How EXACTLY do you play unavalible nations such as the Papal States?

[unmerged(35)]

I would like to know all the steps nessary to be able to play these normally unavailble nations in the game. i intend to buy this game when i can and want to be able to play any nation. That was what really bothered me in Imperalism. I always wanted to play spain, but couldnt. Anyway i know that it is hacking the scenario files, but how does one do that? If nessary i will wait till the game to come out to be told, but i would like to find out sometime between now and my purchase of it.

 

[unmerged(175)]

you can play them, just not in the Grand Campaign...

and in multiplayer, playing as a country like that wouldn't be smart (ESPECIALLY the Papal States because all other relgions would have you on there hitlist if you arent Catholic)

 

[unmerged(13)]

You can play them ALL in the Grand Campaign if you know how to 'tune' the text files.

Only specific countries can be played in various scenarios / and ofcourse any others if you tune the files, I presume.


ESPECIALLY the Papal States because all
other relgions would have you on there hitlist if you arent Catholic)

Not really, you can play with 1-2 allied human players playing as Austria / Hungary and Poland who would protect the Papal States from attack by e.g. the Turks.

Sapura

[This message has been edited by Sapura (edited 05-06-2000).]

 

[unmerged(175)]

yes but hey, the Papal states are a nice piece of property...

also, what would happen if i were say playing Venice and turned Muslim (either Sunni or the other), would the other European powers automaticly get hostile and stuff, or what? and would i have to let my monarch/pope ok it first or give me the order?

 

[unmerged(35)]

Thanks. I know you have to 'tune it', but how exactly does one go about 'tuning it'. The steps man, i need the steps!

 

[unmerged(28)]

Hacksaw, my friend I understand your desire. However, I personally think we are liberal with giving you information about this and that. However, on this matter I will not say anything more. That is no details. Johan and the Dev team has not told us (The Betas) how they are going to do with the 'tuning'. So either Johan will give you an answer or you'll have to let the matter fall until the releadse of the game.

P.S I believe that you will get to know the facts sooner or later anyhow. I figured it out by 'looking' at the game files. And I'm an ol'bum no expert.

/Greven

 

[Doomdark]

Johan and the Dev team has not told us (The Betas) how they are going to do with the 'tuning'.

I still greatly fear a decision to compress and encode the data in some proprietary data format for the release.

Whatever else you decide to do, Paradox, that would be a BIG mistake!

/Doomie

 

[Johan]

Well Doomie.

As long as I have any say as lead programmer of the project, we will NOT encrypt data files. I want scenario files and other data files to be easily configurable by players, if they so want to, as it is by belief that it enriches the community. User-created scenarios can only add to the game IMHO.

However, we will most likely not write any documentation on how the datafiles work or how to 'hack' them.

/Johan

 

[Doomdark]

You're the King, Johan!

However, we will most likely not write any documentation on how the datafiles work or how to 'hack' them.

That's perfectly all right with me. Leave it to the fans and you can never be held responsible for any weird effects that might result.

/Doomie

 

[unmerged(13)]

Mmm, agreed.


Btw, what does it matter, even if Johan doesn't spill his guts over the exact procedure on how to do this? I know you ppl are desperate for any sort of information to keep you sane, but not everything can be made public knowledge just like that

Once the game is released you'll know how easy it is yourself. I personally haven't hacked the files at all, much rather just play the countries that are going to be officially in the GC / scenarios, speaking purely from the POV of a bona fide beta tester

Sapura

[This message has been edited by Sapura (edited 05-06-2000).]

 

[unmerged(175)]

i'll tell you how.

Step 1.Sell all your non-computer related stuff.
Step 2.Go to the bank and take out all your money.
Step 3.Have all your money converted into small bills (10's, 20's, 50's).
Step 4.Get the largest loan you can.
Step 5.But all the money in a box, and mail it to Johan.
Step 6.Wait.

that should work

 

[Greyshaft]

I see a big black market of scenario/config files developing... perhaps even on the Paradox web site (with suitable disclaimers and denials by scum sucking lawyer types)

Players will develop their own scenarios and submit them. For most scenarios the technology and economics will be inappropriate but that won't stop people.

