ManualWelcome to the Total War: THREE KINGDOMS web manual.
You can use the Contents menu on the left to skip directly to the section you're looking for. Alternatively, click the Enter button to access the manual, and use the Next and Previous buttons to navigate page by page.
Can't find what you're looking for? There's even more information in the FAQs and ReadMe: you can view them using the buttons at the top of the screen.
A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video games.
These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects.
Immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms—children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures. The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the following precautions: Sit farther from the screen; use a smaller screen; play in a well-lit room; and do not play when you are drowsy or fatigued. If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before playing.
Developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA. Creative Assembly, the Creative Assembly logo, Total War and the Total War logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of The Creative Assembly Limited. SEGA and the SEGA logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SEGA Holdings Co., Ltd. or its affiliates. All rights reserved. SEGA is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Developed for and published on macOS by Feral Interactive Ltd. Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Feral and the Feral logo are trademarks of Feral Interactive Ltd. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
The year is 190 CE and China is divided! The Han Empire, having endured for centuries, is finally collapsing. The cruel tyrant, Dong Zhuo, has seized the Imperial Court, murdered the corrupt eunuch attendants and kidnapped the young Emperor Xian. In response, the warlords of the land have risen up to oppose him. Yet their coalition lacks unity, with each faction looking for an opportunity to seize power. China itself hangs in the balance!
In Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, you are cast into 2nd century China, a defining moment for a great but troubled land. Choose one of twelve playable warlords – including the noble Liu Bei, the ambitious Sun Jian, and the cunning Cao Cao – and campaign towards victory by fighting wars, forging diplomatic relationships and managing the day-to-day administration of your growing kingdom.
This is a world of conflict on an unprecedented scale driven by the legendary heroes of the age. Drawn straight from the pages of China’s greatest epic, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the poetic spirit of adventure is combined with historical detail courtesy of the Han’s incredibly detailed Records of the Three Kingdoms.
THREE KINGDOMS is also a world of cloak-and-dagger politics, oath-sworn friendships and heartbreaking betrayals. In uncertain times, alliances are shaky, allegiances shift, and personal ambitions take precedence. China can have only one leader – could it be you?
THREE KINGDOMS combines the epic real-time battles for which Total War is known with a brand new dimension in realistic empire-building. It is a game of statecraft, expansion, diplomacy and warfare on an epic scale. Construct cities; raise and inspire renowned armies led by powerful heroes; govern and nurture growing populations; make allies and enemies; fight battles across one of the largest theatres of ancient history; and use politics and intrigue to frustrate the designs of your rivals.
THREE KINGDOMS is set at the very start of the bloodiest and most devastating conflict in China’s history with a strong, character-driven narrative that reflects your decisions in an immersive, beautiful world. With entirely new friends & rivals systems, and with spying and diplomacy entirely redesigned, the game offers a more detailed, challenging and immersive experience than ever before.
As always, Total War is comprised of a turn-based strategy campaign, and real-time battles played out in myriad theatres of war. Engage in diplomacy, trade, construction, research and conquest in a bid to make your faction the most powerful on the map. Then, when armies clash and battle is joined, command your forces and lead them to glorious victory or ignominious defeat!
As part of the Steam download process, the game has already been installed on your computer. To start playing the game, read the Getting Started section.
Double-click on the Steam application icon. By default this is located in the Applications folder on your computer’s hard drive.
If you are not already signed in, the Steam Login dialog will appear. Enter your account name and password, then select Login.
The Steam application will launch. Select the Library tab.
In the library, highlight Total War: THREE KINGDOMS in the list of games on the left-hand side of the window, then select Play.
The Total War: THREE KINGDOMS pre-game Options window will appear. Click on the Play button. The game will launch.
After the loading screens and opening video, a dialogue will appear asking how experienced you are with the Total War series. If this is your first time playing a Total War game, select I Am New to Total War. The Main Menu will appear.
Under Campaign, select New. The New Campaign screen will appear.
Select which warlord you wish to play as. If this is your first time playing Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, we recommend the Three Kingdoms warlord Cao Cao, starting in the year 190 CE for the Rise of the Warlords campaign.
