New Byzantine Mod (2 flavors)

[Spartan_One]

I have been putting together a Byzantine Mod based on a request I received and my own interest. This mod comes in 2 flavors: Ambition (1071 borders) and Last Stand (early 1453 borders). This mod still needs some of the details worked out, such as names, policies, and leader stats. The smaller mod assumes that the Byzantine Empire last a few more day before destruction while the larger roughly re-established the 1071 border (per request) and eliminates the Ottomans.

I will be releasing the beta momentarily for playtesting, all I ask in return is input and criticisms. Remember, this was done in one seven hour stretch so far, so it's definitely a work in progress. To play as Byzantines, you MUST start on May 30, 1453.

[Spartan_One]

VERSION 0.4b IS OUT!
I'm leaving the two older alternate scenarios up for anyone who wants them.
Download Here:

Byzantine Mod v0.4b
Byzantine Mod - FileFront.com

Last Stand v0.3b:
Last Stand - Megaupload.com


Ambitions v0.3b:
Ambitions - Megaupload.com


To install, unzip these into your "..\Europa Universalis III\Mod\" folder
Recommended to start May 30, 1453

Version history
v0.4b (8/19/07)
-released first combined scenario
v0.3b (6/18/07)
-fixed Byzantine/Roman names and ships
-adjusted colonization to give historic nations an advantage
-adjusted values on missionary to encourage ai
-adjusted naval_forcelimit values to prevent monster ai fleets in record time
-monetary constraints on tribal nations to encourage Russian growth and stabilize east.
-streamlined localisation file (quicker download and smaller mod overall)
-adjusted Unification Event
v0.2b (6/10/07)
-changed map colors
-added all Ottoman discovered provinces to Byzantines
-added Roman Re-Unification event
-adjusted colonist/missionary units to aid AI behavior
-adjusted Catholic control of Jerusalem/Mecca to include Orthodox for Byzantine revival
v0.1 (6/9/07)
-added Byzantine Empire to map

[Konig15]

It looks awesome, I'm not good at EUIII yeat, but it's difinately worth the go around!

[Spartan_One]

It looks awesome, I'm not good at EUIII yeat, but it's difinately worth the go around!

Hey Konig, as for your request to not have cyprus, just go into the "history\provinces" folder in the mod and delete the .txt file with cyprus in its name.

[Gigalocus]

looks good, i always love a godd Byzantine mod ... but could you (or tell me) how to change the colour? to a red or dark purple? and are there any new 'Roman/Byzantine' events?

great mod!

[Spartan_One]

looks good, i always love a godd Byzantine mod ... but could you (or tell me) how to change the colour? to a red or dark purple? and are there any new 'Roman/Byzantine' events?

great mod!

Thanks! The color is in the common\countries folder. it's in RGB format. Please, if you find a color you like, please post the RGB code here. That is just a preliminary color. I have decided to continue this project and will add events in the next release, although only a few to start.

currently posted (2PM EST 6/10/2007) is v.1b
v.2b should be out in a few days (or tonight ) with the following changes:
-Byzantines can see all provinces that Ottomans could
-Roman Unification event (for those who think really big)
-Adjusted Catholic control of Jerusalem/Mecca to include Orthodox (Byzantines were interested in 'crusades' as well)
-fixing name bug (certain first names appear as last names in the game for advisors and leaders)
-tweaked colonist/missionary values aimed at adjusting AI behavior (I previously experimented this, I'm just adding it to see what you think.)
-new download hosting

May come out this release or next (depends on input I get, feed me your comments and advice!):
-editing policy sliders and Constantine XI's stats (I need input here, please)
-more Byzantine/Roman Events
-new map color and/or flag
-anything else the community adds
-still need historical Byzantine ship names

Future releases:
-adjust map for other nations in Ambitions version to pseudohistory where Byzantines maintained 1071 borders.




Also, I am very interested in hearing your experiences in the game. This will help with development of future versions!

This is a lite mod and at it's current size can be updated frequently.

[Gigalocus]

can i also say, you may want to change the name 'Byzantine' is a French term first used in the 1800s', it actually has nothing to do with the Roman empire as it was called, but ... its still all yours and how people view it

[USSR]

Here is the flag that I use, it is from Wikipedia.


Here is the colour that I use:


I really look forward to more Roman events, keep up the good work.

