**Praetorians** is a classic 3D real-time tactics (RTT) video game focused heavily on military strategy rather than traditional base-building or resource gathering. Originally developed by Pyro Studios (the creators of the *Commandos* series) and published by Eidos Interactive in 2003, it received an **HD Remaster** in 2020 by Kalypso Media and Torus Games for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. --- ### 1. Core Gameplay & Mechanics Unlike typical Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games where players harvest resources (like gold, wood, or stone) to build massive economies, *Praetorians* strips away resource management to focus entirely on tactical combat: * **No Base Building:** You do not construct buildings or harvest materials. Troops are instead recruited from garrisons located in conquered towns or villages. * **Honour System:** New units and reinforcements are earned using "Honour points," which are acquired by defeating enemy forces on the battlefield. * **Tactical Depth & Formations:** Success relies heavily on terrain, unit positioning, and formations (e.g., the Roman *Testudo* turtle formation to protect against ranged attacks). High ground grants vision and combat bonuses, while forests can be used to set up ambushes. * **Specialized Units:** Every unit type has distinct counters, abilities, and utilities—such as legionaries throwing pilum spears, archers firing over obstacles, scouts revealing hidden areas, and auxiliary troops constructing siege engines, ladders, or defensive towers. ### 2. Factions Players can command three distinct civilizations, each with its own tactical flavor: * **The Roman Legions:** Highly disciplined, featuring versatile infantry, powerful defensive formations, and advanced siege weaponry. * **The Gauls / Barbarians:** Agile and fierce warriors who excel in forested terrain and surprise ambushes, though generally lacking heavy armor. * **The Egyptians:** Boasting unique units, strong ranged capabilities, and historical flavor drawn loosely from the late dynastic/Ptolemaic era. ### 3. Campaign & Setting The single-player campaign is loosely historical, following the military career of Julius Caesar: * Spans 20 missions across various theaters of war, starting from Caesar's campaigns in Gaul, moving through the invasion of Britain, historical deviations like Crassus's disastrous campaign in Parthia, civil wars against the Roman Senate, and concluding in Egypt. ### 4. The HD Remaster (2020) Released for PC in January 2020 and consoles (PS4, Xbox One) in September 2020, the **Praetorians – HD Remaster** brought the cult-classic title to modern systems with: * Upgraded high-definition textures, visuals, and widescreen support. * Reworked user interface and modernized controller support for consoles. * Restored and updated multiplayer matchmaking capabilities. #Games