A First Look at “World of Legends” - Unofficial Expansion to Civ4

[Ball Lightning]

The Unofficial Expansion to Civilization 4:

Civ4: World of Legends

Turn your civilization into a Legend!


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News alert


We are in need of modders to get though all the XML work which needs to be done, if you are interested please post in this thread and join up so we can get this out sooner.[/center]



Overview:

“World of Legends” is an “unofficial expansion” mod to Civilization 4. Although occasionally we will include additions that probably would not make it in a true expansion (such as the addition of “Modern” civs like Brazil), we are trying to keep close to an “expansion” format; the mod will feature new civs, units, buildings, wonders, leaders, core features, and even scenarios. There will also be other additions for game balance, aesthetics, and fun.


Purpose:

So why are we wasting our time, coding, to make this mod? Well, we have two main reasons:

• Entertainment: We are here to make something lighter than the hardcore mods like “Total Realism” or “Rhye’s and Fall of Civilization”, but still make something more exciting then “New Pholish Civilization Mod”.
• Parody: We’re trying to mimic an expansion here, so all features of a real expansion, good AND bad, will be introduced, to give all a feel of a new expansion.

Features (ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE):


Heroes:
The main feature of the game will be the addition of “hero” units, similar to that of Fall from Heaven. Each civilization can build three unique heroes; they will be super-powerful military units whose capabilities could mean the difference between victory and defeat. However, heroes must also be used with caution, as once they are For each civilization, there are two “military” heroes, and one “national” hero. The “national” hero, although much weaker than the military heroes (but still powerful in his own right), can construct the civilization’s unique national wonder, which can provide the civilization remarkable benefits. Military heroes range from Robin Hood to Zheng He to Cteshwayo. National heroes range from Imhotep to Merlin to Henry the Navigator. National wonders include those such as “The Art of War” for the Chinese and the Chartes Cathedral for the French.


Mercenaries:
Mercenaries are now available for hire! Quickly created units, mercenaries can be useful at times – but also costly. Many mods already feature mercenaries, but in “World of Legends”, there are different types of mercenaries to hire.


Other Features:


- Global Warming will be improved greatly for more realism, danger, and depth.

- Throne Room: Its the return of the throne room! Just like in earlier games, there it is - the pointless, aesethic part of the game, which you can view to see your splendor. This time, however, each civilization receives its own unique throne room - so you'll be seeing the American flag in the American throne room, or oriental dragons in the Chinese throne room, or Persian rugs in the Persian throne room!



Leader Traits:

Three new leader traits will be introduced to make room for more leaders.

Progressive: +15% science boost in cities, ½ cost of Recycling Center, Levee

Agrarian: +1 food on spaces generation 2 or more food, ½ cost of Grocer, Supermarket

Seafaring: Free Navigation I promotion for all sea units, caravels and galleons cost 1/2 original cost

In addition, the Protective trait will now grant only Drill I to archery and gun units, but it will also give +2 espionage points in each city.

Additionally, some of the leaders traits have been rearranged for balance and “historical accuracy”. For example, Shaka is now Aggressive and Organized, and Tamerlame has taken the Aggressive and Expansive traits.


16 Civilizations:

[font=Trebuchet MS]Rampage through ranks of puny enemies with Vietnamese Battle Elephants, trade your way to victory with the Indonesians, or defeat the not-deserving-place-in-BtS HRE with Polish Winged Cavalry! 16 civilizations and their corresponding leaders are available in total.


