Characters / Total War: Three Kingdoms

"The empire, long united, must divide."

Announcement Trailer^note The starting line of Romance of the Three Kingdoms": "The world under heaven, after a long period of division, must unite; after a long period of union, must divide." (话说天下大势，分久必合，合久必分) This line was inserted into Romance by Qing-era editor Mao Zonggang or his father, Mao Lun; father and son both edited Romance heavily.

Introduced in the Three Kingdoms campaign (190CE start date; subtitled "Rise of the Warlords")

Kingdom of Wei

Cao Cao

"I would rather betray the world than have the world betray me."

Dynasty: Wei

 

"Speak of Cao Cao and he will arrive." — Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Born to an aristocratic family under the Han dynasty, Cao Cao is a talented administrator and military leader who rose through the ranks during the Yellow Turban rebellion. As the Emperor is overthrown by the tyrannical general Dong Zhuo, Cao Cao joins his childhood friend Yuan Shao on a mission to restore the imperial throne, a path that would turn him into the chancellor of the Han dynasty and one of the most powerful warlords in all of China.

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• Ambition Is Evil: Played with. Though he is clearly seeking power for himself, there is no doubt that he wishes to create a peaceful China. No matter the price.
• Bodyguarding a Badass: For two of his Badass Crew, Dian Wei and Xu Chu. Historically, the two were very successful at the job.
• Badass Crew: More than anyone else in the era, Cao Cao is renowned for his uncanny ability to surround himself with competent relatives and subordinates.
• Benevolent Boss: One who never fails to inspire Undying Loyalty among his subordinates.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: For all his strengths and personal virtues, loyalty isn't one of them — and he'd tell that to your face. Players dealing with Cao Cao will soon know well that you can never, never truly trust AI Cao Cao to uphold his bargains. He will backstab, change sides, vassalize himself and just do anything to get ahead.
• Cultured Badass: A skilled battlefield commander, civil administrator, lawmaker and politician, and one of the most renowned writers of his era to boot.
• Deadpan Snarker: For starters, this retort:

Generic: I can already see you thinking of a poem!

Cao Cao: I am surprised you can even think at all.

• Evil Chancellor: Whether he's this or The Good Chancellor depends on whether or not you're playing on his side. His position as the Chancellor gives him access to the bulk of the Han empire's remaining military might.
• Fragile Speedster: Starts with a unique (non-historical) horse named Shadow Runner, which, while not necessarily the most bulky warhorse, is by far the fastest one in the game.
• Guile Hero: His unique Credibility mechanic encourages him to manipulate other factions for his own benefit, dividing his enemies and solidifying his own coalition until he's reunited China.
• Honor Before Reason: After finding the imperial capital of Luoyang burned to the ground by Dong Zhuo's retreating army, he rashly pursues them with his unprepared army, leading to his defeat at the Battle of Xingyang. Yuan Shao's refusal to aid him leads to their falling out.
• Like Father, Like Son: When Cao Cao calls Cao Pi cunning and ruthless, the latter is quick to point out that Cao Cao himself taught him to be that way.
• Noob Bridge: His campaign can be considered this in spite of its easy difficulty. Anyone who improperly manages their finances will soon find themselves trapped in between numerous powerful contenders for rule of China.
• Pride Before a Fall: In spite of outnumbering Lü Bu, the player can choose to follow up on a mission with him that alludes to teaching the Cao Cao humility by destroying his faction.
• Reason Before Honor: After the Xingyang incident, this trope became his schtick. He doesn't care what people say, what people think. They call him dishonest, brutal, lost, and all of that doesn't matter. Cao Cao still wins again and again against people who are considered honorable and just, and that is what matters, because it allows him to feed the peasants and rebuild the realm.
• Smart People Play Chess: We see him playing Weiqi with Yuan Shao.
• The Strategist: One of the greatest in the land, and certainly one of the greatest in China's history.
• The Trickster: In universe and out, knowledgeable players will always be wary of him, fully aware that he is liable to turn against them at any moment.
• The Unfettered: Willing to do anything to achieve his ambition. When Ma Chao angrily confronts Cao Cao over destroying his family, Cao Cao plainly states that it was his own fault for disobeying him in the first place.
• Unscrupulous Hero: Despite having Chronic Backstabbing Disorder, Manipulative Bastard tendencies, and being very ruthless, Cao Cao is still one of the more heroic characters in the game, and is genuine in his desire to bring peace to China.
• Warrior Poet: A rather special example. One of his historical poems was actually used in the game's trailer, almost 1900 years after it was written.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: This will largely depend on whether or not the player opposes him or if they choose to play him as manipulating allies and enemies, backstabbing others, and crossing every line imaginable, all in the name of peace.
• We Used to Be Friends: He grew up as close friends with Yuan Shao, and they fought alongside each other against Dong Zhuo's coup. They fell out with Yuan Shao's refusal to aid him at Xingyang, and their rivalry eventually turned into an all-out war.
• Worthy Opponent: Feels this way about Liu Bei. It's telling that in their emperor pre-battle dialogue, Cao Cao laments that Liu Bei continues to resist him.

Xiahou Dun

"We ride with fury at our backs!"

 

Blind Xiahou.

Xiahou Dun joined Cao Cao's army as an officer at the beginning of the campaign against Dong Zhuo, rising through the ranks and eventually becoming one of his most trusted generals.

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• Arch-Enemy: Seems to have developed this relationship with Dong Zhuo's Dragon, Lü Bu.
• Bash Brothers: With his cousin Xiahou Yuan.
• Evil Counterpart: Though evil is a bit of a stretch, to Guan Yu. They are two of the few legendary Champion class heroes, the only ones amongst them to start off using glaives, and the right hand generals to their respective Lords, who will probably go to war with each other early on. If you can get them together in a faction, they will get along splendidly.
• Eyepatch of Power: One of the most famous examples in history. After getting hit in the eye by an arrow in a battle against Lü Bu, he yanks out the arrowhead and 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.)
• Handicapped Badass
• Hot-Blooded: Show disrespect to anyone he holds in high regard and he will destroy you.
• The Lancer: Literally. He's Cao Cao's right-hand man, and fights with a spear on horseback.
• Undying Loyalty: To Cao Cao.

Xiahou Yuan

 

Maker of Ways.

Cousin to Xiahou Dun and a general under Cao Cao, famous for his operational skills and fast battlefield movement.

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• Ascended Extra: Went from a rarely seen figure in the Romance to one of Cao Cao's noteworthy characters.
• Bash Brothers: With Xiahou Dun.
• Easy Logistics: His special campaign ability, reflecting his historical role as Cao Cao's logistics officer.
• Hypercompetent Sidekick: In terms of operational prowess rather than raw combat power.
• Lightning Bruiser: Has access to combat abilities that boost his speed, also reflecting his real-life prowess in moving his troops across vast distances.
• Undying Loyalty: To Cao Cao, just like his cousin.

Dian Wei

 

Brute of Unmatched Power.

A strong, imposing man who dreamt of becoming a wandering hero, Dian Wei became a subordinate of Xiahou Dun in the campaign against Dong Zhuo and gained widespread fame for his battlefield exploits. After personally defending Cao Cao in a counter-attack by Lü Bu's forces, he was promoted as his bodyguard and his foremost champion in combat.

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• Bodyguarding a Badass: For Cao Cao
• The Big Guy: Along with Xu Chu, he's one of the tallest and largest generals in Cao Cao's command. Also, it's hard to tell who is more loyal to Cao.
• Dual Wielding: Wields a pair of shortened ji halberds. Truth in Television, as attested by Records of the Three Kingdoms.
• Made of Iron: He's able to tank a massive amount of damage on the battlefield. This ability was inspired by a historical episode where he wore two layers of armour as he prepared to defend Cao Cao from an onslaught of enemy troops.
• Undying Loyalty: As with the rest of Cao Cao's retinue. In real life, he notably died while covering his lord's retreat from Zhang Xiu's forces.

Xu Chu

Tiger Fool.

An indomitable general and one of Cao Cao’s most trusted officers. His colossal size and fierce strength make him a key figure on any battlefield, while his immense loyalty and bravery have earned him a plethora of military accolades and titles.

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• The Big Guy: Along with Dian Wei, he's one of the tallest and largest generals in Cao Cao's command. Also, it's hard to tell who is more loyal to Cao.
• Bodyguarding a Badass: He becomes Cao Cao's bodyguard, after Dian Wei's death.
• Carry a Big Stick: Starts with an ginormous mace as his weapon.

Sima Yi

Forefather of the Jin Dynasty.

Blessed with great intelligence from a young age, Sima Yi is one of China's greatest strategists. Loyal only to himself, he schemes and plots to outwit Zhuge Liang and pave the way for his own family to usurp the throne and establish a new dynasty. A strategist of renown, Sima Yi sells his services and strategies to those that earn his respect — as well as stoke his equally impressive ego.

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• Founder of the Kingdom: He plays this role posthumously in Eight Princes, where his descendants rule over the Jin dynasty.
• I Fight for the Strongest Side!: Unlike his rival Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi does not immediately end up in the roster of any one warlord — even Cao Cao has to hire him first. Should he be left to wander, he may very well end up in your court, especially if you're high up on the power rankings.
• It's All About Me: He is infamously difficult to keep satisfied due to his high starting level; he requires a high ranking position in court so as not to leave in a huff when he feels that he is not being given his due.

Xu Huang

Guardian of the Gates.

A model of integrity, Xu Huang is both a great warrior and an astute general, having defeated numerous legendary generals in his time under Cao Cao. Extremely respectful, Xu Huang never fails to be courteous to friends and enemies alike.

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• Defector from Decadence: He starts the game as a general for the Han Empire, but holds little loyalty to them. It's fairly easy to convince him to come to your side should you capture him, making him an excellent early game target.

Yue Jin

Lion of Yangping.

One of Cao Cao's most courageous generals, Yue Jin was always willing to put his own life in danger for those he deemed worthy of respect. He went on to become one of China’s most famed generals, having fought against the infamous Lü Bu on more than one occasion, and survived...

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• Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Noted to have been quite short. This doesn't stop him from being a quite effective Sentinel - or surviving a fight against World's Best Warrior Lü Bu as noted above.

Kingdom of Shu

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

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.

