Steph's mod: History - Britain

[Steph]

The first era of my mod is almost finished for the 8 European civs, and I will soon start some stories & tale here.

The idea is to preview the mod via a test game with one of the playable civilization.

I will try to pass in the story the way I wanted the game to feel when playing the mod.

The mod is called "History", and the goal is to propose highly flavoured unit lines, with an extanted tech tree.

I will not specifically try to win, but more do some roleplaying as the goal is to explore the feeling of the game with one of the civilization.

The first civilization will be Britain (I'll do them in alphabetical order). The game will use the 8 European civilizations, on a random map. I will play only the first era (ancient & medieval times). Depending on the success of the thread, I may do other later with different civilizations and/or era.

I will explain some changes in the rules in the course of the story, I'd like to keep some suspence, and will lift the veil progressively in the story.

As the mod is still a work in progress, the screenies should give you good idea, but they won't show the game as it will be when finished! For instance, units and buildings should be relatively stable, but not the leaderheads.

The story will start this week end.

 

[Quintillus]

Sounds good! I've been watching the threads about your mod and it sounds like it'll be a good one. Looking forward to seeing this and seeing how it's coming along so far!

 

[Steph]

Game settings:
- Custom rules.
- Random large, map, continent 60% vater
- I'm playing Britain against 7 civilizations : France, Germany, Hellas, Iberia, Italy, Russia and Scandinavia.

There's plenty of things to do! Here is the tech tree for the first era, Ancient & Medieval. Well, granted, it doesn't really look like a tree.

Today will see the history of Britain in the early bronze age.

It is in 2000 BC that the people who did not yet called them the Britons started to gather in the small city of London, at the mouth of a river, on the coast of the big sea. The Britons have always been fascinated by the sea, although they do not dare yet to challenge it.
London area is a small patch of plain stuck near a desert. Some forests manage to grow here, thanks to the river. Archeological evidences show that the early Britons was using this forest to gather food and wood for their shacks.

Stories tell that while a small warrior raiding party headed for the nearby hill to get a better view of the area, the chief of the Briton decided to wait before gathering other warriors. Each warriors party takes a toll on the young men in the city, and London population is not large enough for that yet. The chief decided that is was wiser to discover a way to grow food from the soil, and have a food supply to support a larger population.

In History, each unit uses one population point, except ships, planes and artillery.

In 1940 BC, the Britons have explored the area a bit, and have discovered richer lands in the south. Unfortunately, the warriors were ambushed by a large tribe of barbarians when they approach the village in the south. Only a few survivors came back to speak of the fierceness of these barbarians.

Therefore, in 1880 BC, when the population of London was large enough to support it, the chief called for a gathering of warriors. They are still equipped with poor weapons, and the chief decided they would stay in the village to protect it.

In 1830 BC, some Briton villagers discovered that they could plant seed to grow wheat. Unfortunately, the soil was not very good near London, and it was not possible to do that on a large scale. The chief decided to take advantage of the forest, and to learn how to build walls to protect London against the threat of the Barbarians.

Agriculture reveals the wheat resource, but there is none round

In 1730 BC, as the Britons increase their control of the area, they manage to cultivate some flood plains up the river. Thanks to that, the population of London increase enough, and the chief decided to gather a second force of warriors. His goal was to check the land in the south, and see if there was a better area for agriculture. The warriors headed to the south east, and discovered a small chain of mountain, and a source of berries.
In the meantime, the chief was gathering peasants. He wanted to create a road to facilitate the expansion of his chiefdom.

And with the discovery of Woodcraft in 1670, the Britons learnt how to build palissade to protect London, and how to built enough bows to equip a small force of hunters.

In 1590 BC, the population of London is still low. Peasants are building a road to go to the south East, hunters are exploring the North West desert, while warriors are exploring the South East pass. And they have seen strange beasts with a long nose!

In 1500 BC, the hunters and warriors have explored a wider area to the South, and the Britons have learned how to fight with spears. The chief asked his men to try to tame some wild animals to increase the food production of the Britons, still to low to allow expansion. Soon after, the hunters are attacked by the Barbarians, and are slaughtered.

