Into the Renaissance | Scenarios cgk Guide

Last update: 11 May 2016

Crusades are a result of a great struggle for control over the Holy City of three religions: Jerusalem. Will you manage to lead a successful offensive and take over the city? Or perhaps your might ends up defeated by an enemy empire, which currently reigns over the Holy City? Finally, will you survive those dark ages and will you have the strength to step on the path into the Renaissance?

Generally

Scenario is based primarily on historical Europe, but it permits... drawing of the map.

From the beginning there are three religions on the map: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy and Islam. The game, naturally, does not allow the creation of new ones. The Holy City of the first one is the Vatican City, the second one - Constantinople, from the beginning belonging to Byzantium (it is the only civilization which controls a Holy City from the beginning) - and for Islam - Mecca. At the beginning, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Mecca are each a free city-state. Provided that we control any of the Holy Cities, we will receive a bonus from the dogma of the founder's religion.

The game is all about the points, and it ends after 200 turns. For each turn of control or alliance with the Holy City or Jerusalem, we obtain 10 additional points. Sending a caravel to the West, discovering the Exploration (New World), being elected the Emperor of Germany or seizing control over cities of other religion is another way of gaining additional points.

Each civilization starts at the beginning of the era of the Middle Ages - technologies of Ancient and Classical era are long discovered. Furthermore, it also receives two units of Settlers, one unit of Workers and a specific quantity of military units. Playing as a Christianity nation, the location of Vatican City and Jerusalem is marked on our map - Mecca and Constantinople are hidden. In turn, playing as an Islamic nation, the location of Mecca and Jerusalem is shown to us.

Players

We can choose from a variety of civilizations, existing in the then Europe - some of which have been modified in the actual gameplay.

England - originally: +2 to movement speed of naval units.

Austria - originally: can spend 500 gold to take over allied city-state.

The Celts - change: +20% additional strength against units of a civilization with more cities (instead of additional faith from upgraded forests).

Sweden - change: embarked units gain additional movement point and their embarkation / disembarkation costs only one movement point, instead of a whole turn (instead of additional influence on Great People).

Spain - change: after discovering Exploration, they can send Conquistadors, who will gain additional victory points and gold (instead of gold from the discovery of Natural Wonders).

The Turks - originally: they can convert barbarian naval units to join their side, and gain additional gold for doing that.

The Netherlands - originally: they retain 50% of the happiness benefits from a Luxury Resource if they lose it.

Egyptians (Ayyubids) - new nation - Saladin's Justice - Bonus: in every conquered city, a free court is built. Additionally, they have free Pyramids in Cairo. Special: Mamluks - (no penalty for attacking cities), they replace Knights and Madrasa - (+33% Science from the city, +2 Faith, +2 Science from the jungle), it replaces University, which does not give Faith.

Arabian (Almoravids) - change: +2 gold from each Trade Route (instead of +1 gold from each Trade Route and double quantity from Oil resources).

Russia - change: +1 movement speed for land units, additionally movement along the river costs one movement point (instead of additional production and doubling of strategic resources)

Byzantium - change: you begin with an additional Spy and a Holy City (instead of additional Faith when establishing a religion).

France - original: each city gives +2 Culture each turn.

How to play

A good strategy for completing this scenario with a decent score, is to acquire and hold alliances with Holy Cities, and, if it's possible, complete their side quests - you gain Points of Influence for doing so, although those points drop down very fast.

When playing as Byzantium, you must prevent any enemies from getting into Constantinople - your top priority should be to maintain control over it, as it gives you points and religious bonuses.