Idea: Pre-Columbian Colonization of the New World

[Reimu Hakurei]

I know.
It sounds like a typical ASB (Alien Space Bats) storyline, but think about it...
The Phoenicians/Carthagians could have discovered the Americas. The Greeks could have somehow discovered the Americas. They believed that the Earth is round. Let's say that they were looking for a shorter route to China or India.
The Romans traded with both China and India during the existence Roman Empire. Let's say they were looking for a shorter route, and used the theory "By going West you can go Far East".

Let's say that the Romans discovered America during the reign of Augustus, or somewhat later (while the Roman Empire was at the peak of it's power).
Rome: Total War and and Medieval II: Total War use the same engine, right? So, we can use the map of the Americas campaign from Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms, right?

The factions could be:
Roman Empire: Destined to be playable. Recently discovered the Americas, Rome is a new to this colonial business. Even though much of the army is made out of Latin-speaking Romans (with some ethnic-Greek Auxiliaries), the Romans rely heavily on Greek and Phoenician/Carthagian ships and their superior knowledge in sailing.
Phoenician Colonies (optional) : Destined to be non-Playable. When the Romans discovered the Americas, they were surprised to find out that the New World was already inhabited. The Phoenicians discovered the Americas at least 500 years earlier than the Romans. While in the Old World, Carthage and Phoenicia are already under Roman rule, in the New World, Phoenicians are still free of Roman rule. They did not expand further than Caribbean. The Phoenicians peacefully coexist with the Native Americans, and trade with them. However, as the Romans are arriving, it seems that the Phoenicians will be the first target of the Romans.
Mayan City-States: Destined to be playable.. The Mayans are the a majestic people, with eye-catching architecture, a mysterious written language, excellent knowledge in mathematics, however, their military feats are not so good. Even though they have excellent mathematics and architecture, and a very sophisticated system of government, just like all Native American tribes - they are basically stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Mayans hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Mayans learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Mayans destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?
Nahua Tribes: Destined to be playable. The Ancient Nahua peoples are ancestors of the famous Aztecs. So far, they have been the dominant ethnicity in North-East Mexico. They are numerous, strong and zealous. But, just the like Mayans, they are stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Nahua hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Nahua learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Nahua destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?
Otomi Tribes: Destined to be non-playable. The Otomi tribes are allies to the Nahua, and hostile to the Mayans. Unfortunately, the Otomi are stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Otomi hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Otomi learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Nahua destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?
Zapotec Tribes: Destined to be playable. The Zapotec tribes are strategically in a very bad situation. If they are not careful enough, they well be caught in a crossfire between the Mayans and Nahua. Not the mention, a new threat is emerging: the Romans.
The Zapotec might be civilized and majestic, but they are stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Zapotec hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Zapotec learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Zapotec destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?

[Primo]

Rome: Total War and and Medieval II: Total War use the same engine, right?

Wrong. Medievals Engine is an extended and updated version of the roman Engine. They are not the same. If so, you could copy Medieval2.exe into Rome Folder, and play with prisoners and the other new changes - which is not possible.

So, we can use the map of the Americas campaign from Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms, right?

That´s true nevertheless, but you have to convert the files a bit.