Once you have selected a warlord, the Start Campaign screen will appear, detailing your chosen warlord's starting point, their Character Specialisation and Faction Specialisation.
Select Start Campaign.
After the opening video, you'll take control of your warlord and be issued your first mission. Heed your advisor well and lead your forces to victory!
The default keyboard configuration is detailed below; these controls can be customized by selecting Options → Controls from the Main Menu. Please note that the instructions in this manual refer to the default controls. If you have customized your controls, the instructions will no longer apply.
Total War: THREE KINGDOMS requires you to right-click in order to perform many commands. If you are using a Magic Mouse or Trackpad, your secondary click may not be activated by default. For detailed instructions on how to enable secondary click, see Can I play Total War: THREE KINGDOMS using my Magic Mouse or Trackpad? in the FAQs.
If you have a short keyboard, you will need to use modifier keys for certain commands. For instructions on how to do this, see My short keyboard does not have certain keys. How can I use the game commands that are mapped to them? in the FAQs.
| Camera | |
|---|---|
| Camera up / down | X / Z |
| Scroll forwards / left / backwards / right | W / A / S / D |
| Increase / Decrease camera speed | Shift + Page Up / Shift + Page Down |
| Save camera bookmark 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | Shift + F9 / F10 / F11 / F12 |
| View camera bookmark 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 | F9 / F10 / F11 / F12 |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Select all | Ctrl + A |
| Select next / previous | . / , |
| Cancel order | Backspace |
| Show chat | Y |
| Multiplayer ping | H |
| Toggle UI | K |
| Toggle UI (with borders) | Alt + K |
| Help mode | F1 |
| Open Academy | F2 |
| Quick Load | Ctrl + L |
| Camera | |
|---|---|
| Rotate left / right | Q / E |
| Information | |
| Show faction summary | 1 |
| Show court panel | 2 |
| Show diplomacy | 3 |
| Show reforms panel | 4 |
| Show undercover network | 5 |
| Show record panel | 6 |
| Show treasury panel | 7 |
| Show faction council | 8 |
| Show missions list | Ctrl + F1 |
| Show character list | Ctrl + F2 |
| Show army list | Ctrl + F3 |
| Show territory list | Ctrl + F4 |
| Show faction list | Ctrl + F5 |
| Gameplay | |
|---|---|
| End turn | Shift + Return |
| Investigate issues | N |
| Toggle character move speed | R |
| Disband selection | Delete |
| Quick save | Ctrl + S |
| Quick load | Ctrl + L |
| Toggle settlement labels | Ctrl + T |
| Pan to capital | Home |
| Default camera rotation | End |
| Camera | |
|---|---|
| Rotate up / down / left / right | V / C / Q / E |
| Speed up / slow down camera | Page Up / Page Down |
| Open tactical/overview map | Tab |
| Game/UI | |
| Cycle battle speed | T |
| Show UI settings | Space |
| Toggle unit information | I |
| Toggle pause | P |
| Toggle unit camera | Delete |
| Third-person camera | Help |
| Selection | |
| Select all melee infantry units | F5 |
| Select all missile infantry units | F6 |
| Select all cavalry units | F7 |
| Select all artillery units | F8 |
| Pan to general | F5 |
| Units/Groups | |
|---|---|
| Group/ungroup units | G |
| Toggle locked group | Ctrl + G |
| Toggle melee mode | F |
| Toggle unit speed | R |
| Increase unit/group width | Ctrl + Up |
| Reduce unit/group width | Ctrl + Down |
| Step unit/group backwards | Down |
| Step unit/group forwards | Up |
| Rotate unit/group left | Ctrl + Left |
| Rotate unit/group right | Ctrl + Right |
| Strafe unit left | Left |
| Strafe unit right | Right |
| Pan to selected unit | End |
| Create unit group 1 – 9 | Ctrl + 1 – 9 |
| Create unit group 10 | Ctrl + 0 |
| Select unit group 1 – 9 | 1 – 9 |
| Select unit groupp 10 | 0 |
| About Face | J |
Most orders for campaign map characters or units in battle follow a simple pattern of left-click to select and right-click to issue an order. If you’re completely new to strategy games, you’ll find all the assistance you need to conquer, betray and backstab through the in-game advisor and help panels.
