AoC Theme of Sicily (with missions, Empire events, victory conditions, families, balanced unit roster, etc)

This mod adds the Theme of Sicily faction with FULL faction campaign features such as chapter missions, kingdom events, family trees, political parties, victory conditions, balanced unit roster and many more! I’ve aimed to implement the Theme of Sicily (Byzantine) faction with consistant quality and full content that matches other main factions. This leads to a complete campaign experience. Content/design has been balanced to fit vanilla AoC gameplay/standards!

Take control of the Sicilian Theme with Emperor Constantine V’s Imperial expedition. Under his new administration and duties as Strategos, he has set out to expand Byzantine influence and reclaim Roman lands with his Imperial armies. Reconquer the Italian Peninsula and reinstate the Roman Empire once again!

==================== List of Faction Campaign Features ====================
Chapter Missions (chapters I to V, 8 bonus missions each, with unique Byzantine objectives)
Empire Events (capture/reclaim all regions in Italy and form the Byzantine Empire!!!)
Faction Intro (with unique Byzantine text descriptions and narrative)
Faction Traits (Imperial Expedition)
Family Tree
Unique Unit Roster (balanced to vanilla composition/standards)
Unit Tech Upgrade Tree (for melee: Skutatoi -> Imperial Skutatoi, etc)
New Units with new quality unit cards (Spear Iuvenes, Auxillary skirmisher units and Imperial Skutatois)
Political Parties
Victory Conditions
Civil Wars
General Missions/Events
Scholar Dilemma Event
A Campaign Start that is historically plausible
Unique Byzantine texts through objectives, events and the faction intro
Custom Battles
Etc…

No drastic design choices (skins, naming, etc); all added content/features aim to fit vanilla standards and to create a balanced faction. This faction has a challenging/unique start, with a rewarding late game of cool units. Use my Byzantine Unit Expansion mods (+7 balanced/matching units) linked in my collection. Overall, a balanced, polished and fully functional Historical faction for vanilla AoC gameplay.

————————————- < Read Below for More Information > ————————————-

—————————————– FAQ/Compatability/Comments —————————————–
COMPATIBLE with most mods, except other faction unlockers, 12 PTY, etc (any mod that edits startpos.esf). If you can’t find the faction on campaign menu, that’s why! ONLY for English localisation.

If you can’t find the faction selection on AoC campaigns or custom battles, it’s always due to mod conflicts or not having English localisation. Deselect all other mods to test for issues/conflicts!!!…

Please stop wasting my time and repeating the same things. Solve your issues by the way above (it’s basic problem solving and common sense…). I’ve honestly been able to play this with no issues (campaign and custom battles) as of 06/02/2016…

Feedback, likes & suggestions welcome 🙂 Thank you for checking out this mod! Please ask for permission for the hard work in this mod. <06/02/15> Currently, there are no bugs present. It’s balanced and feature complete.

This mod differs from other mods in that it was the first to have missions, Empire events, victory conditions, full unit roster (tied to tech), unique Byzantine texts, intro story, etc. It also aims make the Theme of Sicily match vanilla AoC balance/quality, while also trying to stay true to the bounds of historical plausibility (with some liberties).

——————————————- Information and Faction Info —————————————–
I wanted to play as the Byzantines with fleshed out faction campaign features that fit seamlessly with vanilla gameplay/standards. Fundamentally, the Theme of Sicily plays out like a fairly unique Christian/Italian faction (administrative and civil -wise), but with a unique Byzantine Imperial army roster. Historically, the Sicilian Theme was a system of defensive provinces that were distinct from the Byzantine Empire. This front has been visited by Imperial expeditions at various occassions throughout history with the goal to assist militarily, and more ambitiously expand its domains.

Added units in this mod are Spear Iuvenes, Auxillary units and Imperial variants of Skutatoi infantry. Use this mod with my AoC Byzantine Units Expansion and AoC Greek Fire Ship mods to get a full unit roster with greater diversity than other factions!!! It adds the Cheiroballistra, Crossbowmen, Varangian guards, Kataphractoi, Firebombers, the Fire ship and crossbow ships; all with high quality unit cards! Being the most advanced military during this time period, the Byzantines have stronger, but more expensive, mid-late game units.

——————————————- Changelog/Added Features ——————————————
(Small bug fixes are unlisted after a few days to declutter)

28/12/15 (v1)
– [] the Iuvene levy Axemen (with a new high quality unit card). This can be upgraded to Skutatoi axemen after researching the appropriate tech
– New faction trait (Roman Bathhouses): +3 sanitation in all provinces
– Kingdom Event lets you form the Byzantine Empire!
– Improved/expanded the unique objective texts and gave Constantine the title of Strategos

29/12/15 – 30/12/15 (v2)
– [] Imperial versions of all Skutatoi units (swords, spears, axes) as upgrades from tech. These units will hold Kite Shields (excellent missile block), wear proto-Feudal lamellar armour and have minor buffs. These just serve as something to further look forward to in lategame, and of course new quality unit cards have been made for them.
– The local former Strategos Vitalian is present in Calabria with a small levy contingent.
– The faction trait [Imperial Expedition] now has a major diplomatic penalty, with -25 diplomacy against factions except the Papal states, Venice and a few others.
-Updated the faction intro to include multiple stages. Millitary Chapter objectives have been tweaked to require capture of Italian provinces (progressively further). The faction intro suggests conquering/expanding all over the Mediterranean (in Italy, Hispania, eventually to Europe, etc).
– Fixed some text typos.

12/01/16 – 28/01/16 (v3)
– [] Imperial archers as an upgrade from armoured archers; they are a small upgrade but look nice (and give a proto-Medieval look). Debuffed faction traits.
– [] Spear Iuvenes as an upgrade from levy spearmen (through the call on vassals technology).
– Unit tech tree is overhauled!!! May (most likely not) cause incompatability with older saves.
– Fixed and overhauled civil wars. Fixed text for the faction politics ‘Control’ measure. All save game compatible.
– There’s now a "scholar" event after 7-10 turns. Tweaked traits, and tweaked the campaign start.
– Updated Imperial Skutatoi variants unit cards (better shields).
– Light Cavalry now use round shields (with new unit card), and Scout Cavalry to use swords.

29/01/16 – 31/01/16 (v4)
– Overhauled unit upgrade tree again, for the better (final).
– [] Auxillary Skirmishers, Auxillary Skirmisher Cavalry and Light Horse Archers.
– Removed Axe Iuvenes. Changed the unit cards of Iuvenes and Spear Iuvenes.

26/02/16
– Updated and redone this mod to match the new official patch.
– Gave Imperial Skutatoi striped kite shields (shown in unit cards and during battle).
– Minor bug fixes.

Leave a comment and rating if you liked this mod 🙂 Show your support for the Byzantine faction!
TW center link: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?705219