Total War: Attila might not yet have an official launch date, but the developers working on it at The Creative Assembly are continuing to deliver information about the factions that will be part of the title, with the newest details focused on the Sassanid Empire, the Alani, and the Saxons.

The new standalone title will be dealing with the decline and the fall of the Roman Empire, and the competing nations around the giant will have plenty of opportunities to take back territory that they have previously lost and to regain their greatness while they also seek ways to deal with the Huns.

The Sassanid Empire is a successor of sorts to both the Persians and the Parthians, and it has a solid, lean administration and formidable military forces that aim to occupy both the trade nodes of the Silk Road and provinces where the Romans can no longer rule.

The Creative Assembly explains that sanitation is important to the faction and that they tend to feature educated citizens who know how to balance their desire for expansion with diplomatic activity.

The Alani, on the other hand, are far more aggressive, even if their preparation for extended campaigns might be limited.

The faction starts off near the Black Sea and is reeling from a series of defeats delivered by the Huns, which have forced some of the members of the tribe to join their aggressors.

The military fielded by the nation focuses on horsemen who are able to launch into devastating charges while also feigning retreats when the need arises.

The Saxons are also featured on the campaign map, ready to assault the Western reaches of the Roman world.

They are less threatened by the Huns and by other major nomadic tribes, and that should offer gamers more freedom to develop their provinces in order to line up a solid military.

Total War: Attila and the power of the barbarians

The new The Creative Assembly experience aims to offer a contrasting experience when compared to Rome 2, with destruction and looting more important than creating prosperous provinces and aiming for technological improvements.

Disease and climate change will be important factors on the strategic map, where settlements can be abandoned, and during the tactical battles, fire and fear will play a larger role, especially when the Huns are on the offensive.

Total War: Attila is supposed to be launched on the PC at some point in 2015.