TABS: Total War

Overview

Welcome to TABS: Total War. This is a complete overhaul of Totally Accurate Battle Simulator that adds over 120 historically inspired units to the game. It aims to combine the things we love from TABS and Total War into one mod. Here, you will be thrown back into time as you come face to face with famous factions such as Roma, Carthago, Egypt, Sparta, and many more. Witness the strengths and weaknesses each unit and faction embraces and learn through strategy and tactics how to use and face each and every one of them.11 Factions are currently out, check them out by searching “TABS Total War” in the workshop search bar or downloading them from this link:Mod Download: https://mod.io/members/tk1Mod.io Guide: https://tabs.mod.io/guides/tabs-total-warCheck out the discord for more up to date announcements and teasers: https://discord.gg/HrKZMf2FrK

Introduction

While TABS is a game that centers around randomization, luck, and physics, Total War employs more realistic and tactical strategies to defeat enemies. Not just with pure numbers. To combine these two different worlds, the diversification and emphasis on unit and faction variety will have to be prioritized. The balance of sword wielding melee infantry, defensive spear infantry, ranged skirmishers, and shock tactics used by cavalry* is the prime focus to employ strategy to TABS.

*Currently cavalry is not offered by the TABS unit creator, so until it is, the cavarly will be missing from all unit rosters.

Melee fighters perform well in the offensive, made for killing quickly and decisively. They often forgo armor for increased skill with their blade of choice.

The spear is often used in conjunction with a shield, made for defending positions, holding enemies in place, and taking down cavalry. Though traditionally more armoured, their longer spears can prove awkward in close combat and against swords, it proves as a disadvantage.

Developed from the hoplite after Alexander the Great’s expansion, the pike, or sarissa, is a devastating weapon capable of slaughtering all who come within striking distance. Particulary effective againt cavarly.

From the bow to the javelin, skirmishers are made for distance combat. Exceptional against lightly armoured troops, these fast moving units are capable of also taking dowwn heavily armoured troops if deployed at the flanks, avoiding the large shields of the infantry now locked in combat with the front line.

Javelins and similar skirmishers* generally have higher armor and shorter range than the traditional archer, who also tend to have a faster reload time.

*The pilum is a javelin utilized by the infantry of the Roman Empire, however for the time being, the pilum units will serve as their representation. *

Roma

Rome is the dominant power on the Italian peninsula, and stands at a turning point in history. Claiming a line of descent back to Hercules, Romans are not lacking in civic pride. Romans are not lacking in fierceness: their city was founded by Romulus and Remus, twins raised by a wolf. Their armies may have been beaten, but they have always dragged themselves back into any fight, and battled on. And now, surrounded by rivals and potential enemies, Rome faces challenges at every turn. He who rules in Rome can rule the world, but only through the glory of conquest!

Rome’s pride rests in it’s gladius; the melee infantry of the romans challenges even the barbarians to the north. Tough, strong, yet slow, these infantry wield large shields to give attackers little hope of taking them out from a distance.

The youngest and least wealthy of the Empire became hastati, the first line of battle in a Roman Legion. Though by no means a legionnaire, these lighter infantry perform decently in close quarters and hack through most light troops.

The classic Roman heavy infantry, able to withstand most attacks with its tough armor and large shield, it is also capable of dealing high damage with its gladius. These tough soldiers are the bulk of the standard Roman army, expected to take as many hits as they dish out.

Superb self taught infantry made to fight to the end, these men have little fear of death. Capable of dealing high damage in a short amount of time, these trident armed gladiators are feared in close combat, though at range their little armor and small shield can prove to be little defense against a well placed arrow.

Tougher, hardened legionnaires, given improved armor and weapons in battle. These incredibly armoured infantry are a deterent to most men, only the best of the best can hope to take these men down.

Guards of the Roman Emperor, these hand picked infantry men only know the best of the best when it comes to skill, weapon, and merit. Few face these men and live to tell about it.

Roman spears were not given great importance, yet generals recognized their value on the battlefield. They were made strong and capable of holding, so the legionnares or archers could do the killing.

These speared auxiliary troops serve also as garrison, town watch, and firemen. Cheap, yet ill-suited for large battles, these men can do their job, but to a short extent.

Wealth, experience and age make these battle-hardened veterans a fearsome force. Well equipped for war, these men are the wealthy and patrician representations in the Legion. Only specially trained men could hope to take them down.

Roman archers were admittedly an afterthought, but one perfected, nonetheless. Though the Syrians, Kretans, and Kushite Archers were the dominant archer presence in the Mediterranean, roman archers and skirmishers should not be underestimated, as they performed to Roman standards.

Thrown with accuracy, the pilum is a dangerous weapon, no matter the skirmisher. These men are prone to most other skirmishers and close combat, however serve as a cheap and useful ranged unit that serves its purpose.

These skillfull skirmishers are used for both ranged and melee attacks, while also sporting heavier armor to tackle whatever challenge they face.

Roman archers are supporting troops for heavier infantry, very much a secondary role in Roman warfare.

