Walkthrough 02 AleaIactaEst, the Italian mod for BTS

(download from the link below)

Introduction to the mod
Alea Iacta Est mod is entirely set in Italy, and covers all its history, from the ancient ages to nowadays: its civilizations and leaders, its religions, its wonders, its great persons, and so on.
The most important people who lived in Italy in any period of its history are represented, and their goal is the Supremacy over the others. There are completely different ways to achieve victory. Even Cultural and Domination victories have been reworked, in order to reflect the Supremacy goal.
The leader you choose will set the starting period of the game, the opponents you will meet, and the technological scope the game will have. For example, if you choose a classical civilization like the Romans, you will start in the classical era, and your game will last till the middle ages, or even a part of the renaissance; so, you are the Romans, and the entire game will be set in your historical period.
Civilizations will rise and fall as the game goes on. The Romans will face the risk to fall, when the game passes the middle ages; there could be a new civilization (like the Longobards), who suddenly enters in the game and invades the Romans with a huge army. So, the more historically ancient civilizations will tend to leave it to the new ones; on the other hand, if they prove themselves tough enough to resist to the attack, thus proving to be able to stand the test of time, they could achieve a Survival victory.

Introduction to the walkthrough
There are a lot of new items, mechanics and features in this mod.
This walkthrough wants to show some games, played with different civilizations in order to show you different game periods. Most game features will be presented and described. Note: I will not show every single unit, tech, building and wonder. Just remember that, most of the times, something that exists in the standard game can have different statistics and purposes.
I'll try to give an extremely brief description of historical facts, as we face civilizations, leaders or something that needs to be quoted.
The default settings of these games are: difficulty Prince, speed Epic, world size Standard (5 opponents), map RandomItaly (a flat map with a few large snaky continents and a lot of big and small islands. However, just to let you know, the mod also includes a pre-made huge Italy map).

The ancient era - Tarchon and the Etruscan empire



He is the founder of one of the most important pre-Roman empires of ancient Italy.

He is quite expansionist. His unique unit is a city-raider spearman. His unique building is a lighthouse which gives happiness if certain metal resources are available (to reflect the importance that maritime trade of metal stuff had for that people).

The start.



First of all, a look at the tech tree.



Yes, it’s been completely reworked. And remember, the entire game will cover very little after my historical period: since I’m an ancient civilization, maybe I’ll have time to touch the middle ages, but I will not be able to go further.

I settle in place and research Agriculture. My club warrior (1 combat) will explore, while a second one is on his way.

Just 6 turns, and the first meeting:



Quite pacifical, he’d rather make his cities grow and be productive; better don’t let him do it, or he can easily overgrow.

A well known guy:



Not much to say about him: we all know him very well! (although his trait is quite different, and it’s mainly about pillaging enemy cities and lands).

In a goody hut we find a tech, which allows us a stronger unit:



This can avoid us a big trouble, expecially when animals start to appear (club warriors are dead meat with animals).

Fourth meeting; only one is missing.



The first known people who used horses to fight his enemies. His traits, unique units and unique buildings are all about horses; if he actually has any, somebody is likely to have some troubles soon.

Techs require a long time to be discovered. 20 turns to get Agriculture. Now, I start with The Fire (to reach Mysticism and Pottery), and after Fire, Mining and Carpentry (to chop forests).

My city, Tarquinia, completes the Stone Axeman and starts with a worker.

After some turns of exploration, this is the continent we’re on. The fifth player should be on a southwestern island.

I found Vulci in a good defensive position against Brennus, and also grabbing silver.



Not much to tell for some time; I go for The Wheel, and then Pottery, to have a decent research rate (cottages). The game has still to take off, and for the moment, it’s not too different from the classical game.

After some uneventful time, the fifth man shows up.



Peaceful, not too much an issue; he tends to have a large empire, and to go for culture and research.

As soon as I’m training a settler for my third city, look at the score panel, where you can see the power rate of some enemies. Acestes and Brennus are weaker than me (Acestes is about half as strong as me); thanks to that Stone Working we popped out in the first turns; the Brennus power rate is particularly good, also given how close he is from me!! Perhaps, it’s time to start thinking at military. What about bronze? And our unique, the hoplite??