The factions could be:
Roman Empire: Destined to be playable. Recently discovered the Americas, Rome is a new to this colonial business. Even though much of the army is made out of Latin-speaking Romans (with some ethnic-Greek Auxiliaries), the Romans rely heavily on Greek and Phoenician/Carthagian ships and their superior knowledge in sailing.
Phoenician Colonies (optional) : Destined to be non-Playable. When the Romans discovered the Americas, they were surprised to find out that the New World was already inhabited. The Phoenicians discovered the Americas at least 500 years earlier than the Romans. While in the Old World, Carthage and Phoenicia are already under Roman rule, in the New World, Phoenicians are still free of Roman rule. They did not expand further than Caribbean. The Phoenicians peacefully coexist with the Native Americans, and trade with them. However, as the Romans are arriving, it seems that the Phoenicians will be the first target of the Romans.
Mayan City-States: Destined to be playable.. The Mayans are the a majestic people, with eye-catching architecture, a mysterious written language, excellent knowledge in mathematics, however, their military feats are not so good. Even though they have excellent mathematics and architecture, and a very sophisticated system of government, just like all Native American tribes - they are basically stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Mayans hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Mayans learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Mayans destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?
Nahua Tribes: Destined to be playable. The Ancient Nahua peoples are ancestors of the famous Aztecs. So far, they have been the dominant ethnicity in North-East Mexico. They are numerous, strong and zealous. But, just the like Mayans, they are stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Nahua hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Nahua learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Nahua destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?
Otomi Tribes: Destined to be non-playable. The Otomi tribes are allies to the Nahua, and hostile to the Mayans. Unfortunately, the Otomi are stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Otomi hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Otomi learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Nahua destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?
Zapotec Tribes: Destined to be playable. The Zapotec tribes are strategically in a very bad situation. If they are not careful enough, they well be caught in a crossfire between the Mayans and Nahua. Not the mention, a new threat is emerging: the Romans.
The Zapotec might be civilized and majestic, but they are stuck in the Stone Age. No metal tools, no metal weapons, no metal armour (nothing heavier than leather).
Can the Zapotec hold against the Romans who have superior weapons? Can the Zapotec learn the ways of their enemies (metal weapons, bows, siege machines etc.), or are the Zapotec destined to be forever stuck in obscurity?

One can see you already thought about this alot. Can you Mod yourself?

[Reimu Hakurei]

Wrong. Medievals Engine is an extended and updated version of the roman Engine. They are not the same. If so, you could copy Medieval2.exe into Rome Folder, and play with prisoners and the other new changes - which is not possible.

Hmmmm... understood.

That´s true nevertheless, but you have to convert the files a bit.

And how?
Btw, can unit models from Medieval II be used? For the Native American units... Same for buildings.

One can see you already thought about this alot.

Yes, I did. I love Alternate History.

Can you Mod yourself?

Not really.
I can edit the desc_strat.txt file, but I can't make models, can't edit factions, units or buildings (if I only had instructions... and patience to do it), and can't edit maps either.
I can use Photoshop though to re-texture.

[Primo]

Hmmmm... understood.
And how? Btw, can unit models from Medieval II be used? For the Native American units... Same for buildings.

I don´t mod medieval 2, apart from unit tweaking, so I don´t know.

Yes, I did. I love Alternate History.
Not really.
I can edit the desc_strat.txt file, but I can't make models, can't edit factions, units or buildings (if I only had instructions... and patience to do it), and can't edit maps either.
I can use Photoshop though to re-texture.

Well, If you want to start a mod, you have to be the one doing the first work. If there are some screens, some new Implented Units, or something like that, people will think about joining your mod. And text editing isn´t that hard, and in the workshop are more than enough tutorials for that - And if you don´t have the patience for that, you don´t have patience for the mod.

Nearly every gamer has an Idea how he can improve the game he is playing, and more than 99% of them don´t happen. But every Idea is absolutely unique.

[Reimu Hakurei]

Nearly every gamer has an Idea how he can improve the game he is playing, and more than 99% of them don´t happen. But every Idea is absolutely unique.

Well... all I need is a converter then, and then it could work... By the way, is there a map editor of some sort, that lets me to handle things easier? I mean, with less hassle with text editing... Like, setting town coordinates, setting factions starting coordinates, etc.

[Primo]

Well... all I need is a converter then, and then it could work... By the way, is there a map editor of some sort, that lets me to handle things easier? I mean, with less hassle with text editing... Like, setting town coordinates, setting factions starting coordinates, etc.

There is no converter. You have to change the entrys, manually.
And I think Map Editors are far more complicated than text editing itself - I tried one, but failed miserably.

[Bull3pr00f de Bodemloze]

W-w-w-wait, what?
Then it seems this will forever stay an idea only, and never a completed mod.

It is not nearly as much work as the actual modding.

Have a read: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...70#post4398470

[Reimu Hakurei]

Let's see then...

[ruthless]

Mate, have you had a look at our World Total War idea?

[Caesar15]

LOl you can stil use the maps from m2tw americas for your mod you know

[Altzek]

Fascinating.I had a similar idea,sometime ago,I called it Colonies,go check the previous pages a bit.