Dark Ages 8th century

[kataphraktoi]

I've finally done it. Stupid mod.

It starts from the 8th century at a time when the invasions of Europe were beginning to reach its climax.

Factions:
Avars
Berbers
Byzantines (civil war)
Ummayad Caliphate
Khazars
Bulgars
Mercians
Visigoths
Slavs
Lombards
Burgundians
Vikings (Danes)
Count of Aquitaine
Franks
Eastern Romans (civil war)

It comes in 2 parts:
There is the base mod where the startpos for early and the starting positions are arranged. Plus names, descriptions and factions are changed accordingly.

Then there is 2nd part which has new units, mainly Byzantine to give them a greater variety.

All has been tested.

The total size of these files should be under 1mb.

This is not on the same scale as the WesMedmod or METW or NapTW, I do not intend to match their flair.

I wanted this to be challenging campaign in an age of darkness with the potential for glory.

New units:
Solenarion (early Byzantine crossbowmen) yes it true
Trapezitoi
Klibanophori
Gothic Lancers (no not the same as Spanish lancers, Gothic Lancers meaning Visigothic heavy cavalry)
Skutatoi

Tweaked existing units
Kataphraktoi with bow (there is a slight imperfection to this one, apparently VI doesn't respond the same way to the Kat with a bow in 1.1) Kataphraktoi are not meant to be slow, they are actually like western heavy cavalry with their speed and such. Kats seem to be confused with the Klib which is what MTW were trying to do.

A lot of units were recycled and repackaged to be relevant to the period.

Eg. Ghulam infantry, Persian Turmae cavalry....

Some Catholic barbarian factions get new leader units:
Lombards: Royal Retainers in the form of elite heavy infantry
Visigoths: their heavy lancers

There will be a part 3 to patch up anything...if needed or to make further mods to existing units. Perhaps an addition of another weapon to an existing unit. etc, etc.

Links:

Part 1 (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/8thcenturyDarkAges.zip)

part 2 (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DarkAgesPT2.zip)

[magnatz]

Downloaded, but I won't be able to play it until next week http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif (assuming I can make it work on the different directory tree of my Italian-only CD, that is).

However it looks very interesting, this is one of my favorite periods http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Just a suggestion, in the mod time frame the Lombards were known and referred to as Longobards... the shortened name (Lombardi) only went into use a couple of centuries later.

[Mithrandir]

Check the mainpage,

http://www.totalwar.org Kataphraktoi http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif.

[Mithrandir]

Btw.

I've uploaded the files to The Orgs' download section Kataphractoi.

http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Mtw_Uploads/MTWupload/

[Emp. Conralius]

How about some screens? Particularly of the new units.

[kataphraktoi]

Aw shucks Mithrandir, u didnt have to put it in the org homepage http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/eek.gif

Anyways, I'll post screenies whenever I can.

A few notes:
I'll try to patch things up as quick as I can, so far I've picked out two mistakes, but they don't effect the game at all. They're only typos. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

However, I will re-release them without effecting many files.

The info_pics, review_panel and uniticon pics are not custom made....yet.

I am working on them at the moment. I have trouble converting info_pics into bif files at the moment. When I finish them I will offer them up. once again they will effect the whole mod. They are, however, intended to add a variety. My apologies for that.

Magnatz: I had considered Longobards or Langobards but I thought it was Greek. But I may change it in the future.
I intend to release small file patches that fix small things that make the game enjoyable.

Wasn;t there a guy who wanted to do a Dark Age mod before?????????

He wanted to do the fall of Rome.

If he doesn't methinks I will snap it up.

[kataphraktoi]

I recommend downloading maps made for HTW. They are excellent.

[kataphraktoi]

heres the first pak of screenies, they are low quality so I can upload it faster.

Pics (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DAscreenies.zip)

They are mainly of Byzantine units:
- Kataphraktoi firing arrows
- Kataphraktoi running away like a school girl
- Kataphraktoi charging into the fray when tired of arrows
- Kataphraktoi being dodgy because of the text parameters
- Klibanophori in a wedge formation
- Skutatoi running against the enemy
- The Dark Ages campmap factions and all
- The Eastern Romans (Byzantine rebels) starting position

[magnatz]

Quote[/b] (kataphraktoi @ Nov. 11 2003,13:01)]Magnatz: I had considered Longobards or Langobards but I thought it was Greek. But I may change it in the future.
I intend to release small file patches that fix small things that make the game enjoyable.
They called themselves Longobards - they best historian, Paulus Diaconus, wrote the Historia Longobardorum. Also Tacitus mentions them as Longobards in the Germany.

Interestingly the name is thought to come from Long (long) and Bard (as in halbard), so they could actually be a good candidate for the axe-yielding barbarians in RTW...

I like the idea of the small patches, btw http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif


Quote[/b] ] Wasn;t there a guy who wanted to do a Dark Age mod before?????????

He wanted to do the fall of Rome.

If he doesn't methinks I will snap it up.
That's was probably me http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif

However I will probably make it for RTW, because I am too lazy to to be productive by messing around with text files, also I want the siege engines in my mod.
(not to mention that I would need a english MTW CD...)

So you are welcome to take on the Fall of Rome, I am sure it will rock http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Paxx]

Well done kata
for your work i made some cooking for you
do you like musaka? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
http://homepages.pathfinder.gr/Paxx/MUSAKKA.jpg

but i am unable to try it, as i dont have the viking ivasion expansion yet http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[kataphraktoi]

I have already completed a new version. When i mean new version, I really means small tweaks as such.

Just small ones to text and the performance to a particular unit.

Plus Lombards become Longobards

By the way Magnatz, the Longobards have an elite unit in the Royal Retainers, axe-wielding bodyguards of the Longobardic King.

[kataphraktoi]

Could anyone help me convert some files into bif file formats??

I have these custom info_pic files but they are bmp and I can't get them working in MTW.

Any help would be appreciated.

Katankatoi

[Dirk]

Kataphraktoi,

I've just downloaded your mod but.....I'm scared (Hm well....it's the right sentiment I guess). Scared to just go and add your mod to my MTW Vi as it's working perfectly well at the moment and I'm not really knowledgeable enough.
Could you maybe explain in which folders the different files should be put and.....is there a way back....

