This scenario is designed for the human player to control either the British or Russian Empire. The other nations in the game are weaker and not as advanced technologically.
Several technologies are used simply to make certain units obsolete because they have "no, no" as prerequisites, they cannot be traded.
A few technologies are reserved for creating events during the game. These should not be traded either. Russia and England have the technological advantage, so other tribes should only expect to receive techs as a gift or through research.
All of the units are documented in the Pedia file, and their stats are also available by pressing F2. Unusual ones are explained below:
- Agents are English and Russian adventurers who disguised themselves as natives to learn more about the region. They are similar to diplomats in that they can examine cities and establish embassies, but not affect units or cities.
- Sepoys are Indians employed by the British East India Company. They are good soldiers until the Company starts arming them with rifles lubricated with the fat of cows and pigs.
- Native Infantry are Englishmen who have "gone native" and are at their best in the steamy climate of India.
- Highlanders are soldiers recruited from the Grampian Mountains of Scotland, renowned for their fighting prowess.
- Ghazis are Muslim fanatics used in the Ottoman army.
- The Russian empire can build serf infantry and regular units. The latter have improved hit points and firepower.
- Naval Guns are air units with movement and range of 1 as well as with "submarine" capabilities. Thus they cannot move overland or from their cities, and are used exclusively for attacking ships that come too close (Thanks Hoek for the idea).
The only ships that can attack ground units by coastal bombardment are gunboats, ironclads and battleships. All the other ships are treated as subs, and all naval units have no disadvantage in detecting other ships.
Several improvements have been modified to alter the feel of the game. They are fully documented in the Pedia file.
The map includes several new terrains and changes to familiar ones.
- Tundra has been replaced by plateau, representing arable land at high altitude. The special squares are Poppies and Groves.
- Arctic has been replaced by steppe, the dry zone of short grass covering most of the Eurasian plain. The special squares are Springs and Pasture.
- Jungle has been replaced by dunes, arid regions where travel is especially difficult. Special squares are Quicksand (not beneficial) and Oasis.
- Wine, Whales, Buffalo and Peat have been replaced by Goats, Pearls, Cotton and Salt, respectively.
- Desert squares now costs TWO movement points to enter, and mountains cost four.
- In addition to the hardships of crossing mountains, impassable Peaks will block movement altogether.
A summary of terrain features appears below. Note that the asterisk next to production numbers indicates that they may be improved by irrigation or mining. Grasslands receive a TWO food bonus when irrigated.
TERRAIN TYPE DEFENCE MOVE COST FOOD SHIELDS TRADE
Grassland 100% 1 2* 1 0
Plains 100% 1 2* 1 0
Cotton 100% 1 2* 2 3
Wheat 100% 1 4* 1 1
Steppe 100% 1 1* 0 0
Pasture 100% 1 1* 1 4
Spring 100% 1 3* 0 0
Plateau 100% 1 1* 1* 0
Poppies 100% 1 1* 1* 4
Groves 100% 1 3* 1* 1
Hills 200% 2 1* 0* 0
Coal 200% 2 1* 3* 1
Goats 200% 2 3* 0* 2
Mountains 300% 4 0 1* 0
Gold 300% 4 0 1* 5
Iron 300% 4 0 4* 2
Desert 100% 2 0* 0* 0
Oasis 100% 2 3* 1* 0
Oil 100% 2 0* 4* 0
Dunes 150% 3 0 0* 0
Quicksand 50% 4 0 0* 0
Oasis 150% 3 3 0* 0
Forest 150% 2 1 2 0
Silk 150% 2 1 2 3
Game 150% 2 3 2 0
Swamp 150% 2 1 0 0
Spice 150% 2 2 0 4
Salt 150% 2 1 2 2
The Russians are the protagonists of the scenario, meaning that it is up to them to do some serious conquering. Historically she did not advance at all in Turkey (mostly because the other European nations objected), managed to take some Persian territories in the Caucasus (as well as split influence in Persia with Britain), but annexed most of the Turcoman khanates. Russia must duplicate this feat to avoid losing. Making headway outside Central Asia would be a bonus, but their primary goals in the region were control of the Black Sea (by conquering Constantinople), and a clear route to India should the need to march there have arisen.
Britain's defensive advantage makes draws easier but victories harder. In actual history they took over Cyprus, Socotra and the Sind (the arid region in north-west India with a few Afghani cities), while extending influence to the coastal regions of Arabia.
As for the other nations, I make no promises that they will prosper. It will be difficult to take many cities, never mind not lose any. What saved these nations until World War One was Europe's desire that no one nation take exclusive control of the region.
The cities which are x3 objectives are named in CAPITALS.