MTW-Redux Beta Released!

[Axalon]

Folks, I would like to have some opinions on these "Muslim princesses" - as I am somewhat torn... See images below. Which do
you guys prefer/like the most? The black and white alternative princesses - or - the standard gold and orange kind? ...Thoughts?



These are the standard gold and orange kind...



These are the alternative white and black kind...


Basically, help me decide.

- A

[macsen rufus]

I think I'd go for black and white myself

[Axalon]

Thanks for your input here Mac (this forum is obviously not as active as it used to be),

As it turns out you have been "outvoted" by folks over at the TWC, who preferred the standard princesses. I tell you what, I'll include the black and white version as additional bonus material for RXB1007 - leaving every or any player with the option to use that alternative - if so desired. I think that is the best I can do on this note.

- A

[Axalon]

200.000+ views sure is a lot of views... Anyways...




Or...



- A

[fresco]

i can't wait for tomorrow release!

[Axalon]

Alright folks, the links are live...



- A

[fresco]

With last version,I play great without any type of problem.
Now with this version I've immediatly a CDT

[Axalon]

Excellent that you posted up a screen.... Now, if you get one of these messages.... (And yes, its identical)....



Means that you have not been reading the provided instructions, and that you are trying to run (basic "module A") Redux
without the VI-upgrade upon a VI/v.2.01/Gold/Steam-game. To fix it, apply/install the VI-upgrade (aka. "module B") for
1007 ASAP and install it on top (as in last) - and you will be playing Redux in no time....

Its found as a separate folder in the RXB1007-package - named "Redux - VI-UPGRADE".

- A

[fresco]

All works ok,thanks!

[Axalon]

Excellent that it has worked out for you Fresco...

Anyhow, I thought I could - if nothing else happens here - show some visual differences between
the original MTW and RXB1007 by posting a few big (1920x1080p) comparative screens...

See in spoiler folks...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Now, lets start with having a look the campaign-mode and its differences... Using England as an example... First out, raw MTW...



And then... The RXB1007 counterpart...




***

So, lets have a look at the Royal knights... First out, raw MTW...



And then... The RXB1007 counterpart...




***

Now, lets have a look at some plain spearmen (using Italians)... First out, raw MTW...



And then... The RXB1007 counterpart... (Using Poles)...




***

Finally, lets have a look at some other unit... Italian infantry, for instance... First out, raw MTW...



And then... The RXB1007 counterpart...




***

Any thoughts and comments on all this?

- A

[dimitrios the samian]

nice work Axalon ...
looks much more alive .

[jingo7]

Great stuff as usual Axalon. The new map is more atmospheric and varied. The new farming techs are good at slowing down the rate of improvement, I have yet to see how the AI uses it.

[Axalon]

Thanks for posting guys...

Jingo, as far as I can tell the new farming system of RXB1007, hits both player and AI in terms of speed. General development of any province are typically and clearly slowed down. However, a skilled player will always outperform the AI - no matter the designs. This change basically "even things out" somewhat in terms of speed - as the player will now inevitably need longer time/more turns to set up a functional economy in any province, just like the AI (assuming we do this from scratch). This, before she can seriously focus on events beyond her borders - so to speak.

I have not run a ton of tests on this, but from what I have seen so far it seems to work (as intended). It should work well in theory, at least... At any rate, it certainly is harder to generate cash now, as it takes more time and investments to get there, and on top of that, several prices/costs have been (deliberately) increased too. Feel free to monitor this aspect of the Redux more closely if you like, and share your findings here. I would speculate that some AI-factions (HRE, Poland and Russia, for instance) will probably have a harder time dealing with this farming-model then other factions (ultimately, needing more time). On the other end, "supremacy-bonus-factions" like Byzantium, Moors and Saracens are probably hit much less by it...

- A

[Axalon]

A happy new year folks... The customary notes to self...


