LOTR: Fourth Age Mod

[fatsheep]

Hey guys, this is the Lord of the Rings: Fourth Age mod.

We chose the Fourth Age because before this there wasn't a atmosphere for a total war game. In TW anyone can fight anyone, you can backstab your closest ally, etc... So now in the Fourth Age the huge good side alliance and evil alliance are gone, it's a free-for-all. However, in the mod we are planning to have historical battles from the earlier ages.

Playable Factions:

- Gondor
- Rohan
- Rebel Gondorians
- Dunlendings
- Haradrim
- Variags
- Easterlings
- Mirkwood Elves
- Dwarves
- Northern Orcs

Our forums are located here: here (http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?showforum=31)

[Eastside Character]

Some nice screenies. Good start! ~D Good luck with it! ~:cheers:
Hmm, but you'll have to work more on the Orcs I think. The elves and mouted knights look very good IMHO, all in all its a ~:cheers: good job!

Regards,
EC

[Silver Rusher]

Two factions to add to your list: Umbar (gets easterlings and haradrim), Beornlings (gets bear units). I soooo badly want to play a battle as Beornlings, they just have such cool soldiers (bear men)

[Zharakov]

Da good work, this will be a wonder mod. I can not wait to play it. ~D

[Eastside Character]

Speaking like a true barbarian, huh?

Anyway I thought that celtic general unit looks IMHO pretty much like some Rohan riders of some kind. With a little skin adjustment they would fit right in.

Regards,
EC

[fatsheep]

Hmm, but you'll have to work more on the Orcs I think.

Northern orks:

http://img129.exs.cx/img129/4526/orcswordsmenwarband4yr.jpg
http://img129.exs.cx/img129/4074/thehorde18bg.jpg
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/3569/thehorde2nh.jpg
http://img53.exs.cx/img53/175/orcgreaterwarband48nt.jpg


Two factions to add to your list: Umbar (gets easterlings and haradrim), Beornlings (gets bear units). I soooo badly want to play a battle as Beornlings, they just have such cool soldiers (bear men)

I think we were going to include umbar at one time... not sure what happened, I'll pass this on to the team, nice idea.



Anyway I thought that celtic general unit looks IMHO pretty much like some Rohan riders of some kind. With a little skin adjustment they would fit right in.

The barbarian calvary units can look pretty similar to Rohirrim. I'm normally not a skinner for the mod (only been skinning/modeling for bout a month) but I'll try it out and see how it goes. (Right now we don't have a skinner or modeller on rohan, variags, or Haradrim)

[WhiteWolf]

Umbar is nothing more than a city within the territory of the people of Harad.

Unfortunatly the Beornings just didnt really have an army they were more like guardians of parts of mirkwood, but we might include them as a merc unit of some kind.

[TigerVX]

Fear the men from the the East =P.

Easterling Spearmen
http://img29.exs.cx/img29/2355/spearmen4.gif

Easterling Noble Cavalry
http://img29.exs.cx/img29/3509/noble33ha.gif

Easterling Peasants
http://img29.exs.cx/img29/1747/peasants1mp.gif

[fatsheep]

Ah good you guys found the thread. ~:cheers:

[Zharakov]

The pictures for the easterlings are dead...

[TigerVX]

The Easterlings really don't work oO? They work for me...

[WhiteWolf]

Just in case anyone is wondering our mod is based solely on the written works of Tolkein and uses absolutely nothing from the movies.

[Bulten]

The Knights of Dol Amroth are too blueish IMO.. I think they would look better in a darker scale of blue... And what about those orcs of the eye? If you're making a Fourth age mod Barad dur wouldn't exist right?

Anyways, this mod is going to kick some serious arse! Cheers!! :balloon2: ~:cheers:

[Zharakov]

Now they work...

This mod will be cool.

[WhiteWolf]

The Knights of Dol Amroth are too blueish IMO.. I think they would look better in a darker scale of blue... And what about those orcs of the eye? If you're making a Fourth age mod Barad dur wouldn't exist right?

Anyways, this mod is going to kick some serious arse! Cheers!! :balloon2: ~:cheers:
Yes the texture for the knights is just a wip concept, and as for the orcs we are playing sauron as some kind of religious icon of sorts if you wish, kind of like a worship of Sauron and his master Morgoth and their power.

