Scenarios

I have designed the scenarios as a challenge for rather experienced players. You are well prepared, if you have completed the original Caesar III campaigns.

The files are in .zip format and need to be decompressed with e.g. Winzip for PC or StuffIt Expander for Mac. The maps must be placed into the Caesar III directory to be played under the City Construction Kit. All scenarios can be played on PC and Mac.

• Tarsus - The Cilician Gates
• African Lions
• Germania Magna
• Corinthus Nova

Tarsus
The Cilician Gates

Victory Conditions

Mission Briefing

The Roman Senate instructs you to build a large city, Tarsus, on the east side of the Cilician Gates, a massive mountain formation, to control the fertile Cilician plains, and more important, to control the trade routes from Rome to Palestine and Egypt. The Cilician plains are the hinge point of these trade routes. Also, almost all traffic from the Anatolian plateau to the Mediterranean is funneled through here, coming down by the Cilician Gates to Tarsus.

Tarsus will be a place of much commerce. The location can be reached from sea; you are instructed to build a trading port here. The trade goods meant for Egypt will be loaded aboard ships at Tarsus, to continue the journey south.

Because Tarsus will become the capital of our province Cilicia, Rome wants you to achieve rather high levels of prosperity and culture. This may also impress the Seleucides, who haven't yet abandoned their plans to control the aera. The Oracle of Delphi has proclaimed that lengthy periods of peace may be followed by short periods of hefty war in your region. Be prepared! It's to your advantage that the east side of the bay cannot be reached by Seleucide troops thanks to the geographical situation.

The site is fertile and rich of fish and can feed up to 30.000 people according to the estimation of a Roman expert. Tarsus was founded at first some centuries ago, probably by Hittite, so a few natives are already living here.

May the gods be with you!

Designer's Note

This scenario is of medium difficulty, roughly comparable to the difficulty of the last career assignments. The programs evaluation "City is besieged" is over-dramatic. The highest possible housing level is grand villa. Btw, Tarsus was the birthplace of a famous saint, so don't wonder at people walking on water!

Tarsus - The Cilician Gates made third place in the Best Scenario Contest 2002 held by Duan Xuan. This thread on the Heavengames forum contains more info about the contest and download links for all other entries, including the winning scenario.

Quoting from judge Duan Xuan:
"Fantastic terrain. The layout of the map is simply professional."

Quoting from judge Caesar Clifford:
"Hard having to import pottery and oil and wine and 3rd food type. Also not being allowed palaces makes it interesting."
"Very enjoyable and challenging."

Release date: May 31, 2002

Download Tarsus - The Cilician Gates scenario (82 K)

African Lions
Tame the lions!

Victory Conditions

Mission Briefing

You are the first-born of a honorable Roman family in Carthago. Carthago was destroyed at the end of the Third Punic War and re-founded by Julius Caesar in 44 BC. You have just finished your studies of architecture in Rome, and now you are waiting for a new challenge. One day, the Governor of Carthago, an old friend of your family, asks you to visit him in his palace.

He starts, "Rome desperately needs more lions for it's Circus Maximus. I want you to found a Roman outpost at a desert oasis some hundred miles south of Thamugadi. A Numidian trade route leads through the oasis, which will give us the opportunity to continuously trade in lions from the Numidians."

He continues, "I will order to extend some of the trade routes of Carthago to your desert settlement, if you wish so. One more advice. The merchants of Syracusae are rumored to be untrustworthy. Don't waste your time negotiating a trade agreement with them, they would most likely just grab your money but never send any merchants!"

Surely, not all Numdians will like your efforts to build a Roman settlement there. Furthermore, no Roman soldiers are willing to serve in such a distant desert hamlet. And for the same reason, qualified academy personnel is not available. But you will prove them all wrong!

The Governor warns you, "Hostile Numidians may attack from all directions. Protect your people well! Worship Mars, and consider building a city wall!"

"Hmmmm, maybe I could use gladiators and lions as a kind of city guard", you answer.

"One more thing", the Governor says. "Be nice to the Emperor. Take special care to win his favor!"

At the end of the conversation, you promise to achieve exceptional high ratings of culture and prosperity that nobody thought to be possible in the midst of the desert. Happy to hear your self-commitment, the Governor promises, "I will propose you for my successor, if you can achieve all goals within 10 years!"

Designer's Note

My aim was to create a difficult scenario. In an earlier version I had set a peace target of 20 and stronger invasions, but after a test game I noticed that this was too hard (at least if one doesn't intend to replay battles). Hurry up to raise your city's prosperity, there's little time to waste. Your last chance to reach the required prosperity rating is January 129 AD; the game times out in December 129 AD. The program's rating "somewhat easy assignment" does not correspond with the true character of this scenario.

A review of African Lions written by wolf can be found here on the Heavengames forum.

Release date: October 28, 2001

Download African Lions scenario (44 K)

Germania Magna
Prepare your defenses!

This is mainly a military scenario.

Victory Conditions

Mission Briefing

The Emperor is worried about the situation in the Roman provinces along the Rhine and Danube border. German tribes from the right bank of the Rhine are continually passing the river and are threatening cities of the Empire. While Rome has already encamped many legions along the Rhine frontier, these barbarians are still not fully convinced of the benefits of Roman rule.

The Emperor orders you to found a city, Augusta Treverorum, on the bank of the river Mosella, somewhat protected by hills. The site is rich of iron, and the weapons that your city is going to produce are urgently needed to support the Roman legions along the Rhine.

Augusta Treverorum will be an administation center for surrounding provinces, and thus you are required to achive moderate levels of prosperity and culture to make life for Roman officials more enjoyable. 6000 Denarii have been put at your disposal. The available resources do not limit housing levels.

Expect heavy resistance and recruit legionnaires early. It seems, the love of liberty is the ruling passion of these Germans.

Caesar Clifford has reviewed Germania Magna here on the Heavengames forum.

Release date: August 27, 2001

Download Germania Magna scenario (79 K)

Corinthus Nova
A wealthy port city

This scenario is thought as an economic challenge, and it is mainly a peaceful mission.

Victory Conditions

Mission Briefing

Once, Corinth was one of the oldest and most powerful cities of Greece. After an uprising against Rome, Corinthus was destroyed in 146 BC by a Roman military expedition. The population was killed or sold into slavery, and the famous art treasures were brought to Rome. The site remained largely uninhabited for 100 years.

Now, 46 BC, Caesar orders you to refound Corinthus as a Roman colony. You will build Corinthus not far away from it's old location, near the Isthmus, the land bridge between the Peloponnese and mainland Greece. Caesar instructs you to found a large, wealthy port city on this strategic position. He wants Corinthus to become a leading commercial center in the Roman Empire and expects you to achive high levels of prosperity and culture as well.

From time to time some Greeks are revolting against Rome and may threat your city. Recruit some legions to handle this secondary problem.

Caesar's administrator has some more instructions for you:

• Your starting funds are 10.000 Denarii. There is no doubt that a wise governor would use these funds to build bridges to the mainland.
• There is only sea trade and no land trade. Trade ships are coming from the eastern corner of the map.
• You can import iron and produce weapons that you can export to make money.
• The amounts of timber and furniture that you can import are limited. Think about it before providing furniture to your residents. Remember that 2x2 houses are more efficient in this case.
• Lengthy periods of peace may be followed by shorter periods of war. You may have a chance to earn a triumphal arch.
• Resources do not limit housing levels.

Release date: August 25, 2001

Download Corinthus Nova scenario (75 K)