Alternate History : Zoroastrians in Yazd (questions to bc developers and propositions)

[Floren d'Asteneuz]

Hello all the community !

As a big found of history, I usualy don't like to play a game with alternate history. But this time is quite different since the goal is to play an alternate history that could give a good chalenge to the game and to this middle-east campaign.

I would like to creat a sub mod with zoroastrism as a new religion, and make this religion the main religion of Khwarezm Shah, especialy make this faction starting with Yazd.

The fact is I don't know yet if the faction will be zoroastrian at the beggining or will be when a reform will occure.

So my work has well started : I created 5 levels of temple for now, added mazdaism as main religion for khwarezmshah (mazdaism religion is a test, it will be replaced by zoroastrism in the final version) and everything is done except the in battle textures.

But, for now, everytime I quit the game, I have an "unspecified error". I do not know what is it, the logs show the same.

Just to let you know what I have already done :

First, I added the religion in religions.txt , descr_religions.txt , escr_religions_lookup.txt , and added a TGA as a pip for zoroastrism in the corresponding folder, and a line in "escr_religions.txt" linking to this pip.
Second, I changed the religion of the "spain" faction (the Khwarezm Shah) in the file descr_sm_factions.txt, and added under "ai_label" "mazdaism" instead of "muslim". In the same file, I deleted the religious buildings of the spain faction, to prevent conflicts, and erased all imams present at the beggining of the capaing for the same reason.
Third, in descr_regions.txt , I added " mazdaism 0" in every province.
Fourth, I added in export_descr_buildings.txt the religious building for mazdaism : small_firealtar, firealtar, big_firealtar, firetemple and great_firetample, with carracteristics copied from muslim temples and all this under the "building firealtar_mazdaism" title. Did the same with c_small_firealtar and c_firealtar under "building firealtar_mazdaism_castle. Added the requirement "spain" when needed, and erased "spain" in the requirement for madrassa's and muslims temples. Errased the capacity to recruit "priests" for the moment, preventing conflicts.
Fifth, The tutorial I found spoke about a "export_buildings_enums.txt" but the BCK had not this file. I modified "export_buildings.txt" by adding the new building I had created, in alphabetical order.
Modified the "building_battle.txt" for battle descritption as I saw.

Added in the ui/middle_eastern/building the tga of the buildings with the names of the buildings, preceded by "middle_eastern" and ending with "constructed" when needed. (exemple : "#middle_eastern_big_firealtar_constructed")

Now, I have a problem : beside the "unspecified error", witch occurs only when I chut down the game, I have some strange issues.... the main issue is that mazdaism has 5 points in every provinces, despite the fact I add "mazdaism 0 }" in every provinces. When I diminish the other religions in the file and add a little mazdaism, I have some big issue like "30098303" religion points in my province, as if I had a more than 100 percent total of all religions, witch I have not.
All works find except that, but I did not tryed battles yet.


The main question I have is :

Is there, in the way BC has been made, a "twist" about the religions that we have to adjust ?
Other questions : is there other than me who are interested with a sub-mob with other religions than hinduism, islam, orthodox, catholics, pagan, etc ? (I will try to add judaism in the future, and buddhism, etc)
If yes, I will tend to keep it historical, but considering those are marginal (but very cultural) religions, if the player conquer the world with those religions, it will be a little awkward but it is awkward to to see orthodox conquering all the eastern world...

Last question : is it possible to make a sub-mod in his own folder or is it only possible to erase BCK folder ?

Last thing : I gave my explaination why I would like to creat this sub-mod. I am not a religious nor am I zealous, so please do not start any religious debate here. This thread has two purpose : help me finish this sub-mod and give it to those who would like to play with it. Period.

Thank you !

P.s. : resources : http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...hange+religion

[kingman1337]

This is actually a very interesting idea. Maybe India could also export War Elephants to the Persians.

[Grouchio]

I have a better idea. Make a completely new faction that is similar to Khwarezmshah, but is not khwazemshah, that starts off in Amol and Sori (South Caspian Coast) with Zoroastrianism as a religion!

[the persian Immortal]

I have a better idea. Make a completely new faction that is similar to Khwarezmshah, but is not khwazemshah, that starts off in Amol and Sori (South Caspian Coast) with Zoroastrianism as a religion!

sorry for jumping in just want to correct you it's not SORI it's SARI the capitan of the mazandaran province

[Floren d'Asteneuz]

Hello fellows !

Could be possible Grouchio. Though I would prefer to base them at yazd but it is pointless discussion for now because of the unresolved issues.

I doublechecked the syntax of every files, will surely tripplecheck : I have still the errors !

I realy don't understand why, 'cause at every tutorials there is not more step than those I have done.

Is there a possibility that the coding of the font has been changed, or the format, or any invisible caracter has been erased ? (are invisible caracters presents in scripting files of TW ?)

Is BC having a scripting feature in religions that I have not already understood ?

I need help, because I I stuck and the work I did I am sure it has not been done for nothing.

[_Tartaros_]

are there some buildings related to religion left over or some culture connections?

[Floren d'Asteneuz]

Can't say I found one. I have deleted the "spain" part in the madrassa's of all form so they canot be created in Khwarezm settlements, and I can't find any other building with religion bonuses. Concerning culture, I simply does not know what it refer to in M2TW.