[Paxx]

First you 'll have to back up your original MTW files and folders (note that the mod must be on the viking invasion expansion files), in case it doesnt work.
for the 1st zip 'New Units and Modded stats' after extracted you will notice that the folders are exactly as the MTW folders installed to your hard disk(including the subfolders). You will have to follow the exact path from the extracted zip folders, copy the files inside the folder, then go where your MTW is installed follow again the exact path (from where u took the files) and paste(replace) them there.
example:
from the extracted folder you have:
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\New Units and Modded stats\Byzantine Units (new units and stat mods)\New units and stats\Battle\UnitIcons, you'll find some LBM files. Copy them and go to
C:\Program Files\Total War\Medieval Total War\Battle\UnitIcons and paste(replace if needed) them there
notice that the path highlighted is the same.

**ignore the 'Generic Folder'

hope i helped you and not confused you, please correct me if i am wrong

[The Wizard]

the link to your screenshots doesn't work... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

[Hagbard la Suede]

where the heck do i put all the files in the 8th century dark ages map?

[ShadesPanther]

for geocities right click and go save target as

[Jacque Schtrapp]

This sounds awesome *rubs hands together gleefully* http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[The Wizard]

Quote[/b] (ShadesPanther @ Nov. 12 2003,17:30)]for geocities right click and go save target as
Oh right, it's a download and not a viewing page. Lol.. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[Magraev]

Looks very interesting

I'll download it immediately http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I hope the Danes can do some damage to the north, poised to take over the british isles.

[Mithrandir]

you can also click the link, remove the www. part and press enter http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif.

[kataphraktoi]

Thanks Paxx for filling in and helping some guys with installing it.

Some explanation of the installation.

It comes in pt1 and pt2

pt1 lays the groundwork for pt2 with all the stats for the new units in pt2. It also has the modded tweaks to set up the campaign map start positions.

once u've done that u then install pt2.

pt2 u just place the contents of the files into their apporpiate files.

however, there are some folders you have to copy as a whole
but u only need to do this for the Items folder.
eg. Textures/Men/Items/Weapon1 In the Weapon1 folder is the Klibanophori and Trapezitoi folders. All u have to do is just copy those folder into the original MTW Item/weapon1 folder.

Dark Age version 1.1 will soon be out.
The installation of it is the same.

Magraev.

The Danes have the full Viking range of Huscarles, landsmenn, thralls, etc, etc. Go wreak havoc.

With the Danes u have the choice of either setting up a Danelaw on the British Isles or do a Rurik and impose overlordship in Russia and start a new state. In the game I'm playing now, the Danes are doing both. Ambitious little Danes.

An easier way to get this campaign mod is send me your e-mail address. Since its only under 1 mb.

yes ignore the Generic Folder, that was just to remind me of what folders I needed. Its like template for adding new units.

Once you've installed the mod, perhaps u guys would like to continue a game I saved yesterday as the Eastern Romans.

I'm at war with the Ummayads, my fleet is fighting tooth and nail to keep communications open with my wesetern outposts.

My treasury is 85 florins and in the negative as well.

My provinces are quite rich but their lifeline is trade.

My armies are more or less pinned down the eastern frontier. Plus the generals there 7-8 star quality.

My empire consists of everything in Italy except for the Longobardic possessions of Milan, Tuscany and Venice.

I control Greece and Constantinople and all Asia Minor provinces with outposts in Crimea, Rhodes and Crete.

[kataphraktoi]

Tales from the frontier: help save Kataphraktoi and take up his save game.

The beginning of the 1st Byzantine-Ummayad war 745 - 755
The Cilician Raid

Prince Leo was arrogant, but justifiably arrogant. At a young age, Leo was sent to the eastern frontier facing the powerful, but unusually, quiet Ummayad Caliphate. Since his tenure on the frontier, things have been quiet and peaceful. Anatolia is reaping the benefit of this peace by concentrating on its main sustenance of living: agriculture. To the surprise of everyone one day, Prince Leo gave the order for a general muster of the provincial troops.

Pleased by the high level quality of the provinces troops, Leo planned to mobilise this army against Cilicia and the Arab garrisons placed there. Unfortunately, to do so required emptying out the province with no defending troops. Leo sent a missive to the Strategos of the Armeniakon John and asked for 2000 infantry militia and a few contingents of cavalry of mixed types: heavy and light.

Drawing a part of the Anatolia army and his contingents together, he had before him 4000 infantry, 500 Armenian Heavy cavalry troopers, 500 Mardaite light cavalrymen, 500 Thematic Kablleroi and a few assorted Horse Archers. A decent size army of 6000 was the resultant number. It was also the right size for a raiding force into enemy territory.

One of the things taught to Leo as a student in the arts of war was the choice of seasons. Normally, raids were conducted at a suitable season within the year, mainly spring. Leo, on the other hand chose the winter. Recalling the words of the late Emperor Maurice, a great general in his time, how certain foes despise the winter. Those words seemed naturally suited to the Arabs who have had their bad experiences with winter in their campaigns against the Romans in the past such as the siege of Constantinople a few decades back. In the dead of winter, Leo thus marched into Arab Cilicia with his army.

For a while, the Arab garrisons on the frontier have been lax. They could afford to since the garrisoning army in Cilicia was large giving them the confidence of facing any Roman army with the weight of numbers on their side. Little did they realise, the Roman prince and his army had no intention of turning back. But this was Leo’s decision and arrogance more than the Roman army’s decision.

Leo did not meet many Arab troops on the frontier and thus ravaged a few towns here and there, expelling some Muslims while capturing some Christians to be deported into Roman territory to be resettled. It was only when Leo approached the hills overlooking the flat plains of Cilicia did he find the Arab army arrayed before him. However, he was disadvantaged from the beginning with him on low ground while the enemy was on the high ground.

Trusting in the training and discipline of the Roman troops, Leo made his dispositions. Seeing that the Arabs consisted mainly of foot archers with only one cavalry contingent under the Ummayad Prince Khalid, Leo decided on a cavalry charge to shatter the foot archers. Not waiting to march in step with the infantry milita, Leo gave the order for the cavalry to charge the lines.

The left wing cavalry quickly rode up to safe distance of the enemy capturing high level ground before waiting for the rest of the cavalry to catch up. The central cavalry unit of and Armenian cavalry rode up the hill before slowing down on the steep angle while the right wing cavalry had already connected with the Arab line on their far left. Unfortunately for the right wing, these foot archers were actually contingents of Ghulam infantry who are excellent in shooting bows and close combat fighting. After a tight melee, the right wing broke off. The left meanwhile charged into the right Arab wing and crushed the foot archers. The Armenians themselves also managed to connect with the main Arab line and broke the line. Suddenly the reserve Arab infantry charged into the Armenians who did not expect the attack on their flanks. Soon one half of the Armenians retreated. However, the left wing saved the day by turning around after they routed the Arab right and plunged into the foot archers and the infantry causing confusion in their ranks. The Mardaites caught the Ghulams as they were catching the shattered Roman right. But like the Roman right found the going hard because of the Ghulam resistance and experience in close combat.

