Han was the one who killed Beigong Boyu duing the Liang Province Rebellion.
----

[[folder:Sun Jian]]
!!Sun Jian
->''"We can trust only ourselves. You, my children, will see our Sun dynasty rise. You are my purpose, my destiny — the legacy of Sun Jian!"''
->Dynasty: Wu
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sun_jian.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Tiger of Jiangdong.]]

Claiming descent from the legendary [[Literature/TheArtOfWarSunTzu Sun Zi]], Sun Jian made his name fighting pirates on the Yangzi River before leading the army of Wu into victory against the Yellow Turban rebels, during which he became further known for his personal heroics. He later joined the alliance against Dong Zhuo, winning battle after battle and drawing the envy of his fellow generals. As the coalition forces march into the charred ruins of Luoyang, he discovers an invaluable treasure: the Imperial Seal that bestows the throne's authority to its bearer.

* AnimalMotifs: He's nicknamed the Tiger of Jiangdong, and wears a tiger's pelt.
* BadassFamily: At the end of his trailer, we see him leading an army with his children by his side. This scene is a symbolic bit of AlternateHistory, since the real Sun Jian died before his younger children reached adulthood.
* FamousAncestor: Like his historical counterpart he claims to be descended from Sun Tzu and will occasionally quote his alleged ancestor.
* FatherNeptune: Shows shades of this as he builds his power base in the wilderness of the Yangzi River delta. His son Sun Quan would go further by recruiting notorious pirates as admirals and building a full-fledged navy.
%%* LargeHam
* MacGuffin: Subverted. The Imperial Seal is supposed to give him the Mandate of Heaven and authority over the imperial throne. Too bad that his rivals rightly recognise that a block of jade means nothing without actual military power to back it up.
* MerchantPrince: Comes from a merchant family which in-game translates into higher income, starting off with commerce-boosting tech and buildings and starting in the proximity of several commanderies that excel at generating commercial and industrial income. With these bonuses, he can easily become the game's most wealthy faction.
* MightyGlacier: Compared to other hero units, anyway. He is the only original faction leader who is of the Sentinel class, and is appropriately durable in combat. His unique warhorse (not historical), "Heavenly Fire", is also significantly more heavy (at the cost of speed) than other steeds and can even charge into a line of spearmen without being felled.
* RedOniBlueOni: His impassioned emphasis on personal heroics contrasts sharply with Cao Cao's cool, calculating attitude as a commander.
* TrappedBehindEnemyLines: He starts the 190 CE campaign deep inside Liu Biao's territory in Jing province (modern day Hubei), with an ultimatum to surrender the Imperial Seal or else. You can give it up or choose to fight your way back home. Averted in 182 CE, where he's back home in Jiangdong.
* WeHardlyKnewYe: If you're playing as him in the 190CE scenario and the right event triggers, he can die within the first twenty or so turns, in keeping with his early death in the source material. If you're ''not'' playing as him, he can be gone as soon as turn 3 or 4 and barring being a neighboring faction playing very aggressively, you may not even get the chance to encounter him.

!!Sun Ce
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sun_ce.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Little Conqueror.]]

Sun Jian's firstborn son and (temporary) heir. A hothead with a knack for personally leading cavalry charges, but also looked up to by his people for the short time he ruled. He was slain by an assassin shortly after his brother, Sun Quan, came of age. However, this does not need to happen in ''your'' story...

He is playable in the 194CE and 200CE bookmarks, complete with unique faction mechanics.

* BashBrothers: He and Zhou Yu, despite their disparate personalities, still managed a strong friendship that they can take to the battlefield.
* BloodKnight: Even moreso than his father, Sun Ce loved to ''fight''. All the time.
* EmbarrassingNickname: No matter how old he gets or how much he accomplishes, he will always be known as "The Little Conqueror" due to him being stuck in his father's shadow. He seems to enjoy it... though he usually leaves the "Little" part out when referring to himself. [[note]]Historically, his nickname (a more appropriate translation is "little Hegemon-King") is a {{Callback}} to the great general Xiang Yu, who overthrew the Qin dynasty and whose nickname is "Hegemon-King". It's similar to calling someone "Little [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Alexander]]"[[/note]]
* MamasBoy: He and his mother, Lady Wu, have a very strong bond together.
* PromotedToPlayable: Downplayed example; like Lu Bu, he starts as a general in Sun Jian's start in the base game, but gets his own faction and its own mechanics in ''A World Betrayed''.
* RedOniBlueOni: The Red to Zhou Yu's Blue, and possibly his brother's Blue as well. He embodies his father's philosophy on personal heroics more than anyone else in the family, and his Vanguard class lets him prove it.
* YoungConqueror: His faction in ''A World Betrayed'' is based around this: Sun Ce is rewarded for aggressive expansion that proves him a worthy successor to his father. However, his luck as a conqueror is not infinite, and will kill Sun Ce when it runs out. Part of his faction goal is to stabilize his realm enough that he's able to survive.

