As mentioned previously in the dev thread, Anarchon has been working on a massive map which has been put together over the course of 5 years. The sheer scale of this map is nearly overwhelming even for the experienced player.
A background on the map by Anarchon
My passionate personal interest is Hellenistic period (300BC-30BC) geography.
Both within and neigbouring the Greco-Roman area.
In 2005 I purchased RTW but never got round to playing it.
In mid-2006 I was made redundant and finally got round to playing it.
I was not happy with the vanilla RTW map and started looking into ways
to improve it.
By mid-2007, it was clear I would not get re-employed and I have since
spent most of my time on a (mostly map) mod.
This was purely a personal project to get RTW how I wanted to play it.
But then in November 2012 I saw CATW and adored the graphics.
I asked for permission to use them which led on to me offering
Resef/CATW my map.
And we have ended up working together, even though we are 12 hours apart!
My original concern was to cover the lands Alexander might have gone to.
And I also wanted much more detail and accuracy.
And roads to run where ancient routes actually ran.
With a hard-coded limit of 199 Areas/Regions it was clear some
compromise was necessary.
My great wish is that many more regions and a bigger map become possible.
I would like at least 500 Areas/Regions and a map around 1500x750
pixels (3000x1500 for ground-types).
However, the limits are 199 Areas/Regions and 510x256 pixels (1021x513
for ground-types).
So that was what I had to work with.
-Projection
For the area covered by the map, the curvature of the earth is a
problem for a flat map.
The base-map is a Lambert Conformal Conic equal-area projection.
This means that in any given area the distance represented by one
pixel is roughly the same.
But it also means that the map curves up to the (apparent) north-east.
In Europe, north is straight up. In India north is diagonal, roughly
45 degrees left.
-Guiding Principles
In designing the map, I had these guiding principles.
1. As historically and geographically accurate as possible. (unless
accuracy detracts from gameplay)
2. Historical Accuracy takes precedence over Geographical Accuracy.
3. More detail in the centre, broader-brush treatment on the edges.
Note that for many settlements, especially on fringes like Skythia and
Africa, the precise location is unknown.
Even as notable a city as Gerrha is not precisely located.
As the fringes usually have road-length problems, I have located towns
here with more view on the road route than likely precise site.
-Areas/Regions
The selected Areas/Regions (and their boundaries/extent) are the
result of a lot of experimentation.
eg at various times;
Ireland had 3 then 2 then 1 Regions
There were separate regions for Scania, Malta, Kyzikos,
Kilikia-Tracheia, Bostra, central-Arabia & others.
Herakleia-Pontika and Paphlagonia were separate.
-Sources
(This list excludes many minor works)
The World the Romans Knew. N.H.H.Sitwell
Trade Routes and Commerce of the Roman Empire. M.P.Charlesworth
Cities of the Eastern Roman Provinces. A.H.M.Jones
The Central Balkan Tribes in Pre-Roman Times. F.Papazoglu
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. W.Smith
The Greeks in Bactria & India. W.W.Tarn
A History of the Ptolemaic Empire. G.Holb
The House of Seleucus. E.R.Bevan
The House of Ptolemy. E.R.Bevan
Barrington Classical Atlas
Loeb Text/Translations of...
...Strabo
...Pliny Natural History 8.
...Herodotus
...Polybius
Ptolemy's Geography (Schwabe)
Germania und der Insel Thule (WBG)
Many of these are primarily concerned with the imperial Roman period.
However, the earlier situation is usually mentioned or can be inferred.
Many of these are very old, but they cover the basics necessary for
the map's level of detail.
-Resources
The resources are mostly taken/deduced from the Charlesworth book
mentioned above.
But other work was necessary. eg India is/was not as bereft of gold as
usually assumed.
And some fudging has been necessary to get the trade system to work effectively.
Note that thanks to Resef & CATW I have been able to include...
