World 500BC - The Persian Age v1.3

Babylonian rule in Mesopotamia was ended by the Persian in 539BC. Besides Babylonian, The Persian Empire annexed Medes, Lydians, Egyptians and the nomadic tribes in the central Asia. Darius, the ruler of Persian Empire, is now turning his attention to the Greece and Macedon. Can the Greek and Macedonian able to survive from the Persian invasion? or maybe even invade Persia? Roman republic was founded in 509BC. Can the newly founded republic able to stand under the threat of the Etruscan in the north and Greek in the south? In the east, the spring and autumn period has been started since 772BC. As one of the hegemons, your goal is to unify the 'civilized' states. Buddhism is spreading in the Kuru dynasties in India. Will Buddhism or Hinduism win the 'religious' war and becoming the dominating religion in the area or even in the world? Chavin and Olmecs still enjoy their isolation in America. However, more barbarians are becoming their 'neighbours' now. Regardless of which civilization you use, the strategy is to become the dominating power in the region and then the next step is to compete with other dominating powers in the rest of the world!

Game info:
There are 16 civilizations in this scenario.

West Mediterranean/Europe:
Carthaginian Empire - Hamilcar - 6 cities
Etruscan League - Lars Porsena - 1 city
Roman Republic - Lucius Junius Brutus - 1 city

East Mediterranean/Africa:
Athenian Empire - Pericles - 6 cities
Macedonian Empire - Alexander - 2 cities
Persian Empire - Darius - 17 cities
Cush Kingdom - Aspelta - 4 cities

East Asia:
Qi Dukedom - Jiang Xiaobai - 2 cities
Jin Dukedom - Ji Zhonger - 2 cities
Chu Kingdom - Mi Lu - 3 cities
Yuezhi Kingdom (Central Asia) - King of Yuezhi - 1 city

South Asia:
Magadhan Kingdom - Bimbisara - 2 cities
Kosala Kingdom - Prasenjit - 2 cities
Avanti Kingdom - Nandivardhana - 2 cities

America:
Chavin Kingdom - King of Chavin - 1 city
Olmecs Kingdom - King of Olmecs - 1 city

And some barbarian cities (Raging barbarians! You have been WARNED).

Update log:
v1.3 Added more celtic (barberian) cities. Added more units to chinese and indian civs. Some minor bugs fixed (including the banana in philippine sea :p ).
v1.2 Byzantium given to Macedon, Pundra correctly named and some other fixes.
v1.1 For game balance, Macedon's power is increased and Persian's power is dereased. Wonder locations are corrected.
v1.0 Scenario released. No known bugs. However, game balance haven't been tested.

Map:
This scenario is based on a modified version of Rhye's world map (huge).

Historical References:
Andrew Heritage (Editor in chief) 1999. "Atlas of World History", Dorling Kindersley Cartography.
Tan Qixiang (Chief Editor) 1982. "Historical Atlas of China", China Cartographic Publishing House. [Chinese]
Wikipedia

Game Editor used to build this scenario:
In game World Builder
Civ4Editor by kswoll

Other games in this series:
2000BC - The first cities http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=149317
1000BC - The clash of Empires http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=153848

To play (for newbies):
No mods have been used in this scenario. So to play it, simply download the zip file, unzip it and place the file in "Civ4\Public Maps"
folder. Start the game, you should be able to see "World 500BC v1.3" in the scenario game menu.

The game file:

New screenshots for v1.3

Enjoy!

Woo hoo! I can't wait to play! I unfortuanately missed the 1000 bc, but I think I'll play this one! This looks like it would be wayyyy to easy with the Persians.

Woo hoo! I can't wait to play! I unfortuanately missed the 1000 bc, but I think I'll play this one! This looks like it would be wayyyy to easy with the Persians.

Yes. The game is definitely not fair ;)

I tried to use Macedon tonight. It is really too difficult. I couldn't get a second city (Besides Byzantium) away from Persian. So I decided to make an update giving two more Phalanx to Macedon and reduces the number of archers in Persia (so that Macedon can enjoy more of its Phalanx advantage vs Perisan's mounted units.)

