Authentic Settlements

[Brave Brave Sir Robin]

Ok thanks for the reply Foot. Sorry, must have missed where that was said. I did not know that any mods had really started to tackle this yet but what KK has done over at TA:TW certainly shows that some amazing things can be done. I look forward to storming some intimidating Celtic oppida!

[Folgore]

Would it be possible to base the layout of cities on actual historical sites?

[Andy1984]

I believe it is possible, but the amount of modding involved in it is the reason why it won't be done. Of course, if some volunteers arose...

[bobbin]

Would it be possible to base the layout of cities on actual historical sites?

Yes, but it would only apply to one size of city. Either that or you could have just one layout for all sizes but that means your small city would be the same as your huge etc.

Just to make clear by the way, it was Argantonio, wilddog and makanyane who made the breakthroughs, TA:TW is just one of the first big mods to use their tool (with very impressive results).

[Foot]

Would it be possible to base the layout of cities on actual historical sites?

Bobbin is right with this. While we can create specific city plans for specific settlements, these would not be able to grow over time, and so would be completely static. As such, and because of the extra effort that would be required for such a feat, we will not be doing this.

Foot

[Folgore]

But surely there are some cities on the map which are already the largest size (or will be reaching the largest size in a few years) at the start of the game? Rome, Carthage, Alexandria. Those cities all have their own characteristic layouts, which could make for some epic siege battles.

What would be the limitations of custom cities? Can you have rivers running through them like Rome? Can they be on the coast like Carthage? Or flanked by water on two sides, like Alexandria? Or do you need to be able to attack the city from all directions?

At any rate, the amount of effort required is just a matter of time and manpower. ;)

[Ludens]

But surely there are some cities on the map which are already the largest size (or will be reaching the largest size in a few years) at the start of the game? Rome, Carthage, Alexandria.

Err... Alexandria had been founded only half a century before, and IIRC it was yet to become the Ptolemean capital. Rome was already old, but the Roman empire was only beginning to rise so no doubt the town would have been fairly provincial at this point. Of those three, only Carthage was past serious growth.

At any rate, the amount of effort required is just a matter of time and manpower.

You're volunteering?

[Maeran]

Custom battle map castles could have moats, so you could adapt that into a river I suppose. I have been working on learning how to do this, but it is such early days for me that I can only really say that such things can be done. (I can export MTW2 objects and edit them, and I can build 3d models of Greek temples and round houses. Marrying the 2 is my next challenge)

Actually, I'm not certain that actual representations of historical cities would be good from a gaming point of view. The scale is wrong for a start.

[Folgore]

Err... Alexandria had been founded only half a century before, and IIRC it was yet to become the Ptolemean capital. Rome was already old, but the Roman empire was only beginning to rise so no doubt the town would have been fairly provincial at this point. Of those three, only Carthage was past serious growth.

As I understand it, Alexandria grew to be larger than Carthage in little over one generation and to the largest city in the world in just over a century. As for Rome though, you are probably right.

You're volunteering?

It's been a while since I modeled anything. :o

[Ludens]

As I understand it, Alexandria grew to be larger than Carthage in little over one generation and to the largest city in the world in just over a century. As for Rome though, you are probably right.

Wikipedia agrees with you, but I find it hard to credit. Cities like Carthage and Imperial Rome had to import massive amounts of grain and wine (because the water wasn't safe). The infrastructure required for that alone is staggering and given pre-modern logistics would take years to establish. If Alexandria grew to Carthage's size within twenty years, most of it would have been shanty towns.

[Greenlizard0.]

As I understand it, Alexandria grew to be larger than Carthage in little over one generation and to the largest city in the world in just over a century. As for Rome though, you are probably right.

Well, if you search for this book in Google Books (or Google Scholar): Settlements of the Ptolemies: city foundations and new settlement in the Hellenistic world

Then at page 96 you will find a estimated population of Alexandria in mid-third century BC: 25000-75000 inhabitants (If I understood the page correctly)

Not exactly the largest city, I think.

[Paltmull]

Bobbin is right with this. While we can create specific city plans for specific settlements, these would not be able to grow over time, and so would be completely static. As such, and because of the extra effort that would be required for such a feat, we will not be doing this.

Foot

What about specific city plans for custom/historical battles?

[bobbin]

Way too much work for a relatively small part of the game, you are welcome to have a go yourself though.

[Paltmull]

That's what I thought. :P