...Fish, in place of Hides
...Horses in place of Wild Animals
Also, 'Incense' is now "Incense or Spices or Silphium"
-Roads
The Barrington Atlas was of much use in finding where ancient routes
actually ran.
As designer you cannot define where roads run, the game's AI decides for itself.
This can lead to some distinctly odd road nets.
And is another thing I hope gets changed in future versions of RTW.
As I deem roads of major importance, I have sometimes changed the
geography slightly to get them to run correctly.
This usually has meant making some pixels impassable.
A fortunate thing is that diagonally-offset, impassable pixels allow
the passage of armies but not roads.
-Area and Town Names
A lot of thought went into these.
At time of writing Town names are preceded by a "+".
This is purely to distinguish them from Area names, and may be dropped
in the future.
The joining with a dash is a stylistic choice and may be dropped in the future.
The continuous running of names with a "&" is also a stylistic choice
and may also be dropped.
Feedback on your stylistic preferences for these would be appreciated!
Most of both Area and Town names are double.
With Area names it is a qualifier. eg
Media-Atropatene
Media-Megale
Gallia-of-the-Aedui
Gallia-of-the-Bituriges
With town names, there are 3 types.
1. The (inland) town name plus the port name. eg
+Barygaza&Sigeros
+Amaseia&Amisos
+Argentomagus&Corbilon
+Pella&Thessalonike
2. Tribal qualifiers. eg
+Felsina-Boii
+Mattium-Chatti
+Sagunton-Arsetani
3. Some exceptions where full name is longer.
+Antiocheia-by-Daphne
+Alexandreia-by-Aigyptos
+Apameia-Kibotos
+Zaris-Zaranka
+Arshada-Arachotos
-Trade
map_trade_routes seems to have no effect whatsoever.
Any advice on this would be appreciated.
-Some unusual things.
1. It is possible to have road cross what visually appears as sea.
I have done this for Cadiz and Denmark.
2. I have included the ancient Suez canal which was certainly
operational under the early Ptolemies.
This means that there is no road connection between Memphis and Gaza,
but armies can still cross the canal.
Most trade between the two areas went by sea, and they are connected
by a trade route.
-Hardcoded Limit on Road Connections
There is supposed to be a hardcoded limit on the distance apart Towns
can be for the AI to connect them by road.
In some places the Areas will not connect by road and I am unconcerned
because they were remote trackless wastes. eg
southern Sahara
across central Arabia.
some parts of northern Skythia.
In some places, to my astonishment, I have successfully exceeded the limit. eg
parts of Arabia.
Burma/Myanmar
Tibet
some parts of northern Skythia.
In a few other places, even though the distances are less, I cannot
get the roads to connect. eg
Libya-Garamantia to Libya-Gaitulia
Skythia-Sarmatia to Skythia-Aorsia&Alannia (even if I move the
latter's town out of the Altai mountains and much closer)
In these places, my kludged solution has been to run close together
those road connections which do work.
So any army will only have to travel a small distance off-road.
In all these cases the trade between the Areas works ok.
The one place (2 connections) where I cannot get the trade to work is
Libya-Garamantia.
Libya-Garamantia to Libya-Gaitulia (which will not connect by road)
Libya-Garamantia to Libya-Nasamonia (which do connect by road)
Any suggestions on this will be gratefully received!
-List of Areas & Towns.
Below is a list of all Area and Town names in-game. (and Rebels)
In code we use a number system. (The code chaos combining my Mod &
CATW in-code area names was horrific) :-)
These names are constantly subject to minor corrections or edits.
This is the list as of 2013-01-22.
