Walkthrough 03 AleaIactaEst, the Italian mod for BTS

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Alea Iacta Est
The italian mod for Civilization 4 Beyond the Sword

(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.
Note: I WONT describe any further the new game concepts I have already introduced in the previous walkthroughs; sorry but it would require too long; I will just highlight the new concepts, so you could look them up in the other threads as you find them.
The default settings of these games are: difficulty Prince, speed Epic, world size Standard (5 opponents), map RandomItaly (a flat map with a big continent, a couple of large islands, and a lot of other tiny islands. However, just to let you know, the mod also includes a pre-made huge Italy map).
 
The classical era - Pyrrhus and the Molossian kingdom



He was a tough opponent of Rome, and a great general, although he's better known for his "Pyrrhic victory" against a roman army (a victory with devastating cost to the victor). His unique unit is the war elephant, a slow mounted unit, which can target siege units in a stack (so he can be an extremely useful unit when defending against enemy stacks of death). His unique building produces 3 culture instead of just 1.

The start.




I found Eraclea in place, and start researching Alphabet.



In a few turns, the Sardinian religion of Maymon is founded in my city, and I meet my first rival:



Ugh!!! That's tough. His bonuses are higher production of generals, and bigger defense from spies. His unit (now renamed in Legion) is not the 8-combat monster of BTS, but it is still a killer in melee combats.
The map so far:



I popped two maps from huts, and then a tech:



Perfect! If I can just manage to find some horses and train a couple of war elephants, I should be safe from any type of invasion (elephants destroy any enemy siege weapon, thus nullifying his capabilities to attack cities).
Second meeting:



We've already met him in my previous walkthrough (and it was quite a soft opponent, by the way, good Brennus!), so I've already described his abilities.
After having explored a large continent, I found that horses are too far away. I must see if the islands at west have some. Meanwhile, in case I don't find them, after Alphabet I start with Iron Working!

Third meeting: the peaceful Antenor, in the southwestern island.



And a little more at south:



Hannibal bonuses are faster promotions for units, and bigger trade routes in his cities.
 
I found that no horses are at acceptable distance; however, if I hurry my second city, I can steal an iron resource to Caesar; I think that MUST be done, as soon as possible! Unfortunately, I arrive there a couple of turns too late, and he already has founded his second city, grabbing iron.
I can't let him time to train legions. I must try to rush him. I have copper, so I train some axemen and spearmen.
While I'm starting with some military, a global event halts Caesar, with a period of anarchy! Good!



I'm ready to attack, although I have to do a long way to avoid attacking through that river.



Note the momentary bonuses written in green: they might appear at any time and disappear after few turns. When it's right attack time, just outside Antium, two units of mine are only able to defend!! Hell, no withdraw, attack with all the available men!



Antium is mine, and so is the iron mine!!



Now, Caesar looks definitely less dangerous. I think this was the only one way to handle him. If I had left him some more time at peace, his legions would have simply destroyed me. Now, as soon as the iron mine is inside my borders, I can send some swordsmen to Rome, and try to subjugate the (once) mighty emperor. Probably I'll need some catapults, but Mathematics is just three turns away, so no problem.



He has still another city. I'll give a look.



A single archer! And a copper source.



I entered in Cumae, but since it's his last city and I cannot completely destroy a civilization, I automatically make peace with him, and he capitulates. Now, just remember to always keep an eye on him; if he gets too much powerful or large, he might revolt, break free, and attack me.
Let's have a look at the Subjugations screen. Caesar is subjugated (100%), and his "target to break free" is still far away, so no problem at the moment. Remember: the Domination victory is achieved once I subjugate every civilization, so all progress bars of mine must be at 100%.



Now that the biggest threat is removed, I can focus more on economy and science. I'm fine with military, as you can see by the power ratios in the score panel (everyone has a value less than 1, meaning that they are weaker than me). So I go for Republic (for some composite bowmen) and Code of Laws (to be able to maintain some more cities).
So, there's a period of peace without great events. Some illustrious personalities start to born in the other empires.



While, concerning wonders, Antenor seems to be the only one interested in this field.



I also set some slingers on several forested hills inside my border, in order to set ambushes, just in case something ends with a war; well-defended invisible units are always better on our side than theirs.



Some barbarian units appear. The old "unique units" in standard Civ4 now might appear as enemies; in this case, the Persian immortals are definitely raiding "barbarians".

