Total War: Three Kingdoms offers a somewhat more guided narrative than previous games in the series for those who want it. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel on which it’s based is full of iconic moments of heroism, betrayal, and tragedy – and the grand campaign presents each warlord with dilemmas based on these moments to guide the campaign. Will you stick to the script or go off-book?
This preview highlights the ambitious Yuan Shu and a couple different directions his campaign can go. In the Romance, he would side with the valorous Sun Jian against Liu Biao, one of the most powerful men in central China at the start of the conflict. Doing so allows him to undermine Liu Biao’s vassals and possibly bring them into his alliance later.