Ancient China: The Warring States (7 Civs)

[Antagonise]

Antagonise's Warring States

Since there are surprisingly few Chinese civs, I've decided that I would like to create some based on a very interesting period of history known as the Warring States Period. Prior to the founding of the Chinese Empire in 221BC, at the end of the Zhou Dynasty, China was made up of a number of states, seven of which were major powers in the region. Each was vying for power and influence, and as a result of this these 250 years would be some of the bloodiest in China for years to come.

This is my first major modding project (I've only dabbled in XML honestly, but I'm learning), so I'm hoping I can find a lot of assistance and guidance here! It will be a lot of work I am sure, since I want to produce seven civs of pretty good quality. I have plenty of time to commit to the project. If you want to help in anyway just let me know, your help will probably be needed and appreciated. If you want to chip in with feedback or ideas that is of course great as well!

Anyway, I'm sure you're more interested in the civs so I will cut to the chase. So far I have come up with the basic designs for two of the seven states, and have ideas for a couple more. It is very hard to find information on some of the less significant states though, especially since I do not speak any Chinese.

QIN

Leader: Ying Zheng (Shi Huangdi)
UA: Heirloom Seal of the Realm
UB: Zhengguoqu (Water Mill Replacement) - +1 Food, +1 Production. +10% production towards land units.
UU: Bai Qi's Cavalry (Horseman Replacement) - +1 combat strength, +1 movement, enhanced flank attack, ignores ZOC.
Notes:

Spoiler :

Imperial Jade is a luxury with the same yields as Gems, except with a base yield of +1 Culture and an additional +2 culture when a mine is built on it.

Checklist:

Spoiler :

Civ Design: Complete
Icons: Complete [Thanks to DoktorApplejuice for Leader icon]
Alphas: 1/2 Complete, Unfinished: Cavalry Icon
Leaderscene: Complete [Thanks DA]
Map: Complete
Unit Models: Incomplete
UA: Complete [Thanks to bane_]
UB: Complete
UU: Complete
Game Text: Incomplete
Pedias: 1/4 Complete, Unfinished: Qin, Shi Huangdi, Cavalry[Thanks to NioaMeow]
Music: Incomplete
Mod Support: Incomplete (may not be in first release)

CHU

Leader: Wu Qi
UA: Wuzi
UB: Wu Tomb (Courthouse Replacement) - +2 Culture, -2 Maintenance. Contains Great Work of Writing Slot, provides +25% Faith when filled. Can be built in the capital.
UU: Dizi (Spearman Replacement) - +1 combat strength, +5 HP healing in friendly territory. +1 Faith while garrisonned. More expensive (60 up from 56).

QI
Potential Leader: Mengchang
UA: ...
UB: Jixia Academy (University Replacement) - +3 Faith. +1% science output per faith output in this city (maximum of 10%).
UU: Ambusher (Composite Bowman Replacement) - Double Movement through forest and jungle, Barrage I. When stationed in Forest/Jungle, adjacent enemy units take 15 damage at end of turn.

ZHAO
Collaboration with ldvhl
Leader: Wuling
UA:
UB: Junying (Barracks Replacement) - If at war with a neighbor, the Junying will slowly convert tiles within the working range your city to your possession.
UU: Gaige-Zhe (Chariot Archer Replacement) - 8 /5 , 3, no rough terrain penalty. After entering combat for the third time, gains a promotion providing +3 Ranged Strength, +1 Movement and +25% defense against ranged attacks.

WEI
Potential Leader: Wei Wen Hou
UA:
UB:
UU:

YAN
Potential Leader: Yue Yi
UA:
UB:
UU:

HAN
Potential Leader: Shen Buhai
UA:
UB:
UU:​

Thank you for taking a look at the project. Any help in researching the civs and mod development is much appreciated. Here are some good Wikipedia links to get you started if you're interested in helping, or just interested in learning about the period:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warring_States_period
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin's_wars_of_unification
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Warring_States

Also, thank you to DoktorApplejuce for designing the leader icons for me. Check out his work here.