 
After a period of reconstruction and peace, with most courthouses near to be completed and my sixth city on its way, here is the overall situation:



my culture influence on my rivals is still very low, and espionage superiority as well. The best piece of news is from the domination screen (subjugations), but even there, it's not too different from the last time I showed a snapshot of it.

Anyway, I'm in a good situation, and I can choose my way for the victory. In my last walkthrough, I've shown an Espionage victory. I'd like to show you a Survival victory (in my opinion, the most important feature of my mod!), but, being it too much random to happen, perhaps it's better to pick another way. If it happens, I'll be glad to fight for survival, otherwise I'll try a Cultural victory.

What to do for a cultural victory? Well, it's NOT about legendary cities (like in classic Civ4), but about cultural INFLUENCE. I must raise my cultural influence toward every other civilization. To do so, my global culture must be high, but that's not enough. I also have to spread my culture inside enemy land and in the enemy cities. This is done with close borders (easy with the Romans), with spies (I can spread culture, even in far away cities), with religion (holy cities spread culture in every known city with that religion), and with good relations (if I and another leader go on well, we start spreading a little of culture and espionage in each other's cities).

After this little tutorial, I should have explained what my strategy is. I'm going to play a peaceful game, to improve relations with the other leaders; I have to spread the cult of Maymon (the holy city is Eraclea, my capital); I also have to train a lot of spies to spread culture in enemy cities. Meanwhile, I must produce a lot of culture. My unique building, the statue, is of big help. I have also still completed the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a world wonder.
The current situation for cultural superiority. As I've just said, it's very poor. Simply, NO influence at all toward Antenor, Brennus and Hannibal. A very little amount toward Caesar. There's a lot of work to do.



After some spies and missionaries, I can already see something moving:



At least, I have a little of influence toward each of them. I'm waiting for cult of Jupiter to spread to my cities, so that I can adopt the same religion of Brennus and Hannibal; the most far away leaders are the most difficult to influence with culture, and good relations can help a little.
After a LONG time, my first illustrious personality:



This is perfect for the kind of game I'm playing: extra spy and artist specialists! I've also just completed another world wonder: the Aeneid.
The game goes on for some time, and Antenor is signed with a "thunder" in the score panel, meaning that he is "historically obsolete" for this time.



This means he just entered the middle ages. He is the only one who can receive a destructive attack, at the moment. I, Brennus and Hannibal will be the same in few minutes. Caesar is the only one who is "safe" in the middle ages; on one side, it's good news for him, because there won't be any problems in his empire; on the other hand, he won't have any match point for a survival victory.

A global event for the Romans: the weakest civilization in the game is given a free golden age.



A lot of spies and missionaries has been sent to enemy cities in order to spread culture and influence the rivals. This is the situation at the moment:



Caesar is "culturally inferior", and Hannibal still needs some time. Some hard work is needed for Antenor and Brennus.
 
However, I realize something that could become extremely dangerous. Look at someone I have subjugated:



If you read Caesar's conditions to break free, you'll see he is quite close. He's got strong, not as much as me but enough, and now he just needs a bit more. Perhaps it could be a way to show you what happens in such a situation. Given the number of legionaries he has, I whip some trident warriors to better counter them.

I don't have to wait too long...



When someone breaks free from his master, there's a revolution hero who leads the revolt, and some militia troops. Looking inside Rome, I can find some well promoted units.



This is again the main theme of this mod: anytime someone demonstrates to deserve a chance, he might receive a help to try to fight again for the victory. Caesar has made an enormous effort to increase his power, and now he has a decent army to fight against his former master (aka ME!).

That's not all. The next turn, even the peaceful Antenor (hell, it's like if Gandhi declared!)...



He lands near my capital, Eraclea, with a small pack of well promoted ballistas and bastard swordsmen.
His assault is countered with a small effort, and he accepts peace after few turns. Meanwhile, Caesar's revolution hero and militia have been defeated, and a couple of turns later he accepts peace too. I've been lucky to be able to end a double war on two fronts without a loss.

By the way, now everyone (but Caesar) is displayed with a lightning icon, in the score panel. The Middle Ages are going to harvest a victim, and we are all vulnerable to destructive attacks; Caesar could even wait to see who will be the chosen one; a weakened enemy might be another chance for him to stay competitive.
My empire gives birth to another illustrious personality: Virgil.



