The Fourth Age: Total War

[Apoc]

"The days darken. It is the Dominion of Men, the Age of Peace, but the roots of Evil run deep, and always after a defeat and a respite, the Shadow takes another shape and grows again. The inevitable boredom of Men with good, their quick satiety with peace, has begun to make itself felt upon Middle-earth. And there is another Evil, darker than the shadow that clouds the hearts of Men...

The New Shadow has arisen. This is The Fourth Age: Total War."

The Fourth Age: Total War is a unique Middle-earth mod, in that we are not bound entirely by the text, due to the time at which the mod is set, but also due to the scarcity of information about the Age. This does not mean, however, that we are not doing our utmost to be as true to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien as we possibly can. We believe ourselves to be making history, that we are doing something that have never been done before: an in-depth graphical and design exploration of the Fourth Age of Middle-earth.

http://img50.exs.cx/img50/7720/rohanvsorcs6zf.jpg
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/1053/dunlandvsorcs1wl.jpg
http://img186.exs.cx/img186/6920/fightingurukhai2ak.jpg
http://img50.exs.cx/img50/7696/ridersofrohan0yy.jpg

Our forum can be found here: The Fourth Age Forum (http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?showforum=31)

We are always looking for talented people who can help us out with the mod. Whether you write, draw, model, skin, or just know a whole lot about Middle-earth, we could probably find a place for you on the mod team. We are also looking for voice actors, so if you think you have the voice of an Orc, an Elf, a Dwarf, or a Man of Gondor, let us hear it! The recruitment thread can be found here: Recruitment Thread (http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7516)

Thanks,

Apoc


"I would draw some of the great tales in fullness, and leave many only placed in the scheme, and sketched. The cycles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

[Lonely Soldier]

Its great to see someone adding to the brilliant works of Tolkien! Too many people simply sponge off what is already there, but you are actually creating something new!

That said, can we expect to see all of the familiar locations from Middle-Earth?

[Apoc]

That said, can we expect to see all of the familiar locations from Middle-Earth?

Yes, those locations/cities that were not destroyed during the War of the Ring will be in the mod (and some new ones that were rebuilt in the Fourth Age: Annúminas, for example). That being said, we are of course under the same restraints as all other mods, in the area of cities on the battle map.

Apoc

[Apoc]

For those that might be interested, we have released a FA:TW Trailer (http://www.stryker2.com/zip_files/FATWFullTrailer.zip).

Apoc

[Apoc]

Fortnightly Update: Gondor

Keep in mind most units shown are WIP, and are likely to change between now and release. And the Knights of Dol Amroth will have new horses.

The banner of Gondor, the White Tree of Minas Tirith.
http://img146.echo.cx/img146/9246/banner7ik.jpg (http://www.imageshack.us)

The Reunited Kingdom is united no more. Gondor is sundered from Arnor once again, and to the east Mordor is repopulated by rebels - or so they are called in Gondor. And in the north there is a new shadow stirring...

The Gondorian capital, Minas Tirith, is a virtually unassailable city built into the side of Mount Mindolluin. It will take a truly determined enemy to force its way through seven walls and seven gates, guarded by some of the best soldiers in Middle-earth.

Troops from all the wide lands of Gondor are at the Kings command: archers from the Blackroot Vale, stout axemen from Lossarnach, and Knights from Dol Amroth, who hold themselves as lords in which the race of Númenor still run true. The bastions of the Gondorian military, however, are its disciplined and well armed infantry - they are noble and valiant, and as capable fighters as can be found anywhere in the lands of Men.

But to restore Gondor to her former glory, she will need more than valiant Men; she will need a strong leader.

Gondor's military is infantry based, and amongst the very best of Middle-earth. They bear the White Tree proudly upon their chest.

http://img221.echo.cx/img221/7420/compositegondorsm5ux.th.jpg (http://img221.echo.cx/img221/7420/compositegondorsm5ux.jpg)

Some say the Knights of Dol Amroth are the greatest cavalry on all of Middle-earth. We know they are the greatest looking.

http://img244.echo.cx/img244/712/koda26ic.th.jpg (http://img244.echo.cx/img244/712/koda26ic.jpg)
http://img244.echo.cx/img244/5431/kingsspearmen2eb.th.jpg (http://img244.echo.cx/img244/5431/kingsspearmen2eb.jpg)
http://img244.echo.cx/img244/8615/battle15am.th.jpg (http://img244.echo.cx/img244/8615/battle15am.jpg)
http://img125.echo.cx/img125/2764/militia2mf.th.jpg (http://img125.echo.cx/img125/2764/militia2mf.jpg)


No map screenshot this week. We have something way better, official Fourth Age: Total Warpaper. Enjoy!

http://img145.echo.cx/img145/8109/argonath1po.th.jpg (http://img145.echo.cx/my.php?image=argonath1po.jpg)

Well, that's all for this update. Hope you enjoyed everything.

- The Fourth Age Mod Team

[Apoc]

Fortnightly Update: Easterlings

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/4586/easterlingsbanner9rz.jpg

The Easterlings are a very diverse people. They are led by the mighty Wainriders, who ride in great chariots pulled by horses. They have long been feared by the Free Peoples, striking without warning from the unknown East.

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/805/easterlingswainriders3bo.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingswainriders3bo.jpg)http://img106.echo.cx/img106/7240/easterlingsaxemen2ho.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingsaxemen2ho.jpg)http://img106.echo.cx/img106/9145/easterlingscavalry6ll.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingscavalry6ll.jpg)

The Easterlings conscript their armies from all over their territory, from mountain mining towns to forest hunting tribes. The Easterlings lay claim to a tremendous region, nearly as large as all of north-western Middle-earth. Only a fraction is shown below.

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/2893/easterlingsmap1br.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingsmap1br.jpg)
http://img106.echo.cx/img106/5917/easterlingsspears4fu.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingsspears4fu.jpg)

They are all united, however, in their fervent hate of Gondor and the West. Twice the Easterlings have tasted victory. Yet both times, against all odds, Gondor prevailed. Not since Khamûl have the Easterlings been so united in purpose and banner. But now they are ready, their time has come once again. They will not fail a third time.

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/9158/easterlingsstrip5ec.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingsstrip5ec.jpg)

http://img106.echo.cx/img106/8117/easterlingspearman9kd.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingspearman9kd.jpg)http://img106.echo.cx/img106/9059/easterlingarcher0yz.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingarcher0yz.jpg)http://img106.echo.cx/img106/318/easterlingbannerbearer0qq.th.jpg (http://img106.echo.cx/my.php?image=easterlingbannerbearer0qq.jpg)

That's all for this fortnightly update. Enjoy!

Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting (www.imageshack.us)

Remember that the shown units are not the final ones, and that we might change them (especially the wains).