The Sword of Islam - Dev Diary 1

[Garuda]

I didn't pick up the first DLC but this one is a definite buy for me.

[Doomdark]

Wow you guys really went overboard with the Kingdoms in the East !! More Crowns to collect... gotta catch them all

But seriously, Kievan Rus is now mostly part of 'Ruthenia' instead of Rus, this is ODD. Kiev was definitely the center of the Rus in this time period, how can it not be part of Rus? Even worse, Rus is now half-centered in lands that were not properly Russified nor Christianized yet in 1066 (!)

Yes, it's a bit odd, but calling the northern part Novgorod just doesn't feel right. The approach we're taking with de jure kingdoms is not actually what was considered de jure in 1066, but is designed to nudge the game along a more historical route.

[Tapscott]

My god... The amount of changes... Sweet Jesus I need this DLC!

[DamianGrim]

Can I ask, will you make cultural buildings for more cultures? (And, maybe, not only in the Castles, but in the Cities and Churches as well?)

[Al-Azrad]

First off, we thought the southwest corner of the map looked a bit dull, so we added a bunch of new provinces down there, representing the flourishing civilizations of the Manden people; Ghana, Mali and Songhay. The area comes with historical rulers (of course) and a new West African culture group. The region is rich but hard to reach.

Since you mention the West African culture group, I was wondering if tuareg culture is included?

[Sleight of Hand]

Can I ask, will you make cultural buildings for more cultures? (And, maybe, not only in the Castles, but in the Cities and Churches as well?)

Good point. One of the developers (Goose somebody?) said more would be added in future patches, as well as more nicknames.

[Castel]

Awesome, can't freaking wait to try this.

[Alerias]

Yes, it's a bit odd, but calling the northern part Novgorod just doesn't feel right. The approach we're taking with de jure kingdoms is not actually what was considered de jure in 1066, but is designed to nudge the game along a more historical route.

Oh I'll live. Might rename Ruthenia to "Kiev" in mine at least, though.

Thanks for breaking up the Kingdom of Byzantium in twain, looks good. In post-1st Crusade games, the high 'Crusade weight' on this often meant the Pope would be calling Crusades for Byzantium that actually only targeted a handful of Rum provinces in Anatolia... Will work much better with 'Crusades for Anatolia', not to mention, the Crusade weight on that ought to be lower than it is for Greece.

[Loplop]

Sound really nice *thumps up*

[Sleight of Hand]

Oh I'll live. Might rename Ruthenia to "Kiev" in mine at least, though.

What about Varangia? It's not perfect but the original Rus' were Varangians and it sort of makes sense for those northern Ugric/Rus'/Nordic territories between Karelia and Novgorod (which I agree doesn't sound right for a kingdom) -- I'm assuming the Russian Empire (Rus) is Ruthenia and Lithuania, so Varangia sounds good in there.

I may add that anyway.

[Soulstrider]

Great update,though to be honest I am not really a fan of the new empires. I really like the detail of the Sayyid and Mirza, it will be interesting try to interwine our dynasty with the one from the prophet, which reminds me are there matrilineal marriages in the muslim world?

[Wallain]

Britannia and Scandinavia, you say? Those were my first two games, even though those empires didn't exist until now. Now I'll have to go back and do it again. :/

Why :/ ? Is it not a good thing?

[DominusNovus]

I noticed that the West African culture character in the last shot, with a Mande culture, uses the arab portrait. Any chance this will be open for change? I would certainly pay for a African portrait DLC (after its released, just to be safe; don't wanna get burned again like on the Ruler DLC). Paradox, I don't know what you've got that graphic designer that did the Mongol DLC doing, but pay him money so we can pay you money.

Also, even if you're not expanding upon the Monophysites, are you going to incorporate some protection against Holy Wars for them?

Love the new kingdoms, PS. Particularly those in the Byzantine litoral. But not the new Empires; defeats the legal stance of the word.

[Sleight of Hand]

Oh and Doomdark, please make sure the new de jure kingdoms have unique coats of arms. The kingdoms added in 1.05 still use their ducal arms which can be confusing and doesn't look very good.

[Alerias]

Why :/ ? Is it not a good thing?

Sure, he just means he'll have to do it again because thats too awesome not to try.

Personally Ive modded in my own Empires a few times. I did a Scandinavian game where I created a custom Empire 'The North', 'in the North'. A GoT reference obviously And yes, it was fun, especially slowly integrating my kingdoms to this Titular title and seeing it becoming De Jure much later.

[Kuitenkin]

Great update,though to be honest I am not really a fan of the new empires. I really like the detail of the Sayyid and Mirza, it will be interesting try to interwine our dynasty with the one from the prophet, which reminds me are there matrilineal marriages in the muslim world?

I'm not sure I like the new empires either, especially Russia. At least I hope it can't co-exist with Byzantium.

[Sleight of Hand]

I'm not sure I like the new empires either, especially Russia. At least I hope it can't co-exist with Byzantium.

Yeah, I think given the time period they should rename the kingdom of Rus to something else and then have Rus as the de jure empire instead of Russia. Personally I don't think it needed to be split, but they've done it now so...

[Graspiloot]

My main question is, will the monophysite situation be balanced? At the moment they always disappear within a few years and since I play on very hard I find it nearly impossible to play them.

[Thure]

I'm not sure I like the new empires either, especially Russia. At least I hope it can't co-exist with Byzantium.

Yes. I think Spain and Persia are the only realistic empires in this. Russia only if it can't coexist with ERE. I really don't like Scandinavia or Brittania. I will delete them in my game.

[Sleight of Hand]

My main question is, will the monophysite situation be balanced? At the moment they always disappear within a few years and since I play on very hard I find it nearly impossible to play them.

Doomdark said in his reply to my post that the religions/heresies setup hasn't been changed, so Monophysites will still probably get gang-raped by both Muslims and Christians.