Meanwhile, the infantry militia finally caught up with the fighting. Most of the militia were marching in good order against the resistant Ghulam infantry who unleashed a barrage of missiles against them. Only one miliita unit assisted the other Roman cavalry units on the left breaking the Arab center. Finally, the lines were engaged as one. The Ghulam infantry was holding strong and in fact sent a chunk of the militia fleeing while the rest were fighting on. Sensing wavering morale on the, Leo and his small bodyguard plunged into the fighting to shore up the line. Rallying the shattered cavalry right wing, they too joined the fray and stopped the momentum of the Ghulams from turning it into a decisive victory.

Ummayad Prince Khalid the situation and decided to commit to combat. At first he succeeded. The Roman left he had set on breaking was crumbling as his Ghulam bodyguards carved up the tight Roman cordon on the weakening infantry. Suddenly he was halted, the charge had ended and the militia held firm and rallied. Soon his rear was exposed as the Roman cavalry quickly moved around behind him and drove home a charge that sent his bodyguards into a panic. The day was lost for Khalid, he fled like the rest of his men.

His Ghulam infantry still held firm and still fighting causing many Roman casualties in the process. But they too found the going tough as the battle wore on. All the Ghulams were committed in the fight with no reserves. They had no protection when the remaining Roman units who were freed from fighting after they broke the main Arab body swung onto the right and plunged into the Ghulam rear causing a bloody rout. Very soon the whole Arab army was fleeing from the field with great slaughter following on their heels.
The Ghulam infantry was mauled everywhere and left the field with a small remnant of their original numbers.

It is estimated that 6000 Arabs died on the battlefield with numerous Ghulam dead. However, of that 6000, 4000 were captured and executed revealing a merciless streak in Leo. The Roman casualties were particularly high as well. 1500 were killed, too high a number to attain victory and in a raid as well. Nonetheless, the Romans were outnumbered from the beginning so casualties of this kind were expected.

Prince Leo followed the remaining Arab soldiers and soon marched onto the gates of Tarsus. With his small army, a siege was impossible and he returned to Anatolia as soon as possible before Arab reinforcements arrive in Cilicia.

Suffice to say, Leo returned with a decent amount of loot but at great cost. His army was greatly reduced but still sizeable. In a few weeks, rumours abounded of the raid into Cilicia. The Ummayad Caliph was livid at this breach of peace on the frontier, even though there was no peace agreement to begin with. Soon the empires were at war.
Upon hearing of the raid, the Emperor Narses marched to the east in support of his brother against the Caliph.
It was a risky to start war with the Arabs, his treasury was stretched and his naval fleet precariously thin in trying to fight in the east and the west.

fast forward to 760, the Romans are fighting in the 2nd Byzantine-Ummayad war.

[kataphraktoi]

Dark AGE 1.1 (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DarkAge1.1.zip)

Heres Dark Age 1.1

Small changes:
Lombards = Longobards
Unit stats changed mainly cost and expense
Campaign and faction descriptions
and very small stuff....

proposed add-on:
new buildings:

Great Palace
Grand Palatial Complex

Marketplace
Market Forum
International Emporium

Royal Gynaecum
Harem

Landmarks:
Great Mosque of Damascus
Hagia Sophia
Al-Azhar
Aachen palace of Charlemagne
Compostela

Agents:
Noble Woman
Concubine
Assasin disguised as a Monk
Missionaries

Tell me what u think. feedback feedback feedback.

Can I send some bmp files to anyone to convert to appropiate bif files????

[kataphraktoi]

Savegame (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/ER.zip)

A savegame for the DarkAge mod.

[SicilianVespers]

Kat,

I bought VI just so I could play this one. I had been working on a Dark Ages mod for MTW, but stopped once I saw your mod.

I have a few suggestions regarding the langobards:

Langobard Gasindii = Royal retainers
Langobard Gastaldi = Excellent quality dismountable heavy cavalry
Langobard Arimanni = all free warriors (could use Italian Infantry)
Langobard Aldii = Semi-free men (like Viking Thralls, armed with bow, Genoese Sailors? )

The Langobards used round shields.

The Langobard Kings:

Ariperto II 703-712
Ansprando 712
Liutprando 712-744
Ildeprando 744
Rachis 744-749
Aistolfo 749-756
Rachis 756
Desiderio 756-744
Adelchi 759-744

The Duchy of Benevento (NAPLES) should be Langobard. The Langobardi were at the height of their power in the 8th century, even conquering the Roman capital of Ravenna.

I suppose you could leave it rebel since the ID_NAPLES represents the independent Langobard Duchies of Spoleto and Benevento (in addition to the Roman Duchies of Naples, and Calabria) It's very hard to unite the Langobard Duchies without taking Ravenna first. You may want to consider giving the Langobards an Adriatic fleet if you keep it rebel.

One of my gripes with the game is that NAPLES is just way too big. it should be broken up into Spoleto, Benevento, Naples and Calabria.

I don't have my books with me, is the Eastern Roman civil war over the Iconoclasm? If so, you may want to consider renaming the Anatolian faction to Byzantine Iconoclasts or something to that effect.

One technical problem I came across. The game is looking for a GothicLancers.BIF in a catholic folder that doesn't exist (right click the unit for the message). I jkust created the folder and copied the BIF into it to get around it.

Excellent work....thanks

[Odinn]

It would be interresting with a Dark Age mod for Rome Total War, specially as the Classic period does not really draw my attention...

[kataphraktoi]

SicilianVespers,

I changed as much as I possibly could to customise the Langobards but some of them shared the same units with other factions so i couldn't change them as an exclusive Langobards.

The Byzantine civil war has nothing to do with Iconocclasm but rather the last of 7 rebellions in the early 8th century. Chronologically, it is inaccurate, I had to take license and cram it within the space of 7 years to accompany the situation with other factions.

The rebels are Eastern Romans because it implies they are Romans of the East rather than a loyalist faction.

Thanks for the names..been looking for some Langobardic names.

I made all titles concerning certain regions empty in the text files, this is the title for each region is customised according to the posessive faction.