Thanks !

[WarlordZ]

I have to agree with Grouchio. The idea is good, but Khwarezmshah was a faction dominated by Turks (rulers and army), and not Iranians. So for the most part they were Sunni Muslims. So i think a new faction would be a better idea, starting with one settlement and very weak to begin with (b/c by this time zoroastrians had declined a lot in power and numbers). A good idea though, and if implemented should be one of the funnest ad most difficult factions to play.

[kingman1337]

I have to agree with Grouchio. The idea is good, but Khwarezmshah was a faction dominated by Turks (rulers and army), and not Iranians. So for the most part they were Sunni Muslims. So i think a new faction would be a better idea, starting with one settlement and very weak to begin with (b/c by this time zoroastrians had declined a lot in power and numbers). A good idea though, and if implemented should be one of the funnest ad most difficult factions to play.

create_unit. That is all.

But yes, fun and difficult indeed.

[Roboute Guilliman]

I have to agree with Grouchio. The idea is good, but Khwarezmshah was a faction dominated by Turks (rulers and army), and not Iranians. So for the most part they were Sunni Muslims. So i think a new faction would be a better idea, starting with one settlement and very weak to begin with (b/c by this time zoroastrians had declined a lot in power and numbers). A good idea though, and if implemented should be one of the funnest ad most difficult factions to play.

There were no Shia muslims in Iran during this timeframe. I would be willing to help. I will start tonight looking what units you could use for a Persian faction.

On the religion thing. I never added a religion myself, so it would be somthing new for me. I will give it a try aswell.

[Toho]

you can apply this idea in the 3.0 where there will be a pure persian faction that has not fallen to the arabs/muslims yet in Mazandaran or you could help out with this mod http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=755
its East Rome vs the Sassanids in the time frame of the Roman-Persian wars and the arab invasion. very interesting time frame and if you look at the map they have made...you will surely jizz your pants.

[Floren d'Asteneuz]

thanks boys ! the idea of historical relevance an accuracy will be discussed, but if I cannot make the mod playable, it will be done for nothing

@Toho : I know the mod you mention, I played Europa Barbarorum as Parthians, and Invasio Barbarorum as Sassanid, verry fun, and I wait EoR with impatience !

[wudang_clown]

But of course there were Shi'ites in Iran then. Think about Ismailis and Zaydis. Also, reportedly, Bavandids of Mazandaran were Shi'ites.

[ariobarzanes1388]

Kharazmshahian weren't zoroastrian though. They were actually sunni muslims. The rulers were not persian but turkish and not Azari turks but Seljugh turks. hence, making them zoroastrian is in noway historical what-so-ever.

[Harith]

Kharazmshahian weren't zoroastrian though. They were actually sunni muslims. The rulers were not persian but turkish and not Azari turks but Seljugh turks. hence, making them zoroastrian is in noway historical what-so-ever.

1. the rulers were persianate (shah duhh)
2. Thats why its called alternate history.. its the whole point of the mod....

hence (lol im such an ass) making this logical in every aspect.

[Vanguard13]

we need to add Zoroastrians, followers of Mithras and Sol Invictus, and Jews. I want to see lots of jews in ukraine and be able to launch pogroms on them. Just sayin. =p

oh yes and the event card could be a bifocalled woody allen dressed up in khazar armor, holding a bag of shekels/dinar, with copious amounts of dandruff on his shoulder lamelar, and drinking gentile baby blood from the lost crucible

[Floren d'Asteneuz]

Hello Guys, (and girls, because I am sure there are girls who play wargames... ... Or not)

I am sorry, I did not gave any news last month healthy reasons but nothing too serious, and I have some bad news.

I had a HDD crash and loose "all" my work. It was not a lot but as I am new in the modding scene, it was all my reasoning, my procedures and my structure that has been lost.

I made a backup but I lost it too, and I thought it was not necessary to backup a test on the internet... So now I have nothing.

I must admit I am not ready to start over, so I think I will abandon here. I do not have the mind to start all from nothing.


Just to answer some remarks :

Indeed, the idea was to have an alternate history. I am not more found of zoroastrians than other religions, but I like to play games where you are the "outsider" and try to not to die too quickly, if possible.

I choose the Khwarezm Shah because of three things :

1 : It is a shahdom. (yes, it is just a name, but I did not wanted to change the titles of the characters too !)
2 : some of the units remind the old fashion cataphracts from Parthians/Sassanids.
3 : It is a faction that can be replaced without too much consequence for future history, and I did not know how to create a faction from scratch.

The idea was to change the starting province, the name and the colours so it would not be the khwarezm shah anymore, as Grouchio suggests ("when it's done"...)

Here we are... Of course, if someone want to make this mod himself, I am glad to hear it and I don't ask anything, not even credits, because heh... I did nothing for now.

I really thank you for your help and support, and again I am sorry for the lack of answers.

And I wish you happy new year.

[themarshal21]

Or perhaps if it were a faction that came out of a rebellion in traditional Zoroastrian lands with of course a high Zoroastrian Religion Percentage to make a rebellion more likely.