Redux & 2017:
*************************************************************
Releases: RXB1007, and some hotfixes...
Downloads RXB1007: 498
Downloads RXB1006: 739
Views in 2017: +48.000 (!), this thread... (the TWC Redux-thread had +46.000 views)
Posts in 2017: +18 & 11 where mine, this thread... (the TWC Redux-thread had 51 posts & 20 was mine).

Well, its the end of 2017 and Redux is still around (even here at the Org!) and its almost 10 years old at this point (as a public entity). Imagine that! MTW is still around too, and that is a freaking 15-year old game by now. To me, this whole circumstance is exceptional and extreme all over, as I have never ever played - or modded - ANY videogame like this. Its totally unique for Redux and MTW. And I can't really explain it, other then I clearly still like 'em somehow (otherwise I would have left it behind long ago, obviously), despite all things and all the time passed. Its just unbelievable and extreme. Who would have believed any of this back in 2008, right?

- A

[Axalon]

2000+ Downloads!

As of this week the RXB1007 managed to reach 2000+ downloads! Obviously this is good news for Redux on general terms, as it definitely shows that this mod still generates much interest and players after all these years (10 in fact!). Typically, I consider any release (Redux or otherwise) that manage to go north of 500+ downloads to be a success far and well beyond rational expectations - that for any material - but especially so for all stuff that does depend on/apply to ancient/old games - such as MTW. So these news/statistics are welcome yet unexpected success for the RXB1007 as such, but also for the Redux-project in general. Obviously I am very happy about all this stuff...


Any comments/thoughts on all this?

- A

[Leith]

Hello and congrats, Axalon. It's only natural that Redux continues to generate interest as it is one of the best MTW mods out there in my opinion. Thank you for the many hours of joy your mod provided me with. Cannot wait for the next release.

[Axalon]

Hi Leith and thanks for posting (as always),

Umm, I have no idea when the next release of Redux will be at this point, its TBA essentially. And whenever I do, I will obviously post some note about it right here... And just maybe, you might be able to have some more adventures in "Redux-land". We will see. Anyhow, thanks again Leith...

- A

[Axalon]

10 years at the Org!


As it stands, Redux has managed to go beyond to the 10-year marker... Imagine that, 10 mighty years! By internet time it’s a small eternity, and its kind of hard to believe for me too. At the Org, it all started with this very thread in Aug 2008, and here I am, still posting here! Amazing! I remember, over at the TWC, I was so frustrated that I could not get any damned people to post and especially to actually try my mod/work! It was annoying as hell, just read the first 30-40 posts or so (over there) in that thread and you can see that all over. While here at the Org, it was a different story altogether! In a good way! Obviously, things changed, and tons of stuff happened on the road to get all the way to now 2018. Its a long journey...

The first version of Redux really was a very different beast then what you guys can download today. It really was more of an expansion of the raw game, building on that. However it had some inovations too. For instance, the colorized campaign-map was included in that release. Before then, such a notion was thing was essentially unheard of in the world of MTW. Another inovation was the use faction-colors applied to the knigts horses. Maybe some more but I don’t remember…



One of the first promo-pics I ever did for Redux, back in 2008. One of the innovations with Redux 1.0 was the active use of faction-colours on agents like
emissaries & princesses for instance. Previously it had always been confined to the base only .Note that the princess-pieces were also very different back
then, as were their portraits and the Lombard shields too. The logo was different as well...


Over the years there have been so many changes, that I more or less lost track of it all. Few things are still included today, that came with the initial (public) release. Some of these few things are the various portraits/artwork of Spies, Druids and Bishops. I still use them today… Also, a bunch of the Hero-portraits (Catholic) has managed this feat, as well. Other then that there is not much left of that first release back in Aug 2008. And that was just for V1.1, as there was no VI/V2.01-version around at first.

Soon after, in October a second edition dubbed “Redux 1.0b”, was publicly released. It was basically an improved and more polished version of its predecessor, but the overall ideas and designs where still rather similar, and fairly close to the raw game by todays standards. Despite all that, it still managed to end up tougher and more challenging then the raw game. Due to improved designs. Of course, it was nowhere close to the possible challenge-levels we got today in Redux - but in those days it was generally considered tough. Close to that release, there was various patches crafted and Redux became ported to VI/V.2.01 games, for the first time.



