I would like to start this thread for Ottoman Empire and other Turkish minor related subjects regarding EU III gameplay and provide some suggestions. Some other similar topics have eventually evolved into Turkish bashing threads and moved into OT area. So please keep this thread primarily focused on gameplay issues and post only if you feel you are contributing to the discussion in a constructive way.
The main issues I would like to see addressed as the game details are being revealed are;
- Provinces: names, borders; ownership; cultures; religion; population; resources; and income levels.
- Graphics: flags; sprites; map; icons; landmarks etc.
- Leaders: Monarchs; Generals; Admirals; Advisors; Courtiers
- Events
CALIPHATE:
I would like to see the Caliphate institution applied to Sunnis in a similar way to the Papacy/Curia for Catholics. Even though the Caliphs had less of a secular power and they were more spiritual under the Mameluks, with Ottomans, the Sultans assumed the title themselves and used it to craft strong Sunni alliance blocs from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Ottoman claims on the Caliphate began as early as 1453 with Mehmed II and reached it's peak with Selim I's conquest of Egypt where the last Abbasid Caliph abdicated in favor of the Sultan. Even though there wasn't an election of any kind as the Papacy had, there can be substantial benefits for those who hold the title and should also serve as a powerful instrument especially in the field of foreign relations with other Sunni states.
THE PATRIARCHATE:
Similar to the Caliphate institution, the Patriarchate should be able to simulate a similar function to the Papacy in regards to Orthodox Christian faith. The institution was first abolished by the Latins during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 with the first fall of Constantinople, but then was revived 60 years later. It merged with the Catholic faith once more under the shadow of the Ottoman siege of Constantinople, but the locals did not support this political decision. When Mehmed II entered his newly acquired capital, he gathered the wisest Orthodox clerics and established the Patriarchate of Constantinople for the Orthodox faith and placed them under his protection.
CULTURE:
As we don't know the role and effect of the cultures in EU III, it's not a good idea to speculate on the cultural identity of Ottomans. However, I believe we would be safe to assume Turkish, Greek and Armenian as the starting cultures of Ottoman Empire and Slavic, Arab, Kurdish and perhaps other cultures might later be added on along with the invasions. Similarly Mameluks and Safevids should have Turkish culture along with others.
LEADERS:
I have tried to compile a long list of various Ottoman generals, admirals, courtiers and advisors in this thread which is now in the History Forum. There's over a hundred and fifty of them at the moment with some of them with their own portraits. Please feel free to check it out and add your comments, suggestions and graphics wherever you see fit.
MONARCHS:
Here is a list of all Ottoman Monarchs along with their portraits. I hope there can be some extra sleeping monarchs as Cem Sultan that can be activated through events.
NAMES:
In EUII the Turkish random leader names .csv file consisted of random city names, and even though I mentioned it on several occasions, it has never been fixed for the patches, and the same ridiculous list kept passing around to other titles such as HOI and Victoria. I hope they can compile an appropriate list before the release. More suggestions are always welcome. Other name files were no better unfortuanetly and there have been many suitable suggestions for Ottoman/Turkish Colony Names, Army Names, Navy Names in the EU II modding forums, however, they never made it to the EU II patches. Hopefully EU III will have a better list this time. I will try to post more suggestions here later on.
FLAGS:
I am not going to comment on the flag issue, as the Ottoman flag varied greatly during 1453-1779 period, although the Crescent and the red background are proper representations. Hopefully they will have an option to adopt the Crescent and Star flag later on in the game through events. There's a great flag thread here with many Ottoman and Balkan flags along with other Turkish minors, Mamluks and Safavids.
UNIFORMS:
There are some nice designs in this thread here and also some more can be found here if anyone is interested in medieval concept uniforms.
MAP:
This is a map I have designed for Asia Minor in 1453 and I have included the province names and city names as they appeared in that period under the appropriate states.
ISTANBUL OR CONSTANTINOPLE?:
First of all this is nobody's business but the Turks!
But if we are talking 1453, then that's a grey area. Constantinople is the Anglo-French version of the original name that was Κωνσταντινούπολη (Konstantinoupoli) which was pronounced as Kostantiniyye by the Ottomans. Since the game begins with the fall of the city to the Turks, I believe the right thing to is to name it after the Ottoman version: Kostantiniyye or to add an "n" for a compromise to make it Konstantiniyye. Any other reference would seem either fake, or out of time.
LANDMARKS:
It's essential to include the graphical images of famous landmarks in the appropriate cities. Constantinople/Istanbul should come with Agia Sophia (St. Sophia) and Bursa should have the Ulu Cami or the Green Mouseloum, while other landmarks, Selimiye, Suleymaniye and such should be available for building in desired cities.
