Amazon: Total War

[SubRosa]

I made a list of them and took a closer look at both their models and EDU stats. What I noticed that they have a small spear model, and that they do not have the spear_bonus_8 attribute. They typically have a light_spear, spear_bonus_4 instead.

So as you were saying, they are really just spearmen, and not hoplites or something similar to hoplites. So I agree. I am going to leave them with the underhand attack. Instead I am pretty much only giving it to units with a phalanx ability but do not have the long_pike attribute. Those will keep the underhand attack too of course.

The only real deviation from that are the Triarii, whom I did give the overhand attack and a shield wall. I am not sure if I want to do the same for the Infantry Auxilia. Right now I am thinking not.

[SubRosa]

I finally finished the implementation of the overhand spear attack for hoplites and their cousins. While I was at it I gave them the shield_wall ability rather than phalanx, and removed their sword sidearms (the latter because they were always drawing it to charge whenever they attacked).

It was a lot of work, because I had to edit almost all of the .cas files involved to anchor their shields to the elbow rather than the hand. Then I spun the shields 45 degrees to the left so if they had a rectangular shield they were holding it straight up rather than at an angle. If they had a round shield I did the same so their symbols would appear right side up.

I also changed a few shields and textures, most notably for the German Spearwarband and the Armenian Heavy Spearmen. Both new shields are courtesy of Halie Satanus.

Here are some pics:

Amazonian Armoured Hoplites stand ready.


The lines clash.


Death in the Ranks (I think this will be a new loading screen).


Amazon Hoplites vs. Spartans.


The Spearwarband of Germania waits for the ravens.


Armenian Heavy Spearmen charge!


Germania vs. Armenia.

[SubRosa]

I am finished with all of the animations, new unit cards for some units that changed to an overhand attack, and have even added a Temple of Demeter to Amazonia and the Valkyrja. I have also created separate EDU entries for the Valkyrja units, allowing me to give them all snow bonuses, and create unit descriptions specific to Amazonia and the Valkyrja.

For the example, the Amazonian Companions description is now this:

Amazon Companion Cavalry are picked from the social and military elite of Amazonia. All are either born from aristocratic families or have earned that position through distinguished service. When not on campaign they live in the Royal Household and serve as an extended bodyguard and coterie of the Queen - her Hetaroi - or Companions. As such they form a personal bond with her that goes far beyond the loyalty of other troops. Often these women go on to serve as officers and generals, some might even be adopted into the Royal Family itself.

The Companions are expert horsewomen, riding the best mounts and have the finest armour available. Each is armed with a good lance and a longsword for close combat. As heavy cavalry they can be a decisive arm of battle, and are able to deliver a devastating charge that can smash all but the strongest enemy formations. However, they do need to be careful - as with all cavalry - when attacking spearmen. Bravery is of little use when galloping straight onto a row of gleaming spear points!

While the Valkyrja Companions have this:

Amazon Companion Cavalry are the social and military elite of Valkyr. All come from influential families (the word aristocracy is never used by the Valkyrja, but in truth this is what they comprise), or have attained high status through distinguished service. When not on campaign they live in the First Equal's Household and serve as an extended bodyguard and coterie - her Hetaroi - or Companions. As such they form a personal bond with her that goes far beyond the loyalty of other troops. Often these women go on to serve as officers and generals, some might even be adopted into her own family.

The Companions are expert horsewomen, riding the best mounts and have the finest armour available. Each is armed with a good lance and a longsword for close combat. As heavy cavalry they can be a decisive arm of battle, and are able to deliver a devastating charge that can smash all but the strongest enemy formations. However, they do need to be careful - as with all cavalry - when attacking spearmen. Bravery is of little use when galloping straight onto a row of gleaming spear points!

I have a few sprites to generate, and I am thinking of separating the EDU entries for the Valkyrja and Amazonia Generals. Then I will probably be releasing version 2.5. Most likely sometime this weekend.

[SubRosa]

I have a bunch of screens that I took while looking to create a few new loading screens that showcased the Valkyrja Drakones, Berserkers, and Gorgon Elephants. I came out with some nice ones.

Drakon shield wall.


Valkyrja Late General's Bodyguard shooting at close range.


Valkyrja Late General's Bodyguard charges home!


Drakones vs. Chosen Axemen.


Valkyrja Berserkers charge.


Berserkers vs. Sacred Band.


Top of the world Ma!


Valkyrja Heavy Cavalry Chopping down the Night Raiders.


Poeni Bowling.


Elephant Mayhem.


There will be no dawn for men.


Gorgon Agema Axewomen vs. Carthaginian Sacred Band.

[SubRosa]

Amazon: Total War version 2.5 is now out! For the moment you can download it at Filefront. The BI version is here, and the RTW version is here.

Saves from previous versions are not compatible with 2.5.

Here is a list of changes:

Version 2.5 (BI)

• Many bug fixes, including one of Amazonian Chariots causing a ctd.
• Used Signifer One's Animation pack to change all hoplite and similar troops to overhand attacks, removed their secondary weapons, and gave them shield wall rather than phalanx formation. Also used the animation pack to implement new animations for all archers and horse archers.
• Added Temple of Demeter to Amazonia and the Valkyrja.
• Changed name of Neo Themiskyra to Vanahemir and moved it to a new location, adding a new territory to the old location and giving it to the Valkyrja.
• Created separate EDU entries for the Valkyrja units, giving them all snow bonuses and sand penalties, as well as allowing for tweaking of the unit descriptions of both Valkyrja and Amazonian units.
• Added Mercenary Amazon Axewomen and Rebel Militia Axewomen to northern steppe region.
• Renamed internal name of Roman faction to Slavs, removing the Senate tab and allowing for emergent hordes.
• Added new territory of Gautar to Scandinavia.
• Made farms destroyable.
• Renamed Porrolissum to Sarmizgetusa and moved it adjacent to the mountains.

Version 2.5 (RTW)

• Many bug fixes, including one of Amazonian Chariots causing a ctd.
• Used Signifer One's Animation pack to implement new animations for all archers and horse archers.
• Added Temple of Demeter to Amazonia and the Valkyrja.
• Changed name of Neo Themiskyra to Vanahemir and moved it to a new location, adding a new territory to the old location and giving it to the Valkyrja.
• Created separate EDU entries for the Valkyrja units, giving them all snow bonuses and sand penalties, as well as allowing for tweaking of the unit descriptions of both Valkyrja and Amazonian units.
• Added Mercenary Amazon Axewomen and Rebel Militia Axewomen to northern steppe region.
• Renamed internal name of Roman faction to Slavs, removing the Senate tab and allowing for emergent hordes.
• Added new territory of Gautar to Scandinavia.
• Made farms destroyable.
• Renamed Porrolissum to Sarmizgetusa and moved it adjacent to the mountains.

[neo_deus]

I like