[Spartan_One]

can i also say, you may want to change the name 'Byzantine' is a French term first used in the 1800s', it actually has nothing to do with the Roman empire as it was called, but ... its still all yours and how people view it

I decided to use it anyway just to make it simple and accessible to most people who don't know what Basileia Romaion is (Greek for 'Roman Empire/Kingdom' iirc). I could have simply called it Romania, but I didn't want any confusion with modern Romania. I can make an alternate localisation file that uses the new name, but I would need someone to help me with an adjective form of Roman in the Greek language.

Here is the flag that I use, it is from Wikipedia.


Here is the colour that I use:


I really look forward to more Roman events, keep up the good work.

Excellent colors, I hope you don't mind if I use them? As for the flag, I saw that one, but decided on just the Paleaologos Dynasty flag instead, the one in game. Decision was based on the fact that it was already the image I had in my head and with just a little tweeking it fit into the shield better in the ui.

Thanks for your input, I am almost done creating a unification event that will restore the Roman Empire. I have a medieval flag for Rome with a cross and SPQR, but I am looking for a better one. Preferably with the legionary eagle. If you have any images, please share!

[USSR]

Excellent colors, I hope you don't mind if I use them? As for the flag, I saw that one, but decided on just the Paleaologos Dynasty flag instead, the one in game. Decision was based on the fact that it was already the image I had in my head and with just a little tweeking it fit into the shield better in the ui.

Thanks for your input, I am almost done creating a unification event that will restore the Roman Empire. I have a medieval flag for Rome with a cross and SPQR, but I am looking for a better one. Preferably with the legionary eagle. If you have any images, please share!

No, you are free to use it =). As for the flag you can just make several and let people decide which one they like best (name them something byz.tga, byz_a.tga and so on). I saw that it is already done by some modders and it is really nice too.

[Spartan_One]

No, you are free to use it =). As for the flag you can just make several and let people decide which one they like best (name them something byz.tga, byz_a.tga and so on). I saw that it is already done by some modders and it is really nice too.

Thanks for the feedback, I lightened your color, but kept the same balance as it looked great. I think I will add the optional flag.

I am hoping to here some results for early to mid game soon!

[kolmy]

There's some mods of Byzantine Empire, but isn't there anyone thinking about one that isn't ahistorical. Of course you have your Last Stand scenario, but why not start as Trebizond or Morea and restore the Empire? And then Make some events for the Empire to give it some flavor?

[Spartan_One]

There's some mods of Byzantine Empire, but isn't there anyone thinking about one that isn't ahistorical. Of course you have your Last Stand scenario, but why not start as Trebizond or Morea and restore the Empire? And then Make some events for the Empire to give it some flavor?

Last Stand was meant to be close to historical start, giving a few more months for Romania to hold together. It would be easy enough to use the files I have for adding Byzantines and use an event to restore the empire, if that's the kind of thing you're interested in (I may just do that). This mod originally did start out as a request from a member of the community here who wished to defend Constantinople from the Muslims in the east.

As for the Roman events, I am planning on splitting the unification event into multiple parts that give the player more control in how reconquest effects his empire. I also plan on adding a few more flavor events to the Last Stand scenario to make resisting the Ottomans a little more interesting.

Please let me know how your games are going. I need to know if either scenario is too hard or too easy. My intentions were for Last Stand to be a very hard, but strategically interesting scenario. Ambitions is considerably easier, but you have to face constant attack from the east, and if you are truly unlucky, the north as well . . .

[kolmy]

Last Stand was meant to be close to historical start, giving a few more months for Romania to hold together. It would be easy enough to use the files I have for adding Byzantines and use an event to restore the empire, if that's the kind of thing you're interested in (I may just do that). This mod originally did start out as a request from a member of the community here who wished to defend Constantinople from the Muslims in the east.

As for the Roman events, I am planning on splitting the unification event into multiple parts that give the player more control in how reconquest effects his empire. I also plan on adding a few more flavor events to the Last Stand scenario to make resisting the Ottomans a little more interesting.

Please let me know how your games are going. I need to know if either scenario is too hard or too easy. My intentions were for Last Stand to be a very hard, but strategically interesting scenario. Ambitions is considerably easier, but you have to face constant attack from the east, and if you are truly unlucky, the north as well . . .

Well, there can be another scenario which represents the historical situation...
I've some ideas for the mod if you want, I worked on a Byzantine mod for EU2, so I could take some of the ideas...