It is still a mission impossible for Macedon to completely takeover Persia, but that is what making it fun!

How difficult it is for Persia to take over Macedonia? :king:

Why are Byzantium and Sinope Persian? From what I recall (from reading the Anabasis) they were very firmly Hellene, and this is a bit after 500BC.

Another question is what are the Scythians doing in Bangladesh?

How difficult it is for Persia to take over Macedonia? :king:

Not so difficult I guess ;)

By the way, has anyone tried using Macedon? The best that I could do was grabbing 3 cities from Persian.

Why are Byzantium and Sinope Persian? From what I recall (from reading the Anabasis) they were very firmly Hellene, and this is a bit after 500BC.

Another question is what are the Scythians doing in Bangladesh?

Hi. You are quite correct. I think Byzantium should still under Greece control. I will give it to Macedon when I do another bug fix. Sinope however, is already under Persians control in 500BC I think.

For Scythians, it is a bug. Thanks for spotting that. It should be Pundra but I forgot to rename it after placing the city.

Just tried out the new version as the Athenians. I was able to quickly grab 3 Persian cities with only 5 phalanxes because their only defenses were immortals and horse archers, units with a huge disadvantage to the phalanxes that have a power 11 (Base 5 x 2 because of mounted, x 1.1 because of free Combat 1 promotion). I would advise giving each Persian city another archer to keep them from shrinking quickly early on. The archers would still have a rough time, but they would only be like 3.75 vs 5.5 as opposed to 4 vs 11.

Just tried out the new version as the Athenians. I was able to quickly grab 3 Persian cities with only 5 phalanxes because their only defenses were immortals and horse archers, units with a huge disadvantage to the phalanxes that have a power 11 (Base 5 x 2 because of mounted, x 1.1 because of free Combat 1 promotion). I would advise giving each Persian city another archer to keep them from shrinking quickly early on. The archers would still have a rough time, but they would only be like 3.75 vs 5.5 as opposed to 4 vs 11.

Thats actually what I had in 1.0 version. But after I tried playing, what happen is, before I get pass minor asia, Persian already can upgrade his archer to longbowman! My phalanx becomes useless infront of these longbowman. Thats why I made such change.

I mean, we have to give some chances for the history to repeat:rolleyes:

Really liked this. Any chance for the series to continue?

Really liked this. Any chance for the series to continue?

Thanks, it is really an encouragement from someone having 10000 posts in this forum already! :D

I am considering the next scenario will be 220BC. Background will be the second punic war in Europe, Qin Dynasty in China, Mauryan dynasty in India and Seleucid Empire in Persia. Xiong-Nu, Bactria and probably celts will appear, which will add more divisity in the game.

But I probably won't start building this within the next few weeks. Not much free time for games lately :(

I will give it a try !

I can't wait when you will be arribed in 2000 AD :)

Little feedback ! :goodjob:

I played Carthaginians !

But barbarians are too weak

Little feedback ! :goodjob:

I played Carthaginians !

But barbarians are too weak

You are quite right. I think I should probably add more stronger barbarians from africa, since the berbers states and numidian were arising in there which was a big threat to the carthagian.

thanks.

:( But others Barbarians in Eurasia are too weak too !

They do defect rather easily...

They do defect rather easily...

ok. I have a look and see if I shall add more. I did a bit research on Celtic people and I realise they are there very early in time, something like 1000BC. However, I am not sure when did they start forming a centralised government and how strong their armies were.

I can't remember how many barbarian i put in there really. Will have to check.

Played as the Magadhan. Access to Iron has allowed me to walk over my rivals in South Asia. Ealy Spearmen and Swordmen keep the Prasenjit at bay. A quick sprint to Construction (catapults), and they are toast. :)

I am not given the option to Raze cities I have captured. Is that intentional?

Slight map issue: There is a banana resource on a coastal tile near the island representing the Phillipines.

P.S. excellent work, btw. ^^

Slight map issue: There is a banana resource on a coastal tile near the island representing the Phillipines.

