The Battle of Mag Itha

A project to create a custom campaign in the Age of Empires game engine based on the First Battle of Ireland, according to Irish mythology. This custom scenario was created in the official editor packaged with the product.

¬ Project Planning
¬ Research
¬ Map Design

I wanted to choose something from mythology or pseudohistory. My first thought was to choose a historical battle, as then I'll also probably be able to find maps of the area to reference. However, to make a fair match between two different peoples could be challenging, and failing to do that, or the perception of failing to do that, could be seen as disrespectful to one of the groups.

As such, I chose to do a battle against an unknown or pseudo-unhuman force.

For my custom map, I chose to recreate the Battle of Mag Itha, the first battle of Ireland. This story comes from Irish mythology, and in it, the ancient Irish are said to have come from the south and encountered the Fomorians. The Fomorians were seen as a supernatural race, or sometimes as pirates without a specific origin. This would meet my design requirement of not showing disrespect toward a certain culture.

I found maps of where it's believed this myth takes place, and used this as the basis for the maps' geography. The locations are approximations as the locations are described like "an area between Lough Erne, County Fermanagh and the Drowes in County Donegal. It is close to Dernish Island, County Sligo, a possible location of the island of the Fomorians."

In the first of the three maps, you represent Lady Cessair, who led the people to Ireland fleeing the coming flood. Here, you establish a community before heading west. This map is based on an area south of Arklow, County Wicklow.

In the second map, you represent a follower of Partholón, Ith. You travel north of the Lower Lough Erne, toward the border of Fermanagh and Donegal. You intend to clear a plain in order to raise oxen, plough fields, and grow crops. However, you will come across the Fomorians as you move further northward.

The third and final map represents an area along the River Finn, near Lough Swilly in the barony of Raphoe, County Donegal, where the medieval tuath of Magh Itha was. Here, you will battle the Fomorian forces, lead by Cichol Gricenchos "of the withered feet" in a long battle on the Slemna "smooth lands" (plains), which results in the end of the Fomorians.