[The_678]

just curious but do you guys got any date of a possible release? Don't mean to pester and I don't care if you plan on years of more work but just wondering.

[WhiteWolf]

No release date that I know of has been decided just yet

[Zharakov]

Has anyone noticed the Orcs stabbing them selves... in the leg...?

[Bulten]

Has anyone noticed the Orcs stabbing them selves... in the leg...?

Not until you mentioned it :D

lol

[Zharakov]

They must be doing to John Kerry manuver...

*O crap I may tick off some one...*

To any Democrats out there... heh heh...*O boy*...

[fatsheep]

lol, yes I noticed too it needs to be fixed I know but right now I'm really not too concerned about it because all you would need to do is to rotate the blade back a bit. Which is very easy to do if you have any knowledge of 3dmax.

[humvee2800]

actually i find it kinda funny it would be very nice to see the stupid orscs stabbing themselves lol

[Einzelheim Smith]

The Beornings are the people who flocked to Beorn after the Battle of Five Armies. These include the woodsman the orcs were going to attack, for which they amassed the big army that fought in the Battle of Five armies. So they've got quite a few fighting men. They control the source of the Anduin river, the High Pass (the only way to get between Erebor and, say, Rivendell), and much of Northern Mirkwood.
They have enough of an army to drive the orcs out of Moria and the High Pass as well as northern Mirkwood after the Lord of the Ring, so in the Fourth age they'd be a fairly significant power, as there's no way through the Misties without crossing Beorning territory.
Mostly Beornings are human, but the very elites are Beijabar or skin-changers of Beorn's kin, led before the War of the Ring by Grimbeorn. Very, very tough, those guys, if you take Beorn as an example; in the battle of five armies he singlehandedly killed a company of elite orcs and the orcish king.
Beornings are also described as having bears fighting on their side.

[WhiteWolf]

I would like to know where you are getting your info from as it contridicts what I know of tolkeins writings?

[Niccolo Machiavelli]

Looking good so far - one thing I'm just wondering about is how the elves are being implemented, because from what I remember, their numbers were quite low at the end of the third age and the relatively few also started to leave - so in a fourth age mod, that could become quite a problem.

Another thing is their reproduction rate - I don't know what they actually were, but considering the fact that they don't die from old age and see them dwindle might suggest that their reproduction rates are quite slow.
Elrond had only 3 children in 6000 years, so I think having them reproducing just like anyone else in this mod seems a little weird (I don't think you can mod things like faction specific growth rates).

I think the only way to go is truly expensive units with high upkeep, even if it means unbalancing the game against them...

Anyway - just my 5 cents - keep up the great work ~:)

[BsK_Barbarian]

awesome stuff :)

[fatsheep]

http://img85.exs.cx/img85/2042/urukhai4gn.jpg
http://img129.exs.cx/img129/8682/urukhai5kw.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/RTW_screens/ROHAN_HEAVY_CAVALRY5.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/RTW_screens/ROHAN_ARCHERS3.jpg

[Bulten]

Yes the texture for the knights is just a wip concept, and as for the orcs we are playing sauron as some kind of religious icon of sorts if you wish, kind of like a worship of Sauron and his master Morgoth and their power.

Okay so who will be in charge in mordor I wonder? :P

[WhiteWolf]

During the fourth age the Kingdom of Gondor occupied Mordor acording to tolkein.

[AssasinsShadow]

True, Gondor occupied parts of Mordor and kept watch on the border. The plain of Gorgoroth was completely desolate and devoid of life, while Nurn (the rest of Mordor) was given to the freed slaves.

[Gamling]

Ok here's some screenies of an battle i had today between the Northern Orcs and the Elves.

Mordor will be in charge of Rebel Gondor, corrupted people who are led by none other then former Mouth of Sauron.

http://img94.exs.cx/img94/8853/largebattle9tj.jpg
http://img59.exs.cx/img59/5047/largebattle10jf.jpg

[the fury]

sorry dude, but those units look like crap, you need to do some better designs

[NagatsukaShumi]

Don't be so negative the fury.

You need to improve the skins a bit and smooth the edges on your Elves, the Orcs look fine. Ignore insulting comments.

Well done!

[IrishMike]

Looks great so far. Don't listen to those comments. Much better than I could do, and if you do need some help, don't be afraid to ask for it. There are hundreds of talented skinners and textures around here that I am sure will help you. Looks great, and keep up the good work. I will eagerly await this mod. ~:cheers:

[Gamling]

~:)

Well Fury, you're free to make your own mod in your free time and post it here. Let's see you do this.

