Bonaparte III

[curtsibling]

All files DL-ed, giving it a test run tonight!

[McMonkey]

EARLY ALTERATIONS

Here are some of the early alterations that have already been implemented. New ideas will be listed elsewhere.

a. Napoleon Bonaparte unit added to the French. His stats currently make him some kind of Cavalry/Howitzer/Old Guard hybrid hero unit!

b. Ten new French cities.

c. Some cities have changed ownership to be accurate for May 1803. Other cities have been deleted or added. The overall tech rates/taxes etc are the same as the original though!

d. New Spy unit. This is an expensive, one shot unit that can only be used to investigate cities. No bribing etc...

e. More fortresses have been added to the Independent cities to make expansion at their expense a harder proposition. This may need to be altered for a SP version but should work well in the initial PBEM game.

f. The French Infantry's defence has been brought into line with the other nations.

g. Movement rates remain the same, however the road movement multiplier has been doubled to 4 to compensate for the larger map. Should extend the role of the light cavalry units on non road squares!

That's all that I could think of for now. Probably a few others I forgot!

[McMonkey]

Nice one Curt.

I realised I forgot to alter the ships movement rates to compensate for the larger map. Feel free to modify the rules file to whatever you think suitable. I would imagine doubling them would be logical.

The exception are invasion barges. As the gap between Calais and Dover is now two ocean squares I have toyed with the idea of increasing their troop capacity while reducing their movement rate to 1.

My concept is that a large scale French (or British ) invasion across the Chanel would need to spend at least one turn at sea before it could land troops. This brief gap would allow the British navy a chance to try and destroy the naval armada. Any French amphibious force would need to be defended by a stack of ships of the line. Could add up to one exciting naval battle!

May not work quite so well in a single player version where France plays as the AI but that can be looked at later on. Of course an invader can still ferry single units back and forth using Merchantmen, useful for other (longer distance) invasions. This idea may need some more work before it works as I intend

There are also several things I will add to the final version, such as alternative PEOPLE, CITIES and ICONS so that all tastes can be catered for!

[McMonkey]

A couple of things that have just sprung into my think box

If you are interested in the ideas about this project that have been discussed at Civ Webring then please use this link:
Civ Webring Bonaparte 3 discussion thread

I will be using the same numbering system to keep track of ideas at both forums. This may help me keep things in order in my higgledy-piggledy mind

Another important point. If anyone thinks I have a bloody cheek modifying someone else's work then please say so now and I will do something about it

[Cyrion]

Excellent topic, Drew!

I'm not a big fan of the "politically correct" which seems to be so fashionable overseas , but did you try to contact John Ellis about this modification of yours? If you make your intent clear, there shouldn't be any problem, but it seems to me to be the right way to do it before releasing anything (as, if I'm not mistaken, your work is rather heavily based on his)...

Originally posted by McMonkey
If people want to see a proper SP version then I may be persuaded to give it a go at some point. Converting it to ToT and using the extra events and units should help make it more of a challenge!

OK, consider then that some people haven't the opportunity to involve in a pbem game and would quite like an SP game as the topic seems promising...

Another important point. If anyone thinks I have a bloody cheek modifying someone else's work then please say so now and I will do something about it

I just noticed this: so read my opinion (for what it's worth...) on that above!

I would think that getting John's approval on modifying it would be better!

My concept is that a large scale French (or British ) invasion across the Chanel would need to spend at least one turn at sea before it could land troops. This brief gap would allow the British navy a chance to try and destroy the naval armada. Any French amphibious force would need to be defended by a stack of ships of the line. Could add up to one exciting naval battle!

Definitely a must!

[McMonkey]

Thanks Cyrion

Contacting John Ellis was next on my agenda (yes, I have an agenda...other than world domination!)

I wanted to get to a point where I had finished things to a point where I knew I had something concrete to ask about.

I figured that as John had not been involved in Civ for several years he would not mind someone else taking over the Bonaparte legacy. Possibly I have been presumptuous, but I think I am fairly safe. After all it is more of a mod than a brand new scenario and I intend to be quite clear that the core of BP3 is his work.

In his players notes he said "If any designer/hackers out there want the base save game from which I spun off the scenario file, so that you can change the map, the tech speed, the unit positions or city names etc, just email me as below and I will send it to you."

I will try and contact John and see what he thinks. If he plans a proper Bonaparte III (which would be great but unlikely) or is not happy I will certainly change the name or something. After all this time I am sure he wont mind though!

Thanks for your support on the Invasion Barges issue. I have a feeling this could be a divisive issue. Can't please all of the people all of the time though

[Dr Kellogg]

Interessting project!
Just one thing: I miss the city of Ulm between Stuttgart and Munich on that beautiful screenshot as the Battle of Ulm was fought there and the more so because I like to see my hometown in your scenario!

[McMonkey]

I am willing to alter some of the cities before releasing the final version so if anyone else has suggestions then let me know.

I want to add Casablanca, Tangiers and Cueta if possible but as I have reached the maximum cities allowed it will mean disbanding cities elsewhere. I cut some of the smaller and less important cities like Sidi Barrani [sic] to make space.

On the modern map Ulm seems to be about the same size or importance as Oldenburg, Kassel, Roctock and Koblenz. I am not sure exactly which cities were large/important during Napoleonic times so any comments on city size or placement will be considered

[Eivind IV]

John took it very lightly when Barthi (the plagiator) released a scenario many years ago that was mysteriously similar to Colonies IV, as he has with so many scenarios. It was more of a translation into German really, but under Barthi's name. But John thought even that was ok, so I think you're fairly safe as well, although it would be the right thing to do asking anyway.

Apart from that, this sounds very intriguing, I've always been a fan of this scenario, especially the fantastic combat stats he developed for it.

