Unit icon readablity

[Scona]

Just into my first go-round with your mod as the Byzantines. Great work on the game mechanics and graphics! However I am having trouble seeing the unit movements on the strategic map, everthing seems like ants, and I noticed that the diplomats will vanish from view when they use up all their movement points. Will you be increaing the size of your strategic map icons; or is there already a hotkey option in place to do this?

[drak10687]

Well, the "vanishing diplomats" is a problem that has existed since the very first release of the mod.... and in fact its not just the diplomats, but all the strat map units that should do this, because they use the vanilla strat map animations, and since most or all strat map units kneel when they are out of movement points, this makes our units "disappear" because they go below the map. We will fix this IF WE CAN, but it has never been top priority since animations are a tough thing to deal with, especially in RTW, and they often lead to unsatisfactory results, not to mention none of us has any experience with them AFAIK...

As for the strat map unit size... as an issue, that has never, or rarely been brought up, so it has never been considered as and "issue", and NO, you CAN'T increase them in-game. What resolution are you playing on?

Thanks for playing, and hope these issues aren't game-breaking for you!

[Scona]

Nope the issue isn't game breaking, I just need glasses. The only problem I currently have with the scenario is getting enough money squeezed out of the economy (such as it is in 1072) to support my "military industrial complex"; or the one I wished I had. Being poor and threatened by the Turks is giving me a complex.

[DaVinci]

Well, yes, as Byz you need to consolidate first your economy as priority ... but it's pretty realistic (and just an intended design), as they were under pressure from different sides, what, in the end lead to the first european crusade at 1096 ...

[Shadow_Imperator]

I'm still of the opinion that the land bridge from Apulia to Epirus needs to go... Not only is it 'nearly' game breaking, it is rather unrealistic...

[BNS]

Not only is it 'nearly' game breaking, it is rather unrealistic...

Game breaking ? in what way ? the bridge is a good way to stimulate the Norman-Byzantine conflicts....

[Shadow_Imperator]

Ok, I really should of used a different word... Having that land bridge makes it nigh impossible to fight the Turks, Hungarians, Armenians AND the Italians/Normans at the same time... The Normans invaded ONCE, under Robert the cunning.... It really doesn't warrant a crossing point between the heel of Italy and Epirus... Unless it can be changed so that the pass can be blocked off by ships... I see no point it being there.. It makes a very difficult campaign much nearer to impossible... Plus it gives the Byzantines little motivation to build a navy...

[BNS]

Ok, I really should of used a different word... Having that land bridge makes it nigh impossible to fight the Turks, Hungarians, Armenians AND the Italians/Normans at the same time... The Normans invaded ONCE, under Robert the cunning.... It really doesn't warrant a crossing point between the heel of Italy and Epirus... Unless it can be changed so that the pass can be blocked off by ships... I see no point it being there.. It makes a very difficult campaign much nearer to impossible...

well, thats life buddy. The Byzantines expanded little during this era. well you could try keeping good relations with your neighbors while you build up an economy or focus on one front, especially Hungary and Armenia.I've found that giving away free small tributes to your allies actually strengthens your relationship and makes that faction less likely to back stab you later, in time they may even start giving you money !

Plus it gives the Byzantines little motivation to build a navy...

are you talking about the ai Byzantines ? cause these guys always have the biggest navy in my games...

[Shadow_Imperator]

well, thats life buddy. The Byzantines expanded little during this era. well you could try keeping good relations with your neighbors while you build up an economy or focus on one front, especially Hungary and Armenia.I've found that giving away free small tributes to your allies actually strengthens your relationship and makes that faction less likely to back stab you later, in time they may even start giving you money !

are you talking about the ai Byzantines ? cause these guys always have the biggest navy in my games...

1: So the counter-offensive made my Alexios, John and Manuel Komnenos isn't what you'd call a 'lot of territory' considering their previous losses in men, material, training grounds and finances....

2: I meant the player.... There really isn't any point...

[DaVinci]

Shadow, for Chivalry this landbridge will remain, it might be a good decision to remove it for the CBTW submod

[Shadow_Imperator]

Well maybe it can be kept... However is there a way that if an enemy naval force occupies the landbridge, then forces cannot cross? That way it would accurately portray having a distinct naval superiority and would justify investing in a good navy... Like having the landbridge go over a single sea tile which CAN be wholly occupied by a ship...

What do you say?

[DaVinci]

Afaik, the lb is blocked for landunits if you set a fleet at this point.

[Scona]

Good thing you people were having these posts about the land bridge, I didn't have a clue these existed. I've been so busy trying to secure the eastern borders that any Norman advance in this area would have been a total surprise, I don't even have any ships operating outside of the capital region, so that will have to change.

[Shadow_Imperator]

Good thing you people were having these posts about the land bridge, I didn't have a clue these existed. I've been so busy trying to secure the eastern borders that any Norman advance in this area would have been a total surprise, I don't even have any ships operating outside of the capital region, so that will have to change.

They (the Normans) will go for Dyracchium as soon as they declare war, it is their primary target, if this city falls, your chances of winning become very much diminished.... I've managed to (in one game) build up Athina and Thessalonika into minor cities so I can push out some decent units there... However, even if you do get those settlements to the next level... Dealing with the eastern frontier AND the west makes it near impossible to win when fighting on both at the same time... Your troops from Thessalonika and Athina are of lesser quality than those from Constantinople... However to rely on Constantinople alone, it is next to impossible to reinforce BOTH frontiers simultaneously, it hits your population hard and your always fighting with very stringent manpower availability...

@Davinci:
Mate I'll try again, maybe I'm not putting the fleet in the right place.... I'll get back to you on it...

[Basileios]

Sounds pretty much like what happend in history... Though Asia Minor was already lost when the Byzantines clashed with the Normans - at least as far as I can remember.
Maybe heavier fortifications and higher level troops might help?