20 New Leaders:

20 new leaders will be available for older civs. Play against crafty and skillful Margaret I of the Vikings, the cultured Harun al-Rashid, the conquest-hungry Pachacuti, or the seductive Theodora! New leaders are:

-Meiji of the Japanese
-Philip II of the Spanish
-Taizong of the Chinese
-Akbar of the Indians
-Hadrian of the Romans
-Narmer of the Egyptians
-Pachacuti of the Incas
-Margaret I of the Vikings
-Hiawatha of the Native Americans
-Harun al-Rashid of the Arabians
-Sejong of the Koreans
-Theodora of the Byzantines
-Nedbuchadnezzar of the Babylonians
-Vercingetorix of the Celts
-Menelik II of the Ethiopians
-Otto I of the HRE
-Siyah K'ak' of the Mayans
-Cleisthenes of the Greeks
-Henry VIII of the English
-Hulegu of the Mongols


Buildings and Wonders:

Several new buildings will be added, such as the Herbalist, an early-game health booster. Wonders will also be added, such as The Sphnix and the CN Tower, as well as National Wonders, like the Grand Canal. Additionally, as mentioned above, each civilization will have a “Unique National Wonder” that can be built by their National Hero – “Unique National Wonders” such as the Potala Palace for the Tibetans, Big Ben for the English, and Abu Simbel for the Egyptians.


Units:

A number of units will be added. Though not confirmed, units such as Javelineers and Guerillas could make an appearance. Also added in will be civilization unique units, such as Israelite Maccabees, Swahili Catavarmans, and Austrian Hussars, as well as the Hero units.


Resources:

Some new resources will be introduced, such as Salt and Potatoes.


Technologies:

[font=Trebuchet MS]Five new technologies will appear in the game representing most areas of history (although currently where exactly on the tech tree they are is still under discussion).


Civics:

There will also be one new civic for each category, giving you some more choices in choosing how to manage your government. Likely civics to be put in includes those such as “Constitutional Monarchy” and “State Atheism”. We are considering also whether to put an "overall" category of civics, i.e., civics like "Democracy" or "Fuedalism", similar to the Civ3 governments.

Also, as an aesethic change, we are considering adding the "Dynamic Civ Names" mod, which changes a civilization's name every civic change; i.e., a Democracy in China would be called the "Republic of China", while a Kingdom in Greece would be called the "Kingdom of Greece".


Religions and Corporations:

At this time, any new additions to these areas are inconclusive. However, I am thinking of adding a Fast Food Corporation (Supersize Food Chain), which causes massive bad health in cities.


Scenarios:

Scenarios will be completed as the final main section of the mod. Somewhere around five to ten scenarios will be included. Possible scenarios include:

-American Civil War: Fight as the North to re-unite the United States, or as the South to claim your independence!
-Arteran: Empire at War: An indirect sequel to Cybrxkhan's original mod, Arteran: The Three Empires, lead one of the powerful families vying for control in Aidis' darker future, and spread one of three ideologies to lead Aidis to brighter days.
-South American Independence: Become Simon Bolivar and fight for independence against the Spanish in an era where Imperialism, Nationalism, and Liberty fight!
-German Unification: Napoleon may be dead, but those pesky French are still around. Nevertheless, play as Prussia, Austria, or another German state, and change the course of history for Germania... and the entire world as well...



Help:

Although we are not in a desperate need for manpower, if you have some suggestions, or would like to contribute artwork or any smaller modifications, this is welcome, and we will consider these. We will especially need an experienced, building and unit artist later, when we implement our heroes and mercenaries. Any comments, suggestions, complaints, etc., are welcome.


Contact and Questions:

Feel free to PM any of the “World of Legends” team members if you have any questions. Also, thanks to the kindness of Ball Lightning, we have a forum of our own at his website – which is here: http://forums.civunited.net/forum.php.


“World of Legends” Team Members:

Cybrxkhan: Head Planner, Manager
Dutchking: Art Manager, XML
Gaius Octavius: Chief Advisor, Python
Ball Lightning: Events
Seven05: Python and SDK
Zerver: Unit Art
TheLastOne36 (retired)

[Kinjiru]

Nothing like a little hyperbole to start the flame wars.

Cybrxkhan, I wish you and your team luck, but you have set expectations really high right off the bat. Calling it an expansion as opposed to a mod does have different connotations - you will not be forgiven any lack of polish or balance.

[Ball Lightning]

We know, but we believe unlike a mod it is to add on to the normal game but change it for the better.

[Kuciwalker]

The main focus of the expansion are the “hero” units, super-powerful units which may mean an easy, fast victory or a swift, crushing defeat. What if, while leading an army, Robin Hood shot down the admiral Leif Eriksson, effectively ending the English-Viking war?

