About Pie's Ancient Europe (PAE)

Games like Total War Rome II or Ryse Son of Rome for the Xbox seem to have brought antiquity into gaming more stunningly and realistically than ever. But once you're fed up with all the visual gorgeousness, what's left of long-term enjoyment and true immersion into the ancient world? Not much. Nothing against high resolution massacre and panoramic real-time battles, but depth, "soul" and historical feeling are things, which many players rather look for in turn-based strategy games.

However: founding cities, governing empires, conquering the world - we all know that. What should be expected new in a turn-based strategy game set in antiquity? Pie's Ancient Europe got the answer, a user-made, free modification for Civilization IV. Some commercial developers may just dream about this degree of atmosphere, playability and amount of innovative features. Here are just a few examples of the things you can do in PAE:

Spread food resources such as dates, olives, grain and wine strategically - starting with only one single resource, you found on your territory or that you traded from another player - and thus re-enact the agricultural development of ancient empires.

Promote your units in a new way: While they autopromote according to the terrain, in which they gained combat experience in, and automatically grade up according to their level of experience, you're still able to develop them the way you like. You may settle your battle-hardened veterans in provinces and reactivate them when needed. You might also let them rise up to legendary status and eventually become a hero, for example by killing an enemy unit, that already has that hero status.

Do not only fight barbarians and other civilizations but also the inner dangers of your empire: faithless generals, province governors going berserk, religious tensions, mutinying troops, rebellious slaves, renegading vassals, suddenly appearing mercenary armies some unknown enemy has sicked on you. Will the leader of those mercenaries reveal under torture which of your opponents is responsible for this band of mercenaries in your territory? Then pay him back by hiring your own mercenary army on his territory to destabilize him from within. But maybe the Gods themselves will punish him with a devastating natural disaster: witness tsunamis, meteorits, volcanos, locust and plague wreaking havoc on his empire - or yours.

Click to expand...

Comment to PAE V:

PlotinusRedux said:

Yes, it's definitely educational. Other mods bring historical elements into the game, but the shear scale of what you have done dwarfs any other mods I've seen. I'm about 18 hours into my first game of it, and I'm still discovering new things you've added--it's like as soon as I think, "It would be nice if it did x," I find out "Oh, it does." Just now I was wishing I could drag ships across the Isthmus of Corinth like they actually did, and I was browsing your Civilopedia entries and sure enough, supply wagons can portage ships across land.

You've added a ton of new features to the game that add to its historical feel and enhanced its game play with everything still feeling balanced and polished--nothing feels kludged and I haven't run into any bugs yet. I've been coding and gaming for over 30 years now, and I'm awestruck by both your design and implementation. You have earned my highest praise.

Click to expand...

Comment to PAE IV:

jimmygeo said:

Wow! I just began playing this mod today and I'm already hooked! I'm a retired professor of ancient history and classical archaeology so I can appreciate the work and study that went into this mod. I've played others dealing with this area of history (obviously), but find PAE the most accurate and well-balanced of the lot (at least so far). I started a game as Carthage and have played 280 turns at noble level so far. Thx ever so much.

Click to expand...

Comment to PAE III:

Thorgal said:

PAE - A game for all players, who were always annoyed that in the basic game the ancient time is neglected, and also for all other CIV players, who miss more game complexity.

On the one hand there is the possibility to go deep into ancient time and experience it in a way, no other game before made it happen. Not only the Roman Empire can be led to its old size, there is also the possibility for all other great ancient civilizations to rewrite history by showing their own historical strengths

On the other hand also the experienced CIV player will be enthusiastic by the improvements of the gameplay and the new tactical possibilities.
The combat system improved by range attacks, revolting stacks, the consequences of capturing a city, the immens slave system, where slaves can be used in plenty of ways, resources like wine, livestock and grain, which can be distributed, the population drift from dissatisfied and unhealthy cities - the list is apparently infinite and everything without any restriction of fun!

Pie succeeded in changing CIV into a new game. Each turn is an experience for itself in e.g. meeting new units or making tactical decisions, which were never present in CIV. But attention, the overwhelming bulk of new units, buildings and wonders and the unbelievable game depth will make you definitely addicted.Guaranteed.

Pie's Ancient Europe - For all CIV players a must-have.

Click to expand...

Included Szenarios:

Starting at 4000 BC:
-) Europe XL (67x90)
-) Europe large (84x64)
-) Europe medium (84x44)
-) Europe standard (64x64)
-) Europe standard (64x64) - with randomized bonus
-) Europe small (55x28)
-) Europe mini (52x32)
-) Europe Ice Age (84x64)
-) World Ice Age (124x68)
-) Eastern Mediterranean (150x89)
-) Orient (100x54)
-) Europe large (84x64) - with historical Barbarian Cities (Tribes)
-) Europe medium (84x46) - with historical Barbarian Cities (Tribes)
-) Europe standard (64x44) - with historical Barbarian Cities (Tribes)
-) Hellenic Europe (90x54) - with historical Barbarian Cities (Tribes)
-) Valley (84x52)

Advanced scenarios:
-) First Punic War 264 BC
-) War of Diadochi 300 BC
-) Rise of Egypt 4000 BC
-) Greco-Persian Wars 480 BC
-) Limes Germanicus 12 AD (fictional)


More than 38 new game features:

-) An authentic, historical correct tech-tree (Arrowheads, Spoke wheels, runes,...)
-) Almost all standard ancient units (ram, slingshooter, skirmisher, threemanchariot,...)
-) Historical ancient special units for almost every CIV you never played in other games before.
-) Almost every unit has its historical based skin. Even some units have their second skin in classical times.
-) All units, buildings, wonders and projects depend on historical facts and some of them are related to religions and/or resources
-) An european map with England, Ireland, North-Africa and Asia Minor
-) All resources gather from historical maps, even 4 different types of cereals
-) 13 religions: Celtic, Nordic, Egypt, Phoenician, Sumerian, Greek, Roman, Zoroastrism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism
-) 9 cults/cultures (corporations): like Isis, Mithras, Cybele, Hellenism,...
-) Units can defect to other CIVs during fight
-) Plot culture changes during won/lost battles
-) Mercenaries ! Merchants ! Pirates ! Sea peoples !
-) An amazing slave feature!
-) Ranged attack with archers and catapults (1 plot only). AI knows to use!
-) Religious expulsion with consquences !
-) Roman roads (can only be built by legions and mercenary legions)!
-) Terrain tundra and desert can not be settled. Endless barbarians !
-) Rivers, desert and tundra are natural borders (-25%, -50%, -75% defence)
-) Leprosy and plague haunt unhealthy cities
-) Christianity earns importance (slavery revolts)
-) Colony and Province Feature (with Auxiliary units)
-) Lots of wonders!
-) Fog of war gets black again
-) Exciting Sea Peoples, Huns and Viking invasion
-) More promotion steps (up to 5)
-) Lots of historical special buildings, special units and elite units!
-) Different city and unit skins!
-) A great new vassal feature
-) Ship features
-) Grapes, olives, grain, cattle distribution
-) Automated battlefield experience (promotions)
-) Veteran and elite unit commendations
-) Unit ranking (eg army organisation of the Romans, Greeks, Persians,..)
-) Distribution of some bonus resources
-) Hire or send mercenaries
-) Army supply
-) Provincial capitals
-) Fear of superiority on battle field
-) Blue Marble 4.0 included (better terrain graphics)
and lots of small stuff ...

Multilingual: Yes
English: 100%
German: 100%
Spanish: 98.9%
French: 90.5%
Italian: 72.5%
(Pedia texts can contain english material)

Multiplayer: Yes

Random Maps: Yes

For Version: CIV IV BTS 3.19

For WINDOWS & MAC Users(!)


If you miss the real ancient feeling, all ancient facets you know from books and films and the great roman scenario from CIV III, then ...

Nice mod, I have been considering doing something like this for a while. I have only just recently begun to learn Python, and I fear that I will never get much farther than creating maps/scenarios.

A suggestion I might offer you would be to expand the map to the east, and perhaps contract it to the north. The regions of Persia, Bactria, and Sogdia were all far more relevant to ancient Europe than Scandinavia and Russia. That's an issue with Europe maps; there is no consensus on where Europe ends and Asia begins (Bosporous and Dardanelles? maybe geographically, not at all culturally).

NiRv4n4 said:

Nice mod, I have been considering doing something like this for a while. I have only just recently begun to learn Python, and I fear that I will never get much farther than creating maps/scenarios.

A suggestion I might offer you would be to expand the map to the east, and perhaps contract it to the north. The regions of Persia, Bactria, and Sogdia were all far more relevant to ancient Europe than Scandinavia and Russia. That's an issue with Europe maps; there is no consensus on where Europe ends and Asia begins (Bosporous and Dardanelles? maybe geographically, not at all culturally).

Click to expand...

This scenario is part of PAE and includes Indian kingdoms.
Orient

With all due respect -- how did you manage to place your subforum before RFC one? For ages I was thinking -- RFC is only second to FFH

I don't know. It wasn't me. Perhaps due to the rating from the modpack-subforum? I am really happy that it is one of the upper mods in the big mod subforum.

PAE is entering the big VIIth round. In addition to all the well-known features such as hunting, trade routes, slavery, natural disasters, etc., there are new resources, new units, new buildings, new technologies, a revised GUI and, for the first time in PAE: SDK programming. New game rules and parts from BetterAI, BUG, Unofficial BTS and the K-mod will be included for the first time. From now on (unfortunately) only for Windows users, but for MAC players there is a complete PAE VI version that contains all the important PAE features (as of 2024). The in-game texts (except Pedia) of PAE VII are 100% translated in all 5 languages for the first time.


Pie's Ancient Europe is not just a modification for Civilization IV - it is a living, detailed masterpiece that catapults you on a journey through time, back to the glorious age of antiquity!

Are you ready to hold the fate of the greatest civilizations of all time in your hands? With this unique modification, you get the chance to lead legendary empires such as mighty Rome, wise Greece or mysterious Egypt. Build monumental structures, lead massive armies and forge alliances that will change the fate of humanity forever!

Historical authenticity: Every unit, building and technology is designed with incredible care and precision to provide an unparalleled historical experience. Feel the pulse of contemporary history as you lead your civilization through the centuries!

Epic game world: Explore detailed maps of ancient Europe and Eurasia, from the densely forested depths of Northern Europe to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean. Each region has its own challenges and tactics just waiting to be discovered by you!

Strategic depth: Use your strategic skills to decide bitter battles in your favor, overcome setbacks caused by invasions or natural disasters, establish necessary trade relations and lead your empire to fame and glory. Every move counts and every decision you make is a step towards triumph!

True-to-game graphics: Enjoy visual splendor with lovingly designed graphics, buttons and animations that not only fit the basic version perfectly, but also bring the ancient world to life. Let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of ancient cities!

Sense of community: Join a passionate community of players who share a love of antiquity. Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of Pie's Ancient Europe and experience Sid Meier's Civilization like you've never experienced it before. Unleash your inner strategies, exchange tactics, share your achievements and experience an unforgettable gaming experience with a "Hornbach's hand on it" guarantee!

This modification will let you feel the breath of history and give you the power to reshape world history. Don't miss the chance to become part of this epic saga!