First of all:
A very exciting Modmod. Although it is still in the making, it's already very enjoyable and gives me a realistic feeling! And in addition this is one oy my favorite time periods, so keep up with the good work!
I thought I could share my thoughts from the games I played so far. I play with the latest svn update.
Edit: Kushans don't have any techs, either! Nor do they have an initial map of the area, or a flip zone. Javelinman unit icon is also wrong (it's the Antigonid UU's unit art).
I can confirm that, I started once as the Kushans and they got nothing. No starting tech, no starting settlers, no map. At least they had some troops, so I could help myself with the city
. No flip occurred either, not sure why. (Maybe because everything around me was razed, but then again, I didn't check the code to see which areas should flip.)
My try as Pontos: It was pretty easy, the Antigonids were a real pushover, they didn't stand a chance. The Romans were really weak. They expand into Spain and Greece, but they seem to be overstrained. They have never beaten the Celts, nor the Dacians, nor the Carthaginians (spelling?). Most of the time, I see the Rebellion weaken them quite effective, so that they never get back to their real strength. Oddly, Hannibal is mostly defeated by the Numidians, I have almost never seen them alive (after various games as different civs).
The rest of the game was quite realistic, with Parthians destroying the Seleucids, although I wished, that the Successor dynasties would fight each other more fiercely. They seem too happy to sign peace treaties. But I have a problem with the UHV not only for Pontos but with some others too. They aren't very clear or sometimes just wrong. For example in my Pontic game:
It is said, that I have to control Asia, Pontos, etc, IN 90 BC, but I already got an "Goal accomplished" in the year 190 BC, when I first met the conditions. In that case the correct formulation would be "Control ... BY 90 BC". I can't say that for the others, because Pontos was my first civ, with whom I actually accomplished the UHVs
.
And I had Xiongnu Horseman attacking me in Thrace. Strange.
Playing as the Romans, I had really some problems with figuring out, which areas I have to control to get the first UHV as Empire. A quick look in the code gave me th answer, and I found it quite... impossible. You have to control Syria, Egypt, Minor Asia, in which many strong civs are present, add the Parthians, who will interfere with your plans (Syria goes up to Arbela and Edessa, after all and those cities aren't even at the coast of the Mediterranean!), and you have a very luck-dependend game. Some information, what you need to control would be nice (like in the other UHVs). Oh, and you only see the first goal when you start as the Romans. Only after the check, whether you failed or not, you see the next goal. Is this intended?
But not only the Roman goals gave me some trouble, but some others too. The Celts need to control Northern and Southern Gaul, which don't exist. There is only one Gaul province. And Germania isn't even a border province, with no good city spots IIRC.
Meroe needs 6 gold resources but in Egypt and Nubia there are only 4 resurces with an additional gold being in Arabia felix. I can't remember the rest.
City maps aren't very expanded, but I guess, that's because you just enlarged the map, right?
The Indian civs are also quite a thing. Sometimes, they fight each other, which is good, especially because the Satavahanas can become quite a powerhouse. But sometimes they are all peaceful and loving each other, expanding like crazy. I once saw Kalinka controlling Arabia Felix and Satavahanas in China.
And in the mid game, most civs are teching fast, constructing big armies. I had no chance when I began as the Sassanids.
And on thing that bugs me: What are pilgrims good for? I once built one, but h couldn't do anything...
So that's all for now. It's fun, believe me that
.
