State of the Mod Address, Fall 2013: We're Almost There

Salvete, cives Europae Barbarorum!

Today we have an incredibly exciting announcement to make: We are close to making an alpha release of our mod.

Europa Barbarorum II is a modification for the Medieval II: Total War expansion pack Kingdoms. Its setting is the Hellenistic world of 272 BC. Our goal is to make one of the most immerse and historically accurate experiences possible for players. For several years now, we have been working toward a first release and we are almost there.


What to expect?

EBII has been a long time coming. Everyone on the team knows that there will be very high expectations for it. We do hope this will be a great experience for those players; however, it should be known that this will be a very unpolished release. The effort required to modify M2:TW compared to Rome: TW is exponentially higher. This, combined with a relatively small pool of manpower, high member turnover and real life, has meant that completing the modification has taken much longer than any of us anticipated. This is especially true when taking into consideration the team's high standard of historical accuracy.

To that end, the team does plan to have all current factions playable in regards to units, recruitment, and governments. By no means will even these be final and there may be several placeholder descriptions and models. We do not intend to give a firm release date as we cannot guarantee that something catastrophic won't happen; however, we are pushing hard to make it soon.


What can be done to help?

In the next few weeks, the team will start looking for play-testers to search for bugs, historical errors, and balance issues. Longtime, trusted and motivated forum members, or those that can contribute to the modification in the future are those most likely to be selected. Our internal roadmap is aiming for a release a few months after play-testing.

We also have a list of several tasks that need to be completed. Once they are finished, working to polish the mod and improve it is the next step. Anyone with the skills to help in these areas, please apply.

- Scripting
- Traits
- 3D modelling (units and settlements)
- Animators
- 2D artists (eg. UI, icons, skins)
- Website

EBII is not finished yet – not by a long shot. We have so much more to do to make this the mod we want it to be. With this alpha release, we hope to generate the interest to help it grow by bringing back old players and create new ones. We just ask that the community waits a few more months. To sate you until then, here is some preview material of our populace buildings and units!

Attachment 10940Attachment 10941Attachment 10942Attachment 10943Attachment 10944Attachment 10945Attachment 10946Attachment 10947

Valete!

Amazing news, cant wait to experience the product of the team's years of hard work. Well done guys and thank you so much.

You just killed me (with excitement, that is).

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! :bounce:
Amasing news (and screenshots)! All Hail the Amasing EB Team!!!!!! :hail:

Great news! Waited long for this. Keep up the good work!

This is a good news!

Attachment 10958

Give yourselves a hearty pat on the back, all you dashing members of the EB team. Can't wait to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Oh sweet Jebus, greatest of news. Now to hire someone with modding skills so I can have access to this alpha :sweatdrop:

The real Rome 2 is close to Alpha release. :)

Will Alpha testers be allowed to release game info or AARs?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rex Somnorum

Will Alpha testers be allowed to release game info or AARs?

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Probably not at first. There will be a non-disclosure agreement of some sort, which may be lifted toward release or afterward.

GO GO GO

A short note as it is rubbing against my historically accurate conventions: The symbols used for the British and Gallic populace buildings are only temporary. So don't worry before people start asking why on earth we have Pictish symbols for Britons and Bronze Age Irish symbols for the Gauls.

Awesome. Even with all the placeholders, I can sense greatness here :D.

I love how the interface is looking. Especially the coins are a nice touch.

oh yes...

Congratulatinos EB 2 Team, you guys are awesome!!!


Also, would love to alpha test. :nice:

I do have a BA in history, with a focus on ancient history, so I should be able to notice historical errors to a fair degree if they exist. I also have a ridiculous amount of experience playing the M2TW engine.

Guess I better start saving for Medieval II...:bounce:

Don't forget Kindoms ~;)

Great news team! Keep up the amazing work!

This post makes me happy :2thumbsup:

Good news....by Teutates!!!

As I said at TWC

Muthuh of gawd!



Now I'm reconsidering purchasing Rome 2 since EB2 is coming soon...

I am speechless!

Great to hear and thank you for all the good work.

I recently got a new laptop as my last one could only run RTW and after reading the comments on this forum about Rome2 I was really disappointed. This news has cheered me up no end.

Now I can actually play this mod and know it is now hopefully down to a matter of months the wait is going to be tough. Again thanks!

Hello, I've been hoping for this mod to be released ever since I bought this game called Rome: Total War a few years ago and heard about this thing called Europa Barbarorum. This mod is one of the things which really got me interested in history and I would just like to say thanks to those people who have embarked on this great endeavor and who worked hard not for themselves but all of us. To give a bit of history to others and let people see into one of the great periods of history. I personally want to say thanks for everything, and while the mod is not near the finish line yet hearing that a milestone is coming up is great.
Thanks For Everything

At the risk of sounding like an echo, this is great news and really brightened up my day. Now I need to get back to doing some province descriptions...

Wonderful news! Nunc est bibendum!

Have been waiting for this news for a very long time, all Hail the EB team.

Can't wait to see it! Superb Job!

What is this Website task about? What needs to be done?