Millennium : possible new mod from R8XFT

[Rob (R8XFT)]

After completing my Anno Domini mod (well, you never actually complete them do you ) I thought it would be good to start a new mod to see if I actually learnt anything about modmaking! The project I'm looking at is "Millennium," which focuses on the first millennium AD and the various civs which rose (and fell) in that timeframe. The choice of this time period was twofold: firstly, I wanted to expand upon one part of the Anno Domini timeframe; secondly, it seems like there's been a few ancient mods and some medieval ones, but not a lot inbetween (Plotinus' "Rood and the dragon" being one of the main highlights IMHO).

Whilst I've started the Civ IV version of Anno Domini, I'm really not enjoying it nearly as much as Civ III - I think it's partly because I like making my own content and my Civ IV skills are limited. However, if I do another Civ III mod because of this, I'm sure some people could live with that .

So what can you expect? There'd be some new content in terms of leaderheads, units and buildings. I'm looking at setting up a new website to keep people updated of the progress. Due to the fact that I have a clearer vision of what I'm after (because of my experiences with AD), I know how I can do a few different BIQs to cover different culture groups - which is what I wanted to do with AD, but didn't end up doing, mainly because I didn't plan properly from the start, so it wasn't as straightforward as it could be to interchange civs and cultures. Following the completion of the mod, I felt I'd overdone things somewhat, again something I will bear in mind when I start the new project. Here's a few bullet points:

• Fewer techs than AD, but more meaningful advances
• Each civ to have more unique techs, buildings, etc
• Have more than one ruler for some civs over the different BIQs, e.g. in one game (as Rome), you can play as Augustus Caesar and in another, you can play as Trajan
• This could now be more global, incorporating more Asian cultures - and Mesoamerican ones

So what do you think?

 

[Virote_Considon]

I like the idea of it! The absence of dark-ages mods is really felt! We only have about three!

There are some pretty cool and unique civs which could feature here, too, ranging from the Saxons to the Indo Greek Kingdom!

EDIT: Saying that, both the Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian kingdoms would be bit of a squeeze timeframe wise!

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

I hear your call for the Saxons, Virote. There's been Hengist and Alfred in AD and AD Classic, so I might start with Penda this time. Another difference would be that rather than there being a lot of civ-specific buildings with just different names for something that has the same effect, they'll appear at different times in the mod dependant upon the civilization. So, for example, the Goths would be able to build a barracks-type building in era one, but the Nabataeans would build a trade-type building instead.

 

[Stormrage]

If you are making it about the Dark Age I would recommend skipping the Americas, and focusing on the Europe, Asia and Africa.

Some lucky drunken viking got lucky, thats about as far as it goes with the America, whilst on foot armies did cover vast areas.

This could be fun! Welcome back, Rob!

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

If you are making it about the Dark Age I would recommend skipping the Americas, and focusing on the Europe, Asia and Africa.

Some lucky drunken viking got lucky, thats about as far as it goes with the America, whilst on foot armies did cover vast areas.

This could be fun! Welcome back, Rob!

It looks like it could be great fun and thanks for the comments. There was quite a lot happening in Mesoamerica, which is why I'd be thinking of these guys too .

 

[Stormrage]

Well, I guess they won`t hurt, we play random maps anyway

How would you split the culture groups?

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

How would you split the culture groups?

That would be over different BIQs, as mentioned in the op.

 

[Tank_Guy#3]

Moved and seconded (er, in this case thirded).

If "worthless" wasn't my title with regards to modding, I'd help.

 

[RedwallFortress]

You have my Full Support!!!
I have been wishing for a Mod like this for ages...

 

[TopGun]

Go for it, mate! I've always liked that era of history!

 

[Kyriakos]

I hoped you would decide to create something a lot different, like a balkan wars scenario

I guess it will never be done for civ3

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

I hoped you would decide to create something a lot different, like a balkan wars scenario

I guess it will never be done for civ3

Well, at least Balkan civs can be included in the mod....

Blue_Monkey, which four Indian civs would be best for this timeframe?

 

[againsttheflow]

It'd be awesome to see something like that Rob. I would personally like it if it were a little less "cluttered" than Anno Dommini... something you could dive right into without feeling you would miss a lot of detail and strategy if you didn't read up on it first.

 

[Antiochus VII]

I think the mod would be a great idea, you could really focus on the era in detail. The early medieval period is usually pretty neglected, it'd be nice to see the Sassanids for example get some attention

Blue_Monkey, which four Indian civs would be best for this timeframe?

I'm curious who he picks after the Kushans and Guptas

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

Timeframe First Century AD
Subject: Mesoamerica
Greatest most powerful Civilization Active in the area according to my Mesoamerican book at the time: Zapotecs

 

[Plotinus]

Sounds a fun idea! I think restricting yourself to just a thousand years (!) will make it easier to keep the mod relatively focused. I'll be interested to see what you come up with.

 

[Balthasar]

Don't take this seriously, but it occurs to me that if you start just 60 years earlier, you put into play: Julius Caesar, the Egyptians, Mithradates in Pontus, the Parthians, the Nabateans, Pirates of the Eastern Med, the Armenians, Herod the Great, the Gauls and the Britons.

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

Don't take this seriously, but it occurs to me that if you start just 60 years earlier, you put into play: Julius Caesar, the Egyptians, Mithradates in Pontus, the Parthians, the Nabateans, Pirates of the Eastern Med, the Armenians, Herod the Great, the Gauls and the Britons.

Thanks for the observation. I won't miss Julius Caesar (personally) and there'll be plenty of Britons in there thanks! The thing is, this is one of the reasons that Anno Domini became stretched (ie if the timeframe was a little earlier or a little later, I could include xxx and yyy).

Timeframe First Century AD
Subject: Mesoamerica
Greatest most powerful Civilization Active in the area according to my Mesoamerican book at the time: Zapotecs

Thanks for that. It's first millenium AD, not just first century, so there'll be quite a few MesoAmericans available.

I'm curious who he (Blue Monkey) picks after the Kushans and Guptas

I would expect the Chola to be involved .

 

[Sword_Of_Geddon]

I have a Zapotec leader I made in collaboration with Shiro Rob if you are interested. Two eras of it would be useful for your mod. Or you can just use Era Two....

 

[Rob (R8XFT)]

I have a Zapotec leader I made in collaboration with Shiro Rob if you are interested. Two eras of it would be useful for your mod. Or you can just use Era Two....

Thanks...but part of the challenge I'm looking forward to is creating my own leaderheads .