BTS-Gods of Ancient Middle East (Gods of Old Mod)

[Assurbanipal]

Just like some of you I was disappointed by BTS Gods of Old: good idea but no scenarios! So here's mine. It's historically based (map & locations), with some personal adjustments for fun and gameplay.

1. Download the .zip located HERE http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=7382
2. Extract it directly into your Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Beyond the Sword\Mods\Gods of Old\PublicMaps folder.
3. Delete the version you won't use (english or french)

• Map from LOKOLUS (thanks): huge, goes from greece to central asia.
• 18 Civs: Egypt, Sumer, Babylon, Greek cities, Persia, Sabateans, Scythes, Libyans, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Minoans (Krete), Thracia, Hurrites, Ionian cities, Indus, Lydia, Nubians and Hittites. All playable..
• Set on EPIC time frame, limited turns (300) so these ancient folks won't use rifles or even crossbows.
• Added resources and changed a bit the terrain, for better balance, historical accuracy and more possibilities.

ENJOY

See also :
Mythic Africa: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=6965
MA Thread : http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=241987

 

[PW90]

Sounds interesting
Any Screenshots?

 

[Assurbanipal]

Not yet ! I'll make a good Save first, with developed cities and all. Maybe tonight after a good game
The map is Lokodus's (picked on pre-made maps forum).
Anyway, I could use your help for the ongoing MOD, specially your Hittite Civ. Is It BTS compatible ?

Also, I'll build the same MOD but with precolombian Civs (same process, quite easy in fact): Mayans, Olmecs, Toltecs, etc. + their bloody Gods.
All I need is a huge map of Mesoamerica, from south Texas to actual Panama

 

[PW90]

No, my Hittite Civilization is not BtS-compatible yet.
I will develope 3d-Leaderheads, search for appropriate sounds and so on, then I have also other things to do in life.

 

[Assurbanipal]

Yeah, me too

Still, I'll download your Hittite Civ next weekend (if the weather still sucks) and work on it for my project, with your permission.

 

[PW90]

Yes, you have the permission

 

[Fiend777Fits]

resources too sparse. 300 turn limit is problably a bit too short.

 

[Assurbanipal]

As I experienced, 300 turns on Epic time scale is enough, but you're right about the resources : it was limited on purpose but some factions are disadvantaged (ex: egyptians) while others have plenty (sumerians). It's a balance problem.

I should rework that on the weekend.

Bye

 

[Fiend777Fits]

the resources give the maps flavor and make choosing a site to found a city more interesting instead of monotonous. also, without many resources you're not likely to get very far in the tech tree, so you don't get to experience the full possibilities of the mod. otherwise, a nice base map.

might want to tweak the substitute civs a bit (uu's ub's and whatnot)

i'll give ya a 4 cuz its a nice start.

 

[Lokolus]

I didnt noticed you took my map, but the scenario looks great!

 

[Assurbanipal]

I took some or your advices and changed the scenario. More resources as you suggested, because it's true some major civs like egypt or persia were stuck in poverty (totally inaccurate) so I added egyptian gold and stone, persian horses and incense, greek fish and wine, mesopotamian wheat, hittite iron, and many more + better terrain : now the Nile really brings life !
Also, civs are better balanced and now most "barbarians" became Minor civs with leader and specs.

Go see http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=6954

Hope ti fits. Enjoy.

 

[Fiend777Fits]

is this 3.13 compatible? god i hope so, cuz i just got the patch. will find out.

EDIT: guess not, i was defeated upon starting.

 

[Assurbanipal]

well I had a problem with that scenario. I just made 2 or 3 mior changes before posting it And after I realized It was messed. Just spent a few hours trying to fix it but I had enough.
If anybody here can fix it (must be a very minor bug) thanks very much, and sorry.

If anybody kept the older version, please send it to me, I'll redo the upgrades.

 

[Fiend777Fits]

here
View attachment Gods Of Ancient Middle East.zip

 

[Assurbanipal]

Fixed and re-done the scenario. Now it works with 3.13
No more mess.

Everybody here tell me if 18 playable civs is OK or should I change some of them as minor or non-playable civs ?

is this 3.13 compatible? god i hope so, cuz i just got the patch. will find out.

EDIT: guess not, i was defeated upon starting.

 

[Fiend777Fits]

the only problem with having 18 civs is the historical aspect. everyone will be on the same footing so anything could happen. this is not entirely bad and as this map has a lot of mp possibilities, all the better. perhaps a second version of the map emphasizing the superiority of certain civs with a few additional cities and/or units.

also, just started the game and looked at worldbuilder: is the thracian kingdom sitting where macedon should be? historically only the southernmost bit of thrace could exist in this map (around constantinople/byzantium)

EDIT: while playing mp, which works great if not a little slow in the beginning, noticed that certain civs didnt have too great a start (i.e. assyrians have no palace or starting techs)

 

[Assurbanipal]

well, the "major" civs (egypt, persia, babylon...) are already advantaged by the terrain and extra resource, and after all historically they were close to be wiped out by "minor" civs, ex. Hurrites were longtime rivals to Assyrians, Egypt was conquered by Hyksos barbarians, the Indus had a great Civ (first human cities) long before egypt or babylon, etc.
It's true that some civs could be "minor" and non-playable, because it's almost impossible to win with them, while major civs have more space and resources to build empires.

You're 50% right about Thracia. It's mainly ancient Bulgaria + north-eastern greece. Latitude is OK (same as the hellespont) but it should place be more in the east. I just wanted some challenge for the greek cities, because they're isolated. I could have named them "Macedonia" but Thracia is cooler as a Civ. Macedonia was just another greek realm who benefited from the Athens-Sparta rivalry to submit other greeks, and Alexander was more greek than balkanic in my opinion.

I'll see that next weekend. Just fixed Assyria and Thrace. Added most recent screenshots.

See also Mythic Africa: http://forums.civfanatics.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=6965

 

[Fiend777Fits]

so is the lack of palaces and starting techs for certain civs intentional?

 

[Assurbanipal]

so is the lack of palaces and starting techs for certain civs intentional?

No but I already fixed that sorry. what civs you think should be non-playable/minor ? I'll boost the other ones.

 

[Fiend777Fits]

No but I already fixed that sorry. what civs you think should be non-playable/minor ? I'll boost the other ones.

in my opinion, it would be kinda nice to have all civs playable, but the older civs (egypt, babylon, sumeria, and indus) should have 1 extra population and a worker. while the major militaristic civs (hatti, persia, and assyria) should be compensated with three extra units (scout, and 2 mounted). phoenicians and minoans should both have a workboat and a galley. both the greeks should have an extra melee unit and a galley. hell, i'll just do it myself

EDIT: reworked the scenario a bit adding more units, sea bonuses and a few land resources. also, changed thrace to macedon (sorry), starting gold, leaderheads and base civs (assyria and hatti needed mounted uu's), and turned on raging barbs for a little more excitement. and fixed the the two civs without starting techs and assyrian's lack of palace. here's the result: View attachment Gods of Ancient Middle East V2.zip