Double you tee eff?

[Wiglaf]

[Ball Lightning]

The Civilizations of World of Legends


Nothing more important to many nationalists is the civilizations of an expansion; a whooping sixteen civilizations will be added to the unofficial expansion of Civ4, “World of Legends”, satisfying representation from most regions of the world and all the continents (except Australia).
Without further ado, the statistics and information for every civilization included is below (the WoL team has stated all statistics listed below are subject to change!):

Polynesia
Leader: Kamehameha (Seafaring, Agrarian)
UU: Teewana (Galley) - +1 movement, +1 cargo space
UB: Fishery (Lighthouse) - +15% Food


Canada
Leader: John A. Macdonald (Expansive, Financial)
UU: Mounties (Cavalry) - +Woodsman I, II; +1 First Strike
UB: Outpost (Barracks) - +1 happiness, +1 health


Brazil
Leader: Dom Pedro II (Imperialistic, Industrious)
UU: Fatherland Corps (Rifleman) - +Woodsman I, +1 First Strike
UB: Football Stadium (Coliseum) - +15% gold


Venezuela
Leader: Simon Bolivar (Protective, Philosophical)
UU: Liberator (Cavalry) – 25% withdrawal chance, +1 First Strike
UB: Resort Hotel (Broadcast Tower) – +15% gold


Israel
Leader: David (Spiritual, Organized)
UU: Macabee (Axeman) - +33% city attack and defense
UB: Kibbitz (Bakery) - +15% production


Poland
Leader: Sobieski (Aggressive, X)
UU: Winged Hussar (Knight) - +25% vs. melee, +1 First Strike
UB: Keep (Castle) - -15% Maintenance


Austria
Leader: Franz Josef (X, X)
UU: Jaeger (Rifleman) - +25% vs. gun, +2 Chance First Strikes
UB: Musical Academy (University) - +1 culture, +1 happiness


Timurids
Leader: Tamerlame (Agressive, X)
UU: Steppe Rider (Knight) - +50% city attack
UB: Trading Center (Market) - +10% gold, +1 trade route


Hittites
Leader: Suppiliuluma I (Aggressive, Organized)
UU: Heavy Chariot (Chariot) - +50% vs. melee, +1 First Strikes
UB: Smelter (Forge) - +15% production


Tibetans
Leader: Songsten Gampo (Spiritual, Agrarian)
UU: Dob-Dob (Maceman) - +25% city attack and defense
UB: Gompa (University) - -30 cost, 1 free priest, + 1 culture


Vietnamese
Leader: Trung Trac (Agrarian, Charismatic)
UU: Battle Elephant (War Elephant) - +50% vs. melee, no resource
UB: Noodle House (Herbalist) - +1 happiness, +10% production


Thai
Leader: Ramkhamhaeng (Protective, Progressive)
UU: Mahout (War Elephant) – Woodsman I, II; +1 First Strike
UB: Stage (Theatre) - +2 happiness


Indonesians
Leader: Gaja Mada (Financial, Seafaring)
UU: Kris (Maceman) – Amphibious, +1 First Strike
UB: Spice House (Herbalist) - +1 health, +10% gold


Australia
Leader: Menzies (Charismatic, Financial)
UU: Marouba Force (Infantry) - + Guerilla I, +1 First Strike, +1 Chance First Strike
UB: Flying Doctor (Hospital) - +1 trade routes, +1 happiness


Nubia
Leader: Piye (Agrarian, Financial)
UU: Kushite (Archer) - +1 movement, +1 Chance First Strike
UB: Steep Pyramid (Monument) - +15% gold


Swahili
Leader: Barghash (Seafaring, Progressive)
UU: Catavarman (Trieme) - +1 cargo space, +15% withdrawal chance
UB: International Port (Harbor) - +10% gold, +1 trade routes

[Vaugula]

Originally posted by Ball Lightning
The Civilizations of World of Legends

Australia
Leader: Menzies (Charismatic, Financial)
UU: Marouba Force (Infantry) - + Guerilla I, +1 First Strike, +1 Chance First Strike
UB: Flying Doctor (Hospital) - +1 trade routes, +1 happiness

Surely you jest, Menzies? Get real, John Curtin was easily our best PM ever. I could understand Barton but not Menzies. His greatest claim to fame (other than founding the Liberal party - warning to Americans, they aren't "liberals" as you would know them) was that he was the longest serving PM, and that doesn't mean he was good. If you are including one Australia leader then make it Curtin not Menzies.