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• Arch-Enemy: 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).
• Badass Crew: 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.
• Bash Brothers: 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.
• Big Good: 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.
• Benevolent Boss: 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 Undying Loyalty among them because of this.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Even if he is meant to be The Hero, 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 Chronic Backstabbing Disorder) 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.
• Designated Hero: 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.
• Dual Wielding: The few times he's described fighting in the Romance, he uses dual jians.
• Folk Hero: 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.
• Font Anachronism: 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.
• Founder of the Kingdom: 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.
• The Hero: 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 Designated Hero above.
• Impoverished Patrician: Prior to taking power, he's a descendant of the imperial Liu clan who works as a shoemaker.
• Magnetic Hero: His schtick. Competent, virtuous people flock to his banner. His playstyle is even described as based on "Companions".
• Modest Royalty: One of his defining traits.
• Rightful King Returns: 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.
• Royal Blood: 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.
• Working-Class Hero: 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.
• Zerg Rush: 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 some rather powerful unique generals with great equipment.

Guan Yu

"You face Guan Yu, God of War! You face your doom!"

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.

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• A God Am I: Somehow starts with the War God 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.
• God Of War: After his death, he was very literally defied across China for his prowess as a warrior and duelist.
• Good Fortune from God: 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.
• Hero Killer: 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.
• One-Man Army: He's perhaps the only warrior that can compete with Lu Bu in this regard. However, in-game Guan Yu seems to be the better duelist, while Lu Bu is the better overall fighter.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The stoic Blue Oni to Zhang Fei's loud and boisterous Red Oni.
• The Stoic: Guan Yu rarely emotes, even while in battle.

Zhang Fei

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.

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• Boisterous Bruiser: Natch. "I AM ZHANG YIDE, COME AND MEET YOUR DOOM!"
• Disc-One Nuke: 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.
• Drunken Master: 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.
• Genius Bruiser: 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.
• Red Is Violent: As a Vanguard, Zhang Fei thrives when he is murdering infantry-men by the hundreds.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Red Oni to calm and collected Blue Oni Guan Yu.

Zhuge Liang

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.

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• Adaptational Wimp: Played With. While he participates in battle unlike his historical self, Zhuge Liang doesn't have his mystical wind powers like in the Romance.
• Humble Hero: 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.

Kingdom of Wu

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

The Tiger of Jiangdong.

Claiming descent from the legendary 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.

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• Animal Motifs: He's nicknamed the Tiger of Jiangdong, and wears a tiger's pelt.
• Badass Family: 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 Alternate History, since the real Sun Jian died before his younger children reached adulthood.
• Famous Ancestor: Like his historical counterpart he claims to be descended from Sun Tzu and will occasionally quote his alleged ancestor.
• Father Neptune: 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.
• 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.
• Merchant Prince: 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.
• Mighty Glacier: 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.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: His impassioned emphasis on personal heroics contrasts sharply with Cao Cao's cool, calculating attitude as a commander.
• Trapped Behind Enemy Lines: 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.
• We Hardly Knew Ye: 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

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.

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• Bash Brothers: He and Zhou Yu, despite their disparate personalities, still managed a strong friendship that they can take to the battlefield.
• Blood Knight: Even moreso than his father, Sun Ce loved to fight. All the time.
• Embarrassing Nickname: 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 Alexander"
• Mama's Boy: He and his mother, Lady Wu, have a very strong bond together.
• Promoted to Playable: 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.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: 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.
• Young Conqueror: 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

The Great Emperor of Wu^note By the way, his posthumous name literally means "Great Emperor" (Da Huangdi).

Sun Jian's second son and eventual heir.

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• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Grows this tendency throughout his rule, playing off rival warlords against one another.
• Founder of the Kingdom: Founder of Eastern Wu and its capital, Nanjing. His reign sees the wilderness of southern China transformed into a bustling economic centre.
• Pragmatic Hero: He tends to deploy his forces conservatively, preferring to conserve the resources he inherited and supporting the other two kingdoms as benefits his own.
• With Great Power Comes Great Insanity: Notorious for going off the deep end towards the end of his reign.
• You Are in Command Now: 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

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.

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• Action Girl: 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 Amazon Brigade, unfortunately.)
• The Baby of the Bunch: 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.
• Bow and Sword in Accord: She even comes with a bow when she comes of age, and an incredibly good one at that.
• Friendly Sniper: Outgoing, eager, and generally very approachable.
• Improbable Aiming Skills: Her special ability, Heart Seeker, allows her to fire an arrow at an enemy's weak point for massive damage.
• Lady of War: One of the few female Vanguards in the game, making her basically an army unto herself.

Zhou Yu

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.

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• Badass Bookworm: Unlike most Strategists in the game, Zhou Yu is a very capable fighter, though the class mechanic prevents him from dueling enemy heroes.
• Bash Brothers: 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).
• Best Friends-in-Law: 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.
• Cultured Badass: 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.
• Four-Star Badass: Historically, he ends up as the Grand Commandant of the Wu military.

Gan Ning

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.

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• Mechanically Unusual Class: He's a vanguard, with all that that entails — strong charges, focus on cavalry, and is himself a One-Man Army. 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.

Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo

"Only power yields victory. Only strength can rule."

Dynasty: Zhou

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.

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• 0% Approval Rating: 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 Red Shirt 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.
• Ambition Is Evil: In his own words, none can match his ambition. Likewise, none can really match his villainy.
• Arch-Enemy: He's this to the members of the coalition, who all joined together specifically to stop him.
• Beard of Evil: A big, shaggy beard — with curled mustachios to boot! — to complement his evilness.
• Big Bad: 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 Starter Villain.
• Big Bad Wannabe: 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 Dragon is Eviler than Thou. Even if Lü Bu doesn't kill him, holding Chang'an and the Emperor is a nearly-doomed endeavor.
• Character Tic: His campaign map animation has him stand with his fists on his hips, communicating both his power as well as his arrogance.
• Despotism Justifies the Means: 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.
• Evil Laugh: Lets out a hearty one at the end of his trailer, reveling in his power and the certainty of his victory.
• Evil Overlord: 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.
• Evil Sounds Deep: The Tyrant has an impressive baritone.
• Fallen Hero: 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.
• Fat Bastard: 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., 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 slimmer.
• Faux Affably Evil: Gives a courtier a 'friendly' smile in his trailer, while his narration firmly cements him as a tyrannical, unrepentant despot.
• Hypocrite: If you reject his peace offers, he will usually claim that "your greed is repellent".
• I Control My Minions Through...: 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.
• Might Makes Right: 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.
• Red and Black and Evil All Over: He and his faction dress primarily in red and black, and he's easily the least sympathetic character of the game.
• Regent for Life: With the young puppet Emperor effectively his prisoner, he's well on his way to becoming this at the start of the 190CE scenario.
• Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: In his own words: "Only power brings victory. Only strength can rule. Only fools think otherwise."
• Smug Snake: 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.
• Starter Villain: Despite his Big Bad status, he's scripted to be killed by Lü Bu relatively early in the campaign.
• Too Dumb to Live: 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.
• Tin Tyrant: 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 justifiably paranoid.
• Unlockable Content: In a Call-Back 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.
• Villainous Glutton: He certainly didn't get that belly by exercising and eating right.
• "The Villain Sucks" Song: 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.

Lü Bu

See his folder further down

Zhang Liao

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 Five Elite Generals.

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• Noble Top Enforcer: Although an honorable man and A Father to His Men, he remains loyal to the Han Empire, and thus leads under Dong Zhuo. He also becomes this to the Blood Knight Lu Bu in the "A World Betrayed" campaign.

Li Jue

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.

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• Blood Knight: Disregards politics and diplomacy, seeing it as a means of a continuation of war.
• Dumb Muscle: 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.
• Enemy Civil War: 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 Big Bad before his death, Li Jue is treated much less substantially in A World Betrayed, despite having the Han Empire as his Vassal.

Jia Xu

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.

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• Back Stab: Is one of the few Strategists that have a damage ability, with it being this in essence.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Leaves Dong Zhuo's faction after his death, offering his services to anyone that has the power to rule.
• The Spymaster: Gives bonuses to the Spy Network if he is the Faction Leader, Faction Heir, or Prime Minister.

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

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.

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• 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 Upper-Class Twit 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.
• Four-Star Badass: 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).
• Horse Archer: His unique units are horse archers from the northern steppes.
• Knight in Shining Armor: 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 Born in the Saddle, 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.
• Simple, yet Awesome: 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.
• White Stallion: 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

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.

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• Light Is Good: Wears primarily white, and was known for his heroic nature.
• One-Man Army: 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 Stone Wall Tank.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: 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. He also takes all his gear with him when that happens.
• Weapon Specialization: He uses a spear, which is noteworthy because other Sentinels cannot use them.

Kong Rong

Kong Rong

"The people deserve so much better than the barbaric warlords offer! Under my wise guidance, we will rebuild."

Dynasty: Qi

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.

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• Badass Bureaucrat: 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.
• Birds of a Feather: 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.
• Cultured Badass: 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.
• Deadpan Snarker: Infamously so. His sharp tongue got him executed.
• Famous Ancestor: Is the 20th-generation descendant of Confucius. It comes as no surprise that the most scholarly character in the game is descended from the most influential scholar in Chinese history.
• Gameplay and Story Segregation: 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.
• Genre Savvy: 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."
• Honest Corporate Executive: Kong Rong is the resident trade-focused leader, and also starts the game with the "Nice" and "Sincere" traits.
• Mirror Character: 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.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: 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.
• Nice Guy: He's got the "Nice" trait, and is dedicated to protecting and providing for his people. This doesn't prevent him from being 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.
• Smug Snake: Averted; he isn't one, but his portrait and smile makes him look like one.
• Young Future Famous People: 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 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.

Taishi Ci

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.

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• Bring Help Back: He can be sent away in a special event to seek help against the Yellow Turbans. Historically he did exactly that.
• Younger Than He Looks: 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.

Liu Biao

Liu Biao

"The lands are beset by conflict! I must restore order; our noble traditions must be maintained!"

Dynasty: Chu

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 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. 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.

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• Actual Pacifist: 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.
• Arch-Enemy: 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.
• Badass Bureaucrat: His unique faction resource is "Governance" which increases with political stability and competent government decisions.
• Gentleman and a Scholar: 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.
• Good Old Ways: He's doing his best to uphold the ancient traditions of the Han, even as the Empire crumbles around him.
• Hegemonic Empire: 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.
• Inadequate Inheritor: Feels this way about both of his adult sons. The historical Liu Biao felt this way as well.
• Mirror Character: 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.
• Older and Wiser: 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.
• The Patriarch: 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.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Han.

Huang Zhong

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.

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• Aloof Archer: He's a master archer, as well as quiet and reserved.
• Cool Old Guy: He's scripted to be long-lived, meaning that you'll often see him kicking ass at the ripe old age of 90.
• Four-Star Badass: He is one of the five famed 'White Tiger Generals'. He's also the oldest out of the lot.
• Old Master: He's old, but underestimate his effectiveness at your peril.

Ma Teng

Ma Teng

"The Han continues to be threatened by warlords and traitors. I must fight to preserve the empire!"

