Lt--suggestions regarding BI patch

[hannibeau]

1. as the second punic war started in 218bc, how about adjusting the game timeline to start in say 220bc or 225bc...i like a later timeline as i am struggling from "going marian" to early on...most everything is constructed in my cities (pre-marian) by 215bc-210bc...

2. either give carthage mediolanum or hannibals biggest prize, capua...the gauls of northern italy were hannibal's allies as did capua and most of southern italy side w/ carthage...mediolanum would represent the alpine march...

3. if these suggestions do come to fruition think of the possibilities as your raw legions/ vet. legions fight alongside roma's legions...i have in my current campaign at the outset gave up genoa w/ little resistance in order to fight alongside roma's finest...no such luck drawing gaul in towards arretium yet one legion from rome did move up towards arretium...

...this could be the sort of start that would guarantee latin mortality and slower population booms, in effect, keeping the marian reforms closer to the actual time historically (?104bc?)...all my campaigns have been designed to keep from "going marian" to early...i love the challenge of facing a 4,000 man german/ gallic mob...this really tests my general skills...due to the effect of casualties recruitment keeps my cities pop. levels somewhat in check...think of the stranglehold a carthaginian province nearby would have...isn't the thought wonderful...in order for this to work though (the mediolanum province suggestion) carthage and gaul would have to be allies w/ military access rights (italian gauls and carthage were allies historically)...

...i play all campaigns on 4tpy/garr. script...so the early start would be nice...as for the other changes: they sound very great...you just keep up this good work your doing and we will keep playing your golden mod...many thx, your most humble client o' patrician modfather (lol), hannibeau

[Konig]

i also had a thought of giving Carthage a settlement in northern Italy, but giving them a border with Gaul could lead to potential problems.

[lt1956]

We'll see. Problem is how the AI will act. Also there is the issue that the player only has to take the province to end the campaign as the ai army will leave italy back for home. You wold have to make the province OWNED by them which means higher unrest all the time.

Its a balance, I WILL test all options for the BI mod. Meantime Practice on 6.3 as it will have the same gameplay.

Lt

[-|I_L|-Empire]

Maybe make Hannibal a separate Faction?

From what I know Hannibal invaded Rome with the Carthaginian Council's blessing, but then as he ended up in the midst of Rome, the Council abandoned him and did not send the armies of Carthage to assist and so he was forced to pull to Africa where he was defeated by Scipio who has studied Hannibal's battle tactics.

So maybe program Hannibal to start with a settlement to the North of Italy and programed to invade south to Rome. Rome starts with two Legions and a weak Garrison in Rome, but stronger further South.
Once Hannibal is defeated then the player can continue on the normal path of what ever he/she wants to do.

Is there a way to program the SPQR to give missions to take settlements/start wars against factions according to historical accuracy?

Because I find it annoying trying to fight my war in Carthage, holding out against Germania and Gaul and Dacia, worrying that Greece might attack after getting to powerful, with the SPQR telling me to take settlements in the middle of Gaul! I just don't have the man power to do so, not to mention currently in my game my two Legions in Northern Italy are in a bad way! One under siege and the other needs rebuilding and the Commander is going to be replaced!

Also I don't see how Briton is allied with Egypt or why you start off at war with Briton etc.... well I can see it from one point of view, you send a force to Briton, they will attack to defend their homelands as your already at war etc....

I like the whole Religion as an importance, hey that reminds me, Hannibal might not have any settlements but some large forces in the North in Horde mode. Allied with Carthage/Gaul/Germania and automatically enemies with Rome.

SPQR could be like weak but programed for armies to pop up after Hannibal is defeated and your first biggest challenge/mission is to defend the SPQR Rome and your own settlements with your two Legions. (The two standard Legions in the current version of SPQR)

Also shield wall, would be a nice feature, maybe Shield auxilia could use that, is there a way to add two features for Legionnaires, Shield wall + Testudo?

How long can the campaign be extended, so its like From the Rise of Rome to its fall and the start of the Dark Age?

