Title: `The Old World', a scenario map for Dominions 3.
Version: 1.2
Author: Richard (dom3get123 at yahoo.com)

1. What is it?

This is a scenario map for Dominions 3, based on a satellite map of
Europe and the adjacent areas of Asia and North Africa.
It is inspired by a similar map called `The old world' 
in Dominions 1, which was absent (so far) in Dominions 2/3.

It is, hopefully, better than any other Europe-based map for Dominions 3
so far.

The scenario is playable in all 3 eras, and it uses only nations which
`fit' into Europe (thus, e.g., no Mictlan).

There a two versions of the scenario (which use the same .tga file):

(A) Theoldworld_vanilla.map,  This is the standard version. If in doubt, use
this one.

(B) Theoldworld_dracula.map,  This requires the Dracula mod (for the
respective era: early, middle, or late), 
which adds an extra nation of vampires (see Section 2.).
If you use this version, then you MUST enable the `Dracula' nation in the
game, or else it will crash.

The map is wrap-around for east-west, but not for north-south, for game
balance reasons.

2. How to install and use it.

2.1. Installation

The following files go into the `maps' directory of Dominions 3:
Theoldworld_vanilla.map, Theoldworld_dracula.map, theoldworld.tga

The following mod files are only needed for the Dracula version of the
scenario, not for the vanilla version. They go into the `mods' 
directory of Dominions 3: Dracula_early.dm, Dracula_middle.dm, 
Dracula_late.dm
Each era requires its own mod file, but they do the same.

2.2. How to use it

All players have fixed starting locations (details below). 
I suggest to use all allowed players. 

The Vanilla-version is the standard version. If in doubt, use this one.

The Dracula version of the scenario requires the Dracula mod for
the respective era. If you use this version, then you MUST enable the `Dracula' nation in the
game, or else it will crash.
The Dracula nation is an extra nation of vampires, starting (of course)
in Transylvania. This nation is relatively weak, e.g., it does not
have recruitable priests. It is not supposed to win the game, but rather to
be a nuisance to other players. It can be played by the computer, or
by an unusually brave human player. The idea for it was to explore
the concept of `active independents' which is so far missing in the game.

Players for early era:
Arcoscephale in Greece, Ermor in Rome, Ulm in Germany, Marverni in France, Sauromatia
in Kasachstan, Abysia in West Sahara, Caelum in Caucasus, C'tis in Egypt, 
Pangaea in Ukraine, Agartha in Iran, Tir na n'Og in Britain, Fomoria in
Portugal, Vanheim in Sweden, Helheim in Finland, Niefelheim in northern Russia, 
Hinnom in Middle East, Atlantis in Norwegian Sea, R'lyeh in Black Sea, 
Oceania in Western Med., Dracula in Transsylvania.

Players for middle era:
Arcoscephale in Mesopotamia, Ermor in Rome, Pythium in Byzanthium, Man in
England, Ulm in Germany, Marignon in Spain, T'ien Ch'i in Kasachstan,
Agartha in Iran, Abysia in West Sahara, Caelum in Caucasus, C'tis in Egypt, 
Pangaea in Ukraine, Vanheim in Sweden, Jotunheim in Russia, Ashdod in
Phoenicia, Atlantis in Norwegian Sea, R'lyeh in Black Sea, Oceania in Western Med., 
Eriu in France, Dracula in Transsylvania. 

Players for late era:
Arcoscephale in Mesopotamia, Ermor in Rome, Pythium in Byzanthium, Man in
England, Ulm in Germany, Marignon in Portugal, T'ien Ch'i in Kasachstan,
Agartha in Iran, Abysia in West Sahara, Caelum in Caucasus, C'tis in Egypt, 
Pangaea in White Russia, Midgard in Sweden, Utgard in Finland, Gath in
Middle East, Atlantis in Iceland, R'lyeh in Mediterranean,
Bogarus in Northern Russia, Dracula in Transsylvania. 

3. Design notes

I liked the map `theoldworld' in Dominions 1, but none of the
available Europe maps for Dominions 3 satisfied me. Thus I've made my own.
- The number of provinces is deliberately kept low (204 land + 29 sea, i.e.,
about 11 per player), because more provinces just add micro-management.
- There are quite a few known magic sites in the logical locations.
- The province names are fanciful. Any similarities with real names are entirely
coincidental.
- The map is wrap-around, but the only connections are east-west.
Thus, e.g., the Ural and Persia now connect to the North Atlantic.
This is not realistic, but needed for balance reasons.
There are no north-south connections. Some players have more neighbors than
others, but no-one is completely in a corner.

4. Version history

Version 1.1.: Fixed a bug that wrongly enabled nation 77 (Dracula) in the
vanilla version. Added a comment about the wrap-around feature.

Version 1.2.: Added more detailed instructions on how to use the
Dracula-version of the scenario.