Area001 Sikilia-Mamertini +Messana Sikiliotes&Siculi
Area002 Sikilia-Hellenike +Syrakousai Siculi&Sicani
Area003 Sikilia-Phoinike +Lilybaion Elymians&Sicani
Area004 Sardo-Sardinia +Gurulis&Karales Sardinians
Area005 Kyrnos-Corsica +Palanta&Aleria Corsicans
Area006 Aquitania +Terebellica-Aquitani Aquitani
Area007 Liguria-of-the-Volcae +Tolosa-Volcae Volcae&Ligurians
Area008 Liguria-Massaliotis +Massalia Salyes
Area009 Liguria-of-the-Ingauni +Glanate-Ingauni Ingauni
Area010 Liguria-of-the-Taurini +Taurasia-Taurini Taurini
Area011 Liguria-of-the-Apuani +Bitunia-Apuani Apuani
Area012 Gallia-of-the-Boii +Felsina-Boii Boii
Area013 Gallia-of-the-Insubres +Mediolanon-Insubres Insubres
Area014 Gallia-Vindelicia +Pyrene-Vindelici Vindelici
Area015 Gallia-Noricum +Noreia-Taurisci Norici&Taurisci
Area016 Gallia-Raetia +Brigantion-Raeti Raeti
Area017 Gallia-of-the-Helvetii +Verba-Helvetii Helvetii
Area018 Gallia-of-the-Allobroges +Lemincon-Allobroges Allobroges
Area019 Gallia-of-the-Treveri +Trevera-Treveri Treveri
Area020 Gallia-of-the-Batavi +Batavoduron-Batavi Batavi&Kelts
Area021 Gallia-Belgica +Bagacon-Nervii Belgae
Area022 Gallia-of-the-Carnutes +Cenabon-Carnutes Carnutes
Area023 Gallia-Aremorica +Condate-Redones Aremoricans
Area024 Gallia-of-the-Bituriges +Argentomagus&Corbilon Bituriges
Area025 Gallia-of-the-Aedui +Bibracte-Aedui Aedui
Area026 Gallia-of-the-Arverni +Gergovia-Arverni Arverni
Area027 Ierne-of-the-Hibernians +Tara Cruithne&Hibernians
Area028 Albion-of-the-Caledones +Caledonis Albans&Caledonians
Area029 Albion-of-the-Brigantes +Isurion-Brigantes Brigantes
Area030 Albion-of-the-Silures +Mona-Decangi Silures&Ordovices
Area031 Albion-of-the-Dumnones +Tamara-Dumnones Durotriges
Area032 Albion-of-the-Catuvellauni +Verulam-Catuvellauni Catuvellauni
Area033 Germania-Gothia +Ascaucalis-Gothones Goths&Vandals
Area034 Germania-Suevia +Alisos-Semnones Suevi&Lugii
Area035 Germania-Cimbria +Knosos-Cimbri Cimbri&Saxones
Area036 Germania-Chaucia&Frisia +Teuder-Chauci Chauci&Frisii
Area037 Germania-Cheruscia +Ascalingium-Cherusci Cherusci
Area038 Germania-Chattia +Mattium-Chatti Chatti
Area039 Germania-Marcomannia +Meliodunum-Marcomanni Marcomanni&Hermanduri
Area040 Germania-Quadia +Eburodunum-Quadi Quadi
Area041 Pannonia-Eraviscia +Skarbantia-Eravisci Hercuniates&Eravisci
Area042 Pannonia-Breukia +Segestika-Breuci Breuci
Area043 Pannonia-Skordiskia +Sirmeion-Scordisci Scordisci&Pannonians
Area044 Venetia&Carneia +Patavium&Aquileia Veneti
Area045 Illyris-Liburnia +Iader-Liburni Liburnians
Area046 Illyris-Dalmatia +Narona-Dalmatii Dalmatians
Area047 Illyris-Ardiaioi +Skodra-Ardiaei Ardiaioi&Autariatai
Area048 Illyris-Taulantia +Dimale&Dyrrachion Taulantii,Parthini&Atintanes
Area049 Illyris-Dardania +Naissos-Dardani Dardanians
