Gemini in the Rough: Brutus vs Gaius

An early-game event that introduces players to the Specialists system by offering a choice between two Epic-tier Specialists.

Overview

Event Name: Gemini in the Rough Type: Quest/Event Timing: Early game Purpose: Introduction to Specialists

The Event

The "Gemini in the Rough" event presents players with a choice between two brothers, each offering different bonuses. The first step is to question the brothers and learn more about their abilities.

Outcomes

Hire Brutus - Obtain Brutus Julius Lupus as a Specialist
Hire Gaius - Obtain Gaius Julius Lupus as a Specialist
Flip a Coin - Randomly receive one of the two Specialists

The Specialists

Brutus Julius Lupus, Pollux of Policies

Attribute	Value
Rarity	Epic
Effect	+20% workforce from residences in range
Best For	Early game, resource-constrained situations

Analysis: Brutus increases the workforce provided by residences within his area of effect. The 20% boost is significant when you are resource-gated and struggling to expand your city. This makes him an excellent early game option, particularly on Normal difficulty.

Gaius Julius Lupus, Castor of Fortunes

Attribute	Value
Rarity	Epic
Effect	+1.5 income to Market area of effect
Best For	Late game, income optimization

Analysis: Gaius adds income to your Market's area of effect, significantly increasing profits especially when you can overlap his effect radius with multiple Markets. Late game, you can spend millions of Denarii rolling for specialists, so generating more money provides more options. Technologies that extend Market range (via road or direct improvements) make Gaius even more valuable.

Recommendation

Choose Brutus (Recommended for Most Players)

Reasons:

Stronger impact in early game when workforce is limited
Workforce-focused Specialists are rarer than income-focused ones
Many late-game Specialists provide powerful income bonuses, making Gaius less unique
Early game workforce boost helps establish your economy faster

Choose Gaius If:

You prefer long-term economic optimization
You want to maximize late-game income generation
You plan to heavily invest in Market coverage and road technologies

Summary

Factor	Brutus	Gaius
Strength Timing	Early game	Late game
Effect Type	Workforce	Income
Rarity of Effect	Rare (few alternatives)	Common (many alternatives)
Difficulty Level	Better for Normal	Better for Expert players

Bottom Line: Brutus is the better choice for most players because workforce Specialists are harder to find, while income bonuses are available from many late-game Specialists.

Specialists - Full list of Specialists
Systems - Game mechanics including Markets

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