 

[Hoop Thrower]

For a second I thought the creators of the Dynasty Warriors civs was posting the mods here.
Nonetheless, it's awesome to see historical takes on those civs.

Welcome to the forums! Enjoy your stay.

 

[Antagonise]

It does have a similar feel to the three kingdoms mods, I notice.

Thank you

 

[Natan35]

Questions:

1. About Qin: will it stay the same with the more luxuries mod?
2. Did you check the Civ design challenge? There was a Chu design challenge a while ago. Might wanna look at it.

 

[Antagonise]

Yeah, it will stay the same. That's the reason I gave the luxury the awkward name of imperial jade, to distinguish it from the jade in more luxuries.

I hadn't looked at that thread but I'm reading through the Chu designs now. The similarities are interesting, a lot of people also went for spearman replacements and Kerfuffle's design has the same name for the UA and even gives +15% production towards military units as well. I might look to take some inspiration from some of those ideas.

 

[ldvhl]

I have Zhao on my to-do list, with the following (pending) design:

Zhao
Wuling
Military Reformer. Pay gold to upgrade a unit to the unique equivalent of any civilization you share a border with, pay no maintenance for buildings that provide unit XP.
Handan
Colours - Brown and Black
Unique Unit: Zanshi. Replaces Swordsman. Cost: 75. Combat: 14. Movement: 2. Possesses the Zhao Generals promotion, which allows the unit to ignore opponents’ positive combat modifiers if the Zanshi is in the area of effect of a Great General.
Unique Building: Junying. Replaces Barracks. Cost: 75. Maintenance: 1. If at war with a neighbor, the Junying will slowly convert tiles within the working range your city to your possession.
Starting Bias: Hills

I have some of the art assets prepped and some preliminary research done if that helps sweeten the pot for potential collaboration?

 

[Antagonise]

I am certainly interested in a colab. I would love to see some of the art you have made if you could show it to me.

My idea for Zhao would have included a stronger chariot archer replacement due to the introduction of horse archery during Wuling's reign. Though I like how you have incorporated his reforms into the UA with the ability to upgrade into neighbouring UUs.

 

[Tarmont]

I am certainly interested in a colab. I would love to see some of the art you have made if you could show it to me.

My idea for Zhou would have included a stronger chariot archer replacement due to the introduction of horse archery during Wuling's reign. Though I like how you have incorporated his reforms into the UA with the ability to upgrade into neighbouring UUs.

Wait, you guys are talking about Zhao or Zhou?

 

[Antagonise]

Whoops, I hate how similar the different Chinese names are! Zhao and Zhou, Wei and Wey, give me a break...

 

[Howard Tafty]

Heres something I fudged up quickly:

State of Yan
Yue Yi
UA: Left Wall of the Seven Stars
Military Units may rush generation of Great Generals when garrisoned in Cities however much more ineffectively, Receive a free Spy upon signing a Declaration of War which is immediately disbanded after its end.
UU: Ji (Spearmen)
Much cheaper yet much weaker than the Unit it replaces, the Ji gains a 15% Combat Bonus against Mounted Units and defending Units, has no prequisite technologies.
UB: Zhuza (Barracks)
Slightly more expensive to construct than the Barracks it replaces, in addition to providing Experience it has a 10% chance of providing a Unit trained within this City a free Promotion.

 

[Antagonise]

Interesting ideas. I haven't done too much research into Yan yet so I have nothing to compare it to. I'm assuming the spy would only stay for the duration of the war?

The spearman replacement is a very unique idea, but I'm not certain how I feel about it since the it's such an important early game unit, so making it so much weaker feels dodgy to me.

 

[ldvhl]

I am certainly interested in a colab. I would love to see some of the art you have made if you could show it to me.

My idea for Zhao would have included a stronger chariot archer replacement due to the introduction of horse archery during Wuling's reign. Though I like how you have incorporated his reforms into the UA with the ability to upgrade into neighbouring UUs.

To be fair, I'm not sure if that UA is even possible code-wise. And I think your idea for the UU is better than mine; just about all of my Chinese civs seem to have swordsman replacements.

