Islam?

[Nibs]

Just curious as to the influence of Islam in the mod. I know that there is no Arabic faction but the colossal inpact of the metioric rise of the religion should be included, events, factions...to give you an impression, a coin minted by Offa of Mercia (of Dyke fame) had on it an Islamic inscription, just to be on the safe side...

[Kahju]

They did weaken the Byzantine Empire. Maybe that could be represented somehow?

[Nibs]

Of course you could argue that they strengthend it! For a while, but yes exactly. Don't forget the sweep through Spain and the epic wars that were fought to halt Islam at the Pyrennes. Islam being a cult of Christianity meant that it was easily adopted by christians, hence it's success and threat...

[Kahju]

Scripted "rebel" invasions could be used to represent various muslim excursions. It's a shame that the map is so eurocentric, though. It obstructs us from realistically representing the political situation in Iberia and Asia Minor.

[finneys13]

There will be a Muslim rebel 'faction' in Spain, and if possible, Muslim incursions of France/Spain/Italy/Balkans would be great.

[NikeBG]

Well, if you've read the notes of Ibn Fadlan's travel to Volga Bulgaria (which you should probably do, since it's one of the sources, which give a direct description of the Scandinavians trading there), it shows that the Volga Bulgars have already accepted Islam around that time. And, IIRC, there were even some Islamized Scandinavians as well, although not that many...

P.S. I guess you've all seen "The 13th Warrior", right? Which is based on a novel, which in its own turn is based on Ibn Fadlan's travel (and extended "beyond" Volga Bulgaria)...


Edit: Here's the Rus section from Ibn Fadlan's notes...

[Nibs]

Seen but more importantly read Michael Chritons' book, the eaters of the dead love it!...Yeah incursions, possibly as events might be a good idea. The influence of the religion should be represented

[vagrantprodigy]

I love the book and movie.

[Ahiga]

There will be a Muslim rebel 'faction' in Spain, and if possible, Muslim incursions of France/Spain/Italy/Balkans would be great.

I'm just curious, but why have a rebel faction when this was at the time that they made their incursion, and one might argue, the strength of the Muslims in Iberia was at it's peak? A rebel Andalusian faction would seem viable for when they separated into dozens of Taifas, but this is the period where they were united.

[Kahju]

The campaign map's current state is the result of some unfortunate evolution in development. Our mod's original purpose was to focus on Northern and Central Europe, but tnick wanted to implement every faction that had some contacts with the Norse, and that's why we have the poorly represented Byzantines and Asturias who won't have to fight the rising power of Islam. I doubt we are going to change the map in any major way, but we are currently discussing how to best represent Islamic powers of the time.

[finneys13]

There would be room for Corboda, there are three regions in Spain already that are Muslim rebels, that they could have.

Just a matter of time and if they could be included.

[jankren]

Was Volga Bulgaria, the place Ibn Fadlan visited, located in the present day Bulgaria or what?

[Kahju]

No. We have no Volga Bulgars. Blame the map, again.

[NikeBG]

Was Volga Bulgaria, the place Ibn Fadlan visited, located in the present day Bulgaria or what?

No, Volga Bulgaria was, logically, on the Volga river and is now a part of Russia. Today's independent country Bulgaria is, logically, the Danubian Bulgaria (in other words - there were at least two Bulgarias in the Middle Ages - on the Volga and on the Danube).

[Cayo_Julio_Cesar]

What about the historical battle of Tours wich decided the fate of christendom ?

Charles Martell as a hero...with the Kingdoms new hero thing.

just wondering o.o

[GodlyAvatar]

The battle of Tours happened in 732AD, 53 Years before the mod time period starts.

[iudas]

But you could have it as a historical battle. I doubt the units that the campaign will feature at the beginning are too advanced for 732 AD.

[mocker]

It's a bit irrelevant to the mod, since vikings are in no way connected with it.

[iudas]

Not directly, yes. But still, it's an important part of the period the mod deals with.

[Serious Spamurai]

Not directly, yes. But still, it's an important part of the period the mod deals with.

More like:

But still, it's an important part of the period 50 years before the period the mod deals with.