A Mod

Well, as you can tell by the title, I want to make a mod...or at least begin to. First on my list of priorities is a map...more specifically, a world map. I've read the tutorials, I have a paint program (GIMP 2.2) and I have the time on my hands. However, I am held back by only one thing: how many regions should I make, and what should I name them?

Youre making a world map? Wow. Good luck with that.

I guess you could start by looking at an actual world map with the different countries and where their boundaries are. Then modify those however you want with respect to natural landmarks like mountain ranges, rivers, deserts, etc.

Sounds good. This mod is going to take place during The Age of Discovery (i.e. 1492-1763), so this approach isn't going to work for some places. Still, I think it's worth a try...I can split countries into pieces as neccesary.

The way I worked on my map, is I divided up the world into several big provinces, if that worked, I divided the provinces into smaller ones. I think this is good because it means you can find errors on the heights a lot more easily.

Sounds good.

How many players can the engine support, at maximum? I have 71 states so far...some of which will undoubtebly become rebels. But, how many can the engine support at maximum?

Not nearly 71, oh dear. I hate to dissapoint you, but as far as I know, you can't have more than there are current nations. Your going to have to make a lot of rebels...

If you mean faction's and such, isn't it 21? or was it capped at 16?

as for provencies, i'm none too sure.

Would it be okay to generalize the factions into culture groups, i.e. The Mongol Khanates?

I don't think you should make a complete world map. Why not have a map detailing the Americas, Western Africa and Western Europe? You could fill up Western Europe with the powers we know and love (France, England, Spain, Portugal, etc...), make the respective powers of Africa (Songhai, N. African nations) with the rest being rebs, and the Americas will have all the major tribes. I say that'd be the best option to go with given what you want to do here...

Sounds like a good idea...so for the time being, I'll scale down. Including China would be unwise...they'd dominate the game, and that's not my intention. I suppose we can live without the Russians.

I would say focus really on the countries that went out and discovered things, like France, England, Portugal, and Spain. Get those down first, the rest add in later. Goodluck thought.

Don't forget to include the underdogs when it came to colonization: the Dutch. :D