I also receive a great artist, and I decide to conquer a barbarian city at south (near Brennus borders) and use the artist for a cultural boom: I'm going for Cultural victory, and I need cultural influence on him.
City conquered, cultural boom.



And the situation for the cultural victory:



Antenor is difficult to influence: he refuses to open borders, so I cannot send my ships near his cost to unload my spies to spread culture. If I stay with this influence, I have to reach the total culture target, which is 132835 at the moment (as shown in the screen).

When it seemed to be a peaceful time for reconstruction, Brennus and Caesar declared war on me in the same turn. A big Celtic stack is defeated with difficulty, while no sign of Roman units.
While war continues at southeast, I'm sending a settler in the northwest, just outside Venetian borders, to found a city for some cultural influence on Antenor.



Caesar sends a small offensive stack, loses the battle and then accepts peace. Brennus continues for some more turns, and after several attacks, he also makes peace.
Well, my peaceful game may continue; where was I? Going for cultural.
 
No, I was wrong! There's no time to relax. Another major event: here comes a DESTRUCTIVE ATTACK.



A destructive attack against ME! Well, I said I'd like to try for a survival victory; at least, now I have a chance. Longobards appear with two big armies (one just near Luceria, the last city I've just found, the other one between Eraclea and Capua), and a big fleet of dromons and galleys.
Remember: when defending from a destructive attack, I don't mind losing some cities; my only one objective is to NOT be subjugated. I still have to resist from being destroyed; in few words, I have to survive.
Luceria falls immediately. And during the battle of Eraclea, some victories have given me a great general, allowing my illustrious personality Virgil to start a short golden age (three turns). However, the attacking army is huge, and my capital cannot resist, despite the number of catapults I sacrifice to inflict some collateral damage (I have no horses, and I cannot make flank attacks to damage his siege units; and I also miss my war elephants!!).



In this terrible moment, there's even some good news. Liutprand has two armies, but his second one is stuck in the western tiny island and cannot be very dangerous there; he has a large float to move these units, but it's far away, so at the moment I have only one army to counter.
I don't even have to say that Liutprand refuses to talk, and he will for a while!! Destructive attacks are really long. Two cities lost, and most important, my capital as well. Still not subjugated, but Longobard losses have been small, and I need a great effort to resist his continuing attack.

Aarrgghh!! No, I can't stand it!!!



I have a bad feeling about all that! Just for information, I have still moved almost all my troops north. Luckily, Brennus seems to have been bribed into war, so he is quite unprepared, and has only a small stack of horse archers, so Castelfidardo defense should be enough.



Liutprand army is approaching Capua, where most of my units are waiting. I keep whipping troops in every city, each turn.



Capua performs an excellent defense on Liutprand attack. His huge stack is defeated, and at this point it just looks like the war is close to an end.
Or at least, the Longobard one. Brennus has done a good job, and succeeds to conquer Castelfidardo.



At least, now I'm able to make peace with him. My goal remains the survival, and I'haven't still been subjugated. If Liutprand decides his useless war is over....



And as the message says, I've gained a "survival point". I need two of them for a Survival victory.

 
Now, let's recap the situation.
I've surely lost my #1 position, and I've also lost my capital. The destructive attack has been of little use for Liutprand, who failed to get a decent position by taking me cities, and with only one city is now a hopeless rival. I've been helped by luck, for the deployment of Longobard units and one of their armies stuck in that island, but all in all I've done an excellent job with my defense. While Hannibal and Antenor are now the first civilizations in the game (although far from any type of victory), I could have a match point if another destructive attack happens against me. Of course, I have to completely rebuild my army.

There's no relax....



But the city of Rome is well defended, and Caesar fails to take it back.
And while I'm trying a counterattack against the Roman city of Cumae, Liutprand becomes a vassal of Brennus, and there's a global event halting the first civilization in the game: Carthaginians.



I conquer Cumae...



And...



A couple of messages inform me about some new Associations.



Associations are similar to BTS corporations, and have the same basic mechanics: they can be spread to other cities, give a bonus, and have a headquarter which gives an output depending on how many cities in the world have that association. However, they don't depend on the number of resources in the city. The main difference is about "antagonism". Some associations are "rival" between each other; in this case, Sanfedisti and Calderai are different secret associations, and cannot coexist; cities with rival associations have difficulty to cooperate (like for trade routes), so are civilizations with many rival associations (bad relations); instead, the presence of the same association helps people to go on better. (Just for information, in the Modern era there are three well known associations: Mafia, 'Ndrangheta and Camorra. And they are, obviously, rival!).