There are keyboard shortcuts to help you do things quickly (listed elsewhere in this manual) but the turn-based nature of Total War: THREE KINGDOMS’ campaign gives you time to consider and plan your actions before committing your forces. This time, features are gated in such a way that as you become more familiar with the game, you’ll gradually master its more advanced features and controls.
The in-game advisor is always on hand to help you with the controls and concepts of the game. The advisor monitors how you play and, as you progress, offers guidance about what you’re doing in the game.
By default, you’ll see and hear plenty of advice as you play. As you become a more experienced player, the advisor takes a back seat and leaves you to your own devices, only offering helpful hints when you encounter an aspect of the game for the first time.
You can tweak the settings to reduce the level of advice given, and tailor it to either speech or just on-screen text. To change the advice settings, select Advice from the Pause menu.
The advisor is complemented by the Info Overlay. To activate the Info Overlay press the F1 key on any screen, then hover the mouse cursor over the highlighted areas to view further information.
In the grand campaign, what you must achieve in order to secure ultimate victory depends on the warlord you’ve selected. All victory conditions have one thing in common: you must seize and control territory by capturing regions and holding or devastating specific provinces.
Your primary goal is to become emperor and unify China, but achieving smaller intermediate aims will help steer you towards victory. Each hero has unique objectives inspired by events from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and history itself; these are optional but do offer rewards if completed.
Your objectives are displayed on the Missions tab, accessed via the Missions button in the bottom-right corner of the campaign map.
While it’s tempting to throw yourself into the fray if you’re a Total War veteran, you may wish to read the “What’s New” section of this manual. You’ll find details of the key new game features and the improvements that make THREE KINGDOMS the most advanced, immersive and compelling Total War game yet!
Total War: Three Kingdoms contains several features that are new to the series:
Each of the playable factions has a unique ‘specialisation’ tailored to their starting character’s personality, giving them a unique playstyle. For example, the cunning Cao Cao has Credibility, a resource that grows over time and is dictated by his diplomatic prowess and relationships with other factions. Credibility can be spent to influence diplomatic relations with other factions, such as inciting proxy wars without becoming personally involved. Conversely, the bold and ambitious Sun Jian has Heroism gained from fighting battles, which decreases recruitment and upkeep costs while keeping characters in his faction more satisfied.
Diplomacy has been radically overhauled, allowing for more granular deal-making and haggling with prospective allies and trade partners, as well as a ‘quick deal’ option to help efficiently find a workable exchange.
Looser military agreements – ‘coalitions’ – have been added in addition to standard, binding military alliances. Coalitions and alliances can also be established between multiple factions, all of whom vote on any future negotiations or decisions that affect all parties. Additionally, certain factions have unique options, for example Cao Cao’s ability to incite proxy wars. Overall, diplomacy is now much more nuanced and detailed, reflecting the true intrigue of the age!
The Wu Xing was a fundamental governing principle in Han China, and Total War: THREE KINGDOMS is no different. The Wu Xing consists of five interconnecting elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – that govern all aspects of life and interact with one another, giving strength to one yet being weak to another. Water, for instance, douses fire, and so water units (for example crossbow and bow units) will be stronger against those aligned with fire (shock cavalry, for instance). Yet water also nourishes wood, so a water general will give benefits to units of the wood element (for example spear and polearm units) by giving them access to formations that maximise their defensive potential.
This feeds into the campaign game as well, where buildings and technologies align with certain elements. For instance, buildings of the wood phase, which represents the peasantry, may improve farming, but fire buildings are primarily intended for waging war!
Armies and units are now more closely tied to the general who commands them. Armies can have up to three generals with a retinue of up to six units each. By tailoring each retinue to their general’s Wu Xing element, you can improve and maximise the potential of your units.
