Hello fellow CIV'er,

I've always wanted to be able to play Civilization starting with the real, historical
setting at some point in history.  So recently I bought the scenario editor (Fantastic
Worlds) and a good historical atlas and got to work.  This scenario is meant to be played
as a normal game of civilization, beginning with the real world situation in 1 AD.  I hope
to make several more similar scenarios representing other times in history.

I've tested this scenario some but not extensively.  I would appreciate hearing from you about
how you've done playing different sides in order to see if any tweaking of the sides might be
necessary.  (I'm afraid the scenario may currently be biased toward the Chinese player.) Also let me know if you have any ideas of other game elements (cities, units, or leaders) or game events that I should try to include.  I can be reached by email at cc691077@bcm.tmc.edu.

Hopefully every civilization can be played by the human player and be both challenging and 
have some chance of success.  Please note that in order to even things up somewhat, and to
find appropriate city names, I've had to reach backwards or forwards in history for a few
hundred years around 1 AD.  For instance, to be correct, in the year 1 AD India was divided
into several moderately strong kingdoms.  It was not united into an empire until the 4th 
century under the Guptas.  Also, obviously neither the Eurasian Tribes nor the Africans nor
the Mayan/Olmecs/etc. were ever united under a single government.  Perhaps this scenario
will give a hint how things might have been different if they had been...

The Romans are far ahead of most in technology, but their border cities are weak and they 
have many highly motivated opponents.  The Chinese, Indian, and Parthian civilizations all 
have slightly less technology than Rome, but are reasonably well situated with strong 
cities and armies.

The most interesting, and challenging, civilizations to play may be the Africans, Mayans, and
Eurasian Tribes.  In 1 AD, sub-saharan Africa was mostly tribal, with few cities and only a small amount of metal-working.  Perhaps, however, a strong cheiftain could have united the tribes, captured the rich cities of the Nile, and given the continent a real chance for empire. This is the assumption made in this game.  To represent the disunity of the tribes, Africa starts without a capital city.  However, they have a large number of "free" units (no home city).  They are well-situated to capture Alexandria, which would give them the Great Library--a chance to catch up technologically.

The Mayan side actually represents several early peoples in the Americas: the Mayans, Olmecs, Zapotecs, and several civilizations in the Andes.  They are relatively primative, and have relatively small cities.  However, they have two entire continents to colonize without
opposition.

The Eurasian Tribes represent the many tribes that plagued the Roman Empire and, later, China
and Persia: the Germans, Vandals, Goths, Huns, Mongols, and many others.  They start the game weak in cities but with a fairly strong army.  During the game they receive three groups of reinforcements: the Goths in 200, the Huns in 360, and the Mongols in 1200.  Each of these have some special units not usually available.  (It would be difficult to pull off a marauding Mongol horde with CivII Horsemen.)

Have fun!

Chetlen Crossnoe