Dynasty: Liang

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 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.

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• Adaptation Deviation: 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.
• Badass Bureaucrat: 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.
• Born in the Saddle: He's from the Qiang people of the northwestern steppes, as are many of his soldiers (the Qiang cavalry units).
• The Cameo: Appears in the Zheng Jiang trailer, emphasizing to a skeptical officer just how dangerous the Bandit Queen is.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: 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 Pragmatic Adaptation, 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.
• I Am Not My Father: 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).
• Impoverished Patrician: 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.
• In-Series Nickname: His official nickname is 'Protector of the West'. The Total War bio additionally calls him 'The Loyalist'. ^note Also counts as a Genius Bonus, 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).
• Meaningful Name: His surname (馬) means "horse", and he commands a cavalry-oriented faction with ties to the neighbouring steppe nomads.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: 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 Dong Zhuo.
• Noble Top Enforcer: 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.
• Pelts of the Barbarian: Wears furs as part of his armour, giving him a more rugged, yet still dignified, appearance in comparison to the other warlords.
• Rags to Riches: 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.
• The Rival: 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.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Han.
• We Used to Be Friends: 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

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.

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Han Sui

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.

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Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao

"...I knew that someone must put a stop to the darkness consuming China. I knew too that it could only be me."

Dynasty: Song

The Dragon of the Yuan.

As the Han's loyal defender, Yuan Shao stormed Luoyang to liberate the emperor and personally slaughtered the treacherous eunuchs. He rose to power due to his outstanding reputation, wealth, and prestige. Though he lacks in substance, his ostentatious style is beyond doubt.

Yuan Shao is not playable in the Mandate bookmark, as he is then serving directly under the Han court.

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• Adaptational Badass: Although truly talented at getting warlords to join his coalition, Yuan Shao cannot turn that coalition into his own personal vassal empire in the Romance. The warlords who follow him are still prone to infighting and can break off at any time rather than the stable coalition shown in the game.
• The Alliance: His special mechanic causes him to gain power by forming coalitions and alliances.
• Big Good: Formerly. He killed the Ten Attendants and later led the coalition against Dong Zhuo, but the Rise of the Warlords bookmark begins just as the coalition splinters apart without accomplishing its goal.
• Cavalry Refusal: Refuses to help Cao Cao's army during a battle. This planted the seeds for the Coalition's disbandment.
• Hired Guns: Can recruit full retinues of Mercenaries, this is likely to offset Yuan Shao's initial lack of Legendary Generals.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: While arrogant and condescending towards others. All of Yuan Shao's efforts are for the restoration of China and its people.
• Sibling Rivalry: With his half-brother Yuan Shu.
• Upper-Class Twit: Downplayed. He "lacks in substance," rose to power largely on the strength of his family's wealth and reputation rather than his own capabilities, and has an overinflated opinion of the latter. However, he is genuinely charismatic and good at making allies.

Yuan Shu

Yuan Shu

"The fate of the people lies in the hands of lesser men. Only I have the strength — indeed, the right! — to rule!"

Dynasty: Zhong

The Ambitious Powermonger.

Originally known for his courage and valour, Yuan Shu was a great hunter and falconer in his youth, climbing through several government ranks including General of the Household Rapid as a Tiger. The prestigious name of the Yuan clan weighs heavily upon his shoulders, as does the blustering of his half-brother, Yuan Shao. Only by demonstrating his legitimacy can he prove his right to rule. He's made playable in the Mandate bookmark with the patch accompanying the Fates Divided DLC.

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• Butt-Monkey: As an NPC faction, he will inevitably get 0 Imperial Favor, leading the Han Dynasty to declare him the enemy of the Empire. The surrounding warlords (Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce) will make short work of him.
• Dastardly Whiplash: He doesn't wear black, but aside from that he fully gives off this impression. His expression if he dislikes you in particular is rather reminding of this trope.
• Thefriend Nobody Likes: Even when playing as him, most of your starting characters dislike him.
• Hate Sink: In the "A World Betrayed" campaign, every faction will eventually be given a mission to attack Yuan Shu for declaring himself Emperor, thus openly making himself a usurper of the Han.
• Mirror Character: With his brother. Both are certainly quite ambitious and also somewhat capable in their own right, but ultimately far too arrogant for their own good, and of course, originate from the same social standing. Historically, they ultimately realized this and in the face of impending mutual doom resolved to forge an alliance with each other, though Yuan Shu died before anything could come of it.
• Serial Spouse: Can be exploited due to his requirement to use Legitimacy to recruit characters. In the Mandate bookmark, serial marriages is about the only way to recruit characters until the Han Empire breaks up.
• Sibling Rivalry: With his half-brother Yuan Shao.
• Smug Snake: Is even more arrogant to his already arrogant brother Yuan Shao.

Zheng Jiang

Zheng Jiang

"The bodies will pile high, China will BURN, but I WILL be remembered."

Dynasty: Tai

 

The Bandit Queen.

To Zheng Jiang, dynasties and nobilities mean nothing: she prefers to seize glory in her own way, and is resolved to earn fame and prestige for herself through her merciless fury and unrelenting strength. As the Han dynasty burns, she sees the crumbling of the institution she despises and relishes the opportunity to rise to power and put her old oppressors under her boot and give them a taste of their own medicine.

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• Action Girl: The only female playable lord, but she's one of the most fearsome warlords in the game.
• Animal Motifs: Her trailer associates her with wolves. They feature prominently at the beginning, she is never seen without her army (her pack), she appears to favour ambush tactics and surprise night attacks, and she wears what looks like a wolf pelt as part of her clothing. She's also none-too-squeamish about going after defenseless prey.
• Army of Thieves and Whores: Like all Bandit factions, Zheng Jiang's armies inherently can have bandit units and are highly limited in being able to gain more advanced units that other factions can obtain easily with technology. Though this isn't much of a drawback while her Infamy is high enough to make all of her units completely unbreakable...
• Ascended Extra: She goes from a female bandit who is only mentioned in a single line in Records of the Three Kingdoms to a fully-fledged playable lord in the game.
• Ax-Crazy: Her ruthlessness, aversion of Would Not Shoot a Civilian, and plain enjoyment of battle don't exactly paint her as the most stable individual...
• Blood Knight: If the smirk she gives in her trailer is any indication, Zheng Jiang relishes battle.
• Canon Foreigner: Outside of the single mention she got in Records, she is effectively an original character that Creative Assembly introduced to diversify the gameplay.
• Combat Pragmatist: Picking her can potentially instill this mentality in the player, due to her Early Game Hell (see below). Additionally, Her trailer shows her forces making liberal use of ambushes, surprise attacks, and raids on undefended food-producing villages.
• Composite Character: She is a combination of two female bandits named Zheng and Jiang. Curiously, she does have a sister in-game, who is a generic general.
• Dark Action Girl: A ruthless and murderous bandit and also a powerful general in her own right.
• The Dreaded: Dialogue in her trailer indicates that those who are aware of her, and her activities, are very justifiably scared of her, and urge others not to take her lightly at all.
• Dual Wielding: She wields a pair of axes called 'The Red Sisters', one in each hand, and is frighteningly effective with them.
• Early Game Hell: Fitting her status as essentially a hopped-up peasant recently turned bandit, her starting position is arguably the most precarious in the game, for several reasons:
  • Her starting income is negligible, to the extent that even fielding a full army of Red Shirt units will put her significantly in the red, meaning that until she manages to secure her position she's going to be draining coffers constantly each turn
  • Because of her low income, most of her early cash spikes are going to be from sacking enemy settlements, but doing this carelessly will result in useless territory that would leave her in a worse position than before when she finally does decide to claim that territory for herself.
  • Her unique Infamy mechanic is actually a significant hindrance at the start of the game, due to her relative inexperience - until she advances to the next Infamy tier she actually suffers a factionwide penalty towards Satisfaction for her Generals, meaning if she doesn't establish her name quickly they may end up leaving her entirely.
  • She starts with at least three major factions close by to her - Zhang Yan, Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan - all of whom are more powerful than her, and all of whom are inclined to declare war on her sooner rather than later, so the early game is as much an attempt to pacify them as much as possible so they don't declare war and steamroll you before you can even establish yourself
  • And finally, she is the only faction in the game who cannot establish Vassal States, meaning that in order to secure final victory in the game she needs to seize every last bit of territory for herself, resulting in some hefty corruption penalties to income.
• From Nobody to Nightmare: Once a mere peasant, toiling like millions of others under the rule of the Han. Now, well...
• Full-Circle Revolution: Zheng Jiang hates the Han and wants to burn China to the ground. However, if she starts expanding, she'll find that she has to leave Han power structures in place and gradually develop into an Empress herself, soon becoming exactly what she was originally fighting against.
• Glory Hound: Her true goal is to be remembered, even if she's remembered as the woman who burned China to the ground. Her "Infamy" mechanic is built on this, becoming more powerful as she spreads terror across the land.
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: She has a number of scars on her face, and she is presented as an utterly ruthless warlord and raider.
• Historical Badass Upgrade: She was a female bandit in the original Records of the Three Kingdoms who only got a single line. Here, she is a dual-axe wielding warlord and guerrilla leader, as well as a destructive force in her own right, out to sweep away the remnants of the Han Dynasty.
• Magikarp Power: Working off of Early Game Hell, however, the tipping point is when Zheng Jiang eventually gets strong enough that she can establish a tributary state. If she can survive long enough to become a strong power in her own right, then after beating a poor sod's face in, she may be able to force them to become a tributary state, sending her a portion of their income. While this in of itself is not too much to look at, Zheng Jiang also has an entirely unique building chain dedicated to increasing the income received from tributaries, to the point where even having a small handful, or even just two tributary states, can result in her gaining over 10,000 gold a turn for income. In addition to this, if you keep sacking and harassing your enemies, then you may reach the highest tier of Infamy... which makes all her units Unbreakable. Not bad, huh?
• Mechanically Unusual Class: Zheng Jiang is a Bandit faction, which have unique low-tier bandits units and the Bandit Network tree instead of the usual Reforms tree, but are far more limited in their ability to recruit higher-tier units (for example, the units gained from becoming an Emperor; Protectors of Heaven, Defenders of Earth and all Imperial units; simply cannot be recruited). Her main compensation for these limitations in battle are the universal bonuses to units of specific types from Bandit Network reforms and being able to eventually cause all of her units to become entirely unbreakable in morale. She's also nearly as formidable a warrior as Lü Bu, and she can often overcome early-game armies with only a little support from her troops.
• Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: Despite her supposed aspirations to take power away from the Han and return it to the people, Zheng Jiang's quotes make it clear that her main ambition is to secure her own rise to power, no matter how many bodies she has to climb over to get it. This is in stark contrast to the Yellow Turban Rebellion, who have similar goals but are presented as more sincere and genuine in their motivations.
• Plot-Irrelevant Villain: In a sense. She isn't really involved in the main struggle between the warlords and Dong Zhuo. Instead, she operates more as an independent force, out to establish herself and destroy the Han as a whole.
• Psychotic Smirk: She gives one of these at the end of her trailer, underlining her Blood Knight tendencies.
• Rank Scales with Asskicking: Warlord, bandit leader, raider, and as a Champion type hero, no slouch in combat.
• Rape, Pillage, and Burn: Her forces sack and burn down an undefended peasant village in her trailer, killing many while taking supplies and prisoners. Her playstyle (as detailed in Early Game Hell) has a heavy emphasis on gaining income through looting and her Intimidation mechanic.
• The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized: Her Total War bio describes her primary motivation, at least at the start of the game, as taking power away from the corrupt Han and giving it back to the people, and she bucks tradition by having children in her faction take after their mother's name, rather than their father's. She is also merciless against her enemies, whether civilian or soldier. However, there is a heavy helping of personal ambition in her actions (see Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist).
• She Who Fights Monsters: Her Total War bio makes clear that the more she battles to bring down the Han, the more she will slowly come to resemble them, as she finds herself leaving Han power structures intact left and right in order to rule what is essentially her new state. May overlap with Full-Circle Revolution.
• The Unfettered: Her goal is nothing less than the destruction of the Han and the creation of her own state, and there is no line she won't cross to achieve that.
• Visionary Villain: Her bio mentions that, unlike other bandit leaders, Zheng Jiang is driven by a true political agenda, and will stop at nothing to ensure her rise to power.