Carthago

The beating heart of Carthage is the city itself, a major port and bustling trade hub nestling on the North African coast. The Carthaginians are a devout, hard-working people who have spent generations struggling to control the trade of the Western Mediterranean. This has inevitably brought them into conflict with expanding Greek colonies and with the upstart Romans. Traders they may be by choice, but they have become warriors through necessity, and very good warriors at that. Through astute use of mercenaries they have turned their silver into swords.

Carthaginian swords lacked at home, yet the vast wealth of Carthago allows for mercenaries to fill in the holes of the army roster.

A sword and a shield is all it takes to lay criminals low at home. However, in dire times even the policing units must be called forth into battle. Cheap, and little real military training, these units can kill, but are not very dependable soldiers.

The Scutarii are an Iberian mercenary force that are known for their blade. They wear little armour, allowing greater mobility to lure units out of formation and attack them unsupported. They are by no means elite, but well worth the money to get the job done.

Libyans are one of the few units provided by the people and state of Carthage. Though not as experienced in battle, they make up for it in fine armour and weapons allowed by the great wealth of Carthage. They have ample training and can go toe to toe with most infantry and dominant lower tiered units.

These Iberian fighters dedicated their culture to mercenary and would often only fight for those who could afford them, many could not. Yet despite the high price, their skill with a blade is unmatched and are known to be one of the most powerful fighting forces available for hire.

Hoplites from Carthago are made tough and to kill just as much as to hold, however often expensive due to the scattered population of Carthage.

Although an older, less honed version, hoplites are hoplites and can be relied on to hold against some, but can be easily overwhelmed.

Recruited from the best of the hoplites, these true Libyans are capable of holding and killing, whichever is needed first.

The toughest of all, these hoplites only serve in the most dire of times. Capable of killing all but the best of infantry and able to hold like a stone wall, these men are feared by all for good reason.

Though by no means elite, the pikemen of Carthage, modeled after the Greeks, were strong enough for the role desired.

What levy pikemen lacked in fighting skills when compared to professionals and mercenaries, they made up for in numbers. Equipped with long pikes, these levy phalanxes were a formidable wall of spear points.

These armoured pikemen, modeled after the phalanxes from Greece, rival their Hellenestic cousins in their ability to push back foes and slaughter them from a safe distance.

Through it’s extensive trade networks, the Carthaginians were able to hire elite Cretans as a fighting force as well as spear throwing skirmishers from the iberian peninsula to fill in any other role.

Equipped with javelins and little else, these skirmishers harried their opposite numbers and peppered hoplite phalanxes before quickly retreating.

Although archery was not highly thought of as a military skill in Greece, Crete produced truly excellent archers who were able to sell their services to the highest bidder as mercenaries.

Egypt

Egypt is the oldest empire in the world. The Nile gave birth to its civilization and sustains the land still. When other empires are long forgotten, the monuments of Egypt will still awe lesser men and remain a power of might, majesty and continuity.

The sword weilding infantry of egypt was strong and elite, utilizing deadly swords and fanatics to scare and beat enemies into submission. Any lesser role was filled with either slaves or mercenaries.

Slaves live with death each day; for them, war is just more unpaid work. Easily masseable and having the ability to kill, one dead slave is meaningless in the face of a growing empire.

The Nubians to the south are a reliable source of fighters; wielding a capable blade, they are well worth the coin.

The shotel is well versed against armoured men, able to reach around shields and slice where they are vulnerable, a shotel should always be faced with caution.

A jackal headed warrior fueled with religious fervor makes up for any lack of skill or armour tenfold.

Sporting golden armour in addition to their deadly curved blades, these men are extremely hard to kill. Rightly feared by all, few face a deadlier adversary.

Spear was not a common weapon in the Egyptian roster, only a few nubian tribes to the south offered them, and they were adequate at best.

The harshest landscapes breed the toughest warriors. Nubians are no exception. Able spears, they can be relied upon to hold. but not much else.

Pikes were unheard of in Egypt and were only recently adapted in an attempt to counter enemy phalanxes and infantry, however they are crude in comparison.

Long pikes make these troops deadly from the front but vulnerable if flanked. While an imitation of the Macedonian phalanx, it pales in comparison in execution.

The region of Kush provided elite archers, notorious for their armor and precision across the Mediterranean and simpler archers were available for any other small role for a cheaper cost.

Given a short ranged bow, these low class egyptians are able to fire volleys of archer fire in short succession, yet are ill faced in combat with other missile troops.

These archers, drawn from the sons and daughters of the nobility, will stand and fight to the last. Sporting golden armour and able to deal devastating damage, these archers come with a steep, but welcome, price.

Arverni

The warlike Arverni are one of many Celtic tribes in Gaul, and worthy of respect. Sophisticated in war and peace, cultured, and clever, they are descendants of warriors who terrorized Rome, and rampaged as far as Thrace, Macedon and Illyria. Perhaps it is time to take up the sword again.

The Arverni roster consists of a healthy fighting force of both swords and shields, yet puts little emphasis on the bow or javelin.

The sword wielding infantry of the Arverni have been perfected beyond generations, few others challenge their powerful roster from their speedy Woad Warriors to their powerful Oathsworn.