Saxon shield wall etc...?

Also Horde mode would be nice to see the Huns turn up!

Also I think Rome should start with trade routs to Egypt, Greece, Parthia, Dacia, Briton and at war with Carthage.
Just Rome and Gaul weren't really at war all the time, the whole Gaul and Rome being enemies thing has come from Julius Caesar's conquests!

You take Carthage then the Senate (SPQR) begins to give you missions to take spain and Greece, then moving towards Egypt and Parthia, into Gaul/Briton etc...

Maybe you could get some spear mercenaries who use shield wall along with other normal spear/shield units.

??

[Konig]

well, if you leave rome too weak, they'll be a pushover later in the campaign when you want to take the city.

ive neber played BI, so im not sure how the religion factor kicks in, but im guessing there could be 3 religions, Carthaginian (whatever their religion was called), Parthian, and Roman.... and perhaps barbarian. But let me reiterate, that im not sure how it works.

[lt1956]

You need to read the SPQR readme, and then know a little about the game RTW itself. lol

Most of the other mod would have added everything there is to add, so if you dont see ANYONE having it yet after 2 years, it cant be done. ;-)

Second Shield wall in SPQR is better than BI's one reason you can make ANY depth where as the one in BI is fixed. Plus You cant have testudo and Shieldwall in BI its one or the other, CA designed that Limit of 2 formations one always being square the other a special formation.

Only way to add armies etc is to script them and then that Require the player to PLAY with the script without CHOICE, SPQR currently allows one to play with or without the script. Plus the Bigger the script and scripting the Slower the game Runs, example is Adding named legions to SPQR using BI's feature and the Game slow down ALOT in the campaign. Thats a minor script compared to the ones needed to do what you are asking. Heck take a look at the garrison script and you will get an idea!

[hannibeau]

hey gang...first off, thx for your quick reply Lt (modfather...lol)...secondly, I_L empire think simple...and thirdly, "we'll see"?...that sounds very promising Lt...thx again, hannibeau

[-|I_L|-Empire]

I was adding suggestions, sorry but when you take Graphics at school you learn to have loads of ideas and then go from their eliminated the most difficult or so on...

Well, what is the shield wall in SPQR? I was thinking of a more visual one, like the....dammit i 4got their name, but the Western Empire in BI have these heavy spear men and they form a shield wall which proved vital in many of my battles, same with Saxons.

Well, like I said maybe it could start before Hannibal and he just appears in horde mode like the Huns do in BI in Northern Italy with maybe 2 forces, and auto allied to Carthage and Gaul.

Religion in BI determines your settlements happiness, when I started campaign as the West I found that most of the Empire rebels after one round, you have to destroy all the Pagan Roman buildings and build in Christian ones.
As for an SPQR TW on BI, maybe you could have, Pagan, Christianity, Arabic, Orthodox, Roman Pagan....Christianity could maybe appear nearer the end of the Empire causing some unrest etc.... if thats possible.

[lt1956]

I think you FIRST need to learn whats IN SPQR and what can be done, then worry about changes for a BI version. lol

There is alot already in SPQR you obviously are not aware of. Please Read the readme and check this forum for other things discussed on features already IN SPQR.

Lt

[-|I_L|-Empire]

I already know that I have to destroy building in Settlements to keep some peace such as Temples and so on....

[hannibeau]

hey again gang...what i think the modfather (Lt1956) is trying to say to you I_L empire is that the BI SPQR patch is just to incorporate some of the finer details found only in BI and to place them in the SPQR mod...not (i think) a SPQR mod based on the BI timeline...hope this clarifies the miscommunication...what you said earlier about being a graphics student caught my attention...i was a visual design major (now a harbor tugboat capt) and currently have two large sculptural projects i am working on (church/chapel commissions)...so, on that note i do understand your enthusiasm for mod work and scripting...but, Lt was kind of heart enough to grace w/ this wonderful, yet simple mod...so if he says to do something then it is good bet that you should do what he says and listen...not tyring to be flippant, just matter-of-fact...thx, hannibeau