[BtS] Amra's Modpack v3 for Beyond the Sword

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I'm pleased to report that this mod is multiplayer! At least with Revolution, and some of the other really game-changing options turned off. There is one bug though, The player names don't appear on the right, so you will have to contact the other civs via the foreign adviser. And team games are pointless as it doesn't let you research something together for some reason, but other than that it works.

Amra the computer sure abuses that defensive bombardment ability the archers now have lol...makes taking cities very difficult in the ancient age...

My brother is a more aggressive player than I am. While I am usually content to wage defensive wars only, usually winning via culturally or diplomatic means he likes to go a few rounds with the computer sometimes. So he ran into the archer's bombard ability in the hands of the computer before I did....lol.

Its funny because all the games I've played in Amra Advanced I've fought no wars if any, thats the kind of player I am...maybe I should get more aggressive, might be fun!

 

[Amra]

Hey Sword! Thanks for checking that. BTW, I got your PM and I'm getting ready to go out of town for the weekend and haven't been doing too much with my modpack except plugging pesky holes with patches.

Anyway, I like some of the ideas you mentioned and I hope to get back to work on adding more to my modpack next week. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Alkyon]

I'm glad the "pesky holes" you mentioned are getting a later of patching. I'm loving the mod so far, especially the Barbarian->Civilization and tech diffusion (the computers keep up with me) options.

I'm glad you took my advice on the corporations, but as much as CnC Pharmaceuticals should use coffee, it also needs to compete with something. Perhaps replacing one of the resources with wine, as I did, so that it competes with Duff should help. Right now you can run all 4 corporations that create gold, and therefore a profit, at the same time (Pharma, Duff, Antiques, and Jewlers).

UB ideas: Egypt: Unique library with big bonus for Papyrus (no idea how to mod anything other than the XML, so you're on your own figuring how to get a research bonus).
Greece: Something that gives a great people bonus, like Rome's forum. Maybe a library too since Greece is considered an ancient utopia of thought.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I'm glad you like my ideas Amra I'm always happy to give them. I'm still struggling to tackle your biggest obstacle which is your second UB and UU problem.

I know abit about Native American cultures, particularly Mesoamericans, so I'll try tackling that first:

Toltecs:

Second UU: Atlantes Warrior: Replaces Swordsman for the Toltecs, has one extra point of strength but costs five hammers more.

Second UB: Great Temple: Replaces Universitys for the Toltecs. In addition to the knowledge boast also gives a culture boast as well. Costs more hammers however.

Iroquois:

Second UU: Forest Prowler: Musketman replacement for the Iroquois starts with the forest attack and guerrilla promotions. (Remember always that Bernie made a ton of Iroquois units)

Second UB: Siege Workshop: Replaces the Alchemist, gives Siege Units bonus expierience when trained in the city that builds one. (The Iroquois were experts at using European gunpowder weapons. This building would be a special longhouse where such weapons would be reverse-engineered and constructed.)

Sioux:

Second UU: Rifle Rider: The Sioux managed to defeat the American army many times with their cavalry tactics. Especially when they managed to get their hands on guns. This unit replaces the Heavy Horseman and comes with an extra chance of withdrawing from battle(hit and run tactics).

Secondary UB: Chief's Teepee: Where the stories of the past were handed down, diplomacy with other tribes was conducted, and other such things. This building would replace courthouses, add a knowledge boast in addition to the lowering of maintenance costs, and come earlier in the tech tree, perhaps at Oral Tradition?

Mayans:

Secondary UU: Ah-Kuy: The Axe was a sacred weapon to the Mayans, and in mayan society only the elite of the elite could wield it. Replaces axeman, has a greater strength against other melee units than other axeman type units and one plus strength, but five plus hammer cost.

Graphic: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=6094

Second UB: Mayan Observatory/Temple of the Stars: The Mayans were called the stargazers. One of the biggest things they are known for is their observations of the heavens. This building would replace the observatory, and give a small culture boast in addition to the science(and cost a slight bit more) and also come earlier, perhaps with the Calender.

Heres a graphic you can use: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=8712

The Aztecs:

Secondary UU: Eagle(since the first unique unit is called a jaguar why not eh?): Replaces spearman, has an even better attack against mounted units than other spearmen.

Secondary UB: Noble's Temple: Replaces the castle for the Aztecs, also units trained in the city gain a free promotion, just like as if it were a barracks in the city. Comes earlier in the tech tree as well, with Masonry.

