Hi everyone!
I'm the newbee here, but I'll try do not violate any rules
First thing I'd like to write about - is a basic in formation about us and our project
Pre-Civilization: Marble Age.
We are two indie-developers - great fans of strategy games (Civilization, Victoria, Crusader Kings, and others) and history, decided to create the project with real historical line, where the player could go through real history events. Our first projects were 2 games for iOS - Stone Age and the Bronze Age - but I'll not mention'em any more - they have long been completed.
I'd like to show you few basic gameplay features of the third chapter of the series - Pre-Civilization: Marble Age. This is a turn-based historical strategy game where you have to develop a small village in ancient Greece to the giant metropolis and in the end - dominate over the world. Chronology of events begins with the 3000 BC and ends in 1000 AD.
The basic idea of gameplay - competent management of workers, allocation of resources, research technologies, build the city and develop relations with neighbors. With years the village turns into a huge metropolis and you could explore surrounding areas, colonize the world, build relationships with other countries, start and end wars, trade with other regions. All gameplay process takes place against the backdrop of actual historical events.
Animated view of the city 
First, you need to select the city and play-style accordingly: Athens or Sparta? Athens - a cultural way of development: the birthplace of democracy.
Choose your city
Athens gameplay is mostly peaceful, diplomatic and cultural. The main concept of the city development (and script events too) - freedom, equality, friendship etc. For example: Athens have diplomatic assignments for the unification of the cities in the unions to repel external threats.
Athens starting screen
Sparta is an example of the unique ancient military state. Cult of strength and valor. Gameplay mainly military. Where Athens looking for a compromise, Sparta is using force. And everything Sparta needs, it takes by force, whether it be slaves, or cultural treasures. For example, Sparta have quest where they have to capture a certain number of slaves to serve the soldiers.
Sparta starting screen
Also you may choose one of the six starting bonuses with different strong and weak sides. For example, Athens can choose a Fertile Ground; this will increase the productivity of agriculture, but also slightly decrease the total arable land. Whatever you choose, the starting bonus is very important for the chosen development strategy.
One of the main things that you have to do is to manage resources using workers and slaves. The main production center - is your city. You have to constantly look for the best combination of the manufacturing of such resources as: food / people, production, culture, ships, troops, and money. For example in the image below, the first thing you need to decide how many people to send to the production of food and how much to leave in the center. Which is better, fast population increase and then produce other resources, or for example, do not rush for the population growth and to send everyone to the science/culture and invent new technologies that will produce more food? The decision is up to you.
Basic city view
With the growth of the city, you'll discover new sources of income, but also will face new challenges: the construction of buildings and the army will require a money upkeep and may drive you into debt or make you bankrupt and lead you to one of the bad endings. Immigration and overpopulation can cause famine and unrest. Powerful merchant fleet without proper caring may begin to fall apart. Numerous invading hordes of Persians, Romans and Huns will test your military might.
Advanced city view
There are many ways to obtain resources, not only in the city, but also through trade, pillage, colonial contributions, etc. You may see details in special information windows.
Example of population info panel:
During the game you will have to keep up with the world history: invent new technologies, construct buildings and road. You start with a tiny village with 12 inhabitants and with time, the city became the largest metropolis with several million citizens. City development occurs constantly and player could see the changes with every turn. Let me show you how the agriculture section changes with time (for Athens):
Agriculture step by step 1 - Gatherers of the Neolithic Era are obtaining food by foraging;
2 - The beginning of agriculture: people learn how to grow food by own hands
3 - Crop Gardens, people are no longer care about gathering;
4 - Cultivation and the wheat fields;
5 - New barn will allow to make stocks of food and seeds;
6 - Irrigation will greatly increases the productivity of the fields;
7 - Construction of roads can improve logistics;
8 - Vineyards is a top achievement in agriculture (almost modern!).
The main source of food for Sparta is livestock. Balance, buildings and upgrades are different from Athens.
That was the first part of game features description. In my next post I'll tell you about tech-tree and buldings. I'd be very thankful for your feedback, opinion or support. For me is very important to hear what do you think about idea, artstyle, first impression etc.
Thanks!
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