Now, just a note. A celtic unit has some “momentary” abilities (written in green): random bonuses that appear and disappear after a short time. Not a problem at the moment, for they are expected to disappear in a couple of turns, but it’s useful to know that when you’re at war. Some funny things can happen in those moments: good ones (a bonus against a particular unit type, which you are just about to attack!), or bad ones (your city raider 3 unit is momentarily only able to defend!).



I found Sorano. In the same turn, I get a Great Spy (from the spy I can use with the palace), and settle him. In this mod, Espionage is even more important, and can also lead to an Espionage Victory.



2142BC, a couple of events.

First of all, I completed the Necropolis of Populonia in Vulci, mostly for culture pressure on Brennus, and less for its bonus (like an atzec sacrificial altar in every city).

Secondararily, look at this message:



I’ve already talked about Illustrious Personalities in my first Walkthrough: they are like the Founding Fathers of Colonization, and their birth is influenced by several actions you can do in your game (wars, missionaries, spies, specialists, etc.). Antenor of Venetians has gained the poet Virgil, who has a quite cool effect (has a small chance to give him any tech any known civilization has discovered). What is our progress for our first Illustrious Personality?



A LONG way to go. Perhaps Anthenor has used his great spy to “inspire an illustrious personality” (a new choice for great people, which gives you 450 points in the proper category, that’s to say, espionage).



Now, even if it’s too early to worry about, let’s have a look at the victory conditions. At least, by knowing how to win, we can know how to play and how this mod actually works.



Time victory: as usual.

Cultural victory. Completely different. Now, it’s about “cultural supremacy” against every rival. The target is not only to produce a big amount of culture, but also to “influence” the other players, by spreading a lot of culture into enemy land and cities. If all your enemies are “culturally inferior” than you, you win.

Espionage victory. There’s a new, expensive, passive espionage mission, “Espionage superiority”. Just activate it against everyone, and you’ll win.

Survival victory. We’ll see, we’ll see…. And we’ll have some fun for sure!!

Domination victory. Completely different. Now, you have to “subjugate” everyone else, either by vassalizing him, or with your army and your size. If you are much more powerful and large than him, he’ll be subjugated. It’s a good thing to subjugate someone, but it can also be risky; maybe we’ll see why….. For the moment, let’s have some more details about our subjugations progresses.



Noone is still subjugated by anyone. From our viewpoint, the closest target is Brennus! If only we had twice the land we have now, and almost three times this army. But army is not an issue, cause bronze working is close to be discovered, and with a bit of luck…

We were talking about copper....



Good and bad news.
The good: we have copper!
The bad: Brennus just founded Parma, which splitted us into two (Sorano is south). Maybe we can use both these news together!! He is exactly as strong as we are, and he seems to have just javeliners and a club warriors, while now we can train our hoplites.
Hoplites, the city raiders….
Sure, let’s train lots of hoplites!! And a couple of short-swordsmen for the stack.
Meanwhile, I go for Hunting, Ballistics, and Archery: assured I can effectively attack, I must grab some defensive stuff.





I found that my empire is no longer splitted!
Let’s have a look at his other cities.



It deserves a visit. And, yes, hoplites are really very strong!!



Although I start to be slightly overexpanded, I keep on searching his last cities. I cannot destroy him (in this mod, nobody can be completely destroyed), but I can subjugate him.

I also think a bit at the defense. Look at this.



This short swordsman is setting an ambush (look near the fortify bonus: ambush); this means that the enemy cannot see this unit until he enters that tile, thus attacking; I’m invisible at the moment. The plot has a great defense bonus, and the unit has a proper promotion; this is a deadly trap for the enemy; I’m awaiting for him. Just remember: as soon as he attacks, the ambush is over.

Brennus’ city of Piacenza is definitely well defended, and my first stack has been destroyed (with a bit of unluck). But a second stack should do the work. In fact, with my just born great general,



Piacenza is conquered. However, remember that nobody can be destroyed. This is his last city, so the attack automatically ends here, and Brennus capitulates. I just have to keep an eye on him and not to let him grow too much, otherwise there could be a funny surprise….

Domination (and look at the “target to break free” for Brennus):



Brennus is obviously subjugated. If I choose this way to victory, Latino should be the next one, however he is on the other side of the map.
Cultural and Espionage victories are still at a too early stage, so I can either continue with war (hey, I’m Etrusk! I have the hoplites!), or wait for a possible Survival victory (you’ll see, you’ll see, and you’ll have some fun!)