P.S. excellent work, btw. ^^

Historically Magadhan united india, so I gave her a better position to start off.

Yes, raze is not allowed. Mainly because I don't want the AI to destroy the cities.

Banana on a coast? Let me check. Thanks for reporting :)

I think that the Greek Empire and the Macedonians should be combined. In history all that would have been left of the Greek Empire would have been Sparta. This would also make the Macedonians a bigger threat to the Persians. The Persians are a little too strong. They are alway way ahead in the score and technology. Also, having the same leaderheads for somenations is a little annoying. Besides this the scenario is great. The barbarians pose a real challenge. It is like they are small civilizations that you need to conquer. I like the part of East Asia alot. I with someone would make a regional civ in that area. The scenario that was going to address this was never finished.

I think that the Greek Empire and the Macedonians should be combined. In history all that would have been left of the Greek Empire would have been Sparta. This would also make the Macedonians a bigger threat to the Persians. The Persians are a little too strong. They are alway way ahead in the score and technology. Also, having the same leaderheads for somenations is a little annoying. Besides this the scenario is great. The barbarians pose a real challenge. It is like they are small civilizations that you need to conquer. I like the part of East Asia alot. I with someone would make a regional civ in that area. The scenario that was going to address this was never finished.

About combining Greek and Macedon, remember that the time is at 500BC, not at the time of Alexander the Great. Athenian Empire is definitely a bigger civs that should be included.

About playability, I had an experience that I could share. In a game I had with a friend, we used both Macedon and Greek and we basically focused attacking Persia right from the start. We managed to take over most of Persia except the land east of Babylon. So I think the current setting is very good for a two players quest.

At the moment, I am doing a bit of research for the 200BC scenario reading particularly about history in Central Asia and Europe. These regions have very interesting but complicated history that I am spending time to learn more. Other than this, there are a few things I would like to fix in the pervious scenarios, such as having the correct flag for each civs. When I do that, I can review the leader heads as well. But there are only a limited number of leader heads that are usable. For example, I don't want to see Mao Zedong's face in my 500BC scenario :p

Btw, I think the expansion pack is coming soon. It is coming with more civs and more leader heads. I might wait for that to upgrade the leaderheads.

I was playing as the Qi Dukedom and had had friendly relationship status with Jin Dukedom. Well, I declared war on him and brought in an ally against him. He still remained at friendly status toward me throughout the war. I ended up bringing him to last in the score. Why did this happen? Shouldn't he have been furious with me?

Gehghis Kai,
I am thinking of making a scenario that begins in 1115 AD and includes Japan, the Southern Song and Jin Dynasties, Khitans (Mongols), the Delhi Sultanate and the Rajput kingdoms. The S. Song and Jin would be at war with the Khitans and the Delhi Sutanate would be at war with the Rajput kingdoms. Japan would be a wild card. What do you think?

Gehghis Kai,
I am thinking of making a scenario that begins in 1115 AD and includes Japan, the Southern Song and Jin Dynasties, Khitans (Mongols), the Delhi Sultanate and the Rajput kingdoms. The S. Song and Jin would be at war with the Khitans and the Delhi Sutanate would be at war with the Rajput kingdoms. Japan would be a wild card. What do you think?

Sounds good. it will be one of my favourite setting!

Depending on the size of map you are thinking of, you might want to include Tibet, Dali (Nanzhao), Xi Xia, Xi Liao, Korea and Vietnam in your map. I also remember that Japan is probably not united in that time.

I was playing as the Qi Dukedom and had had friendly relationship status with Jin Dukedom. Well, I declared war on him and brought in an ally against him. He still remained at friendly status toward me throughout the war. I ended up bringing him to last in the score. Why did this happen? Shouldn't he have been furious with me?

I think the relationship works in a culminative setting, that is if your relationship was really good, then doing bad things (even declare war) will only decrease the relationship by a certain amount. So it won't jump to Furious straight away.

In Civ4Editor, I could choose the relationship from -100 to 100. I forgot what was the setting I gave between Jin and Qi.