In 1430 BC, the chief receives terrible news. While building the road, the peasants have spotted Barbarians! Their horde is vast, they are equipped with bows and axes...
The chief order the peasant to come back to London, and decide to gather spearmen and hunters. But he shouldn't go to fast, and let the population of London grow enough to support them.

In 1390 BC, London is protected by warriors, spearmen, and hunters.

In 1300 Bc, the Britons discover how to tame wild animals. Unfortunately, the area is poor... Some camels are spotted in the South West, along the rivers, where the flood plains could help feed the British population. The chief orders the gathering of some settlers.

Domestication reveals Cattle, Pigs, Horses and Camels. Once again, the area doesn't propose many resource

In 1200 BC, the warrior exploring the South East discover a suitable location for wheat, but they are attacked by Barbarians. Using the forest as cover, they manage to win the first British victory against Barbarians!

In 1180 BC, the Britons start to turn their eyes to heavens... The Chief wants to create a shrine...

But in 1170 BC, while the settlers have almost reached the spot to build the second British city, the spearmen who followed them along the road spots Barbarians advancing toward London!
The Chief has to take a decision... The spearmen can't withdraw. Should he sacrifice them and stay behind the protection of the palissade?

No, he will not abandon them! The entire Briton army imarched to the spot to meet the barbarians.
Two parties of spearmen, one of warrior, and one group of hunters, to fight the hordes!

1160 BC. Victory! The Barbarians rushed toward the Briton lines. The hunters shoot their arrows to no effect, and then the Barbarians crashed on the spearmen. The first line suffered heavy casualties, but the first wave of Barbarians was destroyed. The second wave manage to destroy the second group of spearmen, but with heavy losses. While they tried to escape, the warrior engage pursuit and slaughtered them to the last.

Their south secured, the British settlers funded the city of York, near the river, on a small hill. The spearmen and hunters were sent to protect this city. Workers immediately started to build a palissade, while in London construction of a shrine was started.

In 1050 BC, the Britons learned how to use whool to weave clothes.

Weaving reveals the sheep resource. Once again, there's none nearby.

The chief then decided it was time to look into the sea, and he asked his craftmen to find how to use the trees of the nearby forest to help. The also asked volunteers to gather. The warriors have secured a nice spot for a new city, near seals, the elephants, and with berries not to far. And more importantly, the spot in on a small strait, and could help protect the Britons realms from invasion from the south east. With this border secure, it will be time to explore the main Briton land.
However, the volunteers pointed that crossing the mountain was to difficult for them. Therefore, the chief send peasants here to build a road.

Settlers are wheeled units. They cannot cross forest, mountain or jungle without a road. And they cannot load in the earliest boats.

The chief was happy... He knew no other civilization, except the Barbarians, and was sure the Britons was the most advanced people on Earth. Well, history would have to disagree.

 

[Steph]

In 970 BC, the Settlers were ready to leave London, and the chief ordered a new party of Spearmen, to resume exploring the world.

940 BC. The Britons craftmen have managed to use large tree trunks to build some boats. The Chief was pleased, and ordered the building of a small boat in London to explore the coast faster. He also decided to start designing a new training for the best warriors.

Meanwhile, in the south east, the settlers have used the road recently built in the mountain, and have settled in Nottingham, and started exploiting the elephant. Nottingham is conveniently located to protect this border, and be the Briton outpost in this area.

910 BC. The exploring spearmen have located a village... They decided to take the risk to explore it. This time, the Barbarians, in awed of the brilliant Briton culture, have decided to join the chiefdom! The spearmen will escort them to the south west.

890 BC. The peasants have built a road to the Elephant plains, and all the Britons chiefdom can enjoy the fine ivory carving. But... Oh! New Barbarians are coming! The chief decided to send reinforcement to the area, via the road.

A boat has been built in London, and has started exploring the north west coast.

870 BC. The friendly tribe settled in Hastings, on the other side of the continent, on the west coast. The area is near a desert, but a large river with flood plain provides food, sheeps are nearby and will boost the economy. The scouts have even spotted some horses to the west!

