Sima Ying is the related descendant to Sima Yi, a powerful advisor to the State of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, some decades ago. He is among the eight princes who fights over the remnants of China, like Shu-Han, Wei, and Wu did all those years ago.
His brothers are, Sima Liang, Sima Lun, Sima Yong, Sima Ai, Sima Yue, Sima Jiong and Sima Wei.
Description[]
He is a Legendary Strategist and starts off a bit south to where Ma Teng starts off, in the normal Three Kingdoms campaigns. To his south east (or just general east) is Sima Ai, who is another one of the Eight Princes. To his east lies Sima Liang, the Rightful Regent, and the vassal master in Eight Princes, although he could be taken out by the Jin Empire or Sima Wei later on.
Overview []
Sima Ying, “the Beloved Governor,” has a unique starting position in the Eight Princes DLC. He begins the game with total control of Chengdu commandery, in China’s western basin. No character starts in this region in the base game, except Liu Yan. The second closest would be the start positions of Ma Teng and Gong Du, further north. In fact, Sima Ying has another similarity with Ma Teng, as his unique units are the Qiang Hunters, Qiang Marauders, and Qiang Raiders; the same units that Ma Teng has. Ying also has access to a unique Government Support building chain. This improves food production from farms and also boosts peasant income. In fact, he provides a +50% faction-wide increase to peasant income, making it even more lucrative.
Setting him apart from the rest of the eight princes, Sima Ying is the only one to have the Strategist class. As such, he is a poor frontline fighter, but has good access to ranged units and so forth. Although he doesn’t have a unique faction resource, he does have a very unique play-style. This focuses heavily on his court and ministers, as any minister he appoints grants faction-wide bonuses, essentially the same as an imperial court. Ordinarily, only the faction leader, heir, and prime minister would do this. As a result, Sima Ying can assemble an extremely powerful and synergistic court. To help keep his court happy, he also provides a +10 satisfaction bonus to every character in his faction.
This is even more useful when you consider the fact that Imperial Courts (like in the other starting dates) don’t exist, and adds the Chancellor as an affected spot, meaning he has seven positions, counting the Advisor and Faction Heir positions, that grant faction wide events that can be changed at any point.
General Information[]
- Name: Sima Ying
- Legendary character: Yes
- Unique character: Yes
Beloved Governor
- +20 Cunning
- +25 Authority
- +50% income from family estates (only if faction leader)
- +5 Noble Support (faction wide, only if faction leader, heir, or advisor)
- +50% income from peasantry (faction wide, only if faction leader, heir, or advisor)
- +10 Satisfaction (faction wide, only if faction leader, heir, or advisor)
Values Kindness, Opposes Cruelty
Though madness may grip the court, Sima Ying will always think of his people.
Attributes and Traits []
- Main article: Attributes (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
((WORK IN PROGRESS))
 Expertise |
 Resolve |
 Cunning |
 Instinct |
 Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147 | 44 | 109 | 34 | 81 |
| -33% construction cost (administered commandery) +53 melee evasion +9% general's health +1k population growth (administered commandery) +46% ammunition (own retinue) +11 military supplies (own army) +2% melee damage -1% recruitment cost (this army) +3 satisfaction (faction-wide, if leader, heir or advisor) +3 unit morale (own retinue) | ||||
Charismatic
- +12 Authority
- +5 Satisfaction (faction wide, only if faction leader, heir, or prime minister)
- +3 Public Order (administered county)
- Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator
Values Sociability, Admires Zeal.
Dutiful
- +8 Authority
- -50% desire for higher offices
- +10 Satisfaction
Focuses On Duty.
Fraternal
- +8 Resolve
- -50% desire for higher offices
Focuses On Friendship.
Handsome
- +4 Authority
- -5 Satisfaction (faction wide, only if faction leader, heir, or advisor)
- +5 Satisfaction
Admires Attractiveness.
Skills[]
- Main article: Skills (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
Pending for finalized skills data
Retinues []
- Main article: Retinues (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
Pending for finalized retinues data
Ancillaries []
- Main article: Ancillary (Total War: Three Kingdoms)
Pending for finalized ancillary data
Game Progression[]
Starting position[]
Sima Ying starts in control of Chengdu Commandery, and is well-nested in one of the most prominent breadbasket regions in Ancient China. Consequently, his starting position is very secure and quite powerful. To the north and south, his neighbors are friendly, excluding Sima Wei, but conflict is brewing with the Prince in Hanzhong, whom is friends with Sima Wei, so conflict between Sima Ying and Sima Wei might be unavoidable.
Playstyle []
Sima Ying knows his intellectual limitations, and thus relies on powerful advisors to lead his faction, an empowered council who have a wider impact on how the faction is run. This means that choosing the right ministers is of vital importance for Sima Ying, and powerful synergies can be created from combining the right characters for these offices.
Biography []
Handsome, but never considered the sharpest tool in the box, Sima Ying developed a good reputation as being filial and lenient, and for listening to the advice of his capable advisor Lu Zhi. As his influence grew however, he became power-hungry and arrogant, and increasingly involved in political schemes. It is unclear if this was due to Lu Zhi’s manipulation, or whether Lu Zhi was the one who actually kept him in control. He became the Prince of Chengdu when he was only 10 years old, but was later transferred to another office after disrespecting Emperor Hui’s son Sima Yu. He was placed in charge of the military defence post for the important city of Yecheng, which was a backwater, but an important breadbasket all the same.
Guanxi []
Sima Ying starts with three trusted advisors, more than any of the other princes in the game. Though one of them doesn’t start out with an extra resilience, this can be countered easily. One is Lu Zhi, his loyal advisor, who some refer to as the key mind behind Sima Ying’s ascent to power. The secone is Lu Ji, a former imperial chancellor of the Eastern Wu, who is a famous writer and literary critic. Then we have Shi Chao, a talanted general whom’s loyalties shifted as dynasties fell. He also acts as one of Sima Ying’s military commanders.
What kind of players is he for[]
Sima Ying is for players who know that a ruler cannot operate on his own. He is for those who believe that a wise ruler surrounds himself with capable allies and loyal followers, and allows these advisors to shape and direct the future of his faction.
Gallery []
Sima Ying
Total War THREE KINGDOMS - Eight Princes Reveal Trailer