Hello, everybody!
I have already introduced this project on the Totalwar.org forum, but now it is ready for release within a few days.
View here:
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showth...mpaign-map!!!!
This is a completely reworked map for Rome Total War with unprecedented detail and accuracy: 199 regions and cities ranging from Caledonia to Maurya!
It took me two years of research and edit work, but now it is ready and its working. You have a huge number of realistic mountain passes, river crossings, islands etc. Some rivers have even become partially navigable. The new rivers and mountain chains give lots of new strategic options that will make up for a completely new game feel. For example: once you could prevent any invasion into Italy by closing 3 passes over the Alpes. But ancient geographers actually knew 12 ways to cross the Alpes and now these have been truly represented in the game, giving any invader a huge number of options.
All the major cities of the ancient world are included and each is in the right location as well as their ports. Many city sites have been highly improved. Just take a look at Alexandria, where you can watch the city plant with the Mareotis lake, the harbor and the island of Pharos with the lighthouse obviously in the right place on the island above the harbor.
Moreover the scenario has some 400 historical figures implemented. Each faction has a family tree with an accurate representation of its ruling dynasty. The major factions such as the Gauls or the Seleucid have almost 30 historical figures. As far as they're known even the wives bear their historical names.
Before Beta release there are a few minor things to be done. Help is especially needed to implement more different units. Simply propose your ideas. I could use even somebody who wants to manage these implementations.
In the meantime anybody interested in playing the new map can send me a private message and I will mail the necessary files of the pre-Beta version.
Now here comes a first screenshot showing Lower Egypt with Alexandria and Memphis. Note the details:
1. Alexandria with beautiful city plant, the Pharos in its correct position on the island and the Mareotis lake behind the city.
2. The improved Nile Delta.
3. The port of Tanis with its bay/lake
4. The city of Heliopolis as port to Memphis (here still a fishing village)
5. The Bitter lakes and the port of Arsinoe.
6. The irrigation canal and the lake/swamps of Fayum.
7. Two branches of the lower Nile have become navigable and a canal allows ships to reach the Red Sea (but the ports of Tanis and Arsinoe will close this passage).