Magna Mundi (for EU III) has only one recommended start date: 1453. In this scenario, everything has been properly balanced, to make the following 368 years of game play as rewarding as possible. I have been thinking of doing the same thing in Imperium. It would be much easier to write province history if I didn't have to care about everything that happened between 1 and 727 AUC. Consequently, I would have more time for map modding, and be able to expand the map more quickly.
Historical phenomena taking place after the specific start date would have to be simulated by means of events. The invasion of the Gauls, for example, could be represented by a series of events triggering somewhere around 350 AUC. Temporarily, the Etruscan colonies in the Po valley would be weakened, making the expansion of the Gaulish tribes more likely. It's important, however, that these historical events don't interfere too much with the game; After all, changing history is one of the best things in Paradox games.
It's time to announce my choice. Surprisingly, perhaps, I don't think we should pick 1 AUC as the recommended start date for Imperium. Instead, I suggest 245 AUC (509 BC), when the Roman Republic was founded.
I have several reasons for picking this start date.
- The engine can't handle characters with negative birth dates (they don't die as they should). These are generated automatically if the game is loaded somewhere around 0-50 AUC, so picking a later start date is a way of avoiding the problem.
- The period before 245 AUC didn't involve much of the of turbulence usually seen in EUR, which makes games set in 1 AUC rather unrealistic. A normal player is not likely to do absolutely nothing with Rome for 250 years, in fact, he or she is most likely to have conquered the whole Italian peninsula by then.
- The Greek colonies were all founded in 245 AUC, which 1) gives the map some relevance and 2) saves us the trouble of simulating overseas colonisation.
- Most of the important events during Antiquity took place after 245 AUC, such as the Peloponnesian War, the conquests of Alexander and the Punic Wars.
- The years immediately following 245 AUC are interesting from a political point of view: Cleisthenes introduced democracy in Athens, the Romans organised their newly formed Republic and the Greeks in Asia Minor revolted against the Persians.
All in all, the player will have 485 years of solid game play from 245 to 730 AUC. Does it sound like a good idea?
Cheers!
Historical phenomena taking place after the specific start date would have to be simulated by means of events. The invasion of the Gauls, for example, could be represented by a series of events triggering somewhere around 350 AUC. Temporarily, the Etruscan colonies in the Po valley would be weakened, making the expansion of the Gaulish tribes more likely. It's important, however, that these historical events don't interfere too much with the game; After all, changing history is one of the best things in Paradox games.
It's time to announce my choice. Surprisingly, perhaps, I don't think we should pick 1 AUC as the recommended start date for Imperium. Instead, I suggest 245 AUC (509 BC), when the Roman Republic was founded.
I have several reasons for picking this start date.
- The engine can't handle characters with negative birth dates (they don't die as they should). These are generated automatically if the game is loaded somewhere around 0-50 AUC, so picking a later start date is a way of avoiding the problem.
- The period before 245 AUC didn't involve much of the of turbulence usually seen in EUR, which makes games set in 1 AUC rather unrealistic. A normal player is not likely to do absolutely nothing with Rome for 250 years, in fact, he or she is most likely to have conquered the whole Italian peninsula by then.
- The Greek colonies were all founded in 245 AUC, which 1) gives the map some relevance and 2) saves us the trouble of simulating overseas colonisation.
- Most of the important events during Antiquity took place after 245 AUC, such as the Peloponnesian War, the conquests of Alexander and the Punic Wars.
- The years immediately following 245 AUC are interesting from a political point of view: Cleisthenes introduced democracy in Athens, the Romans organised their newly formed Republic and the Greeks in Asia Minor revolted against the Persians.
All in all, the player will have 485 years of solid game play from 245 to 730 AUC. Does it sound like a good idea?
Cheers!