 

[Kerfuffle]

Yeah, it will stay the same. That's the reason I gave the luxury the awkward name of imperial jade, to distinguish it from the jade in more luxuries.

I hadn't looked at that thread but I'm reading through the Chu designs now. The similarities are interesting, a lot of people also went for spearman replacements and Kerfuffle's design has the same name for the UA and even gives +15% production towards military units as well. I might look to take some inspiration from some of those ideas.

And the unique building in my design is a tomb as well I was actually thinking of taking on the design some time in the future and I've revised it quite a few times since then, but I'm not sure when or if I'll ever get around to it. In the meantime, I be focusing more on finishing some art stuff that's long overdue and on a Hunnic revision. However, if you'd like colab on Chu let me know. I can't actually code, but I can help with some of the art side of things (Mainly the map. I haven't gotten into icons or leaderscenes yet but I intend to do so in the future, far down the line.)

Here's an updated design of the one I posted in the design challenge if you wish to take a look at it:

Spoiler :

State of Chu
Capital: Ying
Leader: Chancellor Wu Qi

UA: Wuzi
Adopting a Social Policy provides +15% production towards military units for 10 turns and a free promotion for garrisoned units. Completing a Social Policy Tree yields +10% Growth and +3 Happiness in the Capital. +2 Culture and Food in Cities near other Civilizations.

UU: Lingyin
Unlike the Great Writer, may move Citizens from the Capital to that city OR hurry production of buildings 3 times before being expended. Receive a sum of Gold when moving citizens or Culture when rushing buildings. May also act as a Great General.

UB: Língmù
Yields +1 Culture and provides a sum of Culture whenever a Great Person is expended unlike the Temple it replaces. Has a random Great Work Slot which when filled by an Artifact or Great Work from another Civilization, yields an additional +1 Faith and Culture.

 

[Antagonise]

To be fair, I'm not sure if that UA is even possible code-wise. And I think your idea for the UU is better than mine; just about all of my Chinese civs seem to have swordsman replacements.

Ideally what I wanted was for each of the seven states will have UUs replacing seven different ancient/classical era units, so most likely one of them will have a swordsman replacement if you have any ideas. Chariot archer replacement is most suited to Zhao for sure. Though there's nothing stopping them from having two UUs.

It would be nice to incorporate the sword currency used by Zhao and Qi into a swordsman, maybe with the trading foreign goods ability or gold from kills?

And the unique building in my design is a tomb as well I was actually thinking of taking on the design some time in the future and I've revised it quite a few times since then, but I'm not sure when or if I'll ever get around to it. In the meantime, I be focusing more on finishing some art stuff that's long overdue and on a Hunnic revision. However, if you'd like colab on Chu let me know. I can't actually code, but I can help with some of the art side of things (Mainly the map. I haven't gotten into icons or leaderscenes yet but I intend to do so in the future, far down the line.)

I think considering our similarities in design it would certainly make a lot of sense to colab! Your map work is incredible. I can make the civ icons and as long as he's happy to make them I will make more request for DoktorApplejuce to do the leader icons. Are you any good with making icon atlases? I seem to understand them but I can never get them to work properly when I've tried modding in the past.

I can cover some XML but it will be slow and I will probably come here for a lot of help. I may try to learn SQL/LUA if I have the time.

If both of you want to add me on Steam to discuss colab further then here's my profile: https://steamcommunity.com/id/antagonise

I can probably put in some work over the next 10 or so days before I move to uni, then I will be very busy for a couple of weeks.

 

[ldvhl]

Ideally what I wanted was for each of the seven states will have UUs replacing seven different ancient/classical era units, so most likely one of them will have a swordsman replacement if you have any ideas. Chariot archer replacement is most suited to Zhao for sure. Though there's nothing stopping them from having two UUs.

It would be nice to incorporate the sword currency used by Zhao and Qi into a swordsman, maybe with the trading foreign goods ability or gold from kills?

As I understand it, the sword/knife currency used wasn't weapons-grade - just the manner that their coinage was minted. Could be a good inspiration for something design-oriented though, I just can't think of what.