860 BC. The chief has finished selecting his best warriors, and organize them in a caste of warriors! He immediately order the creation of a unit of elite warrior, in order to send them as reinforcement to Nottingham.

830 BC. The Briton sailors have met a new people! They call themselves "Germanic people", wear hides clothing and they record their stories with strange signs. They are ready to teach the Britons how to use them for a gift. In the south, near York, Briton workers have started to built a road to join Hastings.

820 BC. The Britons have decided to honnor their ancestors. They are a proud people, proud of the achievements of their past! Necropolis will be built in every Briton cities, and the people will be happy.

The chief's warriors are ready. To mark themselves as elite warriors, they paint their body with strange design. And they are the first to call themselves "Briton" warriors! With the Germans to the North, the chief has decided to send the Warriors to Hastings to reinforce the border, as the Barbarians have disappeared from the Nottingham area.

790 BC. The Sailors have met another people, the Iberians! They are also friendly. However, the other sailors, in the South East, have met two very large pirate ships, and have been slaughtered.

750 BC. The Sailors have discovered the Iberian capitale. The Iberians have strange beasts in their chiefdom, they call it "cattle" and "pig". They are very tasty, and the Iberians seems to have a large chiefdom. Their spearmen have different clothes, but don't seem to be very powerful.

Thanks to the secret of the Wheel the Iberian have taught the Britons, the Britons have been able to master the arts of Pottery. They can now create granary and store their food conveniently. The chief orders the creation of granaries everywhere, to help with the increase of the Briton population.

710 BC. The Chief is happy. Some of his people have discovered how to use the shinny copper nuggets! Unfortunately, no large source of copper has been found... The chief order new settlers to gather in London, he wants to expand his chiefdom to find new resources.

660 BC. Even if no large source of copper is available, the Briton craftsmen have learn how to create Bronze! All the discoveries made by the Briton so far allow them to reach the late Bronze age!

610 BC. Barbarians! They are threatening hastings.

Fortunately, the Briton warriors were there, and could quickly dispath them. In the North West, near the plain with the horses, Spearmen have discovered a tribe. And they taught us many things, the Briton are now in the late Bronze age!
They start to really identify themselves as "Briton", and they can create stronger armies, with Bronze tipped spears and javelin!

They are ready for a new period of discoveries and expansion.

The Late Bronze Age will be covered in the next episode.
Some comments in the gameplay in the mod.
- Each unit requires population. It is thus important to have city growing. Normally, source food such as cattle, pigs, wheat, give a really nice bonus to help with the building of troops. Unfortunately, the Britons started in a relatively poor area, and the advance and expansion was slow.
- The "period" techs, such as LATE BRONZE AGE are very important. They control the flow of the advance of your civilization, as it is mandatory to go through them before you can move forward. They are normally very expensive. Here I had the luck to get it from the goody hut. When you discover a new "period" tech, all your units become obsolete and are replaced by better version. For Britain, with the late Bronze age, the old spearmen and hunters, with hide clothes, are replaced by Briton spearmen and javelinmen.

 

[georgestow]

Wow!
Your mod is looking great!
I can't wait for the next installment and I really can't wait to play your mod!
I'm starting to worry about the adequecy of my own mod now...

 

[Steph]

Late Bronze Age in Britain

550 BC. Now that the Britons have entered the late Bronze Age, they master their technological discoveries well enough to spread it to their armies, and they can build stronger units. The chief decides to start by equipping his elite guard in the capitable with better weapons.

They cannot upgrade their existing forces without barracks, except in the capitale, where the Palace generate veteran units.

540 BC. The Britons discovered the secret of Wine. But no suitable spot for extensive Wine cultivation was discovored in Briton territory. The Chief decided to turn to the sea to get more food.

The Briton territory is really annoying, so far they had virtually no interesting resources on their own land!

520 BC. Briton settlers founded Canterbury, near the plain of the horses. The Chief ordered peasants to build a road to the city, so horses can be used in all the chiefdom.
Spearmen are stationned on top of a hill to monitor the progress of the Germans.