I wish I could split Naples but theres apparently a limit on the number of provinces on the map.

Iconoclasm became an issue only when the rebels wer in power, it never was an issue for the cause of the rebellion. Historically, the time for theological debate was inappropiate, the Ummayad was preparing for an all-out assault on Constantinople

[SicilianVespers]

Here are a few Langobard titles:

Stolezaz of the Palace (Majordomo)
Marpahis of the Cavalry
Duddo of the Treasury
Pincerna of the Palace (cupbearer)

I understand about the customization, I usually customize the mods after I install them for my own use.

Regarding the empty region title, are you saying the Naples title could be Duke of Naples when the Byzantines control it, and switch to Duke of Benevento if the Langobards take it? In which file do you specify the customized titles?

When I am playing your mod, I have been interpreting the Byzantine factions as the Exarchate of Ravenna, and the and the Eastern Roman Empire. It suits the situation in Italy very well.

I managed to find a couple of Byzantine rulers for this period:

Marinus Duke of Rome (one of my long lost ancestors http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif )

Paulus Exarch of Ravenna

Thanks Again...

[kataphraktoi]

Thanks for the Langobardic titles, I'll be sure to customise for the next version. 1.2

Here was my aim for the Byzantine factions.

The loyalists under Theodosius held the rest of the territories that did not rebel and that included the Ravennan Exarchate and the remains of the African Exarchate.

Under the rebels, Leo Germanicea holds Asia Minor and has acess to the best native Byzantine troops, they are rebelling because the opportunity is open for the crown plus Leo was a loyalist of the former Emperor Athanasius who was overthrown by Theodosius

Leo's surname is Germanicea after his hometown*

yes, empty region title customises itself.

u can find this in the folders campmap/startpos

the file is early.text file

there should be after the region name, just fill it in...

Katsaphrenic

[SicilianVespers]

I will have to play the Byzantine Loyalist faction next.

So are you saying if you leave the title blank () it uses Duke for a western faction and Voivode for the Hungarians? Can you change the region's name depending on controlling faction as well?

[kataphraktoi]

Quote[/b] ]
So are you saying if you leave the title blank () it uses Duke for a western faction and Voivode for the Hungarians?

yes


Quote[/b] ]Can you change the region's name depending on controlling faction as well?

no

[HopAlongBunny]

Hmm,

All I get is page not available http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/dizzy.gif

[kataphraktoi]

try save target as

[kataphraktoi]

Anyone interested in a Dark Age PBM?????

[kataphraktoi]

Dark Age Version 1.3 will be uploaded soon. Phew...

New agents:
Noblewoman
Concubine
Missionaries
Iconoclast Preacher

new Units:
Berber armoured Camels
Slav mailed infantry
Ghazi cavalry
Goth infantry

Tweaks:
Skutatoi with kontos only and kontos is longer, no more toothpicks

new buildings:
Harem
Temple (Jewish)

New landmark sites:
Medina Mosque
The Kaaba of Mecca
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
San Marcos
San Petrus
Compostela
Palace of Aachen
Hagia Sophia
Great Mosque of Damascus

Note: image bifs haven't been customised yet, so the image bifs are the same as other buildings or unused ones. Will release customised bifs soon.

Who's up for PBM as Byzantine Rebels?????

Military Academy plays a bigger role by upgrading weapons

[kataphraktoi]

DarkAge1.3 (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DarkAge1.3.zip)

Any problems just e-mail me at fuzzwuzznuzz@hotmail.com

[SicilianVespers]

Kat,
I have redone the names.txt, and created a Darkages_Heroes.txt with all the appropriate ruler names. I used the Exarchs of Italy for the Byzantine faction, and the Emperors for the Eastern Romans (just my own preference).

I still have to add the heroes, and come up with more Berber names (I just have the last 2 rulers that resisted the arabs).

I will send it to you when completed if you like.

Something else you may want to consider...I changed the Byzantines from Sicilian silver/grey to a little darker purple than the East Romans.

SetFactionCol:: FN_SICILIAN 184 54 254 255 255 255

What was your reasoning behind the Burgundian faction? where they not part of the Neustria at this time? I was thinking the Saxons or Austrasians (under a Pippinid Maior Domus) may be more historically accurate, or was there a Burgundian rebellion that I don't know about?

My latest game has been as the Avars, Khagan Bayan has conquered everything from the Ducatus of Bavaria to the Theme of Hellas, and a Sclavonian Stratego rules in Thessalonika. I bribed the Croats and gained 900 Slav Warriors that went to the aid of my Langobard allies to liberated the Ducatus of Friuli. Was I surprised when 900 half naked charging Slavs defeated the Exarch of Italy Their army was composed of mostly infantry and some Thematic Kavallarioi.

Thanks again...

[kataphraktoi]

When I decide on a faction, they have to have sufficient territorial base and resources. A saxon faction in Saxony or the British isles would have been disadvantaged. Even though Burgundy was part of the Frankish realm it was a region in its own sense and from time to time exerted this uniqueness. Even maps of the Frankish Kingdom had dotted lines delineating that regionalism.

Although I am interested in Berber Names.

I'm ok with people changing my mod, I don't mind, feel free to adjust to your comfort.

Hmmm. Ive been trying to recruit some players for a PBM interested???

[Prince Tryphon]

Hey guys,
I can't enter the web site where you download the mod.
It says the following site was not found etc.
Also I click on the download for the mod and it also says can't find the following web site etc

Help me out
Please send me the download file to my e-mail address Prince_Alexius@Hotmail.com

Bye

Prince Tryphon

[SicilianVespers]

I finished the Berber (Amizigh) names, but I still want to add Heroes.

You're right about Burgundy vs Saxony or Bavaria. It would probably also cramp the Slavs to have a Major faction between them and the Franks.

I don't think I will have enough time for a PBEM game....I have two young sons, and my computer time is limited.

[Gregoshi]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wave.gif Hello Prince Tryphon.

If you are having troubles, email kataphraktoi here fuzzwuzznuzz@hotmail.com.

[Prince Tryphon]

What about the Magyars?

[SicilianVespers]

At this time (709 A.D.) the Magyars are still part of the Khazar Khaganate. It wasn't until 737, when the Umayyads invaded Khazaria, that the Magyars exerted their independence along with the Volga Bulgars.

I just added a the Bulgar Dux Alzec to the Langobard heroes list. Apparently they were settled in the Duchy of Benevento under King Grimoaldo. He was made the Gastald (Count) of the area he was settled in.