By 2009, the plans for a 3rd Edition of Redux was in full swing. Planned to be released in the summer. It would never happen, as Redux got delayed well
beyond that point. Also, note that the Portuguese unit-banners where quite different back then...



By 2010, 3rd Edition Redux was still not released when this promowork was made public. Note the cryptic "release 2010". Anyhow, the pagan Norse have
always had a special place in Redux, much more so then in raw MTW. The 3rd Edition was planned to offer more such content and units then had been
included before and make each unit more distinct too. Btw, many of these units are still in use even today...


It would take some 3 years (March 2011) before another version of Redux actually publicly released. It was dubbed the Redux Beta 1000... Once released, it showed that tons of things had happened up to that point, both in the project as such - drastic changes in designs and artwork for instance, but also around the project. It had established itself in the public eye, as one of the then “big four” (BKB-supermod, MedMod, XL and Redux). It had even been awarded and recognized here at the Org, in 2010. Together with the beta1001 (released a month or two later) it would lay the first foundation of what we know as Redux today. I had worked like crazy with that release. New AI-system, redesigned combat-model, new weapons & shield-animations, new tech-tree – you name it. I also had help from a few brave souls that helped out in various ways "for the greater good of Redux"… At any rate, the changes introduced with the Beta1000/1001 was massive. Despite all that, there was plenty of errors and bugs - so the beta1002 was published in the summer of 2011. It was a much better release, as I recall.



It might be interesting in retrospect to see how Redux campmaps have actually evolved during these ten years. It started out as fairly faithful to the original
map but in 2011 all that was gone - instead we had an entirely new style for Redux - which eventually became darker and darker for some reason...


In 2012 came the beta1003, which was better and more polished version then the beta1002. At the end of 2013, the beta1004 was finally introduced (having been delayed). And with it we take yet another important jump closer to the Redux we know today… Initially it had problems with the AI-performance as the AI had been redesigned yet again (problems were limited to the VI/v.2.01-variant, as the V1.1 performed just fine)… After a bunch of bugs and serious panic, it seems to have been resolved to decent enough levels anyways. 2014 the beta1005 was introduced. The beta1005 had a much better release, and much less problems as I remember it. All the same, in 2016, beta1006 hit the world. Lots of new and important artwork in that release – princesses! What else could be more important?! Over the years, few things have generated as much fuss and opinions as the RX-princesses. There are only a few things that I have worked on as much, and as hard as these damn girls. Now, since people have ceased to post opinions about them (da girls!). I take it that they are good and sexy enough by now…



This montage was created to showcase the various new princesses included in the RXB1006, released at the end of 2016. Redux had several incarnations and
versions of princesses before this batch - but these are probably the most "spot-on" in terms of style and what I always wanted for Redux...


Anyways, at the end of 2017 we had the last release that make up Redux as we know it today – the beta1007. Comparing that with the first release of 2008 is more or less like night and day, I think. Yet it too contains some errors/bugs here and there, which are slowly fixed and stamped out - up till now there have been released 3 hotfixes, so far. So that particular part have not changed much... Still, I think the 1007 have come a long way from the early days, the designs are radically different, as is the overall experience and circumstances delivered, as is the visual experience provided if we compare it all to both the original game or the first Redux of 2008...



Anyhow, what do you folks think of the long journey Redux have had over the last decade and the current RXB1007-
performance and experience in general, do tell/post! After all, its not every day we honour/celebrate 10 years here!

- A

[Ludens]

Congratulations on this milestone, Axalon, and thanks for sticking with us.



Here's to many more years of MTW-Redux!

[Togakure]

Looks fantastic! It's been a long time since I played a campaign, but this gives me good reason to do so in the near future. Outstanding, Axalon. Thank you for these amazing contributions to one of my favorite games of all time.

