Imperium: An Eagle in Italy

Finally, as promised, another screenshot. Please keep in mind that everything here is placeholder art – usually stuff from pictures or icons that I have resized/manipulated into a usable form. Everything will eventually need to be replaced.

Screenshot

If any of you recall the old screenshots, you will note that a lot has changed in the representation on the screen. Something you probably can’t see is that world map has been scaled up; this is directly related to the fact that the map now shows a whole lot more information than in the previous iteration.

As mentioned earlier, there are now a whole lot fewer regions. The flag on the region denotes who controls the region; this may be an entirely different empire than the one that actually owns the region (e.g., Lucania in this screenshot has just been conquored by Pyrrhus, but it is still owned by Rome).

Some explanation of the map, using Apulia (Tarentum) as the example:

The size of the city denotes approximate size. The small building to the left of the city denotes the special feature of the region – in this case a temple that has the effect of improving morale. The two numbers in the lower left corner of the city graphics denotes the strength of the city militia if mobilized (as they will be, if the city is besieged) and the second denotes the combat strength of the garrison present in the city. To give some perspective, the city militia in this shot is around 12,000 men, the garrison around 10,000; but better arms and training means that the garrison would contribute much more combat effectiveness.

The asterisks next to the garrison numbers give the fortification level of the city (2). In a more graphically souped up version of the game, this would be shown using in-game graphics. The number in the lower left corner of the city is the supply level (2); this factor is used to supply friendly armies in the region if they exceed the supply capability of the region, as well as to resist blockades in a siege. The anchor with a blurred ship on it denotes a port with a fleet in residence; the number on the port denotes the combat strength of the fleet.
The figures standing around represent commanders, of course – the yellow band around the foot of the Greek in Lucania of course representing the commander currently selected – Pyrrhus Pyrrhidae. The numbers next to some of the commanders is the combat strength of the army they are commanding; the fleet in the water in addition indicates the command of a fleet (the number “on the fleet” is of course the combat strength of the ships).

More later…