Project X - Into the Heart of Darkness

[4zumi]

Before you read on, fellow visitor, please take note, that this has nothing to do with Total Vanilla Beyond. I did not get my wish for another subforum granted, where I can throw around ideas or discuss new projects.
But I will try again in some time, when the Project has taken further steps
So be not confused by this...

Project X - Into the Heart of Darkness

As some of you may be aware of I have given some infos on Project X on my discord, but will now take it also to TWC.
The Project is in very, very, very early stages and far away from releasing. But I wanted to share some thoughts about it.

After visiting the East in TVB and the West in Bananas, I though that it would be time to visit the south and expand a little bit to the north.

The map will contain much more of Africa. And with this comes at least two new factions.
The Empire of Mali and (maybe) Makuria.

The time period will most likely start a good chunk later (Around Mansa Musa Time - not Hammer Time).

I also plan on implementing 3 other new factions.

We will see where this goes as I develop the idea further.
So expect to see from time to time new infos popping up here

thanksloveyoubye
zumi

ps.: With Three Kingdoms on the Horizon it could be, that I get lost for some time

[sullivanclan1]

You should make it like the near east mod with a bunch of settlements and overhaul units in each faction. Would you want some help with the forum and the mod?

[4zumi]

@sulli
I should make it how I feel is appropriate
As I am a lone tigress, I have to respectfully decline your offer. But thank you
If I need help, I will cry out for it

@all
have a first look at the rough map (changes may occur)

[Luggerix]

Can you expand the map a little bit to the east so boats can go from Red Sea to Persian Gulf?

[4zumi]

Yes, I could. And I think i will alter the shape a bit to make that possible

[sullivanclan1]

U sure you don't need my help? I am a historian!

[coitus interruptus]

Awesome cant wait.

[Dragour]

Ooh would be fun to own the Arabian Peninsula and monopolize the sea trade there ^^

[Alondite]

Hmmm... going to Africa is a good idea but the Sahara Desert is... huge

Obviously there shouldn't be too many provinces in the Sahara Desert, but in this case I think most of the players will give up crossing the huge desert unless playing as Mali or Makuria, just like most of the players are not willing to attack Timbuktu in vanilla game...

I think more African factions are required to make African parts more attractive, like the America in Banana.

[4zumi]

@sulli
at the moment, yes

@alondite
yeah, I think to make the Sahara viable i will introduce the Tuareg back in and some oasis towns along the way.
I am still gathering intel, on which factions to introduce and include, etc.

[sullivanclan1]

Put in some more swordsmen an spearmen to each faction bc some factions in europe do not have enough units. Also make it easier to recruitment for all units.

[4zumi]

Here is my thought map for the factions
Red ones are candidates to be kicked, because 30 factions limit.



I took mostly inspiration from these maps
https://www.worldhistorymaps.info/im...Hem_1200ad.jpg
https://www.worldhistorymaps.info/im...Hem_1300ad.jpg

[Luggerix]

Looking good! Shame the faction limit is 30...
The Red Four I would keep:
1. Kanem Empire: Africa is important for this mod and Central Africa needs a faction.
2. Teutonic Order: Baltic Sea and Scandinavia are expanded too so I think Teutons would stir the pot nicely.
3. Milan/Genoa: Northern Italy and the Alps just feel so empty without these backstabbers.
4. Georgia: Caucasus needs also a faction, I think.

I was thinking if Levant needs a faction, but Turks, Ilkhanate, Egypt and Crusaders will keep this area busy.

[sullivanclan1]

1. Kingdom of Aragon
2. Abbassid Caliphate
3. Possibly another southern african kingdom
4. cuman khagnate
5. kingdom of croatia
6. Kingdom of Bohemia
those are just suggestions
my other suggestions would be to add more settlements in eastern and western europe and africa.

[sullivanclan1]

1. Kingdom of Aragon
2. Abbassid Caliphate
3. Possibly another southern african kingdom
4. cuman khagnate
5. kingdom of croatia
6. Kingdom of Bohemia
those are just suggestions
my other suggestions would be to add more settlements in eastern and western europe and africa.

[Cokjan]

I'd say, remove Damascus. Ilkhanate is a muslim faction right? Having Jerusalem right in the middle of 4 Islamic factions would be overkill.
Perhaps Teutonic Order could be replaced with HRE, essentially merging the two faction with HRE having Teutonic territories.

I suggest keeping Kanem Empire, Georgia, Milan, and either Bulgaria or Kingdom of Jerusalem.

[Dragour]

Personally I would swap Sweden for Kanem since Scandinavia still has Lithuania and Novgorod to invade them, and maybe Makuria for Beduins so we have a faction starting in the Arab Peninsula

[Alondite]

It seems that the campaign starts after the mongols' invasion (I saw the Golden Horde and Il Khanate), maybe AD 1300?

If not, Kingdom of Jerusalem would be an interesting one. However, if the campaign really starts from 1300, I will remove it since the Crusader States are 99% crushed after the Mamluks took Acre in 1291.

In my opinion, since the core of this mod is going to Africa, I would like
1. Kanem Empire
2. Beduins
3. Ethopians - though not listed in the candidates, Ethopian is believed one of the first Christian kingdoms! Why not?

Still, I want Kingdom of Aragon
One of the most intolerable stuff in vanilla game is Castile and Aragon merged as Spain...

[4zumi]

I think I will let the campaign map start on 1300 or a bit before, so the KoJ may be out anyways as they were insignificant in those last years as far as I know.

Ethiopia is a good idea, I will write that on the list too.

Castile & Aragon would be two very similar factions gameplaywise. I see why CA merged everything into one faction.

Thanks so far for all the comments, keep it flowing. It is just brainstorming at the moment.
If anyone can point me to some sources about the african factions (especially units) you are welcome to do so.

As far as I have found out it is mostly bowmen (with poison for Mali),spear infantry and cavalry...
I do not lack imagination to come up with units myself, but if there is anything, that would be nice.

[Cokjan]

Ah, I see. With that in mind, I think Sweden can be removed (even though it's not in the candidate) and replaced with the Bedouins.

You can see the Attila mod of Medieval Kingdoms for inspirations. They made rosters for African factions (Makuria and Ethiopia) and also other factions that you wanted to add (Bulgaria, Cilicia, Serbia, etc)

Also I'd like to ask, will this mod incorporate TVB's mechanics like wonders, free castle upkeep, etc?