The Middle Ages is a scenario in Civilization III: Conquests.
Description[]
In 843, the great empire of Charlemagne is divided into three parts. The Christian leaders of these kingdoms of Franks, Germans, and Burgundians each have a holy relic that needs to be returned to Jerusalem (to earn 10000 bonus VP). A fourth relic resides with Alfred the Great in his fledgling English nation to the north. Play as one of these four Western Christian civilizations, one of four Viking powers, one of four Muslim powers, or as the Byzantines. Who can rule the greatest kingdom of the Middle Ages by the year 1453?
Intro[]
Background[]
It is the year 843 AD. Remnants of the Roman Empire linger near the Byzantine stronghold of Constantinople, but the glory days of the Roman empire are 500 years in the past. Europe has seen one great empire since then, the Carolingian dynasty of the mighty Charlemagne. Now even he has left us, and the just-concluded Treaty of Verdun has split his mighty holdings among Franks, Burgundians, and Germans. These Christian nations carefully watch the sea for signs of the Viking raiders that torment the region.
Special[]
The Dark Ages tech tree for this scenario is split into four optional paths, one for each of the following civilization types:
- Christian: Franks, Burgundians, England, Germany (unique unit - Knight)
- Norse: Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Kievan Rus (unique unit - Berserk)
- Arab: Cordovans, Fatimids, Abbasids, Turks (unique unit - Ansar Warrior)
- Roman: Byzantines (unique unit - Dromon)
Study the tree carefully so each advance you research provides benefit for your civilization type.
Victory[]
Medieval countries live and die according to the fate and prowess of their king or queen. This scenario is no exception. Mass Regicide is enabled, so a civ is eliminated from the game as soon as all of their king units die. Assuming you keep your kings alive and withstand the ailment that besets Europe late in the game, the final victor is determined by victory points. VP are scored throughout the game using standard values. There is only one VP location on the map, the Holy City of Jerusalem. Each playable Christian nation starts the game with a holy relic; returning one to its rightful place in the Holy City yields a bonus of 10000 extra VP for completing this crusade.
Gameplay[]
This scenario puts players in control of one of thirteen civilizations that are competing for control of medieval Europe. There are also five nonplayable civilizations. Major wars and diseases such as the Black Plague add an element of realism, and the tech tree includes 37 scenario-specific technologies to research over three eras.
In the multiplayer version of the scenario, Burgundy, the Fatimids, Norway, Sweden, the Turks and all non-playable civilizations are removed, and some parts of their territory are transferred to other civilizations.
There are multiple paths to victory in this scenario.
- Mass Regicide: Each playable civilization begins the game with three king units, while the nonplayable civilizations each start with two. A civilization that loses its last king is eliminated from the game.
- Reverse Capture the Flag: The four Christian civilizations each begin play with a specific Holy Relic, which can be delivered to Jerusalem for 10,000 points. Holy Relics can be stolen from their original owners by opposing civilizations, who can then earn additional points by delivering them to Jerusalem.
The first civilization to score 30,000 points wins.
Civilizations[]
All civilizations start the game with all Ancient Times advances.