490 BC. The Britons learns how to fish in the sea! They no longer have to rely only on the rivers! Surprisingly... No fish are in the Briton waters. The Chief asked his captains to find a way to exploit the speed of horses in warfare.

470 BC. For the first time, a Briton vessel managed to bring back a good description of a pirate ship!

440 BC. The Briton warleaders have discovered how to use the wheel and the horses to propose fast travelling units. However, as they are wheeled, they would require road. The Chief decides to improve his economy next. With these chariots, it would be possible to transport merchandise and to trade!

430 BC. Olive oil trees have been spotted in the South, and some settlers and a spearman escort are sent in the area.

393 BC. Barbarians had been spotted near Canterbury a group of hunters. They tried to delay them by setting an ambush in the forest, but were slaughtered. However, reinforcements have been sent from Hastings.

378 BC. The Britons discovered how to trade! the Chief ordered the building of Bazaar in Briton cities to increase taxes.

370 BC. The Britons settled in Coventry, on the Southern cost. The city had Olive oil, and kelp, and should develop fast.

The Iberians sent an emissary, they wanted to exchange knowledge. The Britons wanted to remain in good term with them, and accepted.

355 BC. York had grown to0 large, the people were not happy with the overcrowding and started to riot!
Near Canterbury, a Briton force was sent in the forest to chase the Barbarians, and they won with very few losses. The Chief ordered his warriors to continue westward, to explore the land.

348 BC. An aristocraft class appeared in Britain! The Chief decided to improve his navy, to chase the pirates.

325 BC. The forces exploring the west have been attacked by Barbarians. A Briton warrior force was killed by the attacking Barbarians. The other Briton forces tried to counterattack, but they were all destroyed.

318 BC. With the road finished near Canterbury, horses are available in the Chiefdom! New powerful chariot units have been gathered, and will be sent to the west to crush the Barbarians.

Up to the North, the Briton sailors, still exploring the world, have discovered a new people, the French! The Britons gave them some gold in exchange of a new knowledge.

310 BC. The Britons learnt to build larger ships. They would now be able to engage the pirates. The Chief foresaw that large timbers would be needed for the futur to build larger ships.

His explorers told him of a large forest in the south west, and the Chief ordered the building of a city and a road to exploit it.

 

[Steph]

280 BC. The Britons discovered how to write with an Alphabet. In London, the first corps of Javelinman was created.

258 BC. The Chariots have destroyed the Barbarians, and continue exploring. Meanwhile, up in the North, the sailors have discovered a French city, and have seen a new people, the Norse, who seems to have unfriendly feelings toward the French

243 BC. At the Eastern cape, where the world ends, the Briton boat engaged two pirate ships. And won!

235 BC. The Britons converted to militarism. The Chief ordered the building of Barracks in every cities, so units can be trained better, and can be upgraded. Earlier, a barbarian village taught a chariot unit how to rid their horse! Horsemen are not as powerful as chariot, but are more mobile.

213 BC. Barbarians from the desert were threatening the west coast! The Chief ordered the building of Chariots as soon as possible.

198 BC. The Britons reached new spiritual levels, with a Polytheic pantheon. Soon, temples started to flourish in the chiefdom.

190 BC. The Britons built their first cavalry unit! It is not as powerful as the chariot, but it can travel fast and doesn't need a road to cross forest or mountain.

183 BC. The Barbarians had entrenched themselves on top of hills and mountains, the Briton army attacked anyway.

175 BC. In the South, the Chariot charged up the hill, and destroyed the Barbarians. But in the North, the Barbarians charged, killed the Javelinman, and withdrew to the mountains, where the Briton chariot cannot follow. Briton horsemen were sent toward the mountain, and they manage to kill the remaining Barbarians in their first attack.

Even farther to the North, the spearmen garrisonned on the hill, near the Germanic city of Dortmund, spotted several Germanic soldiers going to the South. They seem to be heading toward London, through the desert...

160 BC. Travellers brought alarming news. The Greeks, an unknown civilization, have been destroyed!
The Britons discovered Mathematics. With this new skill, the Chief realized he was running a deficit. The Briton army started to get big, and it was expensive to maintain.