Area050 Paionia&Pelagonia +Stoboi-Paiones Paionians
Area051 Dacia-Pedias +Heorta-Bormanon Iazyges
Area052 Dacia-Megale +Sarmizegethusa Dacians
Area053 Moesia-Triballia +Oiskos-Triballi Triballi
Area054 Moesia-Getike +Kapidava-Getae Moesians
Area055 Thraike-Bessike&Odrysike +Philippopolis-Bessi Bessi&Odrysians
Area056 Thraike-Astike +Tylis-Tylenoi Asti&Odrysians
Area057 Bosporos-Thraikion +Byzantion Thynians
Area058 Chersonesos-Thraikion +Lysimacheia-Hellespontos Chersonesoi
Area059 Baliares +Palma Baliarians
Area060 Iberia-Vasconia +Ilumberis-Vascones Vascones
Area061 Iberia-Cantabria +Camarica-Cantabres Cantabres
Area062 Iberia-Gallaecia +Bracara-Callaeci Gallaeci
Area063 Iberia-Asturia +Lancia-Arbokala Astures
Area064 Celtiberia +Numantia-Celtiberi Celtiberians
Area065 Iberia-Cessetania +Tarraco-Cessetani Illergetes&Cessetani
Area066 Iberia-Arsetania +Sagunton-Arsetani Arsetani
Area067 Iberia-Contestania +Althaia-Contestani Contestani
Area068 Iberia-Carpetania +Toleton-Carpetani Carpetani
Area069 Iberia-Lusitania +Scallabis-Lusitani Lusitani
Area070 Iberia-Baetica +Corduba-Turduli Turduli
Area071 Iberia-Gadeira +Gades Bastuli
Area072 Agisymba-Azania +Thamondokana-Nigritai Agisymbans
Area073 Aithiopia-Trogodytike +Auxume&Adoulis Trogodytae
Area074 Aithiopia-Meroe +Meroe Upper-Aithiopians
Area075 Aithiopia-Napata +Napata Lower-Aithiopians
Area076 Aigyptos-Thebais +Thebes-Herakleopolis Upper-Aigyptoi
Area077 Aigyptos-Memphites +Memphis Lower-Aigyptoi
Area078 Mareotis&Marmarike +Alexandreia-by-Aigyptos Alexandrians&Marmaridae
Area079 Libya-Ammoniake +Ammonion Libyans
Area080 Libya-Nasamonia +Lynxama-Nasamones Nasamones
Area081 Libya-Kyrenaike +Kyrene&Apollonia Asbytae&Nasamones
Area082 Libya-Tripolitania +Leptis-Kinyps Arzuges&Macae
Area083 Libya-Garamantia +Garama-Garamantes Garamantes
Area084 Libya-Gaitulia +Geira-Gaetuli Gaetuli
Area085 Mauretania-Tingitana +Volubilis&Tingis Mauri
Area086 Mauretania-Herpeditanoi +Herpis&Rusaddir Herpeditani
Area087 Mauretania-Mazikia +Tigava&Iol Mazikes
Area088 Numidia-Massaesylia +Kirta-Massaesyli Massaesyli
Area089 Numidia-Massylia +Bulla-Massyli Massylii
Area090 Numidia-Musulamia +Thebeste-Musulami Musulami
Area091 Afrika-Byzakena +Thysdros&Hadrumeton Liby-Poeni
Area092 Afrika-Zeugitana +Karthedas Liby-Poeni
Area093 Etruria +Arretium&Populonia Etruscans
Area094 Umbria&Picenum +Sentinum&Ariminum Umbrians
Area095 Latium +Roma Latins
Area096 Sabellia +Corfinium-Paeligni Paeligni&Marsi
Area097 Samnium +Bovianum Samnites
Area098 Campania +Capua&Neapolis Campanians
Area099 Apulia +Luceria&Brundisium Apulians
Area100 Calabria&Messapia +Tarentum Calabrians&Messapians
Area101 Lucania +Grumentum&Elea Lucanians
Area102 Bruttium +Petelia&Rhegium Bruttians
Area103 Makedonia-Pieria +Pella&Thessalonike Lowland-Makedones
