The Lord of the Rings: Total War

[wlesmana]

A mod based on the LOTR trilogy movies. The goal of this mod is to simulate the huge epic battles seen in the movies. Currently this project only focuses on Custom and Multiplayer battles.

FAQ:

Q: When will this mod be released?
A: The end of Ocotber/early November will see a first beta release. This beta will be missing some elite units (since they need further designing) but most of the final roster is there. The first beta's purpose is for balance testing.

Q: Will this mod include a single player campaign?
A: Not at the moment. I'm focusing on making a large selection of units first. I'm also not too happy with the limited culture RTW has so a campaign version will be considered after RTW:BI.

Q: How many faction will be playable?
A: 8 "real" factions and 2 "bonus" factions

Q: Will there be LOTR music in it?
A: Yes.

Q: Will there be custom sounds such that orcs would sound like orcs and not just burly men?
A: Yes. They're done. Regular orcs and Uruk-hai got separate and distinct sounds.

Q: Will be custom sounds for units?
A: Not at first beta release so the file size won't be too large. It is planned for the final version.

Q: WILL THERE BE HOBBITS????
A: YES.

Q: What's the full unit roster?
A: Please visit SCC Mod Forum thread for full unit listing (still a WIP though).

Q: Your mod sucks, METW and FATW are totally better
A: That's not a question and you're free not to download this mod.

[King of Atlantis]

Man those units look nice.

[Kääpäkorven Konsuli]

Looks like you have taken many units from the movies. watchs out for EA (or who ever owns the copyrigths).

Edit:"A mod based on the LOTR trilogy movies."
I should have read more carefull. But anyway, as far as I know you can't make mod based on the movies.
Everybody remember what happent to the LOTR mod for Morrowind?

[King Ragnar]

My god those units kick ass. Well done mate.

[Geoffrey S]

Not another LotR mod!
Seriously though, that's some sweet work you've got there. Only unit I didn't like the look of was the troll unit. Any plans to update the battlefield textures to be more fitting?

[shifty157]

Those units are very impressive. Keep us updated with everything.

[Moros]

great models!!!
but there's one thing it said somewhere( it'll not be an exact quote but anyway): for a crossbow unit that it would have a shorter range then a bow but it woiuld be more devestating... I always tought that crossbows shoot further then bows?
who's right since I could be wrong but I really tought so?

[Gaius Drakan]

It's great but where are the Knights of Dol Amroth? Are they going to be included?

[Chilly5]

There is a Dol Armoth faction or something, but my memory sucks....wait no, that was a Numoroean faction, Welsmana isnt finsihed yet, so....yeah.

[Gaius Drakan]

That.....didn't make a bit of sense after you said, "that was a Numenorean faction"

[Chilly5]

Er...just pretend I didnt speak and all will make sense to you.

[Reverend Joe]

THe mod looks great- now I get to play 3 LOTR mods on RTW. These should have their own Org category- call it the "Ring Cycle" or something. (God I hope someone gets that Wagner reference)

Anyway, I have a few suggestions from my limited knowlege of the series:
1. I think there should be some kind of mountian troll and cave troll, but I am hesitant to say that because they were probably not very widely used on the battlefield, seeing as they turned into stone once sunlight touched them... still, you could kinda slip your way around that one.

2. The trolls, especially the Oolg-hai should be less armoured, fewer in number, and f**king huge- not mumak-size, but close to a large rhino or elephant.

3. Don't forget, Mordor had Uruks as well; even though this is a movie mod, they could use some of these elite shock troops.

Take them or leave them.

[wlesmana]

Konsuli> doesn't matter to me. If EA went as far as giving me a cease and desist letter, all it will do is make the mod unavailable for public download. I made this mod originally by myself, for myself. They can't stop me from continuing working on it.

Gertgregoor> in real life, yea, crossbows shoot farther than regular bows. But most of the archers in the game use longbows. The Uruk-hai's crossbows shoot farther than the crude bows of orcs, but definitely not as far the elves' or Gondor's. Plus it's for balancing purpose since the crossbows got armor piercing attribute and higher attack rating. Galadhrim got the best archers though, as they're both armor and body piercing.


Gaius Drakan> Dol Amroth units is still under consideration. The problem is that I have to heavily design them. Even though many of the units are my own design, I still based them off existing look and culture in the movie. Dol Amroth got their own culture even though they're related to the Gondorians. Thus I'll have to do a little more research and designing for them. So they're not as high in my to-do list as I'm trying to make all the units that appeared in the movies first.

meatwad> There will be three kinds of Trolls available for Mordor: Assault Trolls (like the ones pouring in after Minas Tirith's gates broke) and Battle Trolls (like the one Aragorn fought). A cheaper and weaker Worker Troll will be available as well. I might have Cave Trolls too, as mercenary unit. Yes, even if technically they can't withstand sunlight but the point of this mod is too see LOTR characters in action :)

The Trolls ARE huge. 75% bigger than regular soldier to be precise. I guess I'll need to update the screenshot to show their size compared to other units. I'm still working on the model because of RTW's limited skeleton capability.

