Rediscover an ancient civilization with an explosive history in the most stunning edition of Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Set during the end of China's Han Dynasty and the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., RTKXI presents the most visually-captivating evolution in the history of the series. Blurring the line between video games and art, RTKXI features visuals evocative of classical Chinese ink-paintings along with debates and duels rendered in real-time 3D animation. You will need to dig deep within to prove yourself adept at both the military and political arts in order to bring China under one rule. THE THREE KINGDOMS IN 3D Domestic affairs, diplomacy and warfare are all conducted on a single vast 3D relief map, dramatically bringing to life the epic scale of the adventure that lies before you. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI (RTKXI) presents an all-new, exquisitely detailed 3D world map, beautifully rendered in classical Chinese vivid-ink style. Watch as the vast terrain of ancient China comes alive right before your eyes in this re-creation of unsurpassed scale and scope. With debates and duels now rendered in real-time 3D animation, RTKXI pushes the boundaries and blurs the line between video games and art in this stunning recreation of the mood and feel of ancient China. TURN-BASED CONTROL The turn-based structure of the game provides the time to contemplate critical courses of action. With domestic development and warfare now on the same map, you can build specific facilities to strengthen your own cities, or selectively target installations in enemy cities to cripple their infrastructure bit by bit. LIVE THE HISTORY Throughout your reign, you will feel the era come to life through the personalities of the more than 800 characters. You are free to choose your own sworn brothers and spouses, as well as their forces. When such characters are placed in the same unit, their abilities will increase, or if they are separated, will come to each other's aid in times of need. SCENARIOS Play any one of eight historical scenarios, spanning from the beginning of the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the Nanman Campaign. Choosing any of the main scenarios lets you select up to 8 forces to control. PRE-SET SCENARIOS For those seeking a twist, tackle one of the Pre-set scenarios that challenge you to step into the shoes of a specific ruler during a particularly troubling point in their history. BASE COMMANDS As the ruler of a kingdom, you will have complete control over your territories. More than 40 base commands give you the power to govern cities, manage your personnel, practice diplomacy, and much more. Complete freedom to develop markets, shipyards, outposts, forts and military units expand on the already substantial benchmarks established by previous editions of the series. Build a center of commerce to reap tax revenue, till the soil to create an agricultural heartland, or create technologically advanced armaments by investing in workshops. The freedom of development is unsurpassed with nine new abilities to manage your cities. Accurate portrayal of the terrain in each region requires players to weigh the costs and benefits of any specialization. Players will be able to create their cities in exactly the way they see fit, realizing macro-level empire building via city-level micro-management. OFFICER SKILLS Each officer can possess one of 100 unique skills. A specialist in fire attacks like Zhou Yu will have 'Divine Fire,' while a strategic genius like Zhuge Liang will know 'Divine Potency,' enabling all of his strategies to succeed. Each of these skills helps shape the personalities of the officers of the game. BATTLE: POWERFUL MILITARY TECHNIQUES RTKXI introduces the new 'Technique system' that rewards points every time you command your men. These points can then be used to learn even better techniques. Techniques are special skills that improve the abilities of your forces. Complex commands garner a faster rate of technique point accumulation, ensuring that skilled players are better able to control their own destiny. The 8 technique categories (Spears, Pikes, Crossbows, Cavalry, Command, Invention, Defense, and Fire) each have four incremental levels of power. Acquiring new techniques will not only improve your troops' ability, but it will also allow previously unusable weaponry into your forces. BATTLE: ADVANCED TACTICS SYSTEM RTKXI'S new tactics and Advanced Tactics System change the way battles are fought. Now, players can force an enemy unit back a square or lure them into a square currently occupied by one of your units who are ready to unleash a trap or ambush. Tactics can be linked together for maximum damage. With the single world map, you can now prepare various defensive facilities and set traps which can be used during warfare. Destroy dams to unleash torrential floods of water, or lure unsuspecting enemies into fire traps. The Advanced Tactics System adds a new twist to the strategy of unit placement and movement on the battlefield. DUELS AND DEBATES Clash swords in the purest test of a warrior's strength! Pit your officers against their battlefield rivals in the action-packed 'duel mode', now fully rendered in 3D and featuring unprecedented speed, tactics, and action. RTKXI also introduces the concept of the multi-officer duel, where officers in the same unit can support each other by taking over should their comrade falter. Executed in real-time, this exciting new gameplay feature now makes it possible for skilled players to overcome seemingly overwhelming odds and turn the tide of battle.The true strategist recognizes that not all wars are fought on the battlefield. Debates are the forum where warriors of intellect go to shine, taking to the podium to demonstrate their faculties in the affairs of the mind. Review the topic at hand and play your cards right to trounce your opposition. As with any debate, keeping a tight rein on anger levels, both yours and your opponents', is one of the keys to victory. Use tactics to calm down a hot-headed opponent, or harness your own anger and fly into a rage. Those who hit a high level of fury will be able to employ a number of special techniques unique to that officer's personality type. Success in debates will lead to an increased likelihood of succeeding in difficult negotiations.