Here's the Chinese civ designs I had, though not all of them are from the Warring States period:

Qi
Huan
The Methods of the Sima. The palace and academies in Qi territory generate one random GPP each turn; Tradition and Honor policies are 33% cheaper.
Linzi
Colours - Yellow and Bronze
Unique Unit: Jianke. Replaces Swordsman. Cost: 75. Combat: 14. Movement: 2. Any Qi cities producing military units recieve 5 production each time a Jianke is attacked.
Unique Building: Shao Music School. Replaces Musician’s Guild. In addition to the usual Musician’s Guild, has an extra slot for a Musician and produces +3 culture.
Starting Bias: Grasslands
------------------
Ba
Lin Jun
White Tiger Spirit. Gain Faith equal to 1/10th the damage done to enemy units in your territory or by Yong Bing; Ba works of Great Music provide +5% production of military units and buildings when in your possession.
Yicheng
Colours - Light Blue and White
Unique Unit: Yong Bing. Replaces Swordsman. Cost: 75. Combat: 14. Movement: 2. Requires no iron; During the Ancient or Classical eras, whenever a civ with which you have a Declaration of Friendship has war declared on them, they receive a free Yong Bing for each of their cities - when they are no longer at war or if you declare war on them, the Yong Bing become your units and you receive Gold scaling to the number of promotions they’ve received.
Unique Building: Hunter’s Lodge. Replaces Granary. In addition to the Granary’s usual effects, adds +1 Food to any flatland non-snow tile without a farm.
Starting Bias: Grassland
------------------
Wuyue
Qian Liu
Reign of the Sea Dragon. Trade routes with foreign cities of the same religion as your capital produce +50% Gold for both sides; after the discovery of Theology, these trade routes will also occasionally generate special religious Artifacts.
Xifu
Colours - Ocean Blue and Cement
Unique Unit: Nu Nanzi. Replaces Crossbowman. Cost: 120. Combat: 13. Movement: 2. Can also perform the same actions as a Worker.
Unique Improvement: Sea Walls. Unlocked at Construction. Can be built in any coastal or lake-adjacent flatland tile. Provides +1 Production. +1 Food at Machinery.

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

However, if you'd like colab on Chu let me know. I can't actually code, but I can help with some of the art side of things (Mainly the map. I haven't gotten into icons or leaderscenes yet but I intend to do so in the future, far down the line.)

Holy crap, dude! those maps are really well done.

I can make the civ icons and as long as he's happy to make them I will make more request for DoktorApplejuce to do the leader icons. Are you any good with making icon atlases?

I am certainly happy to continue making the leader icons. It looks like you've got plenty of offers for help on other art aspects, but I'm happy to provide any other icons/art you may need. (Your Civ icons are really well done, BTW)

I'm looking forward to seeing more on this project; the warring states period was a really interesting point in history.

 

[Antagonise]

As I understand it, the sword/knife currency used wasn't weapons-grade - just the manner that their coinage was minted. Could be a good inspiration for something design-oriented though, I just can't think of what.

Here's the Chinese civ designs I had, though not all of them are from the Warring States period:

Yeah, I realise that but just throwing in a potential option.

I like that Qi swordsman idea, would be interesting to see how it would play out in game. I also really like the second half of Ba's UA, you should make that happen some time.

I am certainly happy to continue making the leader icons. It looks like you've got plenty of offers for help on other art aspects, but I'm happy to provide any other icons/art you may need. (Your Civ icons are really well done, BTW)

Great to hear, I'm glad you're interested in the project, and thank you!

 

[Antagonise]

Alright, I've been working on an icon concept for Zhao, and decided to go for a horse. I've got two slightly different designs that I can't decide between, and two colour schemes. Which do people like most?

Version 1:

Spoiler :

Version 2:

Spoiler :

 

[Ixor_Drakar]

I like version 1, black and white.

 

[ldvhl]

The first color scheme is really similar to the upcoming Apache, and the second to my Squamish. I do like the design with the Zhao symbol in the horse though.