153 BC. Perhaps the Germans were not hostile after all... Their army turned back, and they proposed a technological deal. Their empire seems big, but they don't have a technological advance.

I have not explored the German cities yet, but it's obvious the population cost for units doesn't prevent them from buildign new cities and units!

123 BC. At last a road has been built through the forest, and Warkick has been founded, securing a source of timber.

The Briton wisemen came with a solution to help supporting the Briton army, currency! They propose to use gold to pay the troops. If only we had gold somewhere in Britain...

108 BC. The Briton observer at the top of their hill witnessed a battle between the Germanic swordsmen and Iberic spearmen protecting a settler!
The Iberic spearmen are equipped with strange metal armor. They seems more advanced than the Britons!

100 BC. The Iberic were isolated... Another Germanic swordsman unit attacked, destroyed the Iberic spearmen, and enslaved the settlers.

85 BC. The Britons discovered astronomy. Their technology level was advanced enough to enter the early iron age!

In the West, far from Briton land, a chariot discovered a very nice and wealth spot to built a city... But Barbarians are nearby! The chariot tried to attack, but was destroyed.

63 BC. Canterbury has expanded. Until now, the Britons could control only the area near their city. Near the capital the influence of the palace helped them to secure a larger area. With militarism and the building of barracks, the Britons were able to expand the territory they could actually control.

Reiligious buildings such as shrine do not produce "culture", but gives happyness bonus. Your territory expands when you built improvment that helps secure the area, like Barracks. As they come relatively late, in the earlier game your territory is made of small size cities.

While trying to escape the Barbarians, the settler in the west entered a village, where he learned Early Iron age. For Britain, this was not a huge revolution, as their units did not evolved a lot before the late Iron age.

And so ended the Briton Bronze Age. Britain was able to develop peacefully (except for a few Barbarians), in a relatively large territory. The land to the South East are still barely inhabited, and the Britons could expand there.
As the map is large and there are only 8 civilizations, there is not much pressure, but German units have been seen in the North.
Britain lacks resource. So far it has not been a serious problem, except for a relatively slow start, but in the Iron Age, if iron is not available, then it may be dangerous...
Not all units require iron, as in history the graphical representation of the unit matches the stats: a unit with an armor will require iron and be stronger, while unarmored units don't require iron, but are weaker.
In the Iron Age, Britons are still mostly unarmored, so lack of Iron will pause only a small drawback... But later, it will be one! So I'd better locate Iron in the next period

 

[wolf_brother]

Interesting. Your mod looks very in-depth, and I greatly look forward to it (and updates to this story).

 

[Sandris]

Cool story !

 

[Warman17]

lol @ trading 'trade.'
How would they know what to do!?

 

[Quintillus]

lol @ trading 'trade.'
How would they know what to do!?

Haha, I found that rather ironic as well. But this mod looks excellent. In the gameplay decisions, tech tree, and graphics (those tech icons are incredible!). Looks like it will be a lot of fun when it's finished. Will there be more updates to this story?

As for the barbarians, why do they have so many hitpoints? Are they weak otherwise, and are the barbarian combat bonuses different? It looks like the most recent Chariot you had attack a barbarian was out hitpointed 8 to 2, which seems pretty severe even with the Chariot being strong, and the most hitpoints I've seen on one of your units is 4.

 

[Steph]

Haha, I found that rather ironic as well. But this mod looks excellent. In the gameplay decisions, tech tree, and graphics (those tech icons are incredible!). Looks like it will be a lot of fun when it's finished. Will there be more updates to this story?

I could post noe more update, but I doubt I'll make others, as there were some bugs in the mod, I corrected them and may start another story.

As for the barbarians, why do they have so many hitpoints? Are they weak otherwise, and are the barbarian combat bonuses different? It looks like the most recent Chariot you had attack a barbarian was out hitpointed 8 to 2, which seems pretty severe even with the Chariot being strong, and the most hitpoints I've seen on one of your units is 4.

The Barbarians are supposed to be a real nuisance, so you have things to fight before the other civs appears.
But remember this os a story from an early test version, and the Barbarians have been tweaked.
Usually, you need some numerical advantage 2-1 to fight barbarians.