Is there an East Asia map with India and China? I will think about the other Civs. So do I just pick one of the original civs and rename the leader and civ and change the traits? Is that what you did?

Nebuchadnezzar is spelled wrong. Also in the Pacific by the Philippines there is a banana in the ocean on the coast. I am playing an amazing game at noble level with the Shang Chinese. I was down to one city and then the Zhou signed a peace treaty. I then settled Japan with one city. My capital revolted to the Zhou. I started settling in the areas of Japan. Because of this I when to the bottom of the score. I am finally in catching up in the techs in the mid 1900's. I am rich because of my trading of resources though. Great scenario, though!!!

Sorry this is for your 1000BC scenario!!!

Is there an East Asia map with India and China? I will think about the other Civs. So do I just pick one of the original civs and rename the leader and civ and change the traits? Is that what you did?

There is a new East Asia map in patch 1.61. Not sure whether it is good for you though.

It isn't. I am bad a making maps go I guess I'll wait for someone to make one. Anyway do you need some help with your scenarios. I have learned how to do everything in World Builder and pretty good at history.
http://www.atlasofworldhistory.com/ is a good site for placement of civs from 4000BC-1000AD. You have to download it, though. It is free. Hope that this can help you.

It isn't. I am bad a making maps go I guess I'll wait for someone to make one. Anyway do you need some help with your scenarios. I have learned how to do everything in World Builder and pretty good at history.
http://www.atlasofworldhistory.com/ is a good site for placement of civs from 4000BC-1000AD. You have to download it, though. It is free. Hope that this can help you.

There is a East Asia map. I am quite sure, because I have played a game of it. I can't remember whether it included india, but it has all of of china, korea, japan and indo-china peninsula.

Nice link! Thanks!
In terms of helping, I think what you are doing (your suggestions and corrections) is very helpful already :goodjob:

Hi, for those who are following the world history series, I haven't actually disappeared. I am building a new Giant world map (210x85). By the time I finish it, I am hoping the expansion pack will be out and I can continue or redo the world history series with the new map and the expanded civs.

Attached is the Giant world map currently in progress.

The reason why I want to build a new Giant world map is because the available giant world maps are all not scaled. In this map I am building, Europe is approx. 3 times bigger than it should, 2 times for East Asia and also for Mesopotemia and India. Tundra land and oceans are greatly reduced - like the one come with the game, but bigger! So one can actually feels he is playing on a Giant map!

However, still a long way to go before completion.

And how handle it on my computer ?

Downloading..

And how handle it on my computer ?

I worried about that before, but I tried playing one of the Giant world maps available, and the speed was reasonably fast. My computer doesn't have very good spec (PM 1.5GHz, 512M ram).

But I set graphics options to the lowest.

You say that if i decrease options, its faster ?

Nice scenario. I like it. :)

its alright i like playing as one of the 3 kingdomes in china

seems fair to me that a scenario based in 500bc makes persia the superpower...because, then it was.

a scenario about the persian wars based on a mediterrainian map would be cool too. then you can make it so that the persians should lose but that would be the challenge.

seems fair to me that a scenario based in 500bc makes persia the superpower...because, then it was.

a scenario about the persian wars based on a mediterrainian map would be cool too. then you can make it so that the persians should lose but that would be the challenge.

Yes, it would be good. But making mod is not my strength. Hope someone will pick this up.

By the way, I am still in the progress of building the giant worldmap. It is progressing very slowly, but I can assure you that this new worldmap that I make completely from scratch will be of very high quality!

awesome, good luck with the map.

As you may or may not know already, I have finally finished my Giant Earth Map! Here is the link:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=184684

I will take a break and enjoy playing this map for a while, before I restarting my World History Series project using this Giant map.

seems fair to me that a scenario based in 500bc makes persia the superpower...because, then it was.

a scenario about the persian wars based on a mediterrainian map would be cool too. then you can make it so that the persians should lose but that would be the challenge.
If you haven't noticed yet I have come put with a mod for the rise of Persia on just a map from greece to india. Check it out, I do plan to get in detail but it will be a awhile before its finished. Check my sig if your interested