Last week, Creative Assembly announced Total War Saga: Troy; their next upcoming game and the third entry in the Total War Saga series. Troy will venture further back in history than any Total War game has ever gone, offering fans a chance to command armies in the legendary Trojan War. Of course, in a period which is so renowned for its heroes, Troy will feature a roster of major historical and legendary figures as playable faction leaders; individuals like Achilles and Hector. Thus far, Creative Assembly seems to have confirmed at least five of these individuals, out of the total of eight.
#1 – Total War Saga: Troy Heroes – Achilles
Foremost among the warriors of Greece in the Trojan War, Achilles will of course be a playable hero in Total War Saga: Troy. Indeed, he featured predominantly in the game’s announcement trailer, if it wasn’t obvious enough. This mighty warrior was responsible for many heroic deeds during the Trojan War, including the slaying of the Trojan prince Hector in a duel. Some legends suggest that Achilles was invincible, as his mother submerged him in the river Styx when he was a child, leaving only his heel unprotected. His legendary death doesn’t actually feature in the Iliad, but other sources relate that it was the result of Paris shooting his vulnerable “Achilles’ Heel” as he paraded Hector’s corpse before the walls of Troy.
Much like Lu Bu in Total War: Three Kingdoms, Achilles is likely to be the strongest hero in Total War Saga: Troy. Interestingly, he may well have access to the Myrmidons; his personal regiment of elite soldiers, according to the Iliad. Some writings name Achilles as king of the Myrmidons, with the force forming its own nation originating on the island of Aegina.
#2 – Total War Saga: Troy Heroes – Agamemnon
The second of the eight playable heroes coming to Total War Saga: Troy is Agamemnon; one of several Greek kings confirmed in the campaign map reveal video. Agamemnon was the king of Mycenae at the time of the Trojan War, and the brother of King Menelaus. When Paris took Menelaus’ wife Helen to Troy, Agamemnon quickly joined his brother in declaring war upon the Trojans. He was the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces throughout the war, and was also considered to be one of the strongest warriors of Greece. In fact, in the Iliad, he is the only hero among both the Greeks and the Trojans who never needs the intervention of the gods to win a battle.
However, Agamemnon was also indirectly responsible for the demise of Patroclus. After he was forced to give up the captive Chryseis, the Mycenaean king took a slave girl from Achilles. In response, Achilles refused to fight, and spurned Agamemnon’s gifts offered to bring him back. In Achilles’ absence, his friend Patroclus donned his armour and took to the field; setting out in an attempt to rally the Greek forces. The attempt was initially successful, until Patroclus lost his life at the hands of Hector.
#3 – Total War Saga: Troy Heroes – Hector
In many ways Troy’s counterpart to Achilles, Hector was the prince of Troy and its foremost champion. Hector was commander-in-chief of the Trojan army during the war, and also a mighty champion. During the conflict, he defeated several Greek heroes in duels, including Protesilaus and Ajax. He was also responsible for the death of Patroclus, who fought in Achilles’ armour when the Greek hero refused to take to the battlefield. Hector, assuming that Patroclus was Achilles, fought and killed him. Achilles subsequently challenged Hector to a duel in order to get revenge. Although the two were both great warriors, Achilles proved the greater and slew the Trojan prince. Hector is likely to be the predominant Trojan hero in Total War Saga: Troy; much as Achilles is sure to be for Greece.
#4 – Total War Saga: Troy Heroes – Menelaus
Menelaus, the king of Sparta, is the second of several Greek kings confirmed to feature in Total War Saga: Troy, alongside his brother Agamemnon. Menelaus was the husband of Helen, who ran away with Paris to Troy. The Trojan War subsequently began when Menelaus and Agamemnon declared war in order to get her back. Although Menelaus is not one of the strongest heroes in the war, he does defeat Paris in a duel. (Although this is, admittedly, not a great accomplishment.) Menelaus was also among the warriors who entered Troy inside the Trojan Horse.
#5 – Total War Saga: Troy Heroes – Odysseus
The fourth and last of the confirmed Greek heroes; Odysseus was the king of Ithaca, and a key figure in the Trojan War. A staunch supporter of Agamemnon, Odysseus often plays the role of the wise counselor and voice of reason, both to Agamemnon and Achilles at times. Some stories suggest that Odysseus was responsible for recruiting Achilles to fight in the war, in fact. However, Odysseus’ most famous contribution is, of course, conceiving of and building the Trojan Horse; his final gambit to end the ten-year siege of Troy.
While Odysseus does play a key supporting role in the Trojan War, his personal story focuses much more heavily on his journey home; the tale told in Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’. On this fictional journey, Odysseus confronts a cyclops, a witch who turns men into pigs, and sirens, among other things. Interestingly, Odysseus in the Total War Saga: Troy campaign map reveal video appears to be carrying a bow; presumably inspired by his display of archery skill at the end of The Odyssey. Therein, the hero shoots an arrow through twelve axe shafts in order to prove his identity.
#6 – Total War Saga: Troy Heroes – Paris? (Uncomfirmed)
Although he has not been officially confirmed per se by Creative Assembly, there is a possibility that Paris will feature as a playable Trojan hero. The younger brother of Hector; Paris was responsible for provoking the Trojan War when he took Menelaus’ wife Helen to Troy. In the Iliad, however, Paris hardly appears to be a great hero. Indeed, the poem generally portrays him as a coward who lacks any great heroic skill. He is easily defeated by Menelaus when the pair duel, and he generally avoids hand-to-hand combat by relying on a bow. Despite this, he is still responsible for the death of Achilles, according to some sources, after he shoots him in the heel.
It’s notable that Paris is the only hero who is mentioned by name in the campaign map reveal for Total War Saga: Troy but who does not actually make an appearance. As such, it’s possible that his lack of skill means that he won’t feature as a playable hero. (There is also the issue that Hector and Paris’ starting positions may overlap, if Creative Assembly wishes to avoid duplicate start positions.) On the other hand, it’s possible that Paris may feature as an archery-based hero; perhaps as a counterpart to Odysseus for the Trojan side.
Possibilities for the Other Total War Saga: Troy Heroes
Assuming that Paris is indeed the sixth playable hero in Total War Saga: Troy, that still leaves two empty slots. (And possibly three, if he doesn’t feature.) When it comes to filling those slots, an important factor may well be balancing the two sides of the Trojan War. Achilles, Agamemnon, Menelaus, and Odysseus are all confirmed and are all from the Greek side. Meanwhile, Hector is the only Trojan hero to have a real confirmation as of yet. If Creative Assembly aims to balance the two factions with four heroes apiece, the remaining slots should all be Trojans or their allies.
If this is the case, then it potentially rules out major Greek heroes like Ajax and Diomedes. (Although it’s certainly possible that they could still feature as post-launch DLC.) When it comes to the Trojan side, there are several major characters who could easily fill a slot. Sarpedon, a legendary son of Zeus and brother to King Minos, is one such example. Another even stronger possibility is Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons; a powerful hero who led her army to Troy’s aid and was slain in battle by Achilles. Penthesilea would be a very unique addition to the roster, making her a very likely possibility.
There is also the Ethiopian king Memnon, who was almost as strong a warrior as Achilles; another character who could bring a different sort of army and starting position. Finally, the hero Aeneas is a less likely possibility, although worth mentioning. He does play a small role in the Trojan War. However, this role mostly exists simply to hint at his future destiny in The Aeneid. As such, he’s relatively unlikely to feature as a playable hero, unless perhaps Creative Assembly tackles events after the war’s end in a DLC release.