!!Sun Quan

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sun_quan.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Great Emperor of Wu[[note]]By the way, his posthumous name literally means "Great Emperor" (Da Huangdi)[[/note]].]]

Sun Jian's second son and eventual heir.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: Grows this tendency throughout his rule, playing off rival warlords against one another.
* FounderOfTheKingdom: Founder of Eastern Wu and its capital, Nanjing. His reign sees the wilderness of southern China transformed into a bustling economic centre.
* PragmaticHero: He tends to deploy his forces conservatively, preferring to conserve the resources he inherited and supporting the other two kingdoms as benefits his own.
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity: Notorious for going off the deep end towards the end of his reign.
* YouAreInCommandNow: Historically, his father died when he was nine, and his older brother Sun Ce was assassinated just as he came of age, leaving him to found the kingdom of Eastern Wu. You could play it out differently in the game, of course.

!!Sun Ren
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sun_ren.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Rising Sun.]]

Lady Sun (often known by her fictional courtesy name Shangxiang) is the only daughter of Sun Jian. Learning to fight alongside her brothers as she grew up, she remains a mysterious historical persona mostly noted for her politically-motivated marriage to Liu Bei.

* ActionGirl: A dramatised portrayal of her real-life self, who was trained in combat and travelled with a retinue of female warriors. (She does not come with the AmazonBrigade, unfortunately.)
* TheBabyOfTheBunch: The youngest of Sun Jian's children, Sun Ren is ''literally'' a one-year-old baby when Sun Jian's 190CE scenario starts - much younger than either of her brothers - so it'll be a while before she's usable and the game tells you as much.
* BowAndSwordInAccord: She even comes with a bow when she comes of age, and an incredibly good one at that.
* FriendlySniper: Outgoing, eager, and generally very approachable.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: Her special ability, Heart Seeker, allows her to fire an arrow at an enemy's weak point for massive damage.
* LadyOfWar: One of the few female Vanguards in the game, making her basically an army unto herself.

!!Zhou Yu
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zhou_yu.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:Melodic Strategist.]]
->''"If there is a wrong note, Zhou Yu will look it up."''

Born to an aristocratic clan from Lujiang Commandery, Zhou Yu becomes fast friends with the teenage Sun Ce while the latter's father is on campaign against the tyrant Dong Zhuo. He grows up to be a brilliant strategist, a capable statesman, and one of the most important figures in the Kingdom of Wu.

* BadassBookworm: Unlike most Strategists in the game, Zhou Yu is a very capable fighter, though the class mechanic prevents him from dueling enemy heroes.
* BashBrothers: With Sun Ce. [[note]]Historically, Sun Quan's mother regarded Zhou as a son, and advised Quan to treat Zhou like an elder brother (Zhou was a month younger than Ce). [[/note]]
* BestFriendsInLaw: Zhou Yu and Sun Ce become this in the source material as they marry a pair of sisters. You can make this happen in the game with the right event trigger as well.
* CulturedBadass: He's also a dedicated musician on the side. [[note]]It was recorded that even when drunk, he was able to detect any wrong note played in his presence; he would then glare at the offending musician.[[/note]]
* FourStarBadass: Historically, he ends up as the Grand Commandant of the Wu military.

!! Gan Ning
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gan_ning.jpg]]
A former pirate who took up military command, Gan Ning is one of many former mercenaries employed by the nation of Wu over the course of the Romance, and probably the most famous among them.
----
* MechanicallyUnusualClass: He's a vanguard, with all that that entails -- strong charges, focus on cavalry, and is himself a OneManArmy. However, he also has the extremely rare ability Hail of Arrows, which is only useful when he commands a large contingent of archers, meaning that he’s actually considerably underutilized if surrounded with shock cavalry as one normally would with a vanguard.

* FourStarBadass: ''Yeah.'' All the characters are this to some extent, but Lü Bu always stands out in any adaptation of the Three Kingdoms, and this game looks like it will be no exception.

* {{Bishounen}}: Was recorded to be handsome.

* DefectorFromDecadence: Is seen as one by the Han Chinese, since unlike the other Nanmen tribes, he is willing to go through the proper reforms to become emperor.

* EyepatchOfPower: One of the most famous examples in history. After getting [[EyeScream hit in the eye by an arrow]] in a battle against Lü Bu, he yanks out the arrowhead and ''[[RatedMForManly eats the eye in front of his men.]]'' (A Steam achievement references this event[=/=]legend if you attack Xiahou Dun with arrows during a battle.)