Fury of the Northmen Mod

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12-27-2003, 16:25
Norseman

There are many very promising mods in the making. Some have a completely new setting (like NTW, METW, HTW), while others focus on improving the original MTW (MedMod, Re Berengario's mod), but I can't see anyone improving the Viking Invasion add on.

I would like to make a face lift of VI, but only if I can get some help. Maybe a modding team can be started? It won't need to be bigger than 2-3 persons, as the plans I have won't require as much work as many other mods. Most graphics are already in the game. Basicly there are two major tasks:
-A new strategy map
-Messing around with the various txt files.
My problem is that although I consider myself to be fairly experienced by now with the MTW txt files, I'm not much of a graphics modder. So I need help on that strategy map. Someone with experience on Wellington's LMM would be great, but not necessary...

Here follows a list of some of the changes I had in mind. They are of course all open for discussion.

1) Completely new strategy map, using a satellite image(have found a few suitable ones). It will include 5-6 regions in southern Norway, and maybe 4-5 in Denmark. Denmark will be connected on land to Germany, and all coastline regions(like Normandy and Friesland) will be playable (maybe also regions along the Seine river - as the Vikings raided Paris).

2) Factions:
*I will split the vikings into the Norse and the Danes, as they were often bitter enemies. Denmark was under one king, and were the ones to invade England in 860 with a grand army. The Norse Vikings were more focused on Ireland rather than England.
Norway was split into many regions, each lead by its Jarl. But a Jarl from the southern tip of Norway gradually managed to become King of the country, after bloody battles. A player can start as Jarl of this faction.

*The French and the Germans will be added, but only as "background" factions. They will get "safe" regions inland. By "safe" i mean that they will only have "one way" borders to the coastline regions. This will ensure that the Danes must keep garrisons to prevent germany from attacking, but at the same time the Danes must stay focused on taking England to win. Not sure how the AI will handle this though.

*More Irish factions
There were many Irish factions, and they all wanted to rule Ireland Thus the Norse never met gathered opposition early on, but rather many to ally with.

3)New tech tree:
*A new and more historical one for the Vikings.
*If one of the Viking factions take a coastline province from the French or Germany, they will no longer have the regular viking one, but rather the one of the French and Germans, thus the Normans may appear in some form http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif
This can be achieved by using "fake tradegoods".

4)Give the units a face lift.

I neither have the time nor the knowledge to do this alone,
so, anybody want to help?? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif
12-27-2003, 19:22
Lazul

Damn it, we swedes never get to be in any mods =) (exept WesWs)

How about making the map bigger and include the whole of Scandinavia? and add a Svea faction?

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif
12-27-2003, 19:49
Lord Of Storms

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Lazul @ Dec. 27 2003,12:22)]Damn it, we swedes never get to be in any mods =) (exept WesWs)

How about making the map bigger and include the whole of Scandinavia? and add a Svea faction?

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif

Hey have you seen the last update to NTW? The Swedes are in and have 12 unique new units cant get more in then that...LOS
P.S. Some of the newer units added
KGL Line Infantry
KGL Dragoon
KGL HUssar
KGL Grenadier
Indelta Infantry
Varvade Veldjagare
Svea Lifgarde
Grenadier of the Life Brigade
Andra Lifgarde
Varvade Infantry
Indelta Dragoons
Mornerska Hussars
Indelta HUssar
Lifregements-Brigadens
Laetta Dragoner
Konungens Lifdrabantcorps
Portugese Cacadores
and more
12-28-2003, 00:57
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
Damn it, we swedes never get to be in any mods =) (exept WesWs)
How about making the map bigger and include the whole of Scandinavia? and add a Svea faction?

Lazul, if you join me in makeing the mod, your opinion on what should be included counts just as much as mine http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif
12-30-2003, 21:54
Norseman

Any Swedes(or anybody else) that can tell me anything about how Sweden can best be divided into regions during the Viking age?

Any suggestions on factions?

Maps with viking-age names for Northern Europe?