I would have thought "Digger" would have been a better name for the UU. First strikes are good for this unit but I would have picked Woodsman rather than Guerilla to better model our jungle fighting expertise in the second war.

There isn't a Flying Doctor in any actual built up city so I question the whole concept of the UB. I agree it is pretty uniquely Australian and I can't think of anything better.

[Ball Lightning]

Thanks for the advice, and i agree, but the other people in the team have already started work on it unfortunatly.

[Ball Lightning]

I will try to get them to change it through.

[dacole]

soo who can become bored of the official expansion all ready .

Interesting idea, be very careful though the AI is able to use the new civs and the hero units. From experience testing BTS that is where you will have your biggest problems. Especially since the hero units are such a departure from the original game (though an interesting one)

Vaug so what is your liberal party like? More or less liberal than american liberals? My gut tells me more since most European countries are (along with Canada) but modern Australia is not something I know much about.

[Vaugula]

THREADJACK!

Originally posted by dacole
Vaug so what is your liberal party like? More or less liberal than american liberals? My gut tells me more since most European countries are (along with Canada) but modern Australia is not something I know much about.

As a bit of a disclaimer I am an ameteur political analyst who find politics around the world to be super interesting but has no actual qualifications or anything so this is just my opinion.

The short answer is less liberal than American liberals. The Liberal party are actually the conservative party of Australia (especially with the current leader at the helm) which is why I wrote that warning. Actual liberals in Australia (i.e. people not a member of the Liberal party - confused yet? ) would probably be more liberal than American liberals, although we don't use that term here and so it would be tough to find someone that described themself like that. If you want a longer answer read on.

I have heard it said that Australian politics is a lot like American politics - except rotated 180 degrees to the left. There are 2 political blocs representing the 2 traditional sides of politics: the Labor party (note spelling reformed name - we actually spell the word as "labour" except as the title of the party) representing the left (big government, workers rights, socially progressive) and what is known as "The Coalition" representing the right. The Coalition is made up of 2 parties - the Liberal party and the National party. So here the Liberal party is actually the right of centre party (taking the place of the Republicans in the American system) capturing the vote of conservative Australians but would probably be politically closer to the Democrats than the Republicans in the American system (we have our own Democrats (very left wing) too but I believe they are a spent force and will probably be destroyed at the next election) hence the comment about rotating around to the left.

Where it gets weird in comparing the 2 countries is that Democrats in the US seem to also representing rural folk whereas here the National party represents these people. While the National party is into the whole "rural socialism" thing they align themselves with the Liberal party because of a tradition tension between farmers and labour that used to work on farms early in the 20th century prior to introduction of powerful agricultural equipment. You would say in terms of social values the National party and the Liberal party are closely aligned (i.e. socially conservative) but in terms of economics they are quite far apart (well they are meant to be, in reality the Liberal party are conservatives rather than actual liberterians or liberals and so aren't as much into small government as they would have you believe). Because the Liberal party have rarely been able to hold the lower house on their own this leads to some really interesting interaction between the 2 parties in The Coalition.

In modern Australia the major parties are all pretty centralist so there isn't a great deal of difference between them and the leader of the day sets the tone more than the party itself.

I could rubbish along about this all day (I haven't even gotten to the Senate yet! Different politics again.) but I am sure Ball Lightning wouldn't appreciate the massive threadjack.

[Ball Lightning]

Originally posted by dacole
soo who can become bored of the official expansion all ready .