Since this is intended to be a walkthrough, I’m going to play it pacifically, to show you the other features and major events of this mod.
With the end of the war, I have to reassest my cities, and I want to give a little boost to research. With this mod, I can “build” research or culture also with earlier techs, but with a lower output. Writing allows me to build research at 25% of the normal rate (100% is achieved only with University, but this is out of reach for this game, being it an Ancient start); the same with culture: I can build it at 25% with Alphabet (100% is reached with Music).
I want to build some research and some culture. Besides, I want some more espionage, so I also need Code of Laws (a Classical era tech. It’s reachable). This is my research path. Meanwhile, I want to adjust the power rates: Antenor and Acestes are 1.3 times my power, and this is bad; I need more troops. Whatsmore, Acestes has enough on his hands…..!

And after a few turns:





But he doesn’t attack Parma. Instead, he moves around, and then points to the southern Sorano. In fact, some stacks move toward that city, and there are some battles outside.
With a bit of luck, my ambush will pay. Come on, spearman, move into this excellent and EMPTY location, you will have a big defensive bonus here!!





Exactly!! They fell into the trap and died! Although a second and then a third attack destroy my unit. But it was quite good anyhow.
The following attack to the city is completely uneffective, and all his units are defeated.

Now, I could probably take over some of his cities with my hoplites, but I’ve already said I want to stay pacifical, so I’ll ask for peace as soon as he is willing to talk. And this is taking a while. But after several turns, and several defeated stacks of his, peace is accepted. Well, all that was worth some experience, and some points toward my first Illustrious Personality still to come; and now, he is likely to be someone related to military. And after a few turns



The Etruscan general joins the Etruscan empire. That makes sense!! Too bad I’ve decided to play pacifically!!!

I discover Alphabet, do some tech trade, and be able to better know the threat from each rival:





The greatest danger seems to be the pacifical Antenor. It seems to be very little trouble in the next years. I just have to keep my eyes on Acestes; he could attack again; if he do, I’ll forget my pacifical intentions for a while and raze one or two of his cities!! I’ll prepare a stack of hoplites for the purpose.
By the way, what about discovering Iron? It’s a very expensive tech, but I think that I’ve enough research to go this way. Fiftytwo turns at epic!! Gosh! Well, I’ll do it anyway; Republic and Code of Laws can wait. In addition, I can increase my research a bit with some Scribe Offices and by producing some Research in my cities (even if at 25%).

While I’m researching Iron Working, I just keep on spreading my culture in Venetian and Gallic cities using my spies; this counts for a Cultural Victory (it increases my cultural “influence” on them). A lot of work still to do, and Latin is still out of range.



In the end, we reach a milestone for an ancient start: Iron Working. And…



Remember: ONLY DEFENSIVE! I only want to better defend myself!

Now, this event happens in my capital:



This is a particular type of random events that tend somehow to rebalance the game a bit. Since I’m one of the first civilizations in the world, this events is trying to halt me for a while. The population in Tarquinia drops from 10 to 5. I call them “global events”, and there are several types of them; some types can help the weaker civilizations instead.

Anyhow, I start with training some swordsmen, just to give a better protection to my cities and to increase my power numbers. In the same time, the sardinian religion of Maymon spreads into my cities, and I let it spread to the others, to build some monastaries. I adopt Maymon’s as my state religion, improving my relations with my greatest enemy Acestes.

By the way, Acestes is getting a strong rival. By looking at the victory screen, I can say that domination is out of reach (we have too little land, we should expand, but I’ve decided to play pacifically), and cultural is going extremely slow; Aesthetics and Drama could help. Espionage victory is the closest, so I choose this way; I set the slider at 10% espionage, and go for Republic and Code of Laws for some spy specialists (and some composite bowmen on the way). You must notice that, being it an Ancient start, the more advanced a tech is, the more it costs; classical techs cost about twice than normal, medieval techs cost even more, while renaissance techs are simply unreachable for their cost. The entire game should cover my “historical” period; since I’m Etruscan, I should only play ancient and classical eras. I’ll have MY unique unit and building for ALL the game.





There are some trade techs. I take Warrior Code from Brennus, enabling a better civic which removes the 10% research malus of Barbarism. Moreover, I take Navigation from Antenor, for my unique building, the trading post.
After these trades, the score panel reports a “lightning” near Latino.