Possible graphic: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=8748

The Navaho:

2nd UU: Medicine Man: Replaces the scout for the Navaho, can also scout but also has the medic promotion. Loses anti-animal bonus however.

2nd UB: ???? Wish I could be of more help here. Seems you got them covered. Maybe a House of Weaving or something?

Non-native Americans:

Thai:

2nd: UU: Nak Rhomp: Replaces the Pikeman for the Siamese. Has a small bonus against melee units as well as the normal anti-mounted bonus. Costs five hammers more.

Khmer:

2nd UB: Wat: Replaces Theater. Wats were temples that the Khmer built around their cities. These would provide even more culture than theaters but would cost more hammers. Maybe less with stone...

 

[Kao'chai]

^what the heck
Thai 2nd UB:Floating market(levee)-more money

Vietnam 2n UB - Noodle stall

 

[LetMyPeopleGo]

Hi Amra, very good mod, I wish it would implement expanded city size as your first mod did.

I played as Israel and got the Maccabee as UU, actually it an Axeman that looks like a Swordsman so its a Uniqe Dresser not a Uniqe Unit. If I remember correctly the Maccabee first appeared with Sevo mod, It was a Swordsman with increased strength that required bronze working or Iron working but no special resources , I think Visa mod has a Maccabee too.

Anyway, now its just a regular Axeman.

Thanks.

 

[LetMyPeopleGo]

Hello, I got in my build queue around 1500-BC the Manhattan Project, It's dimmed and I haven't notice when
it entered the build queue.

Playing as Israel, advanced amra mod.

Searched around and found that Manhattan Project has no prereqtech and although you changed it to national wonder it still allows all the players to build nukes, same as world wonder, so in the meanwhile I moved it back to projects like in the vanila game.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

More UB and UU ideas....

Speaking of Israel:

Israel:

Second UU: Merkerva Tank: Replaces Modern Armor, has an extra point of strength and increased withdrawal chance.

Second UB: Mossad: Replaces Intelligence Agency, has a bigger bonus to espionage than the later building.

Some: Asian Civs

Korea:

Second UU: Hwarang: Replaces Longbowmen. Has a small bonus against cities when attacking, but costs 10 hammers more than other longbowmen.

Japan:

Second UU: Zero Fighter: Replaces Fighter. Has a greater interception chance and more strength than other fighters.

Second UB: Shinto Torii: Replaces Monument. Generates culture and a small amount of science as well. Costs alittle more than a monument however.

China:

Second UB: War Academy: Replaces the Barracks for the Chinese. In addition to the barracks bonuses, also produces a small amount of culture. Costs alittle more however in terms of hammers.

India:

Second UU: Siege Mahout: Replaces Heavy Horseman. Is an Elephant trained to attack with a cannon on its back(May need to be made).

Second UB: Elephant Stable: Replaces Stables for the Indians. Gives wealth in addition to the bonuses of the normal stable.

 

[Alkyon]

<lots and lots of ideas>
India:

Second UU: Siege Mahout: Replaces Heavy Horseman. Is an Elephant trained to attack with a cannon on its back(May need to be made).

Second UB: Elephant Stable: Replaces Stables for the Indians. Gives wealth in addition to the bonuses of the normal stable.

Damn! that's a lot of ideas, Sword! You've definitely been doing research. A lot of the Civs in this game are in the Marnz Mod as well, which has 2 UU's a Civ, so you might want to look there for ideas (though, guessing by some of the ones you suggested (like Israel's Merkava tank), you already have). I'm sure bmarnz pulled a lot of UU ideas from other places, though I don't know where so I'm just going to cite his mod.

Also, the Macedonians already have an elephant stable. It gives an extra from Ivory.

My 2 cents (compared to Sword's $20.67):

America:

UU 2: Minuteman, musketman with high withdrawal chance.

UB 2: I know there have been suggestions for sports stadiums and theme parks by some, including me, and while having enough bonuses to make the American people gibbering idiots is relatively realistic, but I don't think that is the way to go. America was one of the first countries to industrialize, so they should have a unique factory to represent that. Therefore, I suggest the "Textile Mill", which gives small bonuses from cotton, silk, and sheep.

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Thankyou Alkyon I knew the Elephent thing sounded familiar but I thought India needed something to represent their elephent-oriented culture. I guess maybe something else is in order...

I agree with the American UU choices and the UB choice too.

Heres some more:

Minoans:

Secondary UB: Labyrinth: Replaces Jail, decreases maintenance even more than Jails do, increases espionage as well.