Area104 Makedonia-Lynkestis&Orestis +Argos-Orestikon Highland-Makedones
Area105 Makedonia-Bisaltia&Sintike +Philippoi&Amphipolis Sapaioi
Area106 Epeiros +Passaron&Ambrakia Epeirotes
Area107 Thessalia +Pharsalos&Demetrias Thessalians
Area108 Aitolia&Akarnania +Thermon Aitolians
Area109 Euboia +Chalkis Euboians
Area110 Attika +Athenai Athenians
Area111 Isthmia&Argolis +Korinthos Argives&Achaians
Area112 Achaia&Arkadia +Megalopolis Arkadians&Achaians
Area113 Lakonike +Sparta Lakedaimonians
Area114 Kreta +Knossos Kretans
Area115 Nesoi-Rhodon +Rhodos Rhodians
Area116 Kypros +Salamis Kypriotes
Area117 Pisidia&Pamphylia +Kremna-Side Pisidians
Area118 Lykia +Xanthos Lykians
Area119 Karia +Halikarnassos Karians
Area120 Lydia&Ionia +Sardes&Smyrna Lydians
Area121 Mysia-Pergamene +Pergamon Mysians
Area122 Phrygia-Megale +Apameia-Kibotos Phrygians
Area123 Phrygia-Galatia +Ankyra-Tektosages Galatians
Area124 Bithynia +Nikaia&Nikomedia Bithynians
Area125 Paphlagonia +Herakleia-Pontika Mariandyni&Paphlagonians
Area126 Sinope-Euxeinos +Sinope Sinopians
Area127 Pontos +Amaseia&Amisos Pontic-Kappadokians
Area128 Kappadokia +Mazaka-Eusebia Kappadokians
Area129 Kolchis +Kotais&Phasis Kolchians
Area130 Iberia-in-Asia +Meschistha-Iberians Iberians-of-Asia
Area131 Albania-in-Asia +Chabala-Albanians Albanians-of-Asia
Area132 Armenia-Megale +Arsamosata Greater-Armenians
Area133 Armenia-Mikra +Satala&Trapezous Lesser-Armenians
Area134 Sophene +Karkathiokerta Sophenians
Area135 Kommagene +Samosata Kommagenians
Area136 Syria-Seleukis +Antiocheia-by-Daphne Syrians
Area137 Kilikia +Tarsos Kilikians
Area138 Ioudaia +Hierosolyma Ioudaioi
Area139 Koile-Syria +Damaskos Koile-Syrians
Area140 Phoinikia +Tyre&Sidon Phoinikians
Area141 Palaistina +Gaza Palaistinoi
Area142 Mesopotamia-Zeugmai +Edessa Mesopotamians
Area143 Mesopotamia-Mygdonia +Nisibis Mygdonian-Syrians
Area144 Assyria-Adiabene +Arbela Assyrians
Area145 Babylonia-Opis +Seleukeia-by-Tigris Babylonians
Area146 Syria-Palmyra +Tadmora-Palmyra Palmyrans
Area147 Arabia-Nabataia +Petra-Rekem Nabataian-Arabs
Area148 Arabia-of-the-Athribi +Makoraba&Zaabram Athribi-Arabs
Area149 Arabia-Eudaimon +Mariaba&Adana Saba-Arabs
Area150 Arabia-of-the-Hadramitae +Sabbatha&Ausara Hadramitae-Arabs
Area151 Arabia-of-the-Gerrhaians +Gerrha&Arre Gerrhaian-Arabs
Area152 Arabia-of-the-Omanitai +Irada&Rhegama Omanitae-Arabs
Area153 Karmania +Karmana&Harmozeia Karmanians
Area154 Persis +Persepolis Persians
Area155 Elymais-Susiana +Sousa-in-Kissia Elymaians
Area156 Media-Megale +Agbatana Southern-Medes
Area157 Media-Atropatene +Gazaka-Vera Northern-Medes
Area158 Areia +Artakoana Areians
Area159 Drangiana-of-the-Ariaspai +Zaris-Zaranka Zarangians
Area160 Arachosia +Arshada-Arachotos Arachosians