Zhang Yan

Zhang Yan

"From atop Black Mountain man's intentions are laid bare;I will exploit their weaknesses and sieze power for myself!"

Dynasty: Heishan

King of Black Mountain.

Between the light of the civilised Han, and the chaos of opportunistic banditry, Zhang Yan straddles the twilight – he sees the carnage wrought by Dong Zhuo and wonders how this can be turned to his advantage. To attack the Black Mountain bandits is to invite deception and ambush, as they have mastered the art of war unseen. Yet all the same, Zhang Yan will form alliances and friendships with any who will serve his interests – be they high-born or mud-stained…

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• A Lighter Shade of Black: While still a Bandit, Zhang Yan is not as bloodthirsty as neighboring Bandit; Zheng Jiang. His exclusive building plays into this, granting his faction a diplomacy bonus to Han Empire factions or Yellow Turbans.
• Army of Thieves and Whores: Like all Bandit factions, Zhang Yan's armies inherently can have bandit units and are highly limited in being able to gain more advanced units that other factions can obtain easily with technology. Good thing all of his armies can just ambush their enemies when they attack!
• Dual Wielding: He wields a war axe in each hand, to deadly effect.
• Hired Guns: Was historically this and his faction leans into this more compared to the other Bandit Factions. His unique building gives him diplomatic bonuses to either Han Empire Factions or Yellow Turbans, opening up mercenary contracts for his faction.
• King of Thieves: He's the Bandit King of Black Mountain.
• Mechanically Unusual Class: Zhang Yan is a Bandit faction, which have unique low-tier bandits units and the Bandit Network tree instead of the usual Reforms tree, but are far more limited in their ability to recruit higher-tier units (for example, the units gained from becoming an Emperor - Protectors of Heaven, Defenders of Earth, and all Imperial units - simply cannot be recruited). His main compensation for these limitations in battle and being all of his armies inherently being able to ambush enemy armies on the attack.

Yellow Turbans

Dynasty: Yellow Sky Mandate

In General

• Culture Clash: The Yellow Turbans begin with a strong diplomacy penalty with non-Yellow Turban factions because of this. This can be compensated for if the Yellow Turbans create a Yellow Sky Mandate and elevate a noble sympathizer as their Emperor, granting them equal legitimacy in the eyes of the other factions. They're also unable to engage in diplomacy with Han factions until they attain the proper level of Enlightenment.
• Enemy Exchange Program: Averted. Yellow Turbans and non-Yellow Turbans won't join each other's armies, ever.
• Full-Circle Revolution: As they grow in Enlightenment, the Yellow Turbans develop from a peasant rebellion into something resembling a legitimate faction in the eyes of the Han warlords. And their ultimate goal is not to overthrow the Imperial system, but to replace the Han with a new dynasty that truly serves the will of Heaven. This is even more true if they elevate a noble as Emperor, thus preserving the original class system.
• Mechanically Unusual Class: The Yellow Turbans have a different tech tree, buildings, units and heroes from the Han warlords, and seek enlightenment instead of prestige, which is gained slightly differently.
• The Remnant: The Yellow Turban Rebellion has already been defeated in 190 CE, and the Zhang brothers are dead. The three Yellow Turban factions at the start are just the part that haven't been crushed yet.

He Yi

"I dream of a country without the oppression of uncaring noblemen! I fight for this noble cause, and I will never relent!"

Leader of the People

Although not very learned, He Yi is a charismatic and fanatical leader who has devoted himself to doing good and ending the suffering of the people.

Compassionate and courageous, He Yi places the wellbeing of others above all else.

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• All Asians Wear Conical Straw Hats: He wears a large straw hat, even in battle. Several of the unique Yellow Turban troops he can recruit do as well, such as the People's Warband.
• Church Militant: Is a leader of the taoist Yellow Turban Rebellion, and his description explains that he believes he must 'purify the land of evil'.
• Foil: He's essentially Liu Bei, if Liu Bei was born a peasant. He Yi's note on Liu Bei lampshades this, pointing out that Liu Bei would have made a fine ally if he had forsaken the Han.
• The Fundamentalist: He Yi is fanatical even by the standards of the Yellow Turbans. Other non-Yellow Turban generals may taunt him by questioning if his zeal is waning.
• Glass Cannon: As a Healer He Yi wears close to no armour whatsoever and his defenses are awful, but his high Instinct and Resolve means he can deal a lot of damage, and in Records Mode has a huge bodyguard.
• Good Is Not Soft: As he embodies the Taoist virtue of Compassion, He Yi cares about nothing more than ending the suffering of China's people, and is unquestionably compassionate, but he is also a fearsome fighter and rebel leader who is willing to spill as much blood as he needs to.
• The Men First: He Yi's unique mechanic allows makes him attend to the wounded following an occupation, minimizing population loss and boosting his own replenishment.
• Rebel Leader: As one of the leaders of the remaining Yellow Turban Rebels.
• Warrior Monk: A fanatical religious rebel who can hold his own in duels and melee.
• We Have Reserves: He Yi's playstyle revolves around this. His unique building bolsters population growth, his armies get cheaper the higher his population is, and his faction has a huge bonus towards replenishment. He can fight battle and be back to full strength in half the normal time.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Views himself as an instrument to purge evil and bring about the Yellow Sky Mandate, whatever the costs.

He Man

A scholar and unique hero who follows He Yi at the beginning of the game. Known as "The Most Powerful".

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• Ascended Extra: His only role in the Romance is to make a Badass Boast and promptly get killed. Here, he is upgraded to one of He Yi's most potent assets by being a powerful melee lord.
• Bow and Sword in Accord: Like most Scholars, He Man is a good duelist, especially against opponents with slow-striking but high-damage weapons, and he begins play in Romance Mode with a bow and the 'scattershot' ability that deals area-of-effect damage through a Rain of Arrows.
• Shout-Out: His title is one to Masters of the Universe.

Gong Du

"It is not right that one can eat while another starves, that one must fight while another laughs, that one must die while another profits."

Master of the Land

Not really driven by the religious reasons that made many of his peers take up arms, Gong Du is instead focused on redistributing the wealth of the corrupt elite to more deserving individuals as well as eliminating those who get in the way of him establishing a new order that places talented individuals like himself firmly at the top.

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• Carry a Big Stick: His starting weapon is a massive two-handed mace.
• The Fundamentalist: Downplayed. While he shares the same zealous beliefs as his fellow Yellow Turbans, Gong Du is focused on more practical matters.
• Hit-and-Run Tactics: His playstyle revolves around hit-and-run tactics. His unique building chain increases the amount of supplies and post-battle loot he receives, his faction abilities gives his armies a bonus to movement range and his special Liberate stance seizes the supplies of his opponents and adds them to that of his own army.
• Just Like Robin Hood: His bio describes him as "focused on redistributing the wealth of the corrupt elite to more deserving individuals"
• Pragmatic Hero: Gong Du embodies the Taoist virtue of Frugality and is more concerned with the day-to-day minutia of actually managing a revolution than his fellow Yellow Turbans, boosting his armies' access to supplies.
• Plunder: Gong Du has access to the "raid" stance from earlier Total War games, renamed "liberate" and involving overthrowing local nobles and freeing all their serfs. As long as they are in "liberate" stance Gong Du's armies cannot lose supplies and inflict massive Public Order penalties in enemy regions as the newly-freed serfs arm themselves and join the Rebellion.
• The Rival: Gong Du and Ma Teng are set up as each others' initial challenge: If you play as one of the two the other will inevitably be your first major foe.

Zhang Kai

A veteran who follows Gong Du at the beginning of the game. He is known as the "Slayer of Tyrants".

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• Adaptational Heroism: In the Romance he's mentioned as being part of the men who killed Cao Cao's family, a role he is not much in a position to fill in-game.
• Made of Iron: Zhang Kai's beginning traits and equipment gives him a close to 70% armour and he has access to a skill that boosts his melee evasion temporarily much like a Sentinel.

Huang Shao

"To follow the correct path one must have the perfect teacher. In Zhang Jue we learned and in Zhang Jue we believe."

The Wielder of the Heavenly Way

Huang Shao is an adherent of the Way of Great Peace, which states that harmony between Man and Heaven can only be achieved when all evil is exorcised. For Huang Shao, there can be no compromise in his beliefs. There is only the way of the Yellow Sky — and all those who oppose it will be rent asunder.

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• Cultured Warrior: His playstyle revolves around enlightenment, giving him bonuses to research and character experience.
• Dual Wielding: His starting weapon is a pair of swords.
• The Fundamentalist: He's as fanatical as He Yi, though with a more scholarly approach compared to his counterpart's popular faith. The teachings of Zhang Jue may not be questioned, and those who oppose them must die.
• Heroes Prefer Swords: He starts with a pair of swords.
• Humble Hero: Huang Shao embodies the Taoist virtue of Humility, and considers himself an emissary of Zhang Jue's original teachings.
• Master Swordsman: Excels in dueling opposing generals.
• Mechanically Unusual Class: In contrast to most Scholars, who tend to have duel- and melee infantry-focused skills, Huang Shao's skills excels in buffing archers. He grants tremendous missile block chance and increased ranged damage to nearby units, and can make his units temporarily invisible to sneak up on enemy ranged units. In Records Mode he has an uniquely high Cunning, allowing him to make good use of his Masters of Archery.
• The Rival: Huang Shao starts out next to Kong Rong and Liu Bei, and will inevitably come to blows with them during the early game.
• Warrior Monk: A Taoist monk who studied under the original founders of the Yellow Turban rebellion.