Interesting idea, be very careful though the AI is able to use the new civs and the hero units. From experience testing BTS that is where you will have your biggest problems. Especially since the hero units are such a departure from the original game (though an interesting one)

We are putting alot of attention to that, there are also in the works many other new and exciting features which will be announced later.

[hyperChipmunk]

Originally posted by Vaugula
THREADJACK! :)
...
I have heard it said that Australian politics is a lot like American politics - except rotated 180 degrees to the left.

I heard it's actually rotated 180 degrees to the RIGHT. >8)

-hC

[Virdrago]

Hmm, interesting. One point:

The North West Mounted Police (later the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) were mainly noted for their effectiveness in the prairies (the northern part of the Great Plains) and the tundra and perma-frost of northern Canada. There are very few trees in either area, so Woodsman may not be the best choice...

Otherwise, seems interesting.

[Kuciwalker]

Canada
Leader: John A. Macdonald (Expansive, Financial)
UU: Mounties (Cavalry) - +Woodsman I, II; +1 First Strike
UB: Outpost (Barracks) - +1 happiness, +1 health

That's ridiculous.

[Willem]

Originally posted by Kuciwalker

Canada
Leader: John A. Macdonald (Expansive, Financial)
UU: Mounties (Cavalry) - +Woodsman I, II; +1 First Strike
UB: Outpost (Barracks) - +1 happiness, +1 health

That's ridiculous.

Agreed, especially the UB. What does an Outpost have to do with health and happiness and why would there be an outpost in a Canadian city? That's the kind of thing you'd find in the bush. Hence the term "out". Though MacDonald's not a bad choice for a leader. Either him or Trudeau.

Frankly I don't understand what Canada would even be doing in a Civ game. We're just a minor nation with not even enough cultural distinction to be considered an actual civ. We don't even have a unique language, unles you consider the native tongues. Why not use something like the Iroquois or the Haida, if you're looking for something to fill up the north on a world map?

[Ball Lightning]

I will raise your issues with cybrxkhan.

[Ball Lightning]

The team have released further information on the mod, which can be summed up as follows:

- A new sea unit will be introduced. All that is known is that it is an ancient sea unit, and its introduction will attempt to make ancient naval combat more interesting
- The leaderhead for Harun al-Rashid has a turban that looks like its going to eat his head
- New diplomacy WILL be added for almost every single leader which previously did not have any, as well as every leader that will be added; Common Sensei from CFC forums is credited to having done a small amount of them
- The Roman UU is now known as the "Legionary" unit
- The Mongol UU, the Keshik, now replaces the Knight and not the Horse Archer; it is assumed that the same bonuses will be given to it
- The Hulegu LH looks, according to the team leader, Cybrxkhan, "what Genghis SHOULD have looked like"

[Ball Lightning]

Phase 2 is about complete and the Alpha is due out at christmas.

[Theben]

Please, please, let that hero thing be optional.

And as far as Swahili you could've done better with Ghana or Songhai empires, Swahili is just a culture. I also don't know what the Viets or Thais did to deserve a place in game... there are many better selections that come to mind (Sassids, fe). And stage? noodle house? come on, now you're just grasping at straws.

[Ball Lightning]

All features will be optional.

[Theben]

I also have to ask: I have a good idea what seafaring and agarian traits would be like, but what is Progressive (Thai)?

EDIT: nm, I glossed over the "unofficial" part.

[Ball Lightning]

Sorry if progress has been slow. Apparently, the abscence of our group advisor (but not leader) Gaius Octavius (now returned), as well as the fact that my computer was infected with a whole bunch of viruses and still now is kinda funny (but much better), has hindered us. However, I'll post one little screenshot here...


This is the draft art for the Narmer LH. Can any of you guess what its based on?





Later, he'll look more like this, the original Civ4 concept art for the leader that was never included, Narmer/Menes...

[Ball Lightning]

Main page updated, leaderheads coming up.

[Ball Lightning]

[Ball Lightning]

More coming soon, Alpha is coming out in a few weeks to a month or 2, beta not for a long time.

[creditcards]

Good content...Keep it up.

[xuanyanzi]

I support the above statement, like this one.