Area161 Gedrosia +Poura Gedrosians
Area162 Hyrkania +Zadrakarta Hyrkanians
Area163 Parthia-Komisene +Hekatompylos Parthians
Area164 Parthia-Dara +Nisaia Parni-Parthians
Area165 Dahae-Lands +Camp-of-the-Dahae Dahae
Area166 Margiana +Marga Margians
Area167 Chorasmia +Chorasmakarta Chorasmians&Apasakiai
Area168 Paropanisadai&Gandara +Alexandria-Kapisa Paropanisadai
Area169 Baktria +Baktra-Zariaspa Baktrians
Area170 Sogdiana +Marakanda Sogdians
Area171 Ariane-Eschate +Alexandria-Eschate Phryni
Area172 Hyperboria-of-the-Fenni +Hyperboreion-of-the-Fenni Fenni&Hyperboreians
Area173 Skythia-Venedia +Emporion-of-the-Venedi Venedae
Area174 Bosporos-Taurike +Pantikapaion Maeotae
Area175 Chersonesos-Taurike +Neapolis&Chersonesos Skythians
Area176 Skythia-of-the-Bastarnae +Carrodunon&Tyras Bastarnae
Area177 Skythia-Sklavia +Navaron&Olbia Slavs&Neuri
Area178 Skythia-Sarmatia +Erbida&Tanais Sarmatians
Area179 Skythia-Aorsia&Alannia +Norossos Aorsi&Alans
Area180 Skythia-Massagetike +Massageta Massagetai
Area181 Skythia-of-the-Issedones +Issedon Issedones
Area182 Skythia-beyond-Imaus +Soita-Tocharia Tocharian-Saka
Area183 India-Kaspatyre +Abisara Kaspatyroi
Area184 India-Taxila +Taxila Taxilans
Area185 India-of-the-Kathaioi +Sagala Kathaioi
Area186 India-Sindimana&Abiria +Minnagara&Oreita Sindimanoi&Abirians
Area187 India-Patalene +Patala&Barbarikon Patalenians
Area188 India-on-the-Iomanes +Mathura-Theon Iomanoi
Area189 India-Ozene +Ozene Ozenians
Area190 India-Magada +Palimbothra&Pertalis Magadans
Area191 India-Kalinga +Kalliga&Tosale Kalingans
Area192 India-Andara +Suvarnagiri&Hippokoura Andarai
Area193 India-Syrastrene&Ariake +Barygaza&Sigeros Syrastrenoi&Ariakoi
Area194 India-Chera&Damyrike +Muziris&Karoura Cherans
Area195 India-Chola +Poduke&Malanga Cholans
Area196 India-Pandya +Mathura-Pandion Pandyans
Area197 Taprobane +Anurogrammon Lankans
Area198 Pyu +Sriksetra Burmese
Area199 Attakoria +Botta Attakorians
Any feedback gratefully received!
A view of Greece
The western part of Asia Minor
The south eastern part of Asia Minor
The eastern part of Asia Minor
The Nile and Egypt
Carthage
The Italian Peninsula
The southern part of the Italian Peninsula and part of Illyria
Illyria
The dark forests of Germania
The island beeeeside Europe
The part all of you might be most interested in, The Indian subcontinent!
Sri Lanka!
Where the Chinese expedition forces will come from **correction, they will appear at Soka Tochana
The five Indian rivers or was it four..
The Persian divide
Some place on the map that I think looks great
The rather small island of Rhodes
A view of a tiny part of the Seleucid empire but it is near their capital
The Arvenian area's
And a small preview of Joar's great work, a big thank you to him for allowing me to use his portraits