Pei Yuanshao

A veteran who follows Huang Shao at the beginning of the game. He is known as the "Virtuous Outrider".

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Introduced in the Eight Princes campaign

The Jin Dynasty

Descendents of the famed strategist Sima Yi, the Sima clan acquired power first as vassals of the Cao-Wei dynasty before opportunity allowed Sima Yi to seize power as regent for the emperor Cao Fang. As the Cao family lost power, the Sima clan became the real rulers of the state behind the veil of regencies until 265-266 AD, Sima Yan forced Cao Huan to abdicate the throne to him. Under the rule of the newly minted Emperor of Jin, the reunification of China was finished in 280 AD. Yet, beneath the splendor of victory, the seeds of chaos that would destroy the dynasty were being sown. Even as Sima Yan became known as Emperor Wu of Jin posthumously, various factions within the vast Sima Clan were getting ready to ignite a new inferno...

Tropes as a whole

• Big, Screwed-Up Family: Of the titular eight princes, two were Sima Yi's sons ^note Yi also had two other surviving sons: Gan, who remained neutral throughout the entire war and died in 311 at the age of 79, and Rong who served at a high post during Lun's time as emperor., four were his great-grandsons, and two were grandsons of his brothers. Not only that, there were other princes who took part in the civil war, but were not counted as part of the eight (another two grandsons of Sima Yi's brothers).
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: Literally all of them (except for maybe Sima Liang). Historically, every of the eight betrayed his predecessor, only to suffer a Cruel and Unusual Death at the hands of their successor, until Sima Yue won the power struggle at the price of dying shortly thereafter of natural causes and the dynasty collapsing afterwards.
• Decadent Court: What made this dynasty so infamous, their focus on intrigues and power plays instead of properly running the country ultimately lead to the "Uprising of the Five Barbarians" and the loss of Northern China. In all fairness though, their behaviour was also shared by the nobility and statesmen of the period, the Sima were simply the most notorious and influential about it.
• Family Business: Deconstructed during the "Eight Princes" campaign in two manners:
  • First, the motive: Their rise to the Imperial Throne had been the product of political intrigue and favours between them and the other noble families, as a result, their grip on power was tenuous from the start. ^note The rule of powerful clans had been entrenched via the "Nine Rank System", which was introduced by Cao Pi decades earlier.This in turn led to the Sima family appointing members of their kin in executive positions as they feared the lack of loyalty from the nobles could end up in secessions or uprisings. The result was that the princes of the Imperial family, who had never been given administrative positions during the previous dynasties ^note except during the early Western Han. During the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, the Rebellion of the Seven States broke out, with each state led by relatives of the Liu clan. While the rebellion was quickly put down, it would be up to Emperor Jing's son Emperor Wu to resolve this issue of vassal princes who threatened the imperial throne., were given command of armies and land under the assumption that they would put the interests of the family first before their own. This is reflected in the change of the public order mechanic, as it's no longer tracking the people but the opinion of the nobility.
  • Second, the execution: While indeed the grant of power to members of the Sima family was what allowed them to oust Jia Nanfeng, because the Imperial succession was left in disarray the other princes were able to claim the position of regent or the throne itself so long as they had the power to back their claim. Ultimately, their struggle lead to the "Uprising of the Five Barbarians", which saw the loss of Northern China and their loss of power as the infighting had cast doubt on the Jin's ability to run the country.
• God Save Us from the Queen!: Empress Jia Nanfeng can be said to be the instigator of the Eight Princes crisis, setting Sima Wei loose on Liang and then betraying Wei in turn. She'd later orchestrate the murder of the Crown Prince Sima Yu, though that proved to be her undoing.
• Good Colors, Evil Colors: Of the Eight Princes, the ones who are portrayed in an unambiguous positive light are Sima Ai and Sima Liang, who wear green; Sima Ying, who is also given a positive portrayal to a lesser degree, wears blue. In contrast, Sima Lun, a notorious backstabber, wears a predominantly black outfit while Sima Yue, a schemer who was the ultimate victor of the Eight Princes crisis, uses purple as his colour.
• Paper Tiger: Despite their position as the Imperial clan, the power the Sima can exert is limited by the very nobility that helped them rise to the throne, this is reflected in the new mechanic "Noble Support", which supplants the original public order.

Sima Liang

Sima Liang

The Rightful Regent

The third son of Sima Yi, and one of his father's two sons to be involved in the civil war.

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• Arch-Enemy: Sima Wei, his grand-nephew, is out for his head on Jia Nanfeng's orders. In the campaign, Sima Liang will almost certainly come to blows with the firebrand.
• Elder Abuse: By 291 CE, Liang was advanced in age. ^note The exact year of his birth is not known, only that it is between his brothers Zhao (212 CE) and Zhou (226 CE); this makes him at least 66 years old at the start of the scenario. An old man being dragged into a civil war definitely counts as this.
• The Good Chancellor: Was a military commander and senior advisor to Emperor Wu. He's also the legitimate regent to Emperor Hui, but unfortunately his power is being contested due to Jia Nanfeng's schemes.
• Hegemonic Empire: Due to his Jurisdiction mechanic, Sima Liang is encouraged to expand his empire not through direct control, but through a network of vassals.
• Parent-Child Team: His sons, Sima Ju and Sima Cui, are his starting uniques.
• Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: Attempted, at any rate. After conspiring with the empress and Sima Wei to overthrow Yang Jun, they turned on him and called for his arrest, stripping him of political influence and leading to him starting with a diplomatic penalty with all other factions.
• White Sheep: Probably the only prince who historically didn't take part in any plots. After being accused of treason by Sima Wei and the empress, he even voluntarily surrendered and accepted to be executed for his crimes despite being in a position to resist.

Sima Wei

Sima Wei

The Tempestuous General

A great-grandson of Sima Yi, and Emperor Wu's fifth son.

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• Artistic License – History: The scenario depicted Wei and his full brother Ai as rivals, giving them a relations penalty with each other. Historically, Ai joined Wei in his war to get rid of their great-uncle, Liang. After Wei was executed, Ai was demoted in rank as punishment.
• Blood Knight: His mechanic, Fury, functions similarly to Sun Jian's Heroism and Zheng Jiang's Infamy, encouraging the player to play offensively and giving bonuses for winning battles.
• Horrible Judge of Character: Was played like a fiddle by Jia Nanfeng. She goaded him into killing Sima Liang, and then proceeded to have him executed for doing just that. Admittedly, he realised that she was not to be trusted, albeit too late. Part of this may be due to his youth; he was only 20 when he was executed.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Known for his fiery temper, but was ultimately a Father to His Men and was generous to his people.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: His loyalty is to the Jin Dynasty and he will not hesitate to act in the empire's interest.

Sima Lun

Sima Lun

The Usurper Prince

The ninth and youngest son of Sima Yi, and one of his father's two sons to be involved in the civil war. Lun's mother was Lady Bai, a favored concubine of Sima Yi.

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• Backstabbing the Alpha Bitch: Sima Lun, an advisor to Jia Nanfeng, convinced her that Emperor Hui's original Crown Prince Yu was a threat to her power and goaded her into going too far by killing him. This was a Batman Gambit on Lun's part as he now had the Crown Prince out of his way permanently and a legitimate reason to depose the Empress.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Surprisingly, he does have one historically, that being moral posturing: During his usurpation, it is recorded that during the trials he ran, an official claimed to him that he was not in leagues with Jia Nanfeng, mentioning a strongly worded letter he wrote before denouncing her behaviour; Lun however asked him that if he so hated and opposed her, why did he continue to work for her and not resign his position?. The official was unable to give a retort and was later executed.
  • He also did not grant the (presumably) late Lady Bai any title during his months as emperor.
• Smug Snake: A power-hungry egomaniac who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
• Sneak Attack: Sima Lun's retinue has access to Stalk, allowing them to sneak up on an enemy undetected.
• The Spymaster: His faction mechanic encourages and gives bonuses for the use of covert agents.
• Unholy Matrimony: With Sun Xiu, his starting Unique and historical male lover.
• The Usurper: He was historically regarded as this, as he usurped power from Emperor Hui for about three months.

Sima Jiong

Sima Jiong

The Imperious Regent

A cousin to Emperor Hui and great-grandson of Sima Yi. Jiong is a son of You from his main wife Jia Bao, a half-sister of Empress Jia Nanfeng. Sima You was made his uncle Shi's heir as Shi had no sons; You's birth parents were Sima Zhao and Wang Yuanji, the parents of Emperor Wu. As such, while You was alive, Emperor Wu was wary of him as a potential threat to the throne. Eventually, You died in 283 aged 37. Jiong, angered by the early death of his father, thus bore a grudge against the Jin throne...

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• Control Freak: His mechanic, Control, encourages as small a court as you can manage, as Jiong micromanages his government.
• Drunk with Power: His victories and the apparent likelihood that he was next in line to the throne caused him to turn increasingly arrogant; to the extent he was openly disrespecting Emperor Hui.
• How the Mighty Have Fallen: He starts off the game after having recently fallen afoul of the imperial court. He had been lined up to be an heir, even to Emperor Wu, before his untimely expulsion.
• It's All About Me: His unique resource, Control, is diminished when appointing someone to a ministerial position. For Sima Jiong, no one can be his equal.
• Jerkass Has a Point: After taking power as Regent, Jiong remained suspicious of Yong, who had defected from Lun's side out of convenience. He sent spies to keep an eye on Yong and sure enough, Yong really did end up plotting against Jiong. Yong ultimately used Jiong's paranoia about him to goad him into attacking Sima Ai.
• Rebel Leader: Led the alliance against Sima Lun and was the first prince to enter Luoyang after the usurper's defeat.

Sima Ying

Sima Ying

The Beloved Governor

A great-grandson of Sima Yi, and Emperor Wu's 16th son.

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• Brainless Beauty: Noted to be handsome but only barely smarter than his developmentally disabled brother Emperor Hui. Despite this, he is still a Strategist.
• A Child Shall Lead Them: Was made prince of Chengdu when he was only 10 years old.
• Drunk with Power: As his influence grew, so did his ego and his involvement in political schemes increased drastically.
• Hyper-Competent Sidekick: His playstyle emphasises this, giving faction wide bonuses from all characters in ministerial positions in his court.
• The Good Chancellor: For the most part, he relied on the sound advice of his trusted advisor, Lu Zhi (great-grandson of Mandate of Heaven's Lu Zhi).