The classic barbarian consists of a sharp blade and a hand that knows where to guide it.

The blessing of the gods is armour enough for any warrior and one with battle-lust in his heart, was an intimidating sight. A warrior who went into battle naked, sure of the protection of his gods, only compounded the unease felt by a foe.

These men fight with proven bravery and well-honed skill-at-arms. Give a barbarian armour, and the outcome is deadly.

Great and terrible oaths should be kept, in blood and by the sword. Not even the fables these men live by compare to their worth in battle. The most fearsome warrior the Celts have ever known kill and breath by their oaths.

Arverni infantry were some of the most advanced when it came to the spear, putting more emphasis on their ability to kill than hold, at least when compared to other spears across the known world.

The chance to win glory and position makes these ill trained men fierce opponents, but most of the time dead ones. The thought of surrender only comes to them after death, which is the case most of the time

A spear in any hand could kill, given time.

Chainmail does not chill a warrior’s heart, or still his lust for battle. Armoured and trained, these hardy men kill and steel the line.

Nobility has a price to be paid in blood, spear in hand and unflinching before the enemy. Dangerous and near impossible to kill, these men are best to be avoided on the battlefield.

Arverni archers and skirmishers were not terrible archers or javelinmen in the least, but wore little armour and usually had smaller shields than usual.

These young men seek battle to enhance their status and gain experience. When given the choice between a spear and a javelin, is it unwise to choose battle from a distance, or cowardly?

During war, even the hunters are called forth, for what changes when taken from a hunt and placed on the battlefield. A steady shot and precise aim, these men make little difference between man or beast.

FAQ

Q: What is the future for TABS: Total War?
A: I have many plans for this project, most of which, however, depends on Landfall adding certain content which is not guaranteed. Horses, chariots, elephants, and more in depth fighting systems all depend on this. Otherwise, however, plans for official campaigns and new factions, as seen below, is already in progress. Also, I am sure unit stats will need to be tweaked to make sure one faction or unit isn’t too powerful or useless, so updates fixing stats and prices will also be often.

Q: What is TABS: Total War based on?
A: Major unit and faction inspiration comes from Total War: Rome II.

Q: What are the stats/clothes/abilities of a certain unit?
A: Feel free to ask in the comments and I will provide the details, however I do not (and do not plan to) showcase the design of every unit in this guide.

Q: How many factions are set to be released?
A: Currently, 11 factions are released and they are as follow:
– Roma
– Carthago
– Iceni
– Egypt
– Selucid
– Macedon
– Arverni
– Thrace
– Sparta
– Nabatea
– Seubi
There are an additional 5 factions in plan, that depend on the increase of custom units before implementation, however. They are:
– Lusitani (Spanish-Barbarian mix faction)
– Roxolani (all cavalry faction)
– Pontus (Eastern-Hellenstic-Celtic mix faction)
– Masaesyli (African-Roman mix faction)
– Colchis (Eastern, Spear/Axe focusing faction)

Q: Will horse units ever be implemented?
A: Using the UCM Mod, elephants, horses, and chariots are all in the works.

Q: I have a criticism/comment/suggestion for TABS: Total War.
A: Leave all comments concerning the mod in the comment section and I will reply, to the best of my ability, to them all.

Changelog

1.0 Release (4/10/2021)

Rome
– Lowered Hastati cost from 325 back to 185
– Gave Heavy Pilum clothes

Egypt
– Removed slow walk from Slave Infantry and Shotel Warrior
– Increased Armoured Shotel Warrior health slightly
– Increased Shotel Warrior damage moderately
– Removed Order Units: Charge ability from Disciples of Anubis
– Gave Knight Charge ability to Disciples of Anubis
– Increased Attack Speed of Disciples of Anubis greatly

Selucid
– Lowered Silver Shield Pikemen health slightly

Other
– Removed Fencer Dodge ability from all pikemen units

Rome
– Gave Light Pilum and Vigiles shoes

Carthago
– Raised African Pikemen attack speed slightly

Iceni
– Changed look of Spear/Sword Band slightly
– Changed Gallic Hunters to Briton Hunters, changing coloring

Egypt
– Lowered Shotel Warrior attack speed slightly

Selucid
– changed silver shield pikemen’s pike shaft to red
– changed look of silver shield pikemen and silver shield swordsmen
– lowered speed of silver shield pikemen slightly
– removed thorax hoplite
– changed heavy syrian archer’s clothes slightly

Macedon
– lowered thracian warrior attack speed moderately

Thrace
– lowered thracian warrior and thracian noble attack speed moderately

Sparta
– Replaced Persian Hoplite with Perioikio Hoplite

Other
– Raised All spear unit’s attack speed and damage slightly
– Increased all spear unit’s weight by 15%
– Lowered all 2nd and 3rd tier pikemen damage (325 -> 250, 500 -> 350)
– Gave all unit’s custom unit cards

– Completely changed the stats of all units, getting rid of a known bug that gave celtic factions a large advantage in melee combat

– Reworked clothing for Rome and Sparta

– Other minor bug fixes and clothing additions

Leave any suggestions, ideas, or general comments below.