What I'm thinking right now is events for interaction with the Catholic Church:
-Byzantine Empire can restore the Latin Empire and be sponsored by the Catholic world in a crusade against the Muslim world.
-Also any catholic nation can restore the Latin Empire.
-For Greek catholic nations (including the Knights and Cyprus), they can become the Latin Empire itself.
-For non culture provinces, it can be accepted (by the normal process of the game), it can be resettled by peaceful terms, resettled by force (expelling them) or tax them. (Maybe the culture gain/loose system must be tweaked).

For a Orthodox Byzantine Empire:
-The catholic nations would hate you if you expand to catholic territory.
-You can have some support from Russia, and maybe some control over their church and religion, but only if you grow up large.
-If you get in troubles (more than you are on the beginning) you can call for Russia help (and other, there would be some options), but then you can become a puppet state of Russia.

I'm also thinking on a Muslim Byzantine Empire (there was even a dynasty), but it must be reviewed carefully. I've got lots of material from EU2 though, so if you are interested on them, PM me.

[Spartan_One]

Well, there can be another scenario which represents the historical situation...
I've some ideas for the mod if you want, I worked on a Byzantine mod for EU2, so I could take some of the ideas...

What I'm thinking right now is events for interaction with the Catholic Church:
-Byzantine Empire can restore the Latin Empire and be sponsored by the Catholic world in a crusade against the Muslim world.
-Also any catholic nation can restore the Latin Empire.
-For Greek catholic nations (including the Knights and Cyprus), they can become the Latin Empire itself.
-For non culture provinces, it can be accepted (by the normal process of the game), it can be resettled by peaceful terms, resettled by force (expelling them) or tax them. (Maybe the culture gain/loose system must be tweaked).

For a Orthodox Byzantine Empire:
-The catholic nations would hate you if you expand to catholic territory.
-You can have some support from Russia, and maybe some control over their church and religion, but only if you grow up large.
-If you get in troubles (more than you are on the beginning) you can call for Russia help (and other, there would be some options), but then you can become a puppet state of Russia.

I'm also thinking on a Muslim Byzantine Empire (there was even a dynasty), but it must be reviewed carefully. I've got lots of material from EU2 though, so if you are interested on them, PM me.

Those are some great ideas! I would love to use a few of those for this mod. You sound like you've done your research at I think ideas like that would help tremendously.

[Gigalocus]

Well, there can be another scenario which represents the historical situation...
I've some ideas for the mod if you want, I worked on a Byzantine mod for EU2, so I could take some of the ideas...

What I'm thinking right now is events for interaction with the Catholic Church:
-Byzantine Empire can restore the Latin Empire and be sponsored by the Catholic world in a crusade against the Muslim world.
-Also any catholic nation can restore the Latin Empire.
-For Greek catholic nations (including the Knights and Cyprus), they can become the Latin Empire itself.
-For non culture provinces, it can be accepted (by the normal process of the game), it can be resettled by peaceful terms, resettled by force (expelling them) or tax them. (Maybe the culture gain/loose system must be tweaked).

For a Orthodox Byzantine Empire:
-The catholic nations would hate you if you expand to catholic territory.
-You can have some support from Russia, and maybe some control over their church and religion, but only if you grow up large.
-If you get in troubles (more than you are on the beginning) you can call for Russia help (and other, there would be some options), but then you can become a puppet state of Russia.

I'm also thinking on a Muslim Byzantine Empire (there was even a dynasty), but it must be reviewed carefully. I've got lots of material from EU2 though, so if you are interested on them, PM me.

Russia and the Empire were very frinedly, due to them both being Orthodox nations, however, the Muslim byzantine empire is not what it seems, after constantinople fell, the ottoman emperors gained the title 'head of the Orthodox church' and 'King of constantinople' and followed on the Emperor titles, though they themselves were never directly a Muslim byzntine emperor.
Also, there would be very little change the Knights would become the Latin empire, they were a crusading order of religion, whereas the Latine empire was a kingdom, though they would most likely try to restore them but only if Muslims were in control, as The empire and crusading nations were all allieed and frinedly, so a crusading order wouldn't invade its closet ally. The fourth crusade wasnt a crusade, but an attemtp to get back at the Islamic nations, by strengthing there borders, also note that only Italian nations were involded in this crusade, who typically didnt like the 'true' roman empire

[Spartan_One]