I don't specify Mordor's Uruks but their bigger units like Manslayers and Warband got the same sounds with Isengard's Uruks. It's just that in the movie the term Uruk-hai are only applied to Isengard's soldiers.

[Ciaran]

It´s a great thing you annouced your mod here in this forum, I´ve stumbled over it at SSC (I think) and it looks good - graphic-wise, so far.

I hope the PTB are slow reacting, so we might actually have a chance to download it before the chop off your head.

[Reverend Joe]

Wlesmana- thanks for the clarification. I am looking forward to the success of yet another LOTR mod.

[Ciaran]

Something I forgot yesterday, where are your Nazgul? They looked so cool andwould make an excellent general for the Mordor faction. Just don´t throw such good work away.

[CrackedAxe]

I wouldn't be too worried about copyright, I think MEMOD (the Morrowind Middle-Earth mod) attracted so much unwanted legal attention because it stepped on the toes of the up-and-coming Middle Earth MMORPG. RTW mods wouldn't really compete with any future releases so should be just fine. Not that I know all that much about it!

[wlesmana]

The http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11764&st=0 is updated with 6 new units:
-Elven Warriors (light infantry)
-Elven Archers
-Elven Light Cavalry
-Mirkwood Rangers
-Lothlorien Sentinels
-Gondor Scout Cavalry
-Dunedain Rangers


Also, here are some battle screenshots:


Enjoy!

[Sjakihata]

When's the mod being released?

[wlesmana]

Open Beta for balancing test will most likely be ready around October, the time I actually get broadband access. The mod will be quite huge due to music and sound files, even if it only has 10 factions. Hopefully I'll have the full unit roster by then. I might add another faction or two (Dwarves and Outlaws) for later releases.

FYI, the first release will be custom battles and multiplayer only.

[Gaius Drakan]

Dear god, this rocks

[Soulforged]

Man why not do this based on the Silmarillon? It has more factions, more wars, more events, and much more fun. The story related with the Lord of the Rings is a story of decadence so things scarce badly. I've all the information you need (i think you too but...), and i'm willing to help with scripting (not with modeling because i don't have 3d studio), producing and with all the new ideas that the game needs. I think that if you change your mind you will have to do a little more work, but much of the units needed are ready (specially for the side of the "bad people") from what i've seen. So if you like the idea then i will like to help you. Anyway great effort (and result so far), i would do this myself but i need someone with experience in modeling and a program to model. Tell if you like it and i give you my email.

[wlesmana]

Uh, the whole point of this mod is to simulate the movies. So why would I want to make it into Silmarillion? The other 2 LOTR mods are being done because they love the books. I'm doing this because I love the movies and would very much like to see the huge epic battles like in the movies, in the game.

Besides, there's already a War of Beleriand mod out there somewhere.

[nic_vee]

Damn those screenshots look good. This mod is gonna be a cracker

[wlesmana]

The drums. The terrible drums. No, footsteps. Monsters. They are coming.


Reform the line! Reform the line! We'll take them head on! SOund the charge!


CHAAAAAAAAAAARGE!


The Haradrim archers sending volleys of death upon the Rohirrim.


The desperate battle against incredible odds! Many Rohirrims already paid the ultimate price.


Bring them down! Bring them down!


Victory belongs to the free peoples in the end... with a great cost.

[Ciaran]

You´re cruel, giving us all the cool pictures and not the possibility to play ourself
To wait till October, well, I guess patience is a virtue, but I´ve never claimed to be especially virtuous.

[wlesmana]

Sheesh, it's only 2 months
Plus I'm having great difficulty implementing custom animations now. Blargh.

[Divinus Arma]

HOLY.....

How the... what the... where...

HOLY.....

THAT IS FRICKIN INCREDIBLE!!!!!!

How the HELL did you get giant oliphants?!?!?!?!?!?!!!?!?!



THAT LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!!!!


You are one talented SOB. I hope you put in an application to CA my friend!

[Geoffrey S]

Wouldn't those giant elephants seriously overbalance a game? Or are they really, really expensive or run amok easily?

[professorspatula]

Well if they're anything like the ones in the movie, you only have to graze their legs with your blade and they come crazing down.