If someone can help me with this, I'll do my best to add a swedish faction or two and expand the map to also include Finland, Novgorod, the Baltics, Prussia and Pomerania.
12-30-2003, 21:57
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
You can also contact with member name Grell, he said something about that he added new provinces to VI camp map, and also added new factions. This is what he said:

Thanks, EC. I've done that now. Even if I can't use his strat map, those extra Irish factions will be great.
01-06-2004, 00:25
Norseman

Really no Swedes out there that feel neglected by CA in VI? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/confused.gif

If someone can help me with just a bit of info on Sweden during the viking age, I will expand the map eastwards and include a Svea faction or two.

How can Sweden best be divided into regions during the Viking age? What were they named?

Any suggestions on factions?
01-06-2004, 13:02
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Norseman @ Jan. 05 2004,17:25)]Really no Swedes out there that feel neglected by CA in VI? http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/confused.gif

If someone can help me with just a bit of info on Sweden during the viking age, I will expand the map eastwards and include a Svea faction or two.

How can Sweden best be divided into regions during the Viking age? What were they named?

Any suggestions on factions?

Hi Norseman,
I´m a 39 y.o historybuff from Stockholm. Maybee I can help you with the names and regions for the Swedish fac? E-mail me at pse@brevet.se

I´d also would like to see the whole viking period covered with more factions, provinces etc. I´d like to see the Norwegian take care of Färöya, Shetland, Island and Ireland. The Danes main focus should be on middle and south-eastern Britain. The Swedes should focus on the Baltic states/ shores and inland Russia, after all they formed that country and even giving it it´s name.

Happy to help out with what ever I can.
01-06-2004, 21:14
Hross af Guttenburg

I think the most obvious areas are the Svealand (Svithiod) and Götaland, not forgetting that Skåne in the south was Danish and originally before Lejre the seat of the Danish kings. You might do well to include the island of Gotland also, which was an essential cultural and geographic location to the viking age. Uppland (now more or less the Norrland) might be another territory, it was wilderness and generally Lappish or uncolonised, NB 'Upplandssaga.'
Strength & Honour
01-07-2004, 02:06
chris

I mod, but not good enough to offer my services, but I can give you my opinion coming from a BIG fan of the vikings/celts

Definatly xtra Irish factions

Like ramessees said, the whole of the Viking era...I am looking to throw together a mod for the vikings and the Algonquins in NA. Thats the central Idea of my camp, but in yours Just having Iceland, and then the tip of greenland, and then Newfoundland (Vinland) would be nice. If you could make it so only a certain class of viking ships....JArbardis....could sail that far, it would make it so you oculdnt just rush over to NA right away....that would keep the time frame half accurate. I say this, beaucse i watched the NG channels special on the vikings....and they said that in the algonquins, the VIkings met their match. That irritated me, though in a way its true. They were stealthier...etc..then the vikings, but it made me want to try it http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif
01-09-2004, 19:43
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
Hi Norseman,
I´m a 39 y.o historybuff from Stockholm. Maybee I can help you with the names and regions for the Swedish fac? E-mail me at pse@brevet.se

I´d also would like to see the whole viking period covered with more factions, provinces etc. I´d like to see the Norwegian take care of Färöya, Shetland, Island and Ireland. The Danes main focus should be on middle and south-eastern Britain. The Swedes should focus on the Baltic states/ shores and inland Russia, after all they formed that country and even giving it it´s name.

Happy to help out with what ever I can.

Hi PseRamesses
I'll contact you. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
I think the most obvious areas are the Svealand (Svithiod) and Götaland, not forgetting that Skåne in the south was Danish and originally before Lejre the seat of the Danish kings. You might do well to include the island of Gotland also, which was an essential cultural and geographic location to the viking age. Uppland (now more or less the Norrland) might be another territory, it was wilderness and generally Lappish or uncolonised, NB 'Upplandssaga.'
Strength & Honour

I'll need more regions than that, maybe 10, but it's a good start. Thanks Hross af Guttenburg.

