Here are my rough plans for the new version.

Firstly, I'd like to get all of the civilopedia texts besides the units and the civics done. The reason is that I plan on redoing the civics fairly substantially next version, and that I know the units are going to take a long time to finish and should not be rushed. (basically done)

Secondly I'd like to get all of the static leaderheads done. I think that doing so would help by significantly reducing the file size and adding to the historical feel of the mod. Please help by posting historic images of the leaders in the Research thread. (done)

Thirdly I'd like get the new production victories balanced. I'd like people to test the new version and tell me basically how their games go. I don't have the time to play dozens of test games and therefore I need your outside help.

Fourth I'd like to continue fixing bugs that the game has. The bug thread has really helped to organize the bugs in the current version and allowed me to fix them better. If anyone encounters any sort of problem or something they feel is unbalanced I really want you to post about it in the bug thread.

If I have time before the end of the month, I may make the civics changes I am currently planning on doing next version.

In addition, I'd like to say that I cannot find for the life of me any good art for either Umar or Abderaman III. If you can find any art relating to any Caliph, please post it, as it may be all there is to use.

In addition, I'd like to say that I cannot find for the life of me any good art for either Umar or Abderaman III. If you can find any art relating to any Caliph, please post it, as it may be all there is to use.

Abderaman III? Sorry I don't completely understand, is that another name for Abd Ar Rahman III?

Islamic figures are very hard to find pics of, sadly. I tried looking for one of Harun al Rashid, and all I found were some small mediocre pics. It is quite unfortunate that Islamic artists back then didn't do portraits of leaders, even the ottoman sultans had to go to europeans for their portraits.:sad:

Ah yes, I forgot to mention some name changes I was making. Firstly, I'm changing Abderaman III to Abd ar-Rahman III, and I'll probably change Piero Orseolo (who did absolutely nothing) to Simone Boccanegra (first Doge of Genoa).

I could be wrong, but the picture thing might be religious. I know its considered blasphemous to portray the image of Mohammed in any way.

There was an interesting movie about 4 years ago about his life, that never showed him in any representation.

Unlike in Western art of that time which primarily depicted religious icons and biblical events for centuries.

I'm almost completely certain that that rule only applies to Mohammad. For instance, Civ3 has Abu Bakr as the Arabian leader, who was the second Caliph and if anyone would not be allowed to have images made of, it would be him.

I found an Abderraman III pic and posted in the research thread.

Its hard to conquer all of Europe when your people start revolting 2-3 turns into a war. :cry:

How about adding Dungeon -25% WW and Tower of London wonder (built in 1078 and housing first prisoner in 1100) -25% WW all cities, +2 influence, +1 GP?

Plus maybe one more happiness creating building like City Gardens +1 happy, +1 healthy? Also maybe National Wonder Royal Gardens +2 happy, +1 healthy, +2 influence?

Also,

What about adding national wonder like a Festival or Great Fair (with a better name) that requires multiple fairs to build?

I just wanted to mention that the static leaderheads are finished and that I don't need anymore, unless you can find a good Umar.

EDIT: And if anyone was wondering, my new avatar is Mieszko's LH. :king:

dang, he had the only good animated LH. Amra did him right? mabey you could make a download with all animated LH if Amra or someone of his talent would make them for us.......

I'm also going to make a fair number of changes to both maps to improve playability. Currently Germany has trouble building a third city on the small map, for instance, and the Vikings often struggle on the big map. If you have any concerns you want addressed in my changes, please tell me, and I'll see what I can do.

Sorry I haven't been very active this weekend, but this next week is exam week so I'll probably not be very active until Saturday. Please continue contributing (especially to the Great Person thread).

I'm almost completely certain that that rule only applies to Mohammad.

