I'm working on a mod for C3C and I would like some input on how to best narrow down the game to 12 era-spanning civs (of the 31ish available). This will maximize the number of units I can use for each. I have three main goals for this process as follows:

1. Using civs that have as many packaged and custom civ-specific units as possible. I basically want as many units as possible.
2. Using civs that have custom and packaged civ-specific units spread out over all ages.
3. Using civs that have a traceable history from ancient to modern (*).
*Note: this can involve combinations of existing cultures (e.g., Celts to French or British).

Oh yeah, and I'm planning on using an alternate outcome for the Greeks and Byzantines based on an Atlantis-based storyline (in this case, "what if" the Minoan culture that bridged the classical civilizations was not destroyed and went on to dominate areas in Greece, Asia Minor, and Crete. In other words, the Greeks and Byzantines will be incorporated as Atlanteans. Right now, here's what I'm thinking so far:

European:
-Germans
-British - incorporating some Celtic units.
-French - incorporating some Celtic units.
-Scandinavians
-Russians

Med:
-Romans/Italians
-Atlanteans (Greeks & Byzantines)
-Egyptians

Mid East:
-Ottomans/Turks - Probably including the Mongols (their linguistic cousins) as part of their culture.

Asia:
-Chinese - probably including the Koreans.
-Japanese

America:
-Americans - probably including the Iroquois as their earlier civ.

I can probably disregard the Hittites, Sumerians, Persians, Babylonians, Aztecs, Incans, Mayans, Zulus, & Carthaginians, as these cultures have either disappeared or do not have enough units to make worthwhile. Though I've thought about mixing up the Aztecs, Incans, and Mayans to make an ancient civ predating the Iroquois (middle ages) and ultimately leading to the americans (industrial & modern).

My problem is that I would like to include units from other civs that have spanned all eras, but they get somewhat difficult to categorize. Here are some of the difficult ones:

-Netherlands - should they be with England or France? Could have even been with Spain if I had chosen to use Spain.
-Spain - Some good units, not much modern.
-Portugal - Similar to the problem with Spanish.
-Arabs - I'd really like to use the Arabs since they dominated such a large area and are still active in the modern world, but there really aren't many arab-specific units. The same is somewhat true of the Ottomans, but they have WW1 units and get some filler from the Mongols.
-Indians - Also another excellent civ that's getting the short-end of the stick. They do have some modern units available as well as ancient units, not much in between though.

Yes, I know these distinctions are arbitrary and somewhat Euro/American centric, but then, so is most of the unit designing. Any thoughts on how to organize this better? Justifications? Blatant hate mail decrying me as an unjust organizer of peoples.

Edit: One critical piece of info: I'm not trying to recreate any specific scenario... rather, I'd like a flexible mod that can be used to fight big, long wars and that, should I post it one day, people could do with what they want.

maybe you could use both french and english units as normandy, a civ that would branch out into both countries. Also, during ww1, these 2 countries allied themselves on into what we know as "Entente Cordiale"
I personally believe it could be interesting

maybe you could use both french and english units as normandy, a civ that would branch out into both countries. Also, during ww1, these 2 countries allied themselves on into what we know as "Entente Cordiale"
I personally believe it could be interesting

Thanks Boreas (or former burger if you prefer). I had thought about combining the French and English units originally. It certainly would allow me to have more units for the culture and, certainly in the ancient and middle ages, England & France were quite similar in terms of units (land forces anyway). But who would be a good 12th civilization then? England and france at least have good modern units designed for each. Each has aircraft carriers and aircraft and main battle tanks that are distinctly British or French. Wyrmshadow has even designed a number of french units that would have played a roll in ww2 had the french lasted a bit longer. Plus you'd lose distinct Napoleonic forces, british ww2 tanks and fighters... all the good stuff.

-Netherlands - should they be with England or France? Could have even been with Spain if I had chosen to use Spain.Stick the Lowlanders (Dutch, Flemish, Waloons) with the Germans (okay, maybe not the Waloons. They can join the French! :D). The Dutch would hate that especially, of course, but it's no worse than sticking the Austrians in with the Germans. ;)

Stick the Lowlanders (Dutch, Flemish, Waloons) with the Germans (okay, maybe not the Waloons. They can join the French! :D). The Dutch would hate that especially, of course, but it's no worse than sticking the Austrians in with the Germans. ;)

I'm really pretty clueless when it comes to the history of the netherlands. I sometimes associate them with the English, not necessarily because of a strong history of cooperation (though there have been some notable periods like this) and certainly not because of language, but because of their shared Mercantile/Naval/Colonial interests. In this regard, the Dutch are much more like the English than the Germans or French. Perhaps, though, I'm too strongly influenced by a very short period in history. Have there been any instances (again, please pardon my ignorance) where Dutch and German interests have been strongly aligned?

The Austrians I see very differently. Even when Germany was divided between Prussian and Austrian interests, there often seemed to be a rivalry to unite Germany. Seems like the last several centuries of French foreign policy has focused on keeping the Germans divided. The joining of Austria to greater Germany doesn't make any sense if one thinks about the Austrian empire in its prime, but the joining of Austria the territory to greater Germany seems reasonable enough (sorry to any serious Hapsburgs out there).

Stick the Lowlanders (Dutch, Flemish, Waloons) with the Germans (okay, maybe not the Waloons. They can join the French! :D). The Dutch would hate that especially, of course, but it's no worse than sticking the Austrians in with the Germans. ;)

I would really mind that ;) , but you should indeed join the walloons to the French

Have there been any instances (again, please pardon my ignorance) where Dutch and German interests have been strongly aligned?
It was part of the Holy Roman Empire in the middle ages, and before that, their histories were pretty closely related.

It was part of the Holy Roman Empire in the middle ages, and before that, their histories were pretty closely related.

Thanks, that does help.