Koei Tecmo Unveil Alternative Ways to Win in Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII isn't always about destroying your foes on the battlefield. Sure, that can be a big part of it if you want, but developer Koei Tecmo are keen to show you other ways of ensuring victory in this historical strategy game. Two new gameplay videos detail the game’s Civic Development and Bond systems, as well as a new promotional trailer that highlights the many strategy options that players will have at their disposal when the game arrives on PS4 and PC on the 5th of July.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII offers various preparatory and diplomatic gameplay elements that take place ahead of combat, known as the Civic Development system. Offering players the chance to improve different aspects of their domain, this system allows the development of Commerce, Farming and Culture, which give various boosts to the army in both strength and loyalty. Economic and development decisions made are then presented to the Officers, prompting them to share their views, and point out the merits and faults of a given strategy before the player makes a final decision.

Attaining allies and influencing individuals via the Bond system is another key element of the game’s overarching strategy. A Relationship Chart rates the cadence of the player’s relations with historic figures, indicating whether the relationship is positive or negative. Maintaining a strong network is fundamental to receiving aid in tight situations, particularly when summoned by the higher lords. During these moments these connections are also able to fight for the player’s cause and help turn the tide of battle in their favor. Furthermore, a player’s relationship with a given lord can lend credibility during Debates to convince lords to act in certain ways. Winning a Debate can lead to forming alliances with other leaders, with the length of it depending on strength of a given Bond.