Sima Ai

Sima Ai

The Principled Administrator

A great-grandson of Sima Yi, and Emperor Wu's sixth son.

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• Artistic License – History: The scenario depicted Ai and his full brother Wei as rivals, giving them a relations penalty with each other. Historically, Ai joined Wei in his war to get rid of their great-uncle, Liang. After Wei was executed, Ai was demoted in rank as punishment.
• Cool Helmet: Has a helmet with a large green plume.
• Et Tu, Brute?: He is betrayed by Sima Ying, whom he particularly trusted, when the latter joins Sima Yong in his rebellion against Ai. He even wrote a letter asking Ying about just what he had done to deserve such treatment. He was also betrayed by Sima Yue and handed over to the rebels, due to Yue's assumption that Ai was fighting a lost cause.
• Face Death with Dignity: While waiting to be executed, he wrote a particularly touching letter of farewell to Emperor Hui, apologising for not being able to protect him for much longer.
• Heroic Fire Rescue: In the Eight Princes trailer, he is seen evacuating civilians from the part of a city being bombarded by Sima Yong's trebuchets.
• Internal Reformist: His unique resource, Reformation, reflects Ai's attempts at reforming the imperial government. High levels of Reformation provide research boosts, public order, less corruption and high trade influence.
• The Last DJ: He was a political reformist as well as a humble, talented and diligent administrator.
• Man on Fire: After being handed over to Zhang Fang, a general serving Sima Yong, by Sima Yue, Ai was burnt to death. His historical death is alluded to in the trailer when a fireball comes flying straight at him, courtesy of Sima Yong.
• Only Sane Man: Sima Ai was the only one of the eight princes to be viewed favourably by historians of the time. He also notably did not do anything outrageous or immodest during his time as Regent.
• Rank Scales with Asskicking: In a Dark Horse Victory 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.
• Thicker Than Water: Was known for his filial piety and in-game, he makes it clear that he wishes to loyally serve his brother, Emperor Hui.

Sima Yong

Sima Yong

The Filial Defender

A grandnephew of Sima Yi ^note being the grandson of Yi's younger brother Fu and a distant relative to Emperor Hui.

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• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He betrayed Sima Lun when he realised that he was on the losing side. And then he plotted against Sima Jiong by goading Jiong into attacking Sima Ai. And then he attacked Sima Ai together with Sima Ying. And then he betrayed Sima Ying and imprisoned him for a time before letting him out only to help him fight Sima Yue. Ironically, his grandfather Sima Fu was famous for his loyalty, albeit to the Wei regime; even so, Fu did not actively act against the Sima regime anyway.
• Four-Star Badass: Had a good military record, and was given command of Chang’an's defences.
• Hyper-Competent Sidekick: Has an eye for skilled associates and assistants, including the ruthless Zhang Fang.
• Turncoat: He originally supported Sima Lun when he usurped the throne, but switched sides upon realising that Sima Jiong's alliance was stronger than he had thought.

Sima Yue

Sima Yue

The Imperial Overseer

A cousin of Emperor Wu ^note Yue was a grandson of Yi's brother Kui and the last of the Eight Princes to be involved in the war.

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• Badass Bureaucrat: He was an efficient bureaucrat who played the political game better than the other princes.
• Battle Couple: His wife, Princess Pei, can fight along his side and she is quite the capable Sentinel herself.
• Les Collaborateurs: Was instrumental to Sima Ai's defeat as he betrayed him to Yong and Ying, due to his belief that Ai's cause was doomed.
• The Man Behind the Man: He worked hard to contain the power of the Emperors Hui and Huai, to keep his own.
• Pyrrhic Victory: Historically, Sima Yue "won" the War of the Eight Princes. By then, he was overseeing a crumbling empire and a few years later died of anger and stress trying to quell the Uprising of the Five Barbarians, an event that eventually led to the loss of Northern China.

Introduced in the Three Kingdoms campaign (182CE start date; subtitled "Mandate of Heaven")

Emperor Liu Hong

Liu Hong

"The authority of the Han must be obeyed without question."

The Inconstant Emperor

The emperor during whose reign the Eastern Han entered its terminal decline. In 182 C.E., Liu Hong was a young man of 26, ruling over a crumbling empire. After his death, he was given the posthumous name "Ling".

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• Alliance Meter: Liu Hong has to balance the influence of three factions in his court: namely the Bureaucrats, the Warlords and the Dynasty; each with its own rewards and penalties.
• Awesome, but Impractical: Liu Hong's starting army, led by He Jin, consists of Imperial units which will easily sweep aside enemy units, but they have replenishment penalties which means that their numbers will be worn down over time without replenishment reforms.
• Damned by Faint Praise: Essentially the significance of his posthumous name "Ling". When used in the derogatory sense, it roughly meant "chaos, but without loss" (乱而不损; "luan er bu sun"). Of course, this can be averted if the player chose to act against the eunuchs.
• Decadent Court: Liu Hong starts with the eunuchs holding a majority of seats in his court. They are so corrupt that they bring debuffs instead of buffs to trade, upkeep and construction cost.
• Disc-One Nuke: Aside from He Jin, the Emperor also starts with access to the Protectors of Heaven and Defenders of Earth, top-tier glaive and bow units that are only available to an Emperor. If he raises non-He Jin armies, these units will be stronger than early Yellow Turban forces.
• Eunuchs Are Evil: Liu Hong's starting court is plagued with eunuchs who must ultimately be purged from the court if the player is to have a proper fighting chance.
• Non-Action Guy: Being the emperor of Eastern Han, he never steps onto the battlefield, leaving the fighting to his subordinates. Instead he has to deal with delicate court politics from his palace, balancing three different factions and their interests.
• Player-Exclusive Mechanic: Normally, Liu Hong dies in-game as he did historically, except if a human is playing as him and averts his death in an event.
• The Purge: The heavy penalties caused by the Bureaucrats encourage him to sack the eunuchs as quickly as possible, allowing him to regain control of his court.
• Surprisingly Sudden Death: Liu Hong suddenly became ill and died in 189 CE. He was 32 to 33. ^note It should be noted that Liu Hong's death was the norm when it came to Eastern Han emperors. To highlight just how ridiculously short-lived the Eastern Han emperors were, only three lived beyond the age of 40: the founder Emperor Guangwu (died aged 62), his son Emperor Ming (aged 47), and Liu Hong's son Liu Xie (abdicated at 39, died at 53). His death led to Dong Zhuo eventually taking control, making his son a puppet emperor and kickstarting the events leading to the Three Kingdoms.

He Jin

The Butcher of the He

Liu Hong's brother-in-law and one of his greatest generals. Nicknamed The Butcher of The Hes ^note He was a butcher by trade before his sister became Liu Hong's empress, he has a deep hatred for the eunuchs.

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• Crutch Character: He Jin provides massive 80% reduction to the upkeep of Imperial units, an Elite Army with all formations unlocked from the get go at a large upkeep cost, meaning that he will be leaned on heavily at the start of the game.
• Non-Indicative Name: His nickname refers to him being a literal (former) butcher, not The Butcher.
• Number Two: He Jin serves as the main enforcer of the emperor Liu Hong, commanding his armies and fighting his battles for him.
• Surprisingly Sudden Death: As par the course of history, shortly after Liu Hong's death, He Jin will be murdered by the eunuchs before Luoyang falls into disarray.

Liu Chong

"Secure the borders and protect the people; there is a long road ahead."

The last prince of Chen and relative to Emperor Liu Hong. Unlike other princes, he actively governs his lands, focusing on making his holding a place of peace, prosperity and a safe haven for those who wish to live there. He is also an skilled warrior and charismatic figure and keeps his people in line with his reputation.

Liu Chong is made playable in the 194 CE bookmark with the patch accompanying the Fates Divided DLC.

The Prince of Chen

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• Arch-Enemy: Yuan Shu, unsurprisingly and keeping to historical events. War with Yuan Shu is almost always guaranteed in Liu Chong's campaign.
• Bling of War: Unlike most of the other Commander faction leaders, Liu Chong wears a suit of gold-coloured armour which makes him stand out on the battlefield. His Peacekeepers and Royal Guard units likewise are donned in golden armour.
• Bow and Sword in Accord: More like Crossbow and Spear in the case of Liu Chong's unique Royal Guard units. Armed with crossbows, they are also capable of doubling as Spear Guards with their spears and tower shields. Hence, they are very much capable of taking down units from afar and engaging in close quarters.
• Downer Ending: He manages to keep Chen prosperous and a safe haven for refugees thoughout the Yellow Turban Rebellion and into the civil war between the warlords. He is unceremoniously assassinated by Yuan Shu for refusing to supply him after Yuan declared himself Emperor of Zhong, leading to Chen descending into chaos and rendering his work All for Nothing. ^note To add insult to injury, his accomplishments were largely left unknown until Sima Guang's Zi Zhi Tong Jian, nearly 900 years after his death. Chen Shou did not mention him in his Records, while his biography was included in Book of the Later Han not based on his own merit, but because he had an ancestor who was a son of Emperor Ming, the second emperor of the dynasty.
• The Dreaded: At the maximum level of his Fortitude unique currency, Liu Chong's armies not only gain more morale buffs but also, the enemy suffers a large morale debuff. Combine this with the overwhelming firepower of his crossbow troops and enemy armies will scatter within minutes of the battle starting.
• Friendly Sniper: He's a Warrior Prince who sincerely cares about his people and he will plant a few crossbow bolts in his enemies' faces if they prove to be a threat to the peace of his lands.
• Long-Range Fighter: Liu Chong's faction and the man himself. His traits and crossbow-armed unique units make armies full of ranged units more viable for him. Liu Chong too, while not an excellent duellist, has a unique Crossbow ancillary that can substantially chip away at the health of opposing generals.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something: Takes an active role in governing his land and is loved by his people for doing so. Most noticeably, Chen went unscathed during the Yellow Turban Rebellion due to his management, reputation as a Warrior Prince and shooting anyone who looked like they might be Yellow Turban invaders.
• Trophy Room: He has this as one of his mechanics, giving him bonuses for every trophy collected and placed in his trophy room.
• Warrior Prince: Not only was he an active governor of his province, but a skilled warrior as well. He is most skilled with the crossbow, to the point where he wrote an instructional treatise on the art of the crossbow.

Luo Jun

A capable civil and military officer, he is one of Liu Chong's most trusted servants and he, like his master, watches over the people of Chen and ensures their comfort and safety.