I succeeded in having horses in a trade with Antenor, by giving a lot of resources and gold in change; now I'm able to train some of my war elephants: if I want another destructive attack against me, I'm better to have some valid counter units for his siege, and elephants are excellent for this purpose. And after I discovered Machinery for some mangonels, I think I'm fine with techs, and I can set research to 0 for a while.
After the destructive attack, I'm basically waiting for another one; I'm training units for countering large stacks (war elephants and mangonels, mainly), and I'm concentrating them in my capital. I'll accept to lose some cities, but I must keep my capital, in order to survive a second time and achieve a Survival victory.

Here comes a new destructive attack, but this time it's not against me.



Carthaginians have been invaded by Charlemagne. I have to send some scouting units to see how it's going. Meanwhile, I receive messages about Hannibal losing Altino and Leptis. He is also at war against Antenor, losing Tacape to him.
I found some traces of Holy Roman invasion; Charlemagne seems to have a small number of units....



My third illustrious personality:



After some turns, while Charlemagne is attacking Hippo, I see that he still has very few siege units, even if his army is still quite large; perhaps the destructive attack is about to end. He hasn't been too effective either, Hannibal is far from being subjugated.

 
After a LONG wait, I have a match point.
There's a second destructive attack against me: he's the Pope himself!



He as two armies: the first is north of Metapontum, the other is south of Malevento.



He conquers Capua and Malevento, and then marches toward Metapuntum. Here is where I am waiting for him! His power is three times mine, I hope my war elephants will do the difference.



I destroy 22 siege units in two turns! Great war elephants! Meanwhile, Charlemagne war against Hannibal is over, and since Hannibal has not been subjugated, he gains a survival point too.



28 Mangonels and 15 Ballistas destroyed. And he still has respectively 4 and 16 of them. (As you can see, the Statistics screen has completely been reworked).



No way. I inflict collateral with all the mangonels I built, but my capital falls anyway.



Gregory has still a lot of troops, while mine are essentially finished. Now he can easily pass my cities and grab them. And with also Caesar against me, I can't do anything to avoid the end.
As soon as Antium is lost...



Well, what about stopping here?? :)
 
It's time for a RECAP.





The best civilization seems to be the Veneti: Antenor has had a big score for all the game, and he is at good point for a Domination victory. Brennus went for Cultural. Hannibal and I had a chance for Survival, but while I failed, Hannibal has still a chance. No one has been interested in espionage.

The "rise and fall" feature has caused the fall of only my empire; among the risen ones, Charlemagne succeeded to create something competitive, while Liutprand stays with only one city and then hopeless. And about the Papal States... well....!

I've shown very well the "main theme" of this mod. No game can be said to be over until it's over. I vassalized Caesar, but after some time he built up a large army and eventually attacked me with his Revolution Hero. A number of "global events" had helped the weakest ones and halted the strongest. The powerful Hannibal received a destructive attack which, even if not destroying him, seriously halted him. Many civilizations could have reached the victory, in different ways. At the end, I was one of the smallest and weakest civs in the game, but I still had a match point for a survival victory.

So, at the moment I've played an Ancient start (with Tarchon) and a Classical start (this one, with Pyrrhus). Apart of the tech scope, they have different focuses, like religions and spies (much more important now), and a glimpse of associations, although the Apostolic Palace has not appeared yet.

This Classical start seems to be fine, overall. It's time to move on, to Medieval.
 
Wow!

You really worked hard on this, I can tell.

I also enjoy that it's all new content, not just re-hashed stuff from popular mods. Your Victory and Great People screens look really cool!

I can't wait to get my hands on this!

PS. Using a walkthrough to advertise your mod is a brilliant idea. 10/10 on marketing, you got me sold!
 
Wow!

You really worked hard on this, I can tell.

I also enjoy that it's all new content, not just re-hashed stuff from popular mods. Your Victory and Great People screens look really cool!

I can't wait to get my hands on this!

PS. Using a walkthrough to advertise your mod is a brilliant idea. 10/10 on marketing, you got me sold!
I agree, this looks amazing!
 
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