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
I mod, but not good enough to offer my services, but I can give you my opinion coming from a BIG fan of the vikings/celts

Definatly xtra Irish factions

Like ramessees said, the whole of the Viking era...I am looking to throw together a mod for the vikings and the Algonquins in NA. Thats the central Idea of my camp, but in yours Just having Iceland, and then the tip of greenland, and then Newfoundland (Vinland) would be nice. If you could make it so only a certain class of viking ships....JArbardis....could sail that far, it would make it so you oculdnt just rush over to NA right away....that would keep the time frame half accurate. I say this, beaucse i watched the NG channels special on the vikings....and they said that in the algonquins, the VIkings met their match. That irritated me, though in a way its true. They were stealthier...etc..then the vikings, but it made me want to try it

chris, I was thinking about making the mod an overwrite of the original MTW and thus be able to play Glorious Achievements. In such a case including Island and Greenland would be great GA goals for a Norse faction. However, GAs won't work before or after the MTW time period (1087-1453) and I have a limited number of available regions, so at the moment I think Greenland, Island etc. won't be included. Sorry.

But of course, if you help me make the mod your opinion may change a thing or two on what should be included in the mod http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif You really don't need to be an expert-modder (I'm not), just wordpad and a few extra hours now and then.
01-10-2004, 01:25
Norseman

I have taken some images while testing the strategy map landscape image (MapTex.tga).
(Note: to reduce them in size(in kB), I made them of poor quality)

Strategy map
Denmark
The Baltic
Southern England
Norway
Scotland
Sweden

So, what do people think?
01-10-2004, 01:34
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Norseman @ Jan. 09 2004,18:25)]I have taken some images while testing the strategy map landscape image (MapTex.tga).
(Note: to reduce them in size(in kB), I made them of poor quality)

Strategy map
Denmark
The Baltic
Southern England
Norway
Scotland
Sweden

So, what do people think?

Great maps

A couple of thoughts though. The map looks a bit "warped" and a bit "green", don´t u think?. Couldn´t we make a cut-n-paste job on the old strat map in the orig game? It´s easier to see borders, terrain etc and enhances playability.
Looking forward hearing from ya. I have about 13-17 historically correct regions/ provinces of Sweden. Heroes, kingslist, priests, admirals/ seafarers etc.

Take care
01-10-2004, 16:44
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
A couple of thoughts though. The map looks a bit "warped" and a bit "green", don´t u think?. Couldn´t we make a cut-n-paste job on the old strat map in the orig game? It´s easier to see borders, terrain etc and enhances playability.

I agree totally. I actually tried that first, but the result was not good. The main problem is the map can only be of one particular size. When I cut out the area from Ireland to Novgorod and Northern Germany to the middle of Norway, I get a very long and narrow rectangle. To match the size the map must have, I then have to stretch the map North-South. This looks very bad. I don't want to make the map keep its original proportions either (by making the bottom of the map look like the background table), because then the regions will be to small. In addition, the original MTW map has very little details (like the Orkneys and Shetlands etc. missing) and the graphics become very poor when the map-piece is resized to the size it must have.

Also keep in mind that the current appearence of this map may be changed. For exemple take a look at what they did with the HTW map. I think I'll try to do something like that, but it's not a priority at the moment. It's much more important to make a map with the regions drawn onto it, so that Komninos can make the background regionmap. That map is the structure I must make the mod around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
Looking forward hearing from ya. I have about 13-17 historically correct regions/ provinces of Sweden. Heroes, kingslist, priests, admirals/ seafarers etc.

Just what I need Great Consentrate your efforts on those regions now though, those hero-lists will not be important until I have a working beta mod with map, factions, tech-tree and units.

Thanks for your help
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif

BTW: did you get my e-mail? I seem to have some problems with my PC...
01-10-2004, 18:31
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Norseman @ Jan. 10 2004,09:44)]BTW: did you get my e-mail? I seem to have some problems with my PC...

Yup, got it. I´ll reply there.
01-11-2004, 20:09
Norseman

PseRamesses, I tried to reply to your e-mail, but I only got it in return with the message that it couldn't deliver it. So, I'll reply to you here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
What´s your timeframe on this project? When do you need the region-list? I can do some research on the Baltic as well so it´s important for me to know.

Timeframe: approximately 800-1080 (same as VI basicly)
When? As soon as you can really... I'm hoping to get the mod finished before Rome TW.

