Campaign Idea: Sun Sky Rain (Mayans)

Age of Empires II: DE II - Discussion
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Yikʼin Chan Kʼawiil, also known as Sun Sky Rain, was born before 734 and died in 755. His reign was about that long. He was a ruler of the city of Tikal, and expanded its influence by building temples and conquering other city-states.

Not much is known about his reign, so I had to get creative with some events, as well as making up others. Other Mayan rulers were not conquerors, so this was really the best choice for a campaign.

Scenarios

The Serpent Awakens

  • A prologue that depicts the rule of Sun Sky Rain’s father, Sky Rain, who defeated Calakmul and brought Tikal back to significance as a regional power, which is also depicted in the scenario Dos Pilas. The entire first half of the scenario is made up for gameplay purposes, though Teotihuacan and Tikal did have extensive contact.

  • Allies: Forces of Tikal (Mayans), Teotihuacan Priests (Aztecs)

  • Enemy to Ally: Teotihuacan (Aztecs)

  • Enemies: Calakmul (Mayans), Dos Pilas (Mayans)

  • Main Objectives

    • Destroy the Teotihuacan Town Center to prove your worth as a warrior
      – OR –

    • Place a Relic in the Teotihuacan Priests’ Monastery to prove your worth as a diplomat

    • Destroy the Calakmul Town Center

  • Secondary Objective

    • Destroy the Dos Pilas Castle to pacify it

The War Serpent

  • Depicts the conquest of Calakmul during the reign of Sun Sky Rain. Once again, some liberties are taken for gameplay purposes.

  • Neutral to Allies: Dos Pilas (Mayans), Yaxchilan (Mayans)

  • Enemy: Calakmul (Mayans)

  • Main Objective

    • Conquer Calakmul by capturing its Monument

  • Secondary Objectives

    • Recruit Dos Pilas by building Town Centers in each of the flagged locations in the ruins

    • Recruit Yaxchilan by bringing a Monk to each of their eight stela (Monasteries)

The Turncoat City

  • Depicts the conquest of El Peru.

  • Ally: Dos Pilas (Mayans)

  • Enemies: El Peru (Aztecs), Calakmul Rebels (Mayans)

  • Main Objectives:

    • Kill the El Peru Chieftain (King)

    • The cart containing a plundered image must reach Tikal

Appeasing the Serpent

  • Depicts the conquest of Naranjo. Some liberties are taken with the events and objectives, and Naranjo is depicted as the Incas for flavor and variety purposes.

  • Enemies: Naranjo (Incas), Caracol (Mayans)

  • Main Objectives

    • Destroy Naranjo’s Wonder

    • Your Town Center must not be destroyed

The Majesty of Tikal

  • Based on the architectural and societal accomplishments of Sun Sky Rain, with many made-up elements.

  • Enemies to Potential Allies: Caracol (Mayans), Quirigua (Incas), Uxmal (Aztecs), Palenque (Mayans), Chalchuapa (Mayans), Bonampak (Aztecs), Pomona (Incas)

  • Main Objectives

    • Complete one of the following:

      • Conquer or ally with 5 of the 7 city-states
      • Collect 10,000 gold
      • Build and defend a Wonder
      • Collect and hold all 8 Relics

  • Side Objectives

    • To ally with each city-state, follow their requests within 10 minutes of switching diplomacy:

      • Caracol: Construct a Castle in the flagged area within their city
      • Quirigua: Tribute 800 stone
      • Uxmal: Repair their Wonder to full health
      • Palenque: Send five Trade Carts to the town square as dowry
      • Chalchuapa: Tribute 1000 gold
      • Bonampak: Build five Monasteries within their city walls
      • Pomona: Send 15 Elite Eagle Warriors and 10 Elite Plumed Archers to their city
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5

Honestly, I like this idea. Not only do you have continuity with an official scenario (Dos Pilas) but it also would be able to highlight an actually plausible (if somewhat creative) campaign that would be in line with the official content. I would like to offer one suggestion to the last scenario, however:

Instead of choosing one objective to win, combine them. Make it more so that you have to complete several of them in order to complete the scenario. I feel like if you only choose one objective, you would end up pigeonholing your players to choosing the easiest or the fastest route to win, instead of allowing them to have a full experience.

For example, this is what I would do as the scenario editor:

Complete the following:

Conquer or ally 5 of the 7 city-states
Collect 10,000 Gold
OR
Build and Defend a Wonder

This way, you could make the relics relevant by becoming rewards for choosing to make conquests, allowing you to collect them and aid you in finishing the secondary goal for gold. If you choose to ally, the relics will generate gold for your allies and they can periodically tribute you gold to help you finish the gold goal. Or, you could choose a mix of both.

Alternatively, if you want to turtle and play defensive, you could play the wonder game, and defend against the entire map coming to tear it down.

Either way, I think the gameplay of the last scenario could be very engaging on either route, and the side objectives for the alliances imo are fine to me. I just feel that it isn’t as much fun if you only need to choose one route to win.

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