This means that the game has evolved enough to make the Latin civilization “historically obsolete”. That civilization is obsolete in the Classical era, and now it is expected to fall. Now it’s possible that a major event will seriously test the Latin empire, and Latino shall prove himself tough enough. I don’t explain more at the moment; keep it as a “coming soon”!

Another “global event”, this time involving Gallics, the weakest civ in the game. They are given a free golden age, and since he is so weaker than all the other rivals, this golden age should even have double length.



You’ll note from the score panel that I’m dropped from #1 to #4, quite close to Latino and Antenor, while Acestes is really getting the powerful civ. But I don’t care, I’m going for Espionage.



My two settled great spies are doing a great difference, compared with the other civs. And Code of Laws has still to come; just 10 turns, and I’ll lower science to raise espionage. Whatsmore, a third great spy is just born; I’m infiltrating him in Latin empire.

An Illustrious Personality is born:



This could even be worth the research of Currency! But I don’t mind, I’ve set my research to 0.



I’m getting VERY close…. Note that Latino has reached 100% after I infiltrated my Great Spy in one of his cities.
However, something happens at this time!

HERE IS A MAJOR EVENT!! Maybe, THE major event!!





Do you remember what I said before about Latino and his fall? And about a serious and hard test he should have had to stand? Here is the test; in this case, the test’s name is Theodoric of Ostrogoths. A new civilization, a new power, a sudden invasion, in few words I call it “destructive attack”. He steals one of Latino’s cities, and has a huge army. Latino seriously risks to be defeated, but if he can resist this attack, he will gain a “Survival point”. Two survival points give the victory, quite simple. Let’s see how Latino can manage this unfair war!! He can only either be defeated or get a half-victory, no other chances.

On the next turn, Acestes join the war with Latino, declaring war on the Ostrogoths. Now we’ll see if Mighty Theo is able to destroy both civs. Anyhow, he starts by taking Velitrae in 4 turns, and Ardea after other 7 turns. These first losses are normal for Latino and he mustn’t be alarmed for that; his only goal is to avoid being subjugated; he has to remain strong enough, until the destructive attack ends, although it can last for long and can only end when the attacker asks for peace (Latino cannot even TRY to talk to him). At this time, Theodoric’s power is 1.3, while Latino’s is 0.7 (using my power as comparison base).



Now while Theodoric is trying to take Gabii, Acestes makes an assault to his capital Aricia with a small pack of axemen and swordsmen, and TAKES it, making peace just after. Things seem to turn bad for Ostrogoths, and good for Latino: this survival point is getting closer and closer.

As soon as this war ends, I think the game will end too; look at my espionage values:





Unless…





He is reported to be at 80% on his way! But I’m not afraid, I can surely be faster than him.

Just after Theodoric takes Gabii…

RECAP

I've made a huge rebalancement after my first walkthrough, and now the game is quite playable. The “everything takes forever” feeling is over, and now you actually have a lot of things to do and to plan.

In this walkthrough, first of all I’ve shown you how EVERYONE can always have his chance; the strongest ones can be victim of destructive attacks and fall, or receive a bad “global event” in the worst moment. And there are victory conditions that can lead ANYONE to victory at ANYTIME, if he only shows to deserve it.

In this game, Acestes was far stronger and larger than anyone else, and was going both for cultural and for domination victory (he would have achieved a cultural victory in no more than five turns!). Latino had the chance for a Survival victory, since the Theodoric attack wasn’t so effective and was going to end in few turns; a survival point which is 50% of a victory. Theodoric himself has been quite unlucky, to find such a tough opponent (Latin UB, the oppidum, is formidable against bombardments) and even a second enemy in Acestes; in other conditions, Theodoric would have risen as a serious rival for the victory.

We have seen only a small part of the features of the mod; apart of the victory conditions (there are also OTHER conditions, if you play a different era start), we have seen ambushes, illustrious personalities and global events. I didn’t show you every single change of the game mechanics, nor every units/buildings/wonders with their purposes and statistics.

Of course it’s been a funny game; funny in the first part, with some wars and with the “construction” of our way to victory; interesting in the second part, when we just sat down and see, expecially when Theodoric appeared.

I think the Ancient start is now fine how it is. It's time to think at a Classical start... in a couple of weeks, I hope.

nice!
I can't wait for the mod