In this version, do you have the same city improvements, wonders, city production (or at least close to), unit count, road system - everything mirrored only to a bigger map? I'm asking because John rarly made anything randomly. These factors may be worth taking notice to (I know that would take forever).

Which unit did you remove to fit in the spy and napoleon? How can you kill Napoleon, and what happens if you manage to kill him? Is he an über defense unit as well?

Also noticed a city typo from the screenshot - it's Hannover.

Good luck, amigo!

[McMonkey]

Here is the current list of ideas for changes and additions:

1. Limit move rate but increase capacity of invasion barges. Also, increase the Chanel coast defences of France and Britain. I grew up in Hastings and along the coast of Sussex we had the Royal Military Canal an a number of Martello Towers.

2. Alter cities (as mentioned in post above). Casablanca, Ulm, Tangiers and Cueta? Which ones do I disband?

3. Strengthen British defences in Portugal to allow the British to hold out long enough to ship in reinforcements. DONE.

4. Double road movement multiplier. DONE.

5. Hero units. Napoleon has been added. Would like to add Wellington and Blucher but units space is very limited in MGE. Not a problem if I make a ToT version!

6. Spy unit limited to investigating cities. Quite expensive and one shot (?). DONE.

7. France more powerful. French infantry defence has been brought into line with the other nations. Napoleon has been added. Extra French cities have been added. DONE.

8. Increase importance of Italian cities to make it more of a potential battleground between France and Austria.

9. Austrian and Prussian vassal status when capitals captured. House rule designed for the PBEM game. I will go into more detail about this later.

10. Spanish vassal status when Madrid falls to either Britain or France. Again I will go into more detail later.

11. Event upon capture of Berlin allowing Russia to build cheap Hoover Dam. Will go into more detail later!

12. Gibraltar now on hills instead of mountains. Has a Fortress so should be a very tough nut to crack, but not impossible!

13. Increase naval unit range. Forgot to implement this in Alpha version. Knew I would forget something!

14. Incremental rush building of Three Decker's (180 shields) is cheaper for the British than any other nation as they have the Dragoon Guards unit (150 shields) between the Two Decker (120 shields) and the Three Decker. Not sure how to fix this without making Dragoon Guards cheaper. Ideas welcome.

15. Possibility of longer game. Monthly turns and a later finishing date?

16. Revised title. I was really happy with the one I made for the game itself...until I had a look at Saladin's The Age of Napoleon and saw we clashed. DOH! Haven't found another painting I like as much yet.

17. Due to the fact that I converted my own map using John's terrains I have ended up with large Northern Forests in the Sahara desert. I am gradually changing them but it is a slow process. Will be finished in the final version + more Northern Forest in Russia and Scandinavia!

18. What should be done with the British Admiralty as all nations seem to be able to build it right now!?

19. Recurring (random) Guards creation events instead of several individual events.

20. Airfields as suburbs of major cities instead of fortresses (stackable). Will use relevant graphic for suburbs. I guess Airfields are stackable without the defensive bonus. Do they have any other effects on movement etc...?

21. More suitable Napoleonic PEOPLE. I always use the ones included but I know not everyone wants ancient people in a 19th century game!

[Eivind IV]

We cross posted above btw

Here's some nice painting:

http://www.tate.org.uk/tateetc/issue9/images/artistemperor_napoleoncrossing.jpg

http://library.thinkquest.org/C0110901/imagesAll/crossalp2.jpg

http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/riley/787/Napoleon/100/olanc.jpg

[McMonkey]

@Eivind

I sent John an e-mail last night. hopefully it reaches him! As you said, I don't think he would mind, after-all I am not trying to claim it as my original work and I will credit him fully.

I totally agree with you about the fantastic job John did with the combat system. I have only changed the French defensive units (Musketeers etc...) defensive stats from 3 to 4 to fall in line with the other nations.

City improvements are identical and their placement is about 98% accurate. The amazing CivCity utility was invaluable for completing this tedious task!

City production for the playable nations is as close as possible as I could get it. I went through every city and made alterations to terrain etc. The tax/sci/lux rate and discovery rate/income is correct for every nation.

Unit count is almost identical. Again I made a list for every city and tried to stay close as possible to the original. There may be a few minor differences but the vast majority is the same!

The road system is roughly the same. I will probably make some alterations before the final version. The units movement rate stays the same (except ships) but the road movement rate has been doubled to compensate for the x2 map.

The spy unit occupies the Vanilla Musketeer slot. Should not have any ill effects as it has 0 att/def stats. Will have to see how useful this unit is ad work out what tweaks it needs to be worthwhile. It should be used to scout out attacks on cities and help plan sieges. Should be fun unit in PBEM's!

Bonaparte replaces the Turkish Cannon unit. He is very tough: Bonaparte, nil, 0, 3.,0, 12a,6d, 5h,4f, 1,0, 0, no, 000000001000011 ; but not invincible. I may need to tweak his stats too before I am finished! I have thought about an event upon his death but not the exact details yet. I am open to suggestions!

Re: Hanover
It looks like there are two possibe spellings though wikipedia does not seem to explain why? Anyone know?

Hanover/Hannover

[McMonkey]

Yup, another cross post

I like the bottom picture. I think the one Saladin and I both chose was the best though. I wish Saladin would stop using his time machine to travel back and copy my title screens! Why can't he do something useful like travel beck and strangle Pol Pot when he was a baby?

[Eivind IV]

Impressive to get confirmation that you have done such an extensive work getting everything as close as the original as allowed. Good job! :b

Hmm, that Hanover thing was new to me. Don't mind it then!

[Historical Atze]

Hannover is German, Hanover is English. I assume that in the middle ages and early modern times it was as it was with many names that you could write them correctly in more than one way. Probably the same here, too.