Secondary UU: Bull Warrior?: Maybe a warrior who wares an outfit to symbolize the power of the minotaur?

Native Australians: (Can't spell the name for the life of me ) :

Second UU: Boomerang Thrower: Replaces scout, has an even higher bonus versus animals than other scouts, also comes with a strength promotion.

Second UB: Dreamtime Rocks: Replaces monument for the Abs. Gives free expierience as well as providing culture. But only a very small amount.

 

[Alkyon]

I'm glad you liked my ideas Sword.

Hmm, according to Wikipedia, Bulgaria is one of the most industrialized countries in Eastern Europe, so maybe it should get a unique factory of its own. As to what it should be called, or the specific bonus it should get alludes me.

Canada: Dunno what the second UB should be, I'll let a Canadian figure that out, but the second UU should be Mounties .

Pirates:
UU: Brigantine: Frigate with free flanking promotion.
UB: Lighthouse that gives all units Pillage 1

Aesir:
UU: Valkyrie: A chariot or horseman with free Attack 1 promotion.
UB: Idavoll feild: Barracks that gives all units Arctic Combat 1 promotion.

 

[Seamon80]

I really like your mod, Amra.

But there are also some thing, that I think, could be better:
I played a game with normal game speed against 8 AI opponents. Difficulty was warlords and I am not a really good player. But I got the impression, that some victory conditions in your mod has become to simple.
At round 445 of 600, the first AI launched his rocket to space. I don't know how many turns later the game is won, but I think it was quite early. Anyway, at turn 451 the game ended, because another opponent won a cultural victory. I would have won the game at turn 454, also with cultural victory.
My opinion: This two victory conditions should be a bit harder, that they are almost impossible for such stupid players as I and weak AI before at least turn 500 of 600.

 

[Alkyon]

That's more of the AI, Seamon. The AI has become more advanced in BTS and is good at sneaking victory right out from under your nose. There was a point that I turned off Diplomatic victory because I was pissed off about the computer using the Apostolic palace to ninja a victory one too many times. That was, until I started playing mods that included inquisitors.

 

[Civ.exe Error]

The CTD/MAF is gone baby gone

All I had to do was to install the new VISTA service pack!!! Before I could only play max 3 turns at a time and then get the CTD/MAF. Now ive played this great mod into Industrial age without any problems so far.

It is a very enjoyable mod Amra, keep up the good work

 

[moopoo]

@ SOG: Nice ideas. I think an elephant stable should increase production for the indians (they use them very effectively as heavy-movers). I'd also rather see a slightly more modern unit for aboriginals than the scout. Actually, a troop (archer/longbowman seems appropriate) that could do worker stuff would be pretty cool.

 

[Agent327]

More UB and UU ideas....

Speaking of Israel:

Israel:

Second UU: Merkerva Tank: Replaces Modern Armor, has an extra point of strength and increased withdrawal chance.

Second UB: Mossad: Replaces Intelligence Agency, has a bigger bonus to espionage than the later building.

Good ideas! (The Israeli tank is called Merkava.)

BTW: did another playtest of 1066 for Amra BTS (Basic), playing as France I got no MAFs or load errors with save games.

 

[LetMyPeopleGo]

Help with Amra maps !!

I play on huge pangaea without problems, as I select a game with Amra maps which are very customizable I get MAF on every game load, quick load or regular, is there a solusion or should I avoid Amra maps which I like alot ?

I play on P4 3G, 2GB ram Radeon x800 pro.

When I play other mods with extra large maps I get slowdowns on end of turn and on game load but no MAF.

Thanks in advance


Panic over, problem solved, I have followed the links for MAF on page one.

 

[Steeler]

I downloaded this mod last night - it looks extremely interesting. After having several xml errors, I finally got the most updated version to load (v. 3.10, v.3.11 and patch). However, when I went to play the mod, I had no interface and the BUG option [Ctrl-Alt-O] did not work. This is apparently not an uncommon occurenece. I reviewed this thread and other threads, which contained options for people playing Civ 4 Complete. I am not playing Civ 4 Complete, having bought Warlords and BtS separately. I am running Vista 32 bit.

If anybody could direct me to any posts that deal with my situation or help out, It would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I'm glad everyone likes my ideas I hope to post more soon...

 

[rwglaub]

Had a couple of problems in the end game I was just playing. Starship screen wouldn't show. Plus I had a MAF. No idea why...