Russia and the Empire were very frinedly, due to them both being Orthodox nations, however, the Muslim byzantine empire is not what it seems, after constantinople fell, the ottoman emperors gained the title 'head of the Orthodox church' and 'King of constantinople' and followed on the Emperor titles, though they themselves were never directly a Muslim byzntine emperor.
Also, there would be very little change the Knights would become the Latin empire, they were a crusading order of religion, whereas the Latine empire was a kingdom, though they would most likely try to restore them but only if Muslims were in control, as The empire and crusading nations were all allieed and frinedly, so a crusading order wouldn't invade its closet ally. The fourth crusade wasnt a crusade, but an attemtp to get back at the Islamic nations, by strengthing there borders, also note that only Italian nations were involded in this crusade, who typically didnt like the 'true' roman empire

Russian - Romanian alliance did result from the Russian adoption of Orthodox Christianity. In return, the Rus gave a gift of warriors that became the Varangian Guard.
As for a Muslim dynasty in the Byzantine Empire, there wasn't really a conversion or need for one. Many of the conquered states were allowed limited freedom of religion, so Orthodox Christianity was highly prevalent in the Ottoman Empire. The ability for Romania to convert to Islam on a mass scale simply wasn't present, so even if an emperor was Muslim the state religion would most likely remain Orthodox.
Crusaders were often opportunist, and the enmity between the churches did not protect the Greek Empire from attack by the Latins.

I am putting out a request for a better Roman flag, as well as a Latin Empire flag. If you got 'em, share 'em!

[kolmy]

Russia and the Empire were very friendly, due to them both being Orthodox nations, however, the Muslim Byzantine empire is not what it seems, after Constantinople fell, the Ottoman emperors gained the title 'head of the Orthodox church' and 'King of Constantinople' and followed on the Emperor titles, though they themselves were never directly a Muslim Byzantine emperor.
Also, there would be very little change the Knights would become the Latin empire, they were a crusading order of religion, whereas the Latin empire was a kingdom, though they would most likely try to restore them but only if Muslims were in control, as The empire and crusading nations were all allied and friendly, so a crusading order wouldn't invade its closet ally. The fourth crusade wasn't a crusade, but an attempt to get back at the Islamic nations, by strengthening their borders, also note that only Italian nations were involved in this crusade, who typically didn't like the 'true' Roman empire

Well, the Russians even tried to restore the old Roman Empire in the time of Catarina, with the Greek project, but it failed, but it can be included and make it possible in a early time (and the Greek project was made in the late 1700's).

I also know that the Knights hardly could become a kingdom, although, the Teutonic Order wasn't a kingdom, but it formed Prussia and later Germany. Of course the Knights should loose the support from the West, but I think it is relatively plausible.

About the Muslim Byzantine empire, as I said, is not very plausible, anyway I will research a bit, see what I can find.

[Gigalocus]

I am putting out a request for a better Roman flag, as well as a Latin Empire flag. If you got 'em, share 'em!

Theres these two for Latin empire:





i prefer the 1st flag.

as for rome:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...%3Den%26sa%3DN

theres this site that you might get some ideas from or you could try:

(the scarab represents the east)



also, i have to say including the SPQR on a united Empire under Byzantine rule, would most likly be rejected, as the SPQR had been in little use since around 50ad, and fallen completly out of use by 300ad

[Spartan_One]

Theres these two for Latin empire:
[image removed]

[image removed]


i prefer the 1st flag.

as for rome:

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...%3Den%26sa%3DN

theres this site that you might get some ideas from or you could try:
[image removed]
(the scarab represents the east)

[image removed]

also, i have to say including the SPQR on a united Empire under Byzantine rule, would most likly be rejected, as the SPQR had been in little use since around 50ad, and fallen completly out of use by 300ad

Thanks for the images! I definitely agree with you on the Latin Empire flag, it looks wonderful! We had been surfing the same site for flag images too! One of the flags I found for Medieval Roma did have the cross and letters SPQR on it, so I believe they kept it around for antiquity sake? http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/it_rome.html

The current one I used for Rome was a photoshop of a vexillum eagle onto a solid color background. It's not the best when reduced to 64x64, so I am looking for something that started as an image preferably.

If I can get an image without SPQR on it, that would be great. I am picturing a Roman legionnaire eagle with olive branches.

There is difficulty finding a historically accurate 'flag' for Rome, since flags as a symbol of the state did not exist in the way they do today. Therefore, I may have to opt for something symbolic in representation, and an adaption that a kingdom trying to restore Rome might choose. (not green-white-red)