I made a map with suggestions on how to split Scandinavia into regions; look at the image and the list below and tell me what you think...
Regions Map

Sverige 1 Skåne
2 Småland
3 Halland
4 Östergötland
5 Västergötland
6 Ranrike
7 Närike
8 Södermanland
9 Västmanland
10 Uppland Uppsala
11 Värmland
12 Dalarna
13 Västernorrland
14 Jämtland
15 Gotland
Norge 1 Agder
2 Vestfold
3 Vingulmark
4 Trondheimen
5 Firda
6 Hardanger
7 Rygjafylke
Denmark 1 Sjaelland
2 Nord-Jutland
3 Vejle
4 Ribe
5 Sud-Jutland
01-11-2004, 23:07
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Norseman @ Jan. 11 2004,13:09)]PseRamesses, I tried to reply to your e-mail, but I only got it in return with the message that it couldn't deliver it.

Sorry Norse, I got a full mailbox. Reply should be in yours by now.
01-16-2004, 15:46
Norseman

Regions map
This is a scetch of how the regions will be on the map. It's not finished, but I will update it as work progress.
Any comments or opinions are very welcome. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-builder.gif

PS: I have so far used a pink colour to outline the regions, but that didn't look very good when I made a smaller version of the image. I will try to use a wider, red line from now on.
02-07-2004, 01:55
Norseman

As I was drawing regions onto the map we(PseRamesses and I) realized that there wouldn't be enough land to get all the regions we wanted. After all there need to be room for several army stacks, agents, port and castle icons.

So I have reworked the map somewhat. I made England+Ireland a bit wider and then rotated them 8deg clockwise. I then moved Shetland and the Orkneys a bit anti-clockwise so they wouldn't end up too close to the Norwegian coast. I have also made Gotland a bit bigger, and copied a larger image of Isle of Man to the western edge of the map. It will be in a frame, like Rhodes and Malta in the original MTW.

I'm sorry it all takes so much time, but this is my first attempt on map-modding.

Anyway, here it is:Map

If nobody protests I'll start drawing those region borders again...
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-builder.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-juggle.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-builder.gif
02-07-2004, 11:16
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Eastside Character @ Feb. 07 2004,02:49)]Do you need that much land on the continent? If this should be vikings' world, there should be Iceland and maybe even Greenland on the map. What i mean is that you could leave only coastal regions of the continent and get more space in the north instead. What do you think?

Regards,
EC

Well, that would really be a dream, wouldn´t it. To build the whole viking world we´d have to make a map from Americas east coast to the Caspian sea, from north African coast to the seas north of Scandinavia.
The problem is that regions are getting to small for playability so skipping the western part of the viking explorers was a sacrifice that needed to be done in order to have enough regions playable in Europe.
02-07-2004, 12:45
Lord Zimoa of Flanders

I enjoyed the original VI expansion a lot and must say this mod is looking very promising.
CZoF http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif
02-07-2004, 13:19
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
I enjoyed the original VI expansion a lot and must say this mod is looking very promising.
CZoF

Thanks But I'm afraid it will take some time before it is finished. If I can only get this campmap done I think it will progress faster though, because I'm much more familiar with the txt files than with the graphics. Everything I do at the moment is new to me...
http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...c-computer.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/gc-wall.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...c-computer.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...cons/mecry.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...c-computer.gif

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ons/cheers.gif
02-07-2004, 13:23
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
Quote (Eastside Character @ Feb. 07 2004,02:49)
Do you need that much land on the continent? If this should be vikings' world, there should be Iceland and maybe even Greenland on the map. What i mean is that you could leave only coastal regions of the continent and get more space in the north instead. What do you think?

Regards,
EC

Well, that would really be a dream, wouldn´t it. To build the whole viking world we´d have to make a map from Americas east coast to the Caspian sea, from north African coast to the seas north of Scandinavia.
The problem is that regions are getting to small for playability so skipping the western part of the viking explorers was a sacrifice that needed to be done in order to have enough regions playable in Europe.

In addition to what PseRamesses explained, it should be mentioned that I in the planning stage of this mod considered including at least Iceland, because I wanted to make it possible to play Glorious Achievements. The problem is that GA is not very modable and Iceland was not a very important region when looking at viking expansion and wars. It was more of a safe haven for men, and their families, who were excluded from their Viking society, either because they were disliked by the current King or because they were "bannlyst"(That is, if they had committed a serious crime, they could lose all rights, status and honor in their home region).