Anyway we have redone some of the skins of the units today actually, we have redone some of the Elven skins, here's some pics to show our work on them.

http://img73.exs.cx/img73/3392/largebattle21ei.jpg
http://img55.exs.cx/img55/4288/largebattle33bc.jpg

[Currian]

D'you see. That's good, that's really good. I had no problem with the other screens but this is even better. Would'nt except much more from one of my fellow countrymen. :charge:

[NagatsukaShumi]

Much better.

I can't see why everyone expects RTW standard units in MODs and it annoys me when they pass comment on something they can't even do themselves.

Those are perfectly fine for a modding team to produce, again, well done.

[the fury]

how do you know i can't do it? i havent even tried, and i dont want to. but the units do look much better

[shifty157]

The units do look much better. I think what the fury was trying to say though is that your skins are pretty blurry and undefined. Your reskinning job made them look so much better. You can never put too much detail into your skins.

[NagatsukaShumi]

how do you know i can't do it? i havent even tried, and i dont want to.

Well there is my point proven fury, skinning isn't a thing you will pick up on your first attempt, the fact you have admitted you a) Have never tried and b) You can't be bothered says it all really.

And you can pass comments on skins in a more mature and adult way than saying "its crap".

Also, refrain from sending me offensive private messages fury, grow up. If you can't take crticism on an internet forum I shudder to think what you are like in real life.

[Gamling]

Some updates on the Northern Orcs units :

Models made by Shrimpy, textures by Spongebob

Lesser Orc Warband:
http://img1.imagevenue.com/loc275/th_2a3_Orc_Lesser_Warband.jpg (http://img1.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc275&image=2a3_Orc_Lesser_Warband.jpg)
http://img3.imagevenue.com/loc282/th_b65_Orc_Lesser_Warband2.jpg (http://img3.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc282&image=b65_Orc_Lesser_Warband2.jpg)

Lesser Uruk Warband:

http://img4.imagevenue.com/loc162/th_767_Uruk_Lesser_Warband1.jpg (http://img4.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc162&image=767_Uruk_Lesser_Warband1.jpg)

http://img4.imagevenue.com/loc162/th_767_Uruk_Lesser_Warband1.jpg (http://img4.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc162&image=767_Uruk_Lesser_Warband1.jpg)

Greater Uruk Warband:

http://img3.imagevenue.com/loc217/th_5cf_Uruk_Greater_Warband.jpg (http://img3.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc217&image=5cf_Uruk_Greater_Warband.jpg)
http://img4.imagevenue.com/loc111/th_521_Uruk_Face.jpg (http://img4.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc111&image=521_Uruk_Face.jpg)

[Currian]

Looking good! ~:)

[fatsheep]

Ok sorry for ignoring the thread here for so long. I'll post some more screenshots:


Rohan:

http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/RohanGeneral.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohan-heavy-cavalry.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanarchers.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanaxemen.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanheavylancers.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanhorsearchers.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanlightcavalry.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanlightlancers.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanmediumcavalry.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanmilitia.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanpeasents.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/rohanroyalguards.jpg
http://www.andysalter70.karoo.net/FinalScreenshots/royalhorsearchers.jpg

Dunland:

http://www.imagevenue.com/loc151/da5_dunland_spr002.jpg
http://www.imagevenue.com/loc180/6a8_dunland_spr001.jpg
http://img1.imagevenue.com/loc287/2c2_dunland_hvyspr003.jpg


Orcs:
http://img120.exs.cx/img120/4355/urukgreaterwarband9sz.jpg
http://img204.exs.cx/img204/9129/orcgreaterwarband41lw.jpg
http://img120.exs.cx/img120/4379/urukgreaterwarband18au.jpg
http://img61.exs.cx/img61/7519/uruklesserwarband5cz.jpg
http://img129.exs.cx/img129/410/urukface0cd.jpg
http://img185.exs.cx/img185/6445/orcarcherwarband9wo.jpg
http://img129.exs.cx/img129/3994/urukhaigeneralsorder25eh.jpg
http://img202.exs.cx/img202/530/chargelesserorcwarband2xw.jpg
http://img122.exs.cx/img122/9961/orcswordsmenwarband10nh.jpg

[Gamling]

It needs to be said that some of the pictures of the orcs are an bit old, i did make the skins of a lot of orcs look much better than before. It's just because the fact that i'm still learning new things almost everyday while skinning.