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• Badass Bureaucrat: A Champion in-game and he wields the Ji of the Imperial Guard, a weapon with high damage stats. Kept order within the state even amidst the chaos of the Yellow Turban rebellion and was a popular man by all accounts.
• The Good Chancellor: Was appointed the Chancellor of Chen state by Liu Chong. He notably encouraged population growth by personally rewarding families with newborns with gifts of rice and meat, promoting agricultural projects and welcoming refugees fleeing the fighting into Chen.

Lu Zhi

Lu Zhi

The Respected Mentor

One of the preeminent scholars of the Han Dynasty who helped write the history of the Eastern Han empire and a formidable general who led the attack against the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He was also a mentor to Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan in their youth. He also starts with Huangfu Song under his command.

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• Badass Bookworm: He is one of the best scholars of the dynasty as well as the general put in charge of leading the attack against the Zhang brothers during the Yellow Turban Rebellion and was very successful in his assault until removed from his command by the eunuchs. He gives bonuses towards character experience gain to reflect his status as a scholar.
• Difficult, but Awesome: Lu Zhi has fascinating faction mechanics. However, his big difficulty (like Liu Bei) is that he starts very close to the Zhang brothers. Should he survive the Mandate War, Lu Zhi emerges as a force to be reckoned with.
• Famous Ancestor: To his great-grandson of a similar name, who served under Sima Ying during the War of the Eight Princes.
• Frameup: His command over the attack on the Zhang brothers ends when Zuo Feng, a eunuch, makes false accusations against him.
• Great Big Library of Everything: One of his mechanics involves gathering books to store in his Great Library, gaining bonuses for each book.
• Promoted to Playable: Averted, Lu Zhi is unplayable in the campaign start of 190C.E., having retired to a life of seclusion after Dong Zhuo's rise to power.

Huangfu Song

Modest & Stalwart

A loyal and distinguished general of the Han. He is known as modest and generous person, taking no credit for his role in the Yellow Turban Rebellion and pleaded for Lu Zhi's pardon after he was falsely accused of a crime.

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• Historical Downgrade: Historically, Huangfu Song was one of the three imperial commanders when the Yellow Turban Rebellion started and was on equal rank to his friend Lu Zhi. Here, he starts as a general under Lu Zhi.^note This may be a Genius Bonus: even after taking over as imperial commander, Huangfu continued to use Lu Zhi as an advisor and strategist. So, while Huangfu was the leader, Lu was the brains of the operations.
• Humble Hero: Famously known for not taking credit for his role in putting down the Yellow Turban Rebellion,^note The imperial court chose Huangfu Song to replace Dong Zhuo after he failed to make any progress after replacing a falsely accused and dismissed Lu Zhi. He was not only successful, but was responsible for the deaths of two of the three Zhang brothers (Zhang Jue's death was due to an illness), making him a major player in ending the bulk of the rebellion. passing the glory to the other commander Zhu Jun, as well as pleading Lu Zhi's innocence.
• Older Than They Look: Huangfu Song starts 182CE at 51 years old, one year older than the elderly looking Tao Qian and is several years older than Liu Biao, who is in his 40s as of 190CE. He looks no older than the other warlords.

Zhang Jue

Zhang Jue

General of Heaven

Alternatively known as Zhang Jiao, he is a follower of Taoism whose disillusionment with the crumbling Han Dynasty will eventually force him to form the rebellion that kickstarted the Three Kingdoms era: the Yellow Turban Rebellion, with him and his brothers Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao as its forefathers.

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• Badass Long Robe: He wears no visible armour, but is donned instead in long, flowing robes.
• Badass Preacher: He is a devout Daoist who was inspired to rebel against the Han after a supposed chance encounter with a Daoist sage.
• The Dreaded: His mere presence scares enemy troops and reduces their morale.
• Facial Markings: He has prominent tattoos on his forehead.
• Hero Antagonist: If the player chooses a character opposed to him, he and the Yellow Turbans can be seen as this: Rebels plunging the realm into chaos out of a genuine desire to create something better and fairer for the people of China.
• Inspirational Martyr: Zhang Jue's passive buff, Lord of Heaven, activates when he's killed on the battlefield; boosting his troops' morale and fighting capabilities as they avenge their fallen leader.
• Martial Medic: Before taking up arms against the Han, he was a healer who witnessed the suffering of the people.
• Rebel Leader: He's the leader and figurehead of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
• We Have Reserves: His faction's shtick revolves around gaining Zeal through taking casualties through battle, and replenishing those losses with his unique assignment.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Started the Yellow Turban Rebellion along with his brothers Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao upon deciding that the declining Han Empire has become weakened, despotic and hopelessly corrupt. While the Yellow Turbans can be played as having plenty of moments where The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized, he genuinely wants to create a new and better order that treats the long-oppressed peasants better than they previously have been. It helps that the Han Empire is weakened, despotic and hopelessly corrupt.

Tao Qian

Tao Qian

Dynasty: Lu

Benevolent Arbiter

Tao Qian is a diligent and sincere governor with an eye for those who have the true interests of the people at heart. Having thwarted an invasion from Cao Cao with help from Liu Bei, the two began a friendship that would influence Liu Bei's own style of governance.

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• Actual Pacifist: Rarely declares war and is more content with managing what provinces he has than expanding his borders. It's to the point that his war with Cao Cao is mostly due to a terrible miscommunication error rather than a true declaration of war.
• Cool Old Guy: Is kind, generous, and polite. He can also enter the battlefield as a strategist.
• Horrible Judge of Character: In his intro, he considers the power-hungry Yuan Shu and the war-like Gongsun Zan as potential heirs because of Liu Bei's lack of titles or lands.
• Inadequate Inheritor: He believes his son is this and historically gave his lands and power to Liu Bei instead when he passes away of old age.
• My Country, Right or Wrong: Despite being part of the coalition, Tao Qian 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.
• War Refugees: His main mechanic 'Displaced Population' is this. It increases gradually as war rages on in China and can only be decreased by having generals on assignments. High displacement gives Tao Qian's faction bonuses for recruitment and construction time at the cost of public order and food production penalities.

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Introduced in the Three Kingdoms campaign (194CE start date; subtitled "A World Betrayed")

Lü Bu

Lü Bu

Among men, Lü Bu. Among horses, Red Hare.

Dynasty: Yin

The Bastard of Three Fathers.

One of the mightiest warriors under the heavens, if not the mightiest. Lü Bu serves Dong Zhuo as both the commander of his armies, his greatest champion, and his adopted son. An expert combatant, he has proven himself multiple times and is an imposing presence on the battlefield. While none can question his ferocity, Lü Bu is also unpredictable and prone to betrayal and murder — he killed his previous "father" and general, Ding Yuan, to serve Dong Zhuo. Only time will tell whether his loyalty to the Tyrant will hold, or if it will instead be proved that none can truly call themselves master of Lü Bu!

Lü Bu starts with the traits Formidable, Feared, and Disloyal, and is playable in the 194 CE bookmark, complete with unique faction mechanics. In 190CE, he begins as a servant of Dong Zhuo and in 182CE, he's serving under Ding Yuan.

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• The Ace: In a World of Badass, he's still legendary. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, many believed that among warriors, no-one was Lü Bu's equal.
• Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Lü Bu is the mightiest warrior in China, and he earned his position because of that strength, before finally killing his way to the head of his own faction. This is deconstructed: While his power gets him to the top, he lacks any kind of leadership skills (leading to a faction that's constantly hemorrhaging cash), and being strong doesn't help him keep his job. He was much more effective when he had Dong Zhuo to do the thinking for him.
• Big Bad Wannabe: After he knocks off Dong Zhuo, he tries to make a faction of his own. He isn't cut out for governance, though. His faction is chronically broke due to his income maluses, and everyone hates him because they know exactly what he's like. Unless his player is very skilled, he'll rapidly find out that personal strength isn't enough to take over China.
• Berserk Button: Lü Bu's melee power is 59 in normal circumstances. But if Dong Zhuo dies in battle, it instantly jumps to 100 which means the enemy army is about to get decimated.
• Challenge Seeker: In the "A World Betrayed" campaign, Lu Bu's campaign mechanic revolves around defeating specific characters and if he succeeds, he is rewarded with valuable buffs that make him even more of a One-Man Army.
• Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: His Total War bio states he is prone to betrayal and murder. He backstabbed and killed his previous adoptive father and commander, Ding Yuan, and in both Real Life and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, did the same to Dong Zhuo. In-game, his AI is scripted to do this against Dong Zhuo, killing and replacing him in the early stages of the 190 CE scenario. Even when playing as Dong Zhuo, picking certain choices in player dilemmas (related to Diaochan) will result in this, meaning the player will have to consciously work to avoid this trope.
  • In the 194 CE start date, if Cao Cao forces him into a corner, he'll attempt to join Liu Bei. Liu Bei players then have to work to prevent his backstabbing.
• Cool Horse: Red Hare, presumably visible as Lü Bu's steed in the Dong Zhuo trailer. In Romance, it was given to him by Dong Zhuo to make him betray Ding Yuan. ^note Historically, the main note on Red Hare was that Lv Bu rode it while fighting (and defeating) Zhang Yan; Lv was at the time serving under Yuan Shao.
• The Dragon: At the start of the game, he will be this to Dong Zhuo, being the most important commander of his armies.
• Evil Is Bigger: The Three Kingdoms cinematic trailer — and the Dong Zhuo trailer — depict him as towering a head taller than ordinary soldiers. Given his status as a general, it can also be seen as an example of Large and in Charge.
• Foe-Tossing Charge: Is fond of doing these in both the cinematic trailers where he's been prominently featured.
• Four-Star Badass: 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 is no exception (see One-Man Army.)
• Foreshadowing: When he salutes Dong Zhuo from afar, he can be seen giving the Tyrant one hell of a Death Glare, alluding to his eventual Starscream role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms and in Real Life.
• Frontline General: All the characters in the game can be this, but Lü Bu is consistently shown in trailers to hurl himself head-first into the thickest part of the fighting.
• Gameplay and Story Segregation: Lü Bu is of the Vanguard class, which means he excels at charging into enemy lines and decimating droves of common units. While this is true to Lü Bu in history and fiction, this also means that he's somewhat less suited to duels than some other classes, which is very out of character for the most prolific single-combat warrior of the age.
• Glass Cannon: Lü Bu isn't invincible, and is actually fairly vulnerable against other heroes: his damage output is phenomenal but his evasion and hitpoints are only so-so. When up against an opponent with high evasion, even the mighty Lü Bu will struggle.
• How the Mighty Have Fallen: In the Fates Divided trailer, his final moments were shown: begging for Cao Cao's mercy with Cao refusing and giving the executioner the cue to bring down the sword.
• I Am Not My Father: Invoked in the A World Betrayed trailer, where he name-drops the trope. Actually, the main difference is that Lü Bu is even more Hot-Blooded, irrational and imprudent than Dong Zhuo; otherwise, he's just as much of a brute-force Big Bad Wannabe.
• Lightning Bruiser: Not only is he a big guy, the trailers depict him as terrifyingly fast on his feet.
• One-Man Army: He's possibly the greatest warrior in the land, and as a Vanguard type hero he'll butcher Red Shirt troops, as shown in the Dong Zhuo trailer. When Creative Assembly revealed some meta-stats for the first month of Three Kingdoms they revealed Lü Bu to be the single deadliest unit in the game with an average of 363 kills per battle (by contrast, the deadliest generic unit was the Trebuchet with 142 kills per battle). In the cinematic trailer, he comfortably holds his own in a two-on-one fight against Bash Brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. ^*To emphasize how badass this is, Zhang Fei was considered to be surpassed as a warrior only by Lü Bu, and Guan Yu was posthumously declared a god of war.
• Patricide: Adoptive father, but he still kills Dong Zhuo over Diaochan.
• Perpetual Frowner: His v-shaped eyebrows give him this expression.
• Private Military Contractors: In A World Betrayed, Lü Bu uses the mercenary mechanics, and he'll fight for pretty much anyone now that he's on his own. Which is a good thing, since he absolutely sucks at administration.
• Promoted to Playable: A downplayed example; he is playable in the base game and can take over Dong Zhuo's faction in the 190CE start date, but the A World Betrayed start sees him rule his own faction with its own unique mechanics based around having Lü Bu defeat armies in person.
• Rape, Pillage, and Burn: His unique campaign mechanic is focused on constantly pillaging villages to keep up "momentum" so that his army can continue on the warpath.
• The Starscream: Is scripted to kill and replace Dong Zhuo in the early stages of the game. Even when the player chooses Dong Zhuo's faction, choosing certain options in Player Dilemmas will result in things playing out as they did in history and Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
• World's Best Warrior: Lü Bu is without a doubt this at the start of the campaign, and even his subclass is "Warrior Without Equal." ^note Lü Bu starts at rank seven, for reference the next highest (Guan Yu) starts at rank four. In A World Betrayed, his faction mechanic is based around this: Lü Bu's faction gains bonuses by having Lü Bu beat up enemy armies and defeat other competitors to the title of greatest badass of the Later Eastern Han era.