So Iceland and Greenland would have been great GA goals, but rather unimportant in a world conquest game.

In addition we have some plans for the continent. As Denmark was a more or less united Kingdom in the year 800, the danish faction will have a much stronger starting position than other vikings. To prevent them from being too strong, we will try to include the Frankish kingdoms as well. They were after all a constant threat, and that is why the Danes built the "Danevirke"(begun in the year 737); a 30 km earthen wall stretching across the narrow Southern Jutland. The plan is to have 3 large regions in Central Europe, one for the French, one for HRE and one for the Poles. These regions will be isolated(They will have no borders so you can't conquer them) to keep these factions alive and serve as money-wells. I think this reflects the situation in these Kingdoms well, as the King had little true control of what was happening in their coastal regions.

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif
02-07-2004, 13:45
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (zimoa @ Feb. 07 2004,05:45)]I enjoyed the original VI expansion a lot and must say this mod is looking very promising.
CZoF http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wave.gif

Well, I shurley liked the Hellenic Mod so let´s hope we´ll get you as equally exited. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/grouphug.gif
02-07-2004, 14:37
Kaatar

I also think that the map is a little too green. Another thing is because the picture is taken from space, it shows the roundness (couldn't really think of the word) while other maps are just taken from maps that people thought were accurate back then. In a nutshell, I just don't like the way Ireland and Scotland's tops aren't pointing north. We've all grown accustomed to the VI map.

But i think it's a very good project with promise and you should definately go through with it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif
02-07-2004, 14:56
Lord Zimoa of Flanders

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Well, I shurley liked the Hellenic Mod so let´s hope we´ll get you as equally exited

Wish you both good luck on the project,if you need help the HTW-team will gladly provide... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-gossip.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-juggle.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/gc-toff.gif
CZoF
02-07-2004, 15:46
Norseman

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
I also think that the map is a little too green.

Remember that a lot of work remain. At the moment it is not so important how the colours on the map are, that is just cosmetics that can be fixed when everything else with the mod is done. Eventually I hope to make the map look a bit like the one in HTW.
What is important now though is to figure out the region borders, so that the LBM map can be made. Without that map, I can hardly begin on anything else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
Another thing is because the picture is taken from space, it shows the roundness (couldn't really think of the word)

Not really, read what I did to the map in the last post with the link.

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]
while other maps are just taken from maps that people thought were accurate back then. In a nutshell, I just don't like the way Ireland and Scotland's tops aren't pointing north. We've all grown accustomed to the VI map.

Have you looked at one of those maps? They hardly look much like the VI map...
Anyway, if you want to play this mod you better get used to a different map http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif
02-07-2004, 16:42
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Kaatar @ Feb. 07 2004,07:37)]I also think that the map is a little too green. Another thing is because the picture is taken from space, it shows the roundness (couldn't really think of the word) while other maps are just taken from maps that people thought were accurate back then. In a nutshell, I just don't like the way Ireland and Scotland's tops aren't pointing north. We've all grown accustomed to the VI map.

But i think it's a very good project with promise and you should definately go through with it. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif

...maybee you guys can help us out and start a massive search for a really good map on the web. Just send them to Norseman or me. This is the map that we have found that´s as close to the gamemap that we have got. If you guys can do better, Norseman and I, will be really grateful. Get the search going guys I dubble-dare you, no I tripple-dare you
02-07-2004, 16:46
PseRamesses

Quote:

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (zimoa @ Feb. 07 2004,07:56)]Wish you both good luck on the project,if you need help the HTW-team will gladly provide... http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-gossip.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-juggle.gif http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/gc-toff.gif
CZoF

Just contact Norseman since he´s the initiator and head manager of this mod and just picked me up along the way.
02-09-2004, 11:47
PseRamesses

We´re gonna post some battlemaps from the mod so you guys might wanna keep an eye on this thread as we´ll let you know in advance
And if someone is really good at strategic-maps and wanna help Norseman feel free to drop him a line or post in this thread.

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