Now which will be the first?

1. WWII... <groan> I hope not, but it's a possibility
2. Napoleon... <subdued groan>
3. The Collapse of Rome... starts with the Empire at its height under Trajan c.120 AD and its all downhill from there. I've already started on it
4. Variations on the 1492 Campaign... Sweden is the ONLY major power.
5. New scenarios within the era... 7 Years War starring the original Marlboro Man.

Any other ideas?

/Graham

 

[unmerged(177)]

Yeah Graham

Plenty of ideas

What would most interest me is some expansion or scenario to play it during the middle ages. For example, from 1000 to 1792. Most of the concepts are similar. You can treat vassals as parts of the country for simplicity. The BIG problem for that is : how to deal with the Asian very big powers, like the mongols of course. Maybe the problem of the impassable countries in Asia would also appear. Well, this is only a suggestion, as I realize the problems I will meet.

Most simple, expansion from 1453 to 1492 and after. I've heard about an expansion already made for the BG. With the datas of the BG, it can be handled easily I think. And every concept is the same. Because the beginning of the Modern Ages happened during this 1453-1492 period : portuguese were already expanding overseas, there is no more Byzance, nor Schism in the Catholic church.

And if you need short scenarios that happened during the game period, the BG provides so much that there is no problem with that. Examples : wars of Louis XIV of France, 30 years war, some less know wars like Venice against Turkey in mid XVIIth, Russia against Turkey in the late XVIIIth, most of the succession wars, England against Holland (1666-1667), Italy's campaign, etc.

Raf

 

[bjornkri]

I thought it might be interesting to expand on a game once you've finished it. For example, take Sapura's AAR. Sweden is on its way to become a REALLY major power, and really threatening to take Russia's place in the history of the world (in size and influence etc...). Now, if scenarios are easy enough to make, a new game could be created starting in 1792 and going on into modern times. The year 1792 could be set up exactly like Sapura's world was when his game ended, to see what the world could have looked like had this happened. Is this possible?

Bjorn

------------------
I've got a firm grip on reality. Just not this one.

 

[unmerged(13)]

Changing dates / etc to make it '1792' shouldn't be too problematic. All someone would have to do would be to write out a list of 'monarchs' and 'military leaders' starting from 1792 -> XXXX and insert it into the text files with the proper strengths / weaknesses.

Also,

The values for each army unit (cavalry, infatry etc) would need to be altered as well as proper alterations to create realistic costs / ratios / all that sort of thing. It would need a team of members to do this, because I doubt there's a person out there that knows in DETAIL the history / military makeup of both west and eastern Europe (or has the resources at his/her disposal to do this)

Obviously you could create something in 5 minutes if you didn't want to bother with historical accuracy, but I personally wouldn't download / or create a scenario such as that


Sapura

 

[unmerged(175)]

i am guessing Sapura, Doomdark, and Greven are going to be making a scenario

 

[unmerged(13)]

You're darn right ...

Polish - Swedish war of 1655-1660.

This time I'll make sure the Swedes attack at the worst possible time

Sapura

 

[unmerged(175)]

oh well that will be cool.

 

[unmerged(164)]

Actually 1000 AD + should be pretty easy to do, just limit the ability to expand create colonies to a certain naval tech level & army tech level. Make the tech level extremely difficult to obtain and then no one will be able to expand over seas early.

Does the game take into account population growth of nations? If it does that can be another deterent to expansion overseas, by limiting the amount of colonist potentially available due to lower population levels.

The Barbarian invasions. if you restict the size of the map (no need to allow access to the whole world) and have the invaders show up in a province with a huge army.

As for Cannons just change the name of the cannon to 'special units' then it could be just bout anything.