Total War Three Kingdoms: Difference Between Romance and Records Playthrough

A new feature in Total War Three Kingdoms features the choice of having a focus on the military leaders of your army or choosing to highlight tactical unit placement

Total War Three Kingdoms works slightly different than previous titles from the franchise’s past. One of the essential options you’re going to choose when you first start a game is to select between Romance and Records. This choice determines what sort of details you’re going to have to manage in the game and use during your playthrough. There are some key differences you need to know before choosing one over the other.

Total War Three Kingdoms Romance and Records

Romance

For those who play on the Romance setting of Total War Three Kingdoms, you’re going to find more story elements surrounding the generals you command while in combat. They’re going to have a layer of depth, where they get portrayed as heroes capable of performing a superhuman level of extraordinary combat prowess. Additionally, as they level up, they’re going to become stronger as they continue to fight, making them more terrifying units to face against others.

One of the new aspects of Total War is the dueling system, which you can do while playing on the Romance setting. This setting allows two enemy generals to face off against each other in the middle of a massive battle. You’ll see units circling them, still fighting, as they duel it out. It’s like a movie scene happening in a Total War game. When a general loses in this mode, this gravely reduces moral of their army, making it easier for the winner’s force to take the day.

Records

When you play with the Records setting on, your generals take a step back from the main stage of your Total War game. On Romance, your generals show up to the field of battle by themselves as a strong unit. On Records, they’re going to have a small band of bodyguards protecting them, because they’re not the best at combat anymore. They need a little more protection to keep themselves safe, and alive.

Due to not having influential generals to rely on to sway the tide of a battle, you have to focus on your army solely. Your army is going to do the most work for you, and you’re going to find your overall knowledge level of tactics and unit match-up tested here. Your unit positioning, fatigue, and who they face in combat is going to matter the most here.

Both combat modes in Total War Three Kingdoms changes how the game’s warfare system plays out. Both are fun ways to approach the game, and depending on how much tactical knowledge you have, can determine a more enjoyable playthrough for you.