If DLC is going to have What If scenarios, how about Zheng He and his treasure ships?

[unmerged(579364)]

Just something I've been thinking about since the Aztec DLC announcement and how it's going to be more of a "What if" scenario. If Paradox wants to play around with this sort of thing, how about one that features Zheng He and his fleet of treasure ships? Things would have to be tweaked somewhat since he actually set sail in the very early 1400s, which is close to the end of the period that CKII takes place in, but if this would pushed forward it could coincide with the game's calendar. It may not be quite lined up with history, but could be plausible. Maybe have them invade through the Red Sea.

Personally, I think it could be pretty interesting. That fleet was massive for its time, as were the actual treasure ships. Having a medieval clash between China and Europe could be fun. Anyway, just something I wanted to put out there. Thoughts?

 

[Blade!]

Let's not get crazy here.

Aztecs have human sacrifices. The best Zheng He could do would be some events regarding dim sum choices. :wub:

 

[Akikonomu]

Not feasible unless Paradox codes for naval combat. Also not feasible since Zheng He did have a huge armada but no manpower to siege and take entire provinces.

Duke Zheng He as a Chinese Sunni eunuch conqueror would be interesting though.

 

[arothuris]

I think the idea is interesting but as a Chinese, it's not realistic at all I must say. The then-Chinese empereors thought of land outside the "de jure" China as barbaric waste lands, and none would convinced them to mass an army to conquer such "waste lands" so far away from home. Although they knew of Rome and Byzantine as great powers, but the thought just won't change. I knew it was quite arrogant and ignorant, but back then it was the tradition. And it takes a lot of money and resources to fight and conquer such far away lands anyway. We weren't the nomadic tribes like the Mongols, it took much more for us to wage wars.

 

[Haresus]

The Ethiopians are far too easy to play as, we need some kind of mongol invasion in their lands!

 

[chatnoir17]

There is an event about him in CK2.

 

[Sir Tornado]

Not feasible unless Paradox codes for naval combat. Also not feasible since Zheng He did have a huge armada but no manpower to siege and take entire provinces.

Duke Zheng He as a Chinese Sunni eunuch conqueror would be interesting though.

Whereas the Aztec invasion was totally feasible since they had the logistical and technological capabilities to drop 100k men on European atlantic coast and conquer the Europeans?

 

[Scorpi]

There is an event about him in CK2.

Really??? What is it?

 

[Frozen_Predator]

Really??? What is it?

similar to the travels of Marco Polo, i guess its only if you have land near the Arab sea area. I only had it during a Jerusalem game where I secured the Red Sea and suddenly that event popped up

 

[Comradebot]

The Ethiopians are far too easy to play as, we need some kind of mongol invasion in their lands!

It already exists and its called the Ilkhanate... trust me, they've been trying to overrun my Nubian kingdom for the better part of a century now.

 

[GillesDeRais]

less far fetched

Frankly, all I can say to the Aztecs is "why not": if I were to purchase that DLC it would out of curiosity at best...

But this suggestion I do like! It's much less far fetched than the Aztec idea, since Zheng He did explore as far as the East African coast and up the Red Sea to Egypt, and China would be better suited to fit into the medevial aspects of the game! So, as long as exotic scenarios are being considered, I'm all for that one!

 

[GillesDeRais]

Whereas the Aztec invasion was totally feasible since they had the logistical and technological capabilities to drop 100k men on European atlantic coast and conquer the Europeans?

Too true! At least the Chinese did have the naval capabilities to cross oceans even if manpower would have been an issue. The Aztecs were most certainly not great seamen!

 

[murlocmancer]

The Ethiopians are far too easy to play as, we need some kind of mongol invasion in their lands!

Haha that wsa a good one

 

[unmerged(75409)]

If they were to make another "fun" DLC they might as well do it. Have him land in southernmost Ethiopia, work his way up into Egypt...

 

[donaldduck]

Yes, I love this idea. It is better than Aztecs' invasion. Let the Chinese start from Mali or Ethiopia. When Zheng He or Yongle dies, Chinese realms get broken and the Chinese lose the 100k stack. And Chinese stack needn't be free from attrition. Make Chinese retinues more cheap for reinforce. It can become a pleasure before 1453.

 

[Effixel]

I think the idea is interesting but as a Chinese, it's not realistic at all I must say. The then-Chinese empereors thought of land outside the "de jure" China as barbaric waste lands, and none would convinced them to mass an army to conquer such "waste lands" so far away from home. Although they knew of Rome and Byzantine as great powers, but the thought just won't change. I knew it was quite arrogant and ignorant, but back then it was the tradition. And it takes a lot of money and resources to fight and conquer such far away lands anyway. We weren't the nomadic tribes like the Mongols, it took much more for us to wage wars.

Well maybe it was arrogant and ignorant, but at least thanks to this policy China didn't feel the need for colonize and reduce to slavery other lands and people as european did. So from this point of view it was quite a smart way of thinking imo.

 

[telegraph]

sure, let them all come. Let's turn our sandbox into the tower defense game.

 

[Sarog]

The Ethiopians are far too easy to play as, we need some kind of mongol invasion in their lands!

I smell a Zulu conquest DLC incoming, with southern african hordes bursting into the muslim world with unstoppable knobkerrie warriors and magic powers derived from ritual circumcision.

 

[ziamatt]

I think the idea is interesting but as a Chinese, it's not realistic at all I must say. The then-Chinese empereors thought of land outside the "de jure" China as barbaric waste lands, and none would convinced them to mass an army to conquer such "waste lands" so far away from home. Although they knew of Rome and Byzantine as great powers, but the thought just won't change. I knew it was quite arrogant and ignorant, but back then it was the tradition. And it takes a lot of money and resources to fight and conquer such far away lands anyway. We weren't the nomadic tribes like the Mongols, it took much more for us to wage wars.

You know what's also unrealistic? Aztec invasion.

 

[Sarius1997]

I smell a Zulu conquest DLC incoming, with southern african hordes bursting into the muslim world with unstoppable knobkerrie warriors and magic powers derived from ritual circumcision.

Hmm, a siberian invasion DLC, to weaken the Northern russians and the Scandinavians. A DLC with Alien Invasion landing in the middle of the HRE. Any other DLCs missing?