[Gamling]

Dammit why can't we edit on this forum. Sorry for the double post then :/

I wanted to add that the uruk archers, you can see in one of the pictures, are discontinued and won't be ingame.

[Scoundrel]

To be honest, I have always thought that your skins are total crap. I have always preferred Middle-Earth Total War ones. But now I must say:

Rohan units look really amazing. Every single one of them except the 8. is great. Same for Dunland. You're Rohan & Dunlendings are better than METW ones with no-doubt. Be happy. Thats a high compliment.

Guess I'll have to download both mods and replace their Rohan & Dunlendings with yours.

[fatsheep]

Ok if you're going to criticize Make it CONSTRUCTIVE. Not just "you're skins are total crap." Go and try to make a decent orc skin, then you may apreciate all the work sponge has done.

[Andromachus Theodoulos]

I would like to know what is with all these people being so rude.

You skinners and modders, ignore the nay sayers, I am sure they can't do as good!! I appreciate your gifts and skills. Keep up the good work!! A lot of us enjoy your work and look forward to the mod being released.

Again, All I see here is GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!!!

My favorites have to be the Uruk Greater Warband and the Rohirrim.

[Scoundrel]

I would like to know what is with all these people being so rude.

You skinners and modders, ignore the nay sayers, I am sure they can't do as good!!

100% sure? I wouldnt be. I'm a skinner myself. 'Bout 70% of skinners could do that.

And about being rude... Well, I cant see the rude part actually. The crap part? Yeah, I didnt tell excatly what is wrong and what should you do and be otherwise very constructive because the point of my post was Rohirrim & Dunlendings, which are good looking to me. I of course could've spent half an hour to give constructive feedback to fellow skinner but I dont see any good reasons to do it. I have pretty much no interest in this mod, except for few good looking units.

And btw, many of your orc are looking fine. Its elves, easterlings and uruks that doesnt look too great to me. For Easterlings its mostly design of units, for elves... Well. Design and the result. To put it into nutshell.

Anyway, good luck.

[Trajen the 1st]

While Scoundrel was putting it rather harshly id have to agree with him on some of your work
BUT your elves are looking great ecspeclly the swordsmen those look so cool! BUT your Easterlings look alittle to much like your dunlandings(well the scirmishers anyway) the pikemen look quite out of place, im not saying they look bad im just saying they should probubly be givin to the rebel gondorians or somthing because i think the Easterlings were supposed to be the huns and mongels of middle earth, the fact that there homelands were described as vast and wide reminded me of the mongolian steppes for example, besides the dunlandings are quite germanian enough for me. But im just trying to be constructive in my critisism like you said so please dont snapp at me! :embarassed: PS: your orcs and uruks are looking great by the way! Same goes for your rohirim(or however you spell it!) as a tolkein fan im really looking forword to your mods so keep up the good work! ~:) ~D

[fatsheep]

Easterlings are germanic/celtic based. Nothing hunnic or mongolian about that... And btw keep in mind alot of these pics are a bit old, when were done with the a full set of new units screenshots will be posted.

[Gamling]

And btw, many of your orc are looking fine. Its elves, easterlings and uruks that doesnt look too great to me. For Easterlings its mostly design of units, for elves... Well. Design and the result. To put it into nutshell.

Anyway, good luck.

You don't like the Uruks ? Well you're the first to say that, i've got nothing but good feedback from them on SCC, TWC and the Totalwar Heavon Forum. Ah well there are always nay sayers. If you can't be bothered to give constructive feedback then don't bother to post.

Now i'm quite interested in your units Scroundel, you seem to make good units (so you say yourself) well give me an link to thread with them or give me an picture of them.

[Trajen the 1st]

no your thinking of the Variags(sp?) the Easterlings were from a steppe like land (i think it was described as a wasteland in the books could a referance to the gobi) oh and the poeple of Rohan were More of the Celtic Culture(the movies are a litte misleading saying they were saxonslike) i hope im not offending you or anything im just trying to give my input
PS: just remember everyone has there own view on the way middle-earth looked like, so i will still like and respect your mod huns or no huns ~;)

[Andromachus Theodoulos]

I would like to see a link to scoundrel's skinning that he has done...