[Cyprian2]

Hard to believe it's been 10 years! Redux was the first mod I ever installed -- back when I didn't have access to Viking Invasion, and had to find something good for regular MTW. Redux really made the grade, and provided countless hours of entertainment. Believe it or not, I still have one of the earliest builds (from 2008?) and I occasionally revisit an old campaign as the Polish. Though the new map is absolutely gorgeous, the older maps still have their charms.

Congrats on continuing the legacy, Ax. Looking forward to what 2019 might bring for Redux!

[Axalon]

Thanks for posting guys... Anyways, the traditional "notes to self" for 2018...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Redux & 2018:
*************************************************************
Releases: 1 hotfix...
Downloads RXB1007: 1837
Views in 2018: +24.000, this thread... (For comparison, the TWC Redux-thread had +39.000 views)
Posts in 2018: +7 & 3 where mine, this thread... (For comparison, the TWC Redux-thread had 22 posts & 11 was mine).

In 2018, I was away from the Org and the RX-area for 8 months straight (Jan-Aug). From May to Aug this entire section (the RX-area) was effectively shut down due to Org-management had screwed up after their "upgrade of the site" - leaving all major threads in the RX-area totally inaccessible and thus impossible to post in/edit as a result. Why? Because they simply failed (or did not bother) to check out the site properly AFTER they applied that "upgrade".... You know, like normal/serious sites do....

I discovered all this as I returned here, and once I complained it was finally fixed. This within 24 hrs, and that is the only good thing I can say about this entire affair. The TWO other moderators assigned to this place (by the administration!) - besides myself - where were they during those 3 months of shutdown, one wonders? Again, what is the point of assigning any additional moderators to this place/section if they will not patrol the area somehow, sometime? If you ask me, its just some more of that "Org-logics" in all its glory...

I have no doubt that my personal absence here AND the administrations screw-up from May to Aug have somehow influenced the numbers we get for the Redux-area in 2018 (both for views and posts). Strictly statistically speaking, 2018 was a rather poor year, especially for this thread compared with 2017 - as it generated only half the views it had generated back then. In terms of posts its more of the same - less then half of that of 2017. I think these final numbers and the related circumstances here show somehow what happens when practices are as poor as we have had here, thus far. Poor practices, generates poor results... Imagine that.

Now, if we look at sheer downloads - Redux fared much better then the statistics related to this Redux-area (and site) would suggest. In fact, it has been an exceptionally good year for the project in terms of sheer downloads - so it can hardly be that people in general have somehow lost interest in it. Nah, the statistics paint us different picture - and one that stands in great contrast to this place (and site) at large - things has essentially never been as good as it was in 2018 for Redux, as it was downloaded more then ever (since I first released the 1000-betas)...


REDUX Betas (3rd ED)
----------------------------------
Year & downloads:
----------------------------------
2011 ---- 500+
2012 ---- 950
2013 ---- 1300
2014 ---- 1350
2015 ---- 1800
2016 ---- 1050
2017 ---- 1237
2018 ---- 1837 (All-time high? It looks like it...)


So that don't match up with the relatively poor numbers that we have had from this site/area, this year (again, compare with the TWC-thread). Instead it seems to be something that is not working well around here (at the Org). Furthermore, I have not seen any attempts to improve or combat the obviously poor practices by Org-staff thus far - either here at the RX-area directly, or the site at large - this since August 2018. I can only explain the administrations unconcern/disinterest for combating such overtly deficient practices due to complacency. Or is it just more of that notorious "Org-logics" at work, or is it perhaps both? ...Who knows? ...Who cares?

- A

[Leith]

Couldn't agree more, YanBG. Redux is undervalued even though it is one of the best MTW mods ever. It is unique in almost every single aspect:
the unit roster, the map, the graphics, even the rebels, who can be deadly in this mod. I would like to thank Axalon for his great work on getting the weapons/shields co-ordinates right. Thanks to his hard work, my vanilla units finally look decent enough. Wish him more success.