Playable[]
- Caliph al-Mansur (Abbasids)
- Strengths: Commercial, Religious
- Starting Advance: Arab Learning
- Unique Unit(s): Ansar Warrior
- King Unit(s): Abu
- Cities: Abbasid cities
- King Otto (Germany)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Religious
- Starting Advance: Western Church
- Unique Unit(s): Knight
- King Unit(s): Charles V
- Holy Relic: Splinter of True Cross
- Cities: German cities
- Prince Rurik (Kievan Rus)
- Strengths: Commercial, Religious
- Starting Advance: Norse Tradition
- Unique Unit(s): Berserk, Cataphract, Longship
- King Unit(s): Ragnar
- Cities: Kievan cities
- Empress Theodora (Byzantines)
- Strengths: Religious, Seafaring
- Starting Advance: Byzantine Ingenuity
- Unique Unit(s): Dromon, Cataphract
- King Unit(s): Theodora, William
- Cities: Byzantine cities
- Saint Joan d'Arc (France)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Religious
- Starting Advance: Western Church
- Unique Unit(s): Knight
- King Unit(s): Joan d'Arc, Charles V
- Holy Relic: Crown of Thorns
- Cities: Frankish cities
- Empress Matilda (England)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Religious
- Starting Advance: Western Church
- Unique Unit(s): Knight
- King Unit(s): Elizabeth, William
- Holy Relic: Holy Grail
- Cities: English cities
- Notes: Has one Army (Alfred the Great)
- King Svein Forkbeard (Denmark)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Seafaring
- Starting Advance: Norse Tradition
- Unique Unit(s): Berserk, Longship
- King Unit(s): Ragnar
- Cities: Danish cities
- Caliph Abd Ar-Rahman (Cordova)
- Strengths: Commercial, Religious
- Starting Advance: Arab Learning
- Unique Unit(s): Ansar Warrior
- King Unit(s): Abu
- Cities: Cordovan cities
- Sultan Osman (Turks)
- Strengths: Commercial, Militaristic
- Starting Advance: Arab Learning
- Unique Unit(s): Sipahi
- King Unit(s): Osman
- Cities: Turkish cities
- Notes: Removed in the multiplayer version
- King Harald Hardrada (Norway)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Seafaring
- Starting Advance: Norse Tradition
- Unique Unit(s): Berserk, Longship
- King Unit(s): Ragnar
- Cities: Norwegian cities
- Notes: Removed in the multiplayer version, part of the cities and units are transferred to Denmark
- King Inge I (Sweden)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Seafaring
- Starting Advance: Norse Tradition
- Unique Unit(s): Berserk, Longship
- King Unit(s): Ragnar
- Cities: Swedish cities
- Notes: Removed in the multiplayer version, part of the cities and units are transferred to Kievan Rus
- King Lothair (Burgundy)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Religious
- Starting Advance: Western Church
- Unique Unit(s): Knight
- King Unit(s): Charles V
- Holy Relic: Shroud of Turin
- Cities: Burgundian cities
- Notes: Removed in the multiplayer version
- Caliph al-Muiz (Fatimid Caliphate)
- Strengths: Commercial, Religious
- Starting Advance: Arab Learning
- Unique Unit(s): Ansar Warrior
- King Unit(s): Abu
- Cities: Fatimid cities
- Notes: Removed in the multiplayer version, part of the cities and units are transferred to the Abbasids and Cordova
Non-playable[]
All are removed in the multiplayer version.
- King Casimir (Poland)
- Strengths: Militaristic, Religious
- Starting Advance: Western Church
- Unique Unit(s): Knight
- King Unit(s): Charles V
- Cities: Polish cities
- King Stephen (Magyars)
- King Unit(s): Temujin
- Cities: Magyar cities
- Czar Simeon (Bulgars)
- King Unit(s): Temujin
- Cities: Bulgar cities
- Queen Isabella (Castile)
- Unique Unit(s): Knight
- King Unit(s): Isabella, William
- Cities: Castilian cities
- King Malcolm (Celts)
- King Unit(s): Brennus
- Cities: Celtic cities
- Barbarians
- Mongols: The Mongols are present in this scenario only as one of the barbarian tribes (with a lot of starting Barbarian camps on the eastern edge of the map). However they swept over much of Europe late in the time period of the game; their civilization was kept in the game rules in case a player wanted to add them in as a variant.
- Unique Unit(s): Keshik
- Tribes: Barbarian tribes
Special features[]
Advances[]
- Arab Learning
- Assassination
- Byzantine Ingenuity
- Castle Building
- Defender of Europe
- Divine Right
- Early Siegecraft
- Exchequer
- Heavy Cavalry
- Improved Siegecraft
- Intelligence Operations
- Jihad
- Lost Roman Secrets
- Medieval Combat
- Mercantilism
- Milling
- Monasticism
- Norse Tradition
- Parliament
- Polearms
- Professional Armies
- Religious Persecution
- Seafaring
- Seamanship
- Smithing
- The Middle Class
- Viking Sagas
- Western Church
Tech tree[]
Buildings[]
Eras[]
Resources[]
Units[]
- Assassin
- Cataphract
- Crown of Thorns
- Holy Grail
- Inquisitor
- Longship
- Shroud of Turin
- Splinter of True Cross
- Spy
Wonders[]
- Bayeux Tapetry
- Domesday Book
- Hanseatic League
- Holy Roman Empire
- Krak des Chevaliers
- Magna Carta
- Notre Dame
- Robin Hood
Small Wonders[]
See also[]
External links[]
Civilization III Scenarios [edit] |
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C Added in the Conquests expansion pack |