Let's see some pics...:laugh:

[Scoundrel]

You misunderstood me. I'm not skinner for RTW. I have done skins for many other games, though. Skinning it pretty much same thing for every game. So far I have not had any reasons to make RTW skins.

[Myrddraal]

Does it really matter how can skin and who cannot. I can skin, not very well, and if I posted my skins, I wouldn't want people companing or calling the 'crap' or anything like that. Remember that this is still in development.

There is nothing constructive about insulting peoples skins. Please limit you critism to constructive critisism.

On topic, the skins are getting better every pic I see. If you keep it up, this should be quality.. ~:)

[Khan48]

This mod looks really cool but i'm worried about it cause i found this sight. http://www.memod.co.uk/ U might get sued beacues they're afraid it will compete with battle for middle earth

[Scoundrel]

I guess they would be more worried 'bout Middle-Earth Total War. It has gathered much more fans and many consider it far better and more professional made.

[fatsheep]

@Khan48

I don't mean to shoot you down but we have been aware of that possibility since day 1. We're basically going to hope for the best, knowing that there are many other big LOTR mods out there that haven't gotten shut down. ~:)

[CrownOfSwords]

Not to destroy anything.. I doubt 4th age mod has more views or replies or anything compared to METW, METW has been around for a few years I have been a member on their main site for probably around 2 years. But I must say your skins are starting to look very good, very proffesional much better than before I will definately download this mod when it is complete. ~:cheers:

[fatsheep]

Here's some variag peasant and orc standard bearer screenshots (note: uruk lesser warband is discontinued, the standard bearer is now using that skin and model):

http://img93.exs.cx:81/img93/9268/standardbearer9bd.jpg
http://www.digitalinfluence.net/fourth_age/vpes_final01.jpg
http://www.digitalinfluence.net/fourth_age/vpes_final03.jpg

[Trajen the 1st]

:drools: those Variags are sweet! Very Mongolian :bow: .(is thats waht you were going for) looking forword to seeing more of them. :cross fingers for Horse archers: :charge:

[fatsheep]

Yes were going for a hunnic/mongol look. And the do have lots of calvary, and horse archers. They actually fought under sauron during the third age and at pellenor fields.

-sheep

[Trajen the 1st]

Wait so intead of changing the easterlings into huns/mongels like i reqeasted your going to heve the Variags be like that instead?..........................................okey!! Looking forword to it! I cant wiat to sack hobbiton with horse archers pincushing those poor little hobbits! muhahahah! :charge: :charge:

[fatsheep]

Fourth Age: Total War Recruiting!

We are looking for people with a good knowledge of Tolkien's works that could design units for the mod. On the mod team these people are known as "designers" and keep in contact with the graphics artists, giving them ideas and concept art to shape their units.

IF you are interested please contact me at * email removed *

thanks

-sheep

PS here are the variag watchmen:

http://www.digitalinfluence.net/fourth_age/variag_ftmil/images/r_ftmil1.jpg
http://www.digitalinfluence.net/fourth_age/variag_ftmil/images/r_ftmil3.jpg
http://www.digitalinfluence.net/fourth_age/variag_ftmil/images/r_ftmil4.jpg

[Ashitaka-san]

Very cool looking. This mod sounds like it could be a real winner...

In regards to being sued. Since you aren't selling the mod, I don't believe you would be sued over it. Not positive on that, however.

[Lonely Soldier]

Tis lookin' mighty sweet!

I love the concept and have been a fan of the LotR universe for ages now!

I am currently beginning work on a mod ( https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?p=717588#post717588 ) which hopes to be able to make the cities in Rome far larger and more realistic. How does this affect you? Well a major part of the landscape of ME are its cities and towns! And it would be a terrible shame to make such great looking (and original!!! These look as good as the designs in the movie) units without having the great cities from which they hail represented in all their glory! The seven tiered Minas Tirith, the floating Lake Town - wouldn't you just love to see these sorts of locations in all their proper grandeur?

If you are interested please comment on the thread, if not, pay no heed to me.

The mod's very existence at this point is in serious question - mostly technical issues to be ironed out - but should it come through, I can see great potential for our mod outside the original campaign.

I remain (a fanatical LotR enthusiast) yours'
Lonely Soldier

[Viscious_Fish]

Are you guys planning on converting to M2TW?

Please?

Btw the orcs look amazing