[edyzmedieval]

Axalon, I will give your mod a significant try-out, now that you released the 2018 / 2019 version. Should be great fun.

[Goalum]

Yeah, this is a mod with a lot of effort put in it, kudos for still going at it..

[Axalon]

Hello folks and thanks for posting guys... How are things on da Org-side of the world?

... Redux should be more popular and played on Youtube even, but i guess it's tied to the game's overall fanbase?

Well, I agree but the fanbase is rather small these days... I would welcome some more Redux-youtube clips any day - playthrough or battles, makes no difference to me. It would just be fun to have some more of that. Another thing is that many who still bother with MTW are convinced "purists" - especially here at the Org, it seems. Redux is all about doing the very stuff that the purist-crowd don't like... Changing, altering and improving things...

Redux is undervalued even though it is one of the best MTW mods ever. ...

I would say that Redux is undervalued by some people but not all - often, it is by people who never even tried it, or actually understand what it does and brings. However, it is hard to escape that there are plenty of folks that do like and value Redux. While it does not show much here at the Org - despite the existing Redux-section here - it does show some more over at the TWC where Redux has ended up as No:1 MTW-work/mod in both posts and traffic (there). Obviously, it would be fun if Redux had more support around here - but what can you do? If people or the site (as such) don't want to actively support your stuff - you can't force them. Anyhow, I have always valued your support and posts here...

Axalon, I will give your mod a significant try-out, now that you released the 2018 / 2019 version. Should be great fun.

Hi Edyz, you have ended up an administrator?!? That's quite a promotion... Congratulations? You may very well be the first Org-administrator - since Tosa - that I might actually get along with. That is a welcome change. Let's hope for that. Anyhow, I do welcome this unexpected surprise but I can't help but to wonder what changed your mind? I mean, Redux have been around and supported here for more then 10 years - so why the sudden urge to play it now? Is there a special reason for this?

- A

[Axalon]

3000+ downloads!

As of this weekend the RXB1007 has managed to generate over 3000 downloads in total (since release), which of course is fantastic but also amazing as the base-game (MTW1) is... Almost 17 freaking years old, which is essentially a small eternity in the fleeting world of video-games. Yup, almost 17 years old AND a sequel on top as well! As unlikely candidate as that, and still some people evidently keep playing MTW and Redux all the same! It is some 13 years since the RX-project started - more then 10 years (and counting) on the public scene. Needles to say, the RXB1007 and the entire Redux-project have exceeded any expectation I had (or dared to have) on it, as I first started working on it in 2006. Its all somewhat unbelievable and amazing to me - yet its true... Imagine that....

Any comments/thoughts on all this?

- A

[edyzmedieval]

HHi Edyz, you have ended up an administrator?!? That's quite a promotion... Congratulations? You may very well be the first Org-administrator - since Tosa - that I might actually get along with. That is a welcome change. Let's hope for that. Anyhow, I do welcome this unexpected surprise but I can't help but to wonder what changed your mind? I mean, Redux have been around and supported here for more then 10 years - so why the sudden urge to play it now? Is there a special reason for this?- A

Hi there Ax,

Thank you for the kind words.

To be fair to you, the state of modern gaming right now has left me a bit indifferent. I mean there are still plenty of games I do play but that fantastic excitement of playing a game like MTW is not there with the new games. And I've played vanilla TW for a while, so I'm looking to freshen things up a bit.

[William the Silent]

Hey Axalon, I'm still playing your Mod. I once made an AAR on an early Spanish campaign and fooled you with a picture of upside down trees in your Mod as a game tester.
MTW-I already was a fun game, more enjoyable then the newer, far too complex all eye candy games, but your mod still does it for me. When I'm bored there is Redux TW.

Still being your creative self?

[daigaku]

Hi,

I just want to say "hello" again ;-)

this night I downloaded 1007 to give it a try, after having been content with 1003 till now actually.

I will give response to it as soon as I got a grip how it's to be played in "daigaku style" ;-)

Greetings to all still playing M:TW and especially REDUX, daigaku