Why the rush to gunpowder?

[zulukiller]

MTW2 is a great game but does anyone else think that gunpowder units are available way too early in the game? In my current campaign, I am building the first available gunpowder units around the year 1250. These are bombard cannons. In the unit description, it states that the first of these were used in Europe in the mid 14th century (thats mid 1300's) and gained widespread use at the end of the 14th century (late 1300's). So here I am making them 150 years too soon.

The other historical events like the Mongol invasions seem to happen at historically accurate dates, so why not gunpowder? Frankly, I think the game would be equally great if they had ended the campaign at 1400 and left out gunpowder altogether.

Are specific dates that units or buildings become available moddable?

I'm actually a bit urked myself ATM in my campaign i have modded it to be 6 months a turn so it could be my fault but I'm sure what I'm about to complain about should be tied in with some kind of key event not through the tech tree which this appears to be.



Since the late 13th century the Venetians have been fielding full stacks of those ships that are from the 16th century and its really urking me off as I'm only able to build Gun holks which don't stand a chance.