No, it's realistic art in general, and the realistic depiction of the human form in particular:

"On Resurrection Day, God will consider image-makers as the men most deserving of punishment"--The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon his name

As with any other religion, Muslims obeyed the dictates of the Quran to varying degrees, ranging from ultra-orthodox strictness (as in WWII-era core Saudi Arabia) to lip-service only (as in the case of the late Abbasid courts). So, whether or not you'll get images depends on the place and the time in the Muslim world, but in general you'll get a lot fewer images than you would in Christian lands, where historically only a few sects have interpreted the Bible as banning imagery. It might be a nice touch to include portraits only of the less pious Muslims and include Islamic (non-representational) art for the more pious ones, en lieu of a portrait.

Doesn't "image makers" refer to idol worship? :confused:

That's the theological argument. :)

no idol worshipping is the worshipping of a statue or other 3-d image, a painting is not idol worship. example: byzantine iconoclasm.

One thing you might ant to consider tweaking is the base amount of health per city. On Emperor and above, you're boned unless you settle your first few cities on a river for the fresh water health bonus. This makes every civ except Poland, Russia and Hungary largely unplayable.

Have you thought of incorporating the Better AI?

would including dales combate mod as a seprate download be a good idea? i have never played dales mod but i think it will add to the midevil feel so it is an attemps to be sort of like the total war games.

There are a number of mods out there that would fit nicely in this one... mercenary mod, for instance, among others.

That being said, I'm not certain that this mod is sufficiently developed yet to get into adding other mods to it. We may be getting to that stage, for all I know, though.

I think we are getting to that stage. i have no problems with it crashing and it apears stable. tried dales mod and it is cool. only problem is i would like some graphics fixed or updated (knights mainly used lance, not sword. GET IT RIGHT FIRAXIS!!!!) but yes, in my humble opinion i think we are ready.

Should we wait for BTS and only include mods that can suit Vanilla and BTS?

stay in vannila unless in bts there is something that will make this mod completly awsome. but not immediatly because vannila still needs some work. btw, does bts have vassals?

It has vassals.

I have a problem with trying to add diplo music. in the xml files in sounddefines (i think) and added diplo music for arabia. in sound folder i made another folder called diplomacy and made sure the name of arabias music in there was the same as in sounddefines. but when i loaded up the game to test it it didnt work. any ideas? Btw: do you know of any good places to learn xml because i am interested in learning it better.

Still trying to add diplo music, i went into both soundefines and leaderheadcharicteristic (whatever it is called), added the music defines, added diplo folder into sound, and when i tried it out as arabia, it didnt work. i have no clue whats happening. anyone care to help?

Maybe ask in the main mod forum... we're a little isolated here at times. And your question isn't too mod specific.

Adding music is beyond my skill set, so I'm afraid I've nothing better to offer advisewise.

im taking music from core game. i added i into both 'soundefines' and 'leaderheadinfo' XML files, coppied the format from the core game so no clue why it is not working. im gone next week so i am not able to work on it now. could you ask around a little bit? you appear to have a heck of alot more XML skills then i do. ( i have no clue what over half the XML terms mean).

You have to edit like four files to add music. It amazing the redundancy. I did it a while back, give me a day or two and I may be able to take a better look. Also is the music an MP3?

yup, its an mp3 file. when renaming it you have to end in mp3 or else it becomes a rar. file. Why the heck is there 4 files to edit! 2 makes sense, it says what music to play and when to play it. i should have alot of time august so if you could tell me the 4 files i might be able to figure it out.

I think the polish starting area is too strong. Especially if you conquer Germany early. You get Beeswax, Furs, Wine, Silver and Amber with a mere 4 cities as well as Marble, Iron, Copper, Wheat, Cows and grabs. Add in the prolific rivers giving +1 commerce to roughly 1/3 of you're tiles, and you're scary strong.


In general, an early archer or spearman spam will win the game for you. The AI won't bother with many units until after their first settler. If you avoid an early settler, you can build 4 or 5 Spearmen or Archers to take down the 2 or 3 AI Warriors. While rushes are standard in Vanilla civ, they don't always work for a variety of reasons.

What's with the Copper and Iron requirements? It seems like Iron should be revealed with New Mines, not the other way around.