The main issues I would like to see addressed as the game details are being revealed are;
- Provinces: names, borders; ownership; cultures; religion; population; resources; and income levels.
- Graphics: flags; sprites; map; icons; landmarks etc.
- Leaders: Monarchs; Generals; Admirals; Advisors; Courtiers
- Events
CALIPHATE:
I would like to see the Caliphate institution applied to Sunnis in a similar way to the Papacy/Curia for Catholics. Even though the Caliphs had less of a secular power and they were more spiritual under the Mameluks, with Ottomans, the Sultans assumed the title themselves and used it to craft strong Sunni alliance blocs from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Ottoman claims on the Caliphate began as early as 1453 with Mehmed II and reached it's peak with Selim I's conquest of Egypt where the last Abbasid Caliph abdicated in favor of the Sultan. Even though there wasn't an election of any kind as the Papacy had, there can be substantial benefits for those who hold the title and should also serve as a powerful instrument especially in the field of foreign relations with other Sunni states.
THE PATRIARCHATE:
Similar to the Caliphate institution, the Patriarchate should be able to simulate a similar function to the Papacy in regards to Orthodox Christian faith. The institution was first abolished by the Latins during the Fourth Crusade in 1204 with the first fall of Constantinople, but then was revived 60 years later. It merged with the Catholic faith once more under the shadow of the Ottoman siege of Constantinople, but the locals did not support this political decision. When Mehmed II entered his newly acquired capital, he gathered the wisest Orthodox clerics and established the Patriarchate of Constantinople for the Orthodox faith and placed them under his protection.
CULTURE:
As we don't know the role and effect of the cultures in EU III, it's not a good idea to speculate on the cultural identity of Ottomans. However, I believe we would be safe to assume Turkish, Greek and Armenian as the starting cultures of Ottoman Empire and Slavic, Arab, Kurdish and perhaps other cultures might later be added on along with the invasions. Similarly Mameluks and Safevids should have Turkish culture along with others.
LEADERS:
I have tried to compile a long list of various Ottoman generals, admirals, courtiers and advisors in this thread which is now in the History Forum. There's over a hundred and fifty of them at the moment with some of them with their own portraits. Please feel free to check it out and add your comments, suggestions and graphics wherever you see fit.
MONARCHS:
Here is a list of all Ottoman Monarchs along with their portraits. I hope there can be some extra sleeping monarchs as Cem Sultan that can be activated through events.
NAMES:
In EUII the Turkish random leader names .csv file consisted of random city names, and even though I mentioned it on several occasions, it has never been fixed for the patches, and the same ridiculous list kept passing around to other titles such as HOI and Victoria. I hope they can compile an appropriate list before the release. More suggestions are always welcome. Other name files were no better unfortuanetly and there have been many suitable suggestions for Ottoman/Turkish Colony Names, Army Names, Navy Names in the EU II modding forums, however, they never made it to the EU II patches. Hopefully EU III will have a better list this time. I will try to post more suggestions here later on.
FLAGS:
I am not going to comment on the flag issue, as the Ottoman flag varied greatly during 1453-1779 period, although the Crescent and the red background are proper representations. Hopefully they will have an option to adopt the Crescent and Star flag later on in the game through events. There's a great flag thread here with many Ottoman and Balkan flags along with other Turkish minors, Mamluks and Safavids.
UNIFORMS:
There are some nice designs in this thread here and also some more can be found here if anyone is interested in medieval concept uniforms.
MAP:
This is a map I have designed for Asia Minor in 1453 and I have included the province names and city names as they appeared in that period under the appropriate states.
ISTANBUL OR CONSTANTINOPLE?:
First of all this is nobody's business but the Turks!
But if we are talking 1453, then that's a grey area. Constantinople is the Anglo-French version of the original name that was Κωνσταντινούπολη (Konstantinoupoli) which was pronounced as Kostantiniyye by the Ottomans. Since the game begins with the fall of the city to the Turks, I believe the right thing to is to name it after the Ottoman version: Kostantiniyye or to add an "n" for a compromise to make it Konstantiniyye. Any other reference would seem either fake, or out of time.LANDMARKS:
It's essential to include the graphical images of famous landmarks in the appropriate cities. Constantinople/Istanbul should come with Agia Sophia (St. Sophia) and Bursa should have the Ulu Cami or the Green Mouseloum, while other landmarks, Selimiye, Suleymaniye and such should be available for building in desired cities.