Yan Baihu

"My roar shall shatter the resolve of any foolish enough to enter my domain."

Dynasty: Eastern Wu

The White Tiger

A member of the Shanyue tribe native to the wild lands of southern China, Yan Baihu bears the responsibility of protecting the homeland from the incursions of the Han warlords. In particular, the Sun clan poses the greatest threat as they too wish to make a powerbase out of the rich lands of the south.

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• The Alliance: Being a member of a large coalition or alliance gives Yan Baihu several benefits, including decreased research time and lower recruitment costs of units.
• Animal Motif: To white tigers, unsurprisingly. He wears the pelt of one as well.
• Army of Thieves and Whores: Like all Bandit factions, Yan Baihu's armies inherently can have bandit units and are highly limited in being able to gain more advanced units that other factions can obtain easily with technology...but all of the benefits Bandit Network reforms give to all of a Bandit faction's units, reforms that he'll get plenty of with his White Tiger Confederation resource, will even the scales.
• Badass Native: The Shanyue people are portrayed as warriors defending their homelands from Han incursions and under Yan Baihu's leadership, they are indeed capable of putting up a good fight.
• Bash Brothers: Starts off in army with his Champion of a brother, Yan Yu, who also happens to be his heir.
• Combat Pragmatist: One of his unlockable skills, "Tactical Withdrawal" suggests that Yan knows when to pull back to fight another day.
• Dual Wielding: Wields a pair of swords, named "The White Tiger's Claws".
• Mechanically Unusual Class: Yan Baihu is a Bandit faction, which have unique low-tier bandits units and the Bandit Network tree instead of the usual Reforms tree, but are far more limited in their ability to recruit higher-tier units (for example, the units gained from becoming an Emperor; Protectors of Heaven, Defenders of Earth and all Imperial units; simply cannot be recruited). His main compensation for these limitations in battle are the universal bonuses to units of specific types from Bandit Network reforms which his faction mechanic will let him research at a heightened rate.
• Rain of Arrows: Yan Baihu has an ability that is a combination of Taishi Ci's Volley of Arrows and Venomous Shot abilities. Poison Volley inflicts the Poisoned status on enemy troops which causes them to drop like flies, more often than not routing them in seconds.
• Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters: The Han view Yan Baihu and his people as little more than bandits, whereas the Shanyue look up to Yan Baihu as a defender of their homelands and leader.

Yan Yu

The Tiger Cub

Brother and heir of Yan Baihu, Yan Yu fights alongside his brother, with bottle in hand, to protect the Shanyue homeland.

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• Badass Native: A member of the Shanyue people and fellow protector alongside his brother.
• Bash Brothers: Fights alongside his brother, Baihu, to protect the homelands of the Shanyue people.
• Combat Exclusive Healing: His starting skill, Mending, allows him to heal up to 3.2k of a general's Health while also buffing their armour and melee evasion.

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Introduced in The Furious Wild DLC

Shi Xie

Dynasty: Ba

The Administrator (taishou) of Jiaozhi Commandery from 187 CE onwards, Shi Xie was noted historically for his personal longevity (he was 89 when he passed away in 226 CE) and the longevity of his rule of Jiaozhi (almost 40 years).

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• Going Native: Played With. Shi Xie remains very much as Han Chinese as they come, yet his efforts to establish order and peace have also helped sow the seeds for Vietnamese culture as we know it.
• The Good King: Known for his fair and prosperous rule over Jiaozhi (mostly consisting of northern Vietnam today). He is still honored by the Vietnamese people as King Shi.
• Nepotism: Shi Xie's unique mechanic, Splendour, can be gained by smuggling family members into important court positions. Splendour provides bonuses to public order, trade influence, and diplomacy relationships with all factions, and can be exchanged for special ancillaries that grant characters bonuses.
• Settling the Frontier: Shi Xie has turned the southernmost fringes of Han rule into a region almost functional and "civilized" as the Chinese heartland, while still keeping the peace with the natives.

Nanman Factions

• Noble Savage: 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. but are portrayed as fundamentally good people despite that.
• The Savage South: The Nanman tribes live in southwestern China, nearing the border of ancient Vietnam.
• War Elephants: The Nanman tribes can mount their generals on war elephants, which prevents access to the general's character traits and ability to duel other characters but makes them combat juggernauts with powerful trampling and goring attacks. In addition, three actual units of elephants are present — southern elephants, which carry howdahs of slingers on their backs; more heavily armored war elephants better suited for charging into enemy units while still sending out ranged fire; and Nazhong elephants, which lack the slingers but instead carry drummers who boost other units' stats and morale.

Meng Huo

King of the Man.

Meng Huo show his friends every generosity, and his enemies an unending, merciless rage. Whilst some may identify this as a true loyalty, it belies another, deeper tendency towards rage, one which can erupt at the smallest slight, easily rising to become an all-consuming blaze.

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• Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: A minor example. Usually, by the time Meng Huo and Zhurong are introduced into Three Kingdom stories, the two are married. In the game, they start out as separate and independent lords, but gain a number of buffs if they later become part of a single faction and take to the battlefield together.
• Battle Couple: Forms one with Zhurong, and he is granted Fatigue Immunity and Damage Resistance if she is present on the field with him.
• Drums of War: Meng Huo has access to "Nanzhong Elephants", which carry drummers on their backs and can buff nearby units in various different ways depending on how fast they play. Also counts as Jungle Drums.
• Dual Wielding: Starts off with a pair of dual Jian swords.
• Fiery Redhead: His bright red hair and beard match his hot-tempered nature.
• Tribal Face Paint: Has two red markings under his eyes.

Zhurong

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• Action Girl: The only playable Nanman woman leader, she is a capable leader and can in fact take on her male counterparts in close-quarters combat easily.
• Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: A minor example. Usually, by the time Meng Huo and Zhurong are introduced into Three Kingdom stories, the two are married. In the game, they start out as separate and independent lords, but gain a number of buffs if they later become part of a single faction and take to the battlefield together.
• Arrows on Fire: Her Fire Archers unsurprisingly send volleys of fire arrows in the direction of their targets, and given Nanman units' vulnerability to fire, they are the most effective ranged unit available to the Namnan.
• Battle Couple: Forms one with Meng Huo, and she is granted Fatigue Immunity and Damage Resistance if he is present on the field with her.
• Beast of Battle: She can recruit animal handlers who come to the battlefield alongside packs of trained tigers that they can unleash on their foes, which can later be upgraded into the tiger warrior unit, with more heavily-armed handlers and armored tigers. In both cases, once the tigers are sent off towards their target they go wild and become uncontrollable, while the handlers become an otherwise regular ranged or melee unit.
• Carry a Big Stick: Her main weapon is a maul.
• Devious Daggers: She starts off equipped with a Flying Daggers ancillary item, and she also has access to the similarly-named ability that allows her to use a powerful ranged attack on enemy units.
• Hot-Blooded: Has the fiery trait and is more aggressive compared to other Nanman Factions. If she isn't confederated by King Meng Huo.
• Panthera Awesome: In addition to her Followers of the Flame and Fire Archers, she can also recruit tiger units.
• Playing with Fire: She claims descent from the Goddess of Fire, and her unique unit, the Followers of the Flame, carry huge burning mauls.

Shamoke

Ruler of the Five Valleys.

Where the valleys converge, there too is King Shamoke, straddling the border between nations; the tumbling waters of the confluence as precarious as his future.

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• Defector from Decadence: Is seen as one by the Han Chinese, since unlike the other Nanman tribes, he is willing to go through the proper reforms to become emperor.
• Going Native: Shamoke can not only opt to go through the proper reforms to become emperor, but can also opt to adopt more Han stylings especially as he expands deeper into China.
• Mechanically Unusual Class: Shamoke has the standard Nanman Campaign Objectives, but he also has to declare himself emperor like one of the Han Chinese generals, unlike the rest of the Nanman Tribe leaders.

Mulu

The world of men is barely a footnote to King Mulu – nature is his calling, and defending it against those who threaten such ancient orders.

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• The Beastmaster: Mulu specializes in recruiting animal units, particularly War Elephants.
• Better with Non-Human Company: As described in his campaign intro, the world of men is "barely a footnote" to Mulu, who prefers the company of animals.
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: Mulu has 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.

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