Diplomats

Learn how to use Diplomats effectively in Total War: Rome II to secure trade, disband enemy armies, and gain a strategic advantage. Essential campaign tips inside!

Alright, let's talk about Diplomats in Total War: Rome II. These guys are super important, especially when your treasury is looking healthy. Think of them as your go-to for making deals and avoiding nasty surprises.

The most common use for a Diplomat is to get rid of big enemy armies without a fight. If you see a massive stack of troops heading for one of your towns, you can send your Diplomat over and 'Bribe' them. They'll tell you how much cash they want to pack up and leave. It's a lifesaver when you're short on your own troops!

But that's not all they do. Diplomats are key to forming alliances and ceasefires with other factions. You'll want to make as many friends as possible, but remember – this is Rome, so be ready to backstab them before they do the same to you! It’s a cutthroat world out there.

Diplomats can also boost your income. You can send them to request trade rights with other factions, which directly increases your earnings. Plus, they're the only ones who can 'net bigtime enemy Generals' by bribing them. Seriously, always have a Diplomat with you when you're taking over new regions. Bribing those big enemy armies to disband is way easier than fighting them.

One of the best early-game moves a Diplomat can make is trading Map Information for tribute. Just offer up what you know about the map and try to get a hefty sum of money in return. The more territory you control, the more valuable your map data becomes. For example, if you've conquered all the desert regions and then trade that map info with a faction in Germania, they'll pay a premium for it.

Your Diplomat's skill increases with successful negotiations. The higher their 'influence,' the better deals you'll get. They can also have 'retinue' members that give them a small boost to influence. Make sure to pass these retinue members down to younger Diplomats when the older ones die, otherwise, that bonus is lost forever!

So, to sum it up: bring Diplomats along with your armies for trade agreements and tribute. Keep them near your cities to bribe enemy armies. They're trained in the level two government building, so make sure you build that up. Diplomats can do things no one else can, so always have one ready!