Wu Xing must also be considered during battle itself, not just recruitment. For example, a fire general is extremely powerful in melee combat with enemy units, tearing through them as if they were mere kindling. However, they can be easily neutralised by an opposing water general – strategists who excel at weakening their enemies.
The characters you meet, recruit and clash with become vital parts of the campaign and the overarching narrative you create during your quest to unify China. Characters no longer belong to a single faction; they can and will join and leave factions throughout a campaign, shifting their allegiances as their satisfaction rises with one lord and falls with another. Deciding who you value and who may be expendable (and who may be a spy…) will be a core part of your campaign.
Friendships and rivalries also come into play on the battlefield. Two sworn enemies, who have nothing but hatred for one another, will gain bonuses when they meet in battle, as will blood brothers fighting alongside another one another.
Guanxi – literally meaning ‘network’ or ‘connections’ - refers to the dynamics of personal relationships and the social networks that are constructed between people. In Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, Guanxi is a broad system governing the way characters create friendships, brotherhoods, rivalries and enmities with one another, as well as the undercover network of espionage.
According to the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, friendships and rivalries between lords helped drive the conflict of the era; great friends found themselves on opposing sides of the battlefield, while sworn enemies often banded together against a greater foe. The system of ever-shifting relations is represented in Total War: THREE KINGDOMS through the satisfaction system. The higher a character’s satisfaction, the better they will enjoy being part of your faction. Should they become too dissatisfied, they may decide to leave and join another faction, taking any military or economic strength they had with them. Managing your characters’ satisfaction is therefore important if you are to be successful. It is also important to ensure their loyalty, should you send them out as agents of espionage…
Your undercover network is an array of spies sent out across China to gather information on rival factions or even attempt devious and devastating acts against them. Infiltrating the recruitment pool of your rivals’ faction, a would-be spy can then be recruited by your enemies into positions of power – governors, generals, even heirs! From there, they can feed back information to you about the faction and, if their network is strong enough, perform subterfuge, such as poisoning supplies. If your spy becomes powerful enough within an enemy faction, they may even be able to incite a civil war.
This may also work against you, however. If a spy decides they find an enemy faction to their liking, then they could defect or be sent back to you as a double agent. You may never really know who to trust!
As each character makes their moves, vying for control of China, they begin to form their own governments and hierarchies. Deciding who your faction heir will be, and your prime minister, will have far-reaching effects across your campaign. For example, a faction heir is the most prestigious position, given only to the most trusted member after adopting them into your family. However, should they become dissatisfied and defect, this will trigger a civil war for control of the faction. You may also assign characters as administrators to better govern your territories, or to your faction council where they will advise and periodically issue missions based on the needs of their assigned position (the grand commandant, for instance, will issue military-themed missions).
Separately, characters also have titles and ranks. To better satisfy them, you may promote them and increase their rank, but note that this also increases their upkeep salary, so keep an eye on their cost versus reward.
Character satisfaction is largely defined by the positions and titles bestowed upon them. A character languishing in court, or even a grand commandant, may ultimately become dissatisfied if you ignore their requests for advancement, and ultimately defect to the enemy.
Every effort has been made to make Total War: THREE KINGDOMS compatible with current hardware. However, if you are experiencing problems when running Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, please read on.
The latest version of the FAQs can be found by selecting the FAQs button in the Support tab of the Total War: THREE KINGDOMS pre-game Options window (this is the window that opens when you launch the game), or by going straight to the Feral website: http://support.feralinteractive.com
Contacting Feral
If the FAQs and/or updates do not solve your problem, then please feel free to contact us. The following information must be obtained before contacting Feral Technical Support:
All the information required can be obtained by opening Total War: THREE KINGDOMS and clicking on the Support tab in the Total War: THREE KINGDOMS pre-game Options window. In the Support tab, click on the Generate Report button. Once the report is generated it will appear as a file in the game's Preferences folder; click on the Open Preferences Folder button to open the Preferences folder. Now click on the Create Email button. Remember to attach the Three Kingdoms Report.txt file to your email.
In your email, please include a brief description of the problem you have experienced with Total War: THREE KINGDOMS.
email: support@feralinteractive.com
Please check the warranty information provided by Steam.