I am planning on converting my Carolingian mod (4 campaings - 843 AD, 870 AD, 888 AD & 923 AD) to VI. The Magyars are very well represented in these. I will post it when it is completed.

[CharlesMarkley]

Great Mod. I've been playing for two days straight during my free time. My wife truly despises this game now. I'm glad that Rome: Total War isn't coming out this Christmas, because I don't think she'll make last year's mistake again, hehehehe.

One change that I did make though, was giving the Pope the region of Rome. I liked the concept of the Papists being there, but not being involved in the game, but just couldn't accept the Papists being in Finland. I'm inserting a URL link to the History Channel.com, which somewhat validates my inserting them into Rome and taking that faction out of Finland, so that I can sleep well at night http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif:

http://www.historychannel.com/perl/print_book.pl?ID=98364

I'm looking forward to the next version with the anticipated Longobard changes...?

[CharlesMarkley]

Oh yes, one other thing that I found and first pointed out to Wes with his well-known WesMod:

Academies only give discipline bonuses for Christians, unless you change the core of what the buildings do (what bonuses they provide). I haven't tested them with Muslim factions, but multiple bonuses do not accrue.

So I changed the discipline in my game to a +3 for an academy.

[SicilianVespers]

Actually, It would be historically accurate to have the Pope rule Rome from around 750. After the Exarchate of Ravenna fell to the Langobards, the Popes began to rule following the reign of Dux Marinus, the last Byzantine Duke of Rome.

[kataphraktoi]

darkage1.3 (http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DarkAge1.3.zip)

try this link, hopefully its updated.

I can't send thru hottie mail becos its too big, but I can send it in two parts. As soon as my internet connection picks I'll send the load thru.

Right now I'm still in a Byzantine rebels campaign. They are, of course, no longer rebels. The Eastern Romans are now focusing their efforts on the remaining loyalist territories. After 200 years or so, its about time there was only one Roman Emperor. In between, the Eastern Romans have raided extensively into Frankish territory demolishing everything in captured prtovinces then withdrawing. Their only allies are the Bulgars fprming a valuable chunk of territoy protecting the Danubian provinces.

CharlesMarkley, thanks for the complement. A pleasure.

I uunderstand about the Papacy: my rationale behind the Finiish Papacy:
- Isolate the Pope in Finland, he can't get out of Finland and no one can get into Finland. But the Pope can still exercise an influence as it should without getting militarily involved.
- I cou;dn't stand the idea of a military pope warrior leader, simply because such an occurence is an exception. Pope's are suppose to be old
- I just want Rome all to myself http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

But if u like the Pape in Rome. Thats ok with me.

By the way, do u have DARKAGE1.3 or the early one in 1.1 ?

Military Academy in DA has been changed in its role. It can be built more than once and discipline is changed to weapons upgrade. MA's in my opinion are a very shady concept in Medieval Times. I believe discipline comes thru good generals..anyhoo my 2 cents.

DOn't forget Dark Age 1.3 is the latest update.
Its got landmark sites....custom images not available yet.





Kats. turning 21 in FEB. 28. and still hasn't touched alcohol since he was 12.

[CharlesMarkley]

Hello Kataphraktoi,

yes, I am using the 1.3 version. I see the landmark options, but like you stated, they are still the same.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/tongue.gif I still haven't got around to giving the pagan princesses and emissaries their pics, and I always remember just after I've started playing, hehe, and I don't want to go back.

Here's the 1.3 code I was mentioning: Academy NON_PRODUCER 1000 10 {{CASTLE13,UNIVERSITY},{CASTLE13,GRAND_MOSQUE}} Palace POVERTY_STRICKEN(5), DESPERATE_DEFENCE(20), CATHOLIC_EXPANSIONIST(50), CATHOLIC_NAVAL_EXPANSIONIST(50), CATHOLIC_TRADER(80), CATHOLIC_CRUSADER_TRADER(50), CATHOLIC_EXPANSIONIST_CRUSADER(50), CATHOLIC_DEFENSIVE_CRUSADER(50), POPE(30), CATHOLIC_DEFENSIVE(50), CATHOLIC_ISOLATIONIST(50), ORTHODOX_DEFENSIVE(80), ORTHODOX_EXPANSIONIST(100), ORTHODOX_STAGNANT(80), MUSLIM_PEACEFUL(50), MUSLIM_EXPANSIONIST(200), MUSLIM_DEVOUT(100), BARBARIAN_RAIDER(0), REBELS(0), CLOSE_TO_SUPPORT_LIMIT(0), NO CATHOLIC,ORTHODOX,MUSLIM UPGRADE_DISCIPLINE(1), UPGRADE_WEAPON(2), UPGRADE_ARMOUR(2)

Notice that you have the regular discipline upgrade, weapon upgrade, and the armour upgrade.

Here's how you can verify that the weapon upgrade and armour upgrade don't work. Go into Early.txt and insert an Academy into Constantinople provinces. Start a new game. Notice that the description for the academy still only says +1 discipline. Notice that none of the troops have the weapon or armour upgrade. Now build another soldier unit. This unit will not have the weapon or armour upgrade either.

In my version, I changed the discipline to +3 as the weapon & armour upgrades CAN'T function for Christians. Once again, see Wes of WesMod fame for more details on our testing together.

The main reason that it can't give weapon or armour upgrades is that that Academies only can benefit units that require them for construction, and at this time Janissaries are the only units that do so.

[SicilianVespers]

Kat,
I agree with you about the Pope. If the Papacy is to be included, it should probably be a seperate campaign starting in 750 AD.

I made a few changes you may be interested in:

Changed EarlyRoyalKnights (Knights) to Scola Heavy Cavalry, available only to Frankish factions (Franks, Burgundians, Aquitanians)

Changed Hobilars to Scara Mounted Infantry, again available only to Frankish factions. They dismouint at spearmen.

Gave the Mercians Royal Bodyguards to replace Knights (DarkageRoyalKnights)

Gave the Langobards Lombard Gastaldi (LithuanianCavalry) to replace Knights (stats same as EarlyRoyalKnights)

this is the best one:

Creates Armorican Cavalry, a combo of Spanish Jinetes and Kataphraktoi. Available to all factions, buildable only in Brittany.

