Columbus and the gold rush in Hispaniola

The first large island Columbus reached in New World was modern Haiti. The great explorer placed his banner on this land, installed a cross and clamed the island as Hispaniola. It was the beginning of the colonization of the New World. When gold was discovered on the island, thousands of Spaniards rushed to Hispaniola. In 1513 there were seventeen Spanish cities on the island.

Natives tragedy

According to the chronicles of the great missionary Las-Casas, more them 300,000 Indians lived there before Columbus. However, colonists eliminated Natives by thousands, enslaved them and forced them to mine gold, and raise cotton, corn and sugar cane for their masters. Eventually they destroyed the entire Indian population.

French and English come to the archipelago

Caravels explored the local waters and found that Hispaniola was part of a larger archipelago. Soon, the French arrived in the region. The pirate Belen D’Esnabuk, tracked by a Spanish warship, found shelter on the island, which he named Saint Christopher. Here he met a crew from a shipwrecked English brig under command of Thomas Warner. Together they settled the island and soon 600s colonist from Europe joined them. The French and English influence began to spread throughout the archipelago.

Buccaneers - free hunters

After some time Spanish found new neighbors on Hispaniola. They were free hunters of several nations, who had found another source of prosperity than gold. They prospered by hunting buffalo and supplying ships sailing to New World with meat. They called themselves «buccaneers» and lived in small communities under the rule of a «Coastal Brotherhood.» They were not a pirates, though real pirates bought their meat and moored in their ports.

Buccaneers War

Alarmed by the buccaneers' presence, Spain sent troops to destroy Coastal Brotherhood. The Buccaneers organized a strong armed response and repelled them back to their colonial centers. This was the first war for the island. Sometime later however, the buccaneers left Hispaniola to found a new capital - Tortuga - and a new more profitable business - piracy.

These facts, as well as the old and fine game of Sid Meier's «Colonization» inspired me to create the Hispaniola scenario - the struggle for survival and dominion of the island. This game will have a sequel and other surprises.

What's new in the game?

First of all, this is a game for the TOT version of Civilization II, and it uses the advanced capabilities of scenario design. But the best parts of Fantastic Worlds are here, with some improvements. I am sure You will not be disappointed.

The map of game includes Hispaniola (Haiti & the Dominican Republic) island with a small part of the Antilles archipelago. This is not the entire New World itself, but only the door to America. The only two big areas of land are Hispaniola and Puerto Rico.

The beginning: Your flag in open sea

The main idea of Hispaniola is the same as it's ancestors - Civilization II and Sid Meier's Colonization:
You must start your colony from nothing! No European participant has a mother country city at the start. Only the Natives have a numerous, but weak local civilization - and you have no contact with them. All map is 100% dark as in original Civilization - Your exploration perspective is excellent.

Each nation has three caravels sailing toward Hispaniola's coast. Depending on the nation you choose to play, these ships are located in different parts of the map, not far from Hispaniola. You are free to choose a place for landing, moving You caravels along the shore, and have unlimited time before You decide where to build Your first colony.

Then you become a participant of the war for survival on this fertile but dangerous land. You must combine the art of warlord, builder, and diplomat in order to earn the favor of Your king, who financed the expedition.

Your fleet and first colonists:

All ships in this game are caravels which I designed from Columbus’ three famous ships (I think they are the best naval units I have designed). These are the only European vessels, You can use in the game. Take care of them - if they are lost it will take a long time to rebuild them, and only after your rank goes up. Their loss may be compensated with canoes, if You take this knowledge from Natives.

Each side has different types of caravels in its first fleet: Spain has the most powerful, with the big caravel «Santa Maria» as the flagship. The weakest fleets are Portuguese and Dutch - minor participants of Hispaniola's colonization.

Each fleet has different types of units on board. The most important of these are colonists. Each side has three colonists (one on the each ship), except the Spanish who have a Columbus "settler" unit.
If You lose all three Your colonists before You build a city, You will lose the game and the scenario will end.
At the start You will have 3 ships and from 9 (Portuguese) to 13 (Spanish) passengers on board.