[SicilianVespers]

I finished the new BIF for my Armorican Cavaly. I took the Spanish Jinete rider and put him on the Kataphracts horse. Now I know how to do BIF's

I just have to figure out what Charging and Melee bonus' to give them. I think I may have set them too high, they just destroyed the Neustrian King and Prince's Scola Heavy Cavalry (Early Royal Knights). I have been play testing it in my Heraclid dynasty conversion of the Dark Ages mod (starts in 650, but I may push it back to 610)

Kat,
What is the difference between your Byzantine Militia and the Skutatoi? I have been thinking of replacing the militia with Peltastoi. It's my understanding that the Peltastoi are similar to the Skutatoi, but with padded armour and round shield rather than lamellar and oval shield. The round shield spearmen could represent the militia.


The Byzantine loyalist faction is very tough to play. I finally invaded Anatolia, but the Umayyads just don't quit. I am regularly outnumbered 2:1 or 3:1 since the good Byzantine units are so expensive.

I managed to take Nicaea, but have had to fend off, 3 full stack, attacks for the last three turns I am now getting ready to transfer 3000 Slav warriors over from the Balkans. But of course their provinces loyalty will go Yellow. I also just lost The Exarchate of Africa to the Berbers, I couldn't support it while fighting the Arabs I am now allied with the Berbers, hopefully they will keep the Arabs busy in North Africa.

The AI was pretty smart. the first two attacks were with mostly Arab Infantry and Peasants, and he brought in the Ghulams for the third. looks like I will have to ask for a ceasefire if I can't get the Slavs over.

[CharlesMarkley]

The Umayyads are crazy powerful I'm playing the Eastern Romans and have finally elminated the weak and pathetic former Emperor's faction, and am in the process of taking the Sahara and Algeria I believe.

The Umayyads meanwhile have conquered almost all of Western Europe, the British Isles, and parts of Eastern Europe. Definitely two giant superpowers.

Last Friday night while my wife was out attending a Christmas choir and then shopping I managed to defend Palestine with 3,300 troops and mercs from an 11,800 Umayyad assault that took the full 270 minute (4.5 hours) time limit. I was sitting in front of the computer sweating out the battle AND fervently hoping that the dang clock would just go a little bit faster so that I could be finished before she returned.

That was crazy. Then I had to endure the disgrace of having to pull back from Palestine, Syria, Egypt and Arabia and gut their value as I ran out of money and couldn't hold the provinces against their many rebellions until I could rebuild my economy (retrained older units, dropped the mercs and reestablished trade until I could retake up my religious war some years later. In the interim, I was only able to make war on the water.

[kataphraktoi]

SicilianVespers,
Could u assist me to make bifs, I've had problems with them?

Differences in Milita and Skutatoi is their role in the army:
Militia are the basic infantry soldiers raised from the themess as part time soldiers
Skutatoi are heavy infantry professional soldiers raised from the themes.
Militia are 2nd class infantry
Skutatoi are first class infantry

Markley,
I was pretty concerned with the powerful Ummayads but I figured they were powerful at that time and age anyway and were head and shoulders above most powers. All factions should be balanced but never equal.

Like you I've had some pretty insane battles with the Ummayads, as the Eastern Romans, it is necessary to fight a war of attriton agaisnt the Ummayads despite the imbalance of resources and men. Sometimes it takes me 50 years to gain a semblance of security in the East.
I've been driven to bankruptcy several times and considered ending the campaign but the challenge was to exciting. One of ym favourite tactics is go raiding and devastate Ummayds provinces especially those with landmark sites. It just helps my treasury out a bit and keeps my expensive troops happy with their roga (pay).

As for the Loyalist Romans, I feel sorry for them http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Any of u guys ever utilised an Almohad province against the UMMayads

[SicilianVespers]

Kat,
I'be happy to help. I will email you when I get home.

That's what I assumed about the Militia, but the price is so high, I think I would change the name to Thematic Infantry or Skutatoi. They are more than just Militia.

I would leave the Ummayyads the way the are...it's very challenging.

As far as using Almohad provinces. I took Tunisia, to recover the Exarchate of Africa, but lost it to the berbers within a few turns. I didn't have the ports to get the Exarchate's army out of Rome or Ravenna. Since they couldn't move by sea, and the Langobard were no threat...I disbanded most of the Spearmen I had there to save florins, so I could rebuild my anatolian army.

I have been thinking of creating a unique Byzantine Sicilian unit. It took the Arabs one year (711) to conquer the Visigoths in Spain, and around 140 years to take Sicily. We must have done something right. What would you suggest? Sicilan Kavallarioi (w/ Kontos) or Sicilian Skutatoi?

[CharlesMarkley]

The Ummayads took out the Almohads a long time ago in my current game. The Ummayads control half the world but none of their original territories now. I gained a lot of money when I took Syria in the FIRST EASTERN WAR, but that was many many years earlier. I'm in 859 right now.

There were only five factions until two reappeared a couple turns ago (the Visigoths and the Black-colored faction (used to be HRE). I can't remember their exact name as I'm at work. At this point though neither of the two Christian factions that have princesses want to marry into my faction, prompting my young Emperor to have to marry a local aristocrat and making me take the money plunge to purchase the dowry of a noblewoman for one of his two younger brothers.

[kataphraktoi]

I've thought about the Byzantine militia quite a bit and they are the same as the thematic infantry, in military books, thats what thematic infantry are. Because they are only part-timers - more like soldier-farmers. But unlike most militia, they are militia which have discipline, armour and fighting ability.

With the Loyalists I decided to handicap them in terms of access to Roman units. The only Roman unit is the Byzantine Militia unit because they can be drawn simply from the local populace. As compensation, the Loyalists have access to Royal Retainers units in the same vein as Foederati regiments hired by Maurice centuries ago. The rebels have no access to them.

If u wanted to create a Sicilian-based Byzantine unit I would limit them to basic units rather than elite units(simply because I can't think of one at the moment&#33http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif.
A few suggestions:
Sicilian Javelineers in small bands of cavalry
Apenninian Hill FIghters with guerilla-ability - like Bulgarian Brigands with the ability to hide in open.

As for stingy kings who refuse to release their princesses, I would assasinate them. Works wonders when all of a sudden they feel a bit differently.

I have no scruples assassinating women. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[SicilianVespers]

Hmm...I agree with you regarding units for the Exarchate of Italy (they probably looked much like the Langobard army), but Sicily was a military Theme, and should have the regular Roman units. I may be mistaken, but I don't think Sicily was attached to the Exarchate. I know of one case where an Emperor (Justinian II?) sent the Strategos of Sicily, the Patrikius Theodore, to punish the Exarch, and send him and his cohorts back to Constantinople.

I am biased here, but I want my Sicilians to be Noble...no brigand or peasant types. I was also thinking of a heavy type of Javelin Cavalry with horse armor, or something like Armenian cavalry.

Not all the Thematic soldiers were infantry militia, the Nobles provided the Thematic Kavallarioi.

A little off topic here, I had to rename the Turcopoles to Turkopouloi (sons of Turks)....every time I saw Turcopoles, I just kept thinking of Polish Turks http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[SicilianVespers]

I have an Egyptian friend, who loves to point out to me that the Arabs conquered Siciy. To which I have to remind him that it was a Christian Sicilian, Gawhr al-Sakali, that conquered Egypt, founded Cairo, and moved the Fatamid Caliphate to Egypt. I guess his army had a large Christian Sicilian component, But I don't know what it was made up of.

It's my understanding that Gawhr also ruled Egypt for a time.

I suppose I should make my Sicilian unit available to the Byzantines and Ummayyads? as long as they hold Sicily.

[kataphraktoi]

Well Sicilian Vespers, I can perhaps use and argument that might swing a bit in your favor. As the Loyalists - consisting of the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Exarchate of Africa (yes even when Africa was lost) - had several Ducates, perhaps a cavalry retainer unit might be in hand. Although it would have to be small given the small army in Byzantine Italy. You could probably call them Cavalry Retainers and unique only to the loyalists.

Remind ur Arab pal that Greek Fire was developed by a Christian Syrian in Ummayad territory, but Callinicus was smuggled from Ummayad territory by a wily commander in the Byzantine army http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I don;t think Arabs and Loyalists should share units, besides most Arab armies - especially Fatimids relied on weight of numbers on the battlefield.

[SicilianVespers]

You're right Sardinia and Corsica were still part of the Exarchate of Africa, even after Africa (Tunisia) was lost.

The Exarchate of Italy was made up of the following Ducatus'
Rome
Ravenna (northern part of the Papal States province)
Pentapolis (Papal States)
Venice (The City, not the MTW Venice Provice)
Naples (The City, not the MTW Naples Provice)
Liguria (Genoa - lost around 644 AD)

The Theme of Siciy was independent of either Exarchate. This is the reason I would argue that the regular Roman units should be buildable in Sicily.

I have been leaning toward a Sicilian Thematic Infantry or Sicilian Kavallarioi (armed with Kontos and Javelins). I still haven't made up my mind yet.

I managed to take the Theme of Anatolikon last night, 900 men vs 5000 Ummayyads. I also took control of the Mediterranean, and am in the process of bribing the Theme of Krete into submission.

The Franks have conquered Hungary, so I may have to help out the Avars after I take the Armeniakon (Rum) and Bukellarion (Trebizond) Themes.

The Berbers are on the Egyptian border, and the Ummayyad levantine provinces have rebelled.

[Marco]

Hey Kat very interested in this mod...please somene let me know all the files I need to install this mod. As I understand it, it comes in 2 parts but the link from first post does not work. And now there is update 1.3. So what exactly do I need and in what order and where can I get them?

[kataphraktoi]

http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DarkAge1.3.zip

Here u go mate.

Thats not the complete mod, however, the info_pics are still to be completed, for now, the info_pics in 1.3 are just replicates of others. SicilianVespers is doing a great service in converting them. So far, I've got 3-4 custom bifs in my possession.


To Markley and Sic Vespers, u guys still interested in a PBM??? I know u guys are busy, but I don't mind if the PBM takes yonks. Since I have a job to contend to I could do with a stint in a campaign in between. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/cheers.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/snowman.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/santa.gif

[kataphraktoi]

meep.

[SicilianVespers]

How do PBEM games work? are you all on the same side or is it multi-player?

Kat, did the Sassanids use Kataphraktoi in 570's - 630's? The Nobles must have still been bow armed Kats at that time?

[kataphraktoi]

PBM - Play by mail is where several players play a campaign based on succession.

Lets say I start off the campaign, I play till my sovereign dies, then I pass it off to you. When your sovereign dies, you pass it off to someone else to continue. We choose one faction and stick with it, but we also have to have the same version of Dark Age Mod. Which is 1.3. Although there are some allowances for differences which can harmonised with other versions.

Differences that can be allowed without screwing up:
Names txt.
Description txt.

Do not dos:
crus prod 11
crus prod 13
proj stat file
no new units
buildings, agents,etc, etc

At the end of each reign, the player who played that reign must do a write about that reign.

Yep, the sassanids did use bow armed Kats in that period, if not earlier. Ive got some impressive illustrations of Sass. Kats in awesome detail. I've also seen soome photos of Sass. rock carvings in Iran, very impressive too.

[SicilianVespers]

I decided to do two different campaigns, one covering Belisarius to Maurice and Heraclius, and the other starting with Constans II as the Roman Emperor (so Syracuse in Sicily can be the capital of the East Roman Empire).

I am just fleshing out the Sassanid Persians right now, What do you think about using the Khwarazmanian (sp?) Cavalry as Persian Clibanarii or Persian Nobles?

Historically the Khwarazem Cavalry shouldn't show up until the 1200's anyway.

The Zoroastrian religion is a nother problem, can a faction be heretic?

[CharlesMarkley]

Quote[/b] (kataphraktoi @ Dec. 14 2003,23:38)]To Markley and Sic Vespers, u guys still interested in a PBM??? I know u guys are busy, but I don't mind if the PBM takes yonks. Since I have a job to contend to I could do with a stint in a campaign in between.
Sounds intriguing, but this is the worst time of the year for me at work: that being calendar year-end and the U.S.A. Payroll year end, as well as our church league basketball season is about to begin (I'm an assistant coach), as well as getting ready for the big holiday, as well as being involved in two D & D campaigns and running a third.

Plus, I'd have to take out some mods of my own.

Does your game give a weird message when you click on the Hagia Sophia, saying it has no generic description?

Maybe after the holidays and the basketball season is over?

[TheDoctor]

After you download dark ages 1.3 then what do you do?

[CharlesMarkley]

After you download it, you have to unzip the entire zip file using the folder names, and then copy and paste the unzipped files into their corresponding named folders wherever the original Total War was kept.

I think the detailed instrux are on either page one or page two of this discussion thread.

[kataphraktoi]

Khwarizim would be a perfect fit for Sass. Kats. plus by tweaking action pages txt for the Khwar u can add a bow.

[kataphraktoi]

My empire encompasses all the former territories of the old ROman empire except for Britannia and Helvetia. My dilemma is loss of revenue by attacking Britannia.

Internally, my army is being reformed and agents/emissaries distributed in the empire to keep things in control.

the year is around 1080. Its taken at best around 300 years of bloody fighting to get to the beaches of Flanders.

The Roman army is introducing inferior troops as an economic measure and keeping elite army units in small sizes around strategic areas.

[kataphraktoi]

I once had a Heraclid custom campaign once.

But it was set in 633, the year the Arabs captured Damascus.

If I was to go back and do it I'd probably introduce the Sassanid Persians like u did for ur Heraclid conversion.

I even thought of going as far back as the 4th century to make a mod where Constantine the Great starts off in Britain with but its not fun without Sassies.

[CharlesMarkley]

Kat,

Does your game give a weird message when you click on the Hagia Sophia, saying it has no generic description?

[kataphraktoi]

ChARLES,

hmmm I'm gonna have to check that out.

Its probably something to do with the prod 13 txt file.

[SicilianVespers]

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif It looks like I am going to have to start all over http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

My hardrive crashed, and I lost EVERYTHING

I spent the whole night reinstalling, I just need to download the mods I was using again.

Kat, Have you tried the Fall of Rome mod? they did a great job with the Roman units, but the other factions needed some historical tuning.

I had just finished my mod of the mod, and I was just going to start adding the historic names, when it died.

[CharlesMarkley]

Ouch, I feel your pain. All that work Yikes. I was looking forward to the chance of seeing your changes.

[Storm_Of_Shields]

Can I Get all the links sent to my email

Kweebs7900@hotmail.com

id like this new dark age mod so if its possible can i get all the links updated etc...

[kataphraktoi]

[QUOTE]It looks like I am going to have to start all over

My hardrive crashed, and I lost EVERYTHING

I spent the whole night reinstalling, I just need to download the mods I was using again.

Kat, Have you tried the Fall of Rome mod? they did a great job with the Roman units, but the other factions needed some historical tuning.

I had just finished my mod of the mod, and I was just going to start adding the historic names, when it died.[QUOTE]

oh man, i feel for ya, I know what its like to lose all that hard work. I felt like smashing the laptop, but then if I did, i wouldn't be posting now would I?

The links are same as before, no changes have been. 1.3 is still the latest. If any probs d/l, i'll send in small bite-sized chunks to ya.

Have u heard of recovery disks?, the program is so small it fits on a 1.44 mb floppy, it compresses everything on ur hard drive to a meager 4 mb and over size and fits in ur system where crashes don't effect it.

No I have considered fall of Rome simply because I would find it hard to play with the lack of Sassanids in it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/frown.gif

The Heraclid mod is the earliest I've push the clock back.

My new proposal for a Heraclid mod is when the Sassanids under Khusrau occupy the eastern provinces of the Roman empire with an outpost in Nicaea province preparing to go across the Hellespont and capture Constantinople.

The Romans are beleagured with a small chunk of Anatolia, Thracian hinterland(capital) a few islands and outposts in Africa.

I don't why, but I like to start off with the Romans suffering.

But then again, I think I'll wait till RTW comes out, from a Gamespot Faq, we apparently could add new provinces.
Shazaaaaaaaaaaaam.

Storm of Shields, the only link you'll need is
http://www.geocities.com/weirdguynextdoor/DarkAge1.3.zip

Charles,

I looked thru the prod 13 file, its nothing to do with that file. i suspect it has something to with either the desc. or names files. I remembered the lack of generic description in the Hagia when dealing with those files. I just have rack thru my head for it.


www.thepassionofchrist.com

[SicilianVespers]

I was going to start backing up onto a couple of DVD-RW's, but will look into the recovery disks.

I changed the Turks into the Sassanids in the Fall of Rome mod.

The Bulgars into the Huns.

Removed the Slavs, People of Novgorod, Magyars, Khazars, and extended the Huns from the Danube to Khazar.

I like the Warbands unit concept, and made them buildable with a Fort only.

I am going to try to simulate the Volkerwanderung with Crusades, but I will have to hide the Pope somewhere...like you did with Darkages.

Good thing this was all fresh in my mind....

[kataphraktoi]

which territories do the Sass's get?

[SicilianVespers]

I may do a few Campaigns, but I am targeting around 420 right now. I will definitely have to do one with Attila, and one with Stilicho vs Alaric.

In original mod The Turks (renamed to Sassanids) have the following:

SetRegionOwner:: ID_ARMENIA FN_TURKISH
SetRegionOwner:: ID_EDESSA FN_TURKISH
SetRegionOwner:: ID_RUM FN_TURKISH
SetRegionOwner:: ID_SYRIA FN_TURKISH
SetRegionOwner:: ID_GEORGIA FN_TURKISH

I haven't touched the Sass yet, but I may have to make Georgia rebel.

It also looks like Sinai and Jerusalem need to be taken away from the Arabs, so they only have Arabia. They were still only tribal at this time.

I renamed a few units as well:

Legion => Legio Comitatenses
Lanciarii Legion => Legio Palatina
Milites Limitanei => Legio Limitanei
Alan Cataphracts => Equites Cataphractarii

I am going to rename some Sass units as well...I need to see some Persian Aswaran cavalry, and Persian Diqhan Cavalry.

All the proper Roman provincial titles (in Latin) will be added soon.

One other thing, I removed the Early Royal Knights as the body guard unit. He has some excellent units with all new BIFs...like Lombard Gasindii Knights, Frankish Scola Cavalry, Gothic Heavy Cavalry....these types of units are now the bodyguard units.

The original mod has one big Germans faction, I am thinking of breaking this up into seperate small factions like the Burgundians, Alemanni, and either Saxons, Thuringii or Rugians. I will definitely need the Gepids after fall of Attilla.

One province each with lots of money and Warbands. I will have to leave some rebel provinces in Germania for them to fight over.

The real problem for Rome will be the Huns, and the Barbarians already inside the empire (ie. Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Vandals, and Suevi).

I also changed some faction colors, I made Rome the Polish color red, and changed the Huns to the Golden Horde color.

[kataphraktoi]

If u need some new units made or some Sassanian resources give us a buzz.

[kataphraktoi]

meep.

[Lord Of Storms]

Now that JP's can also reply in the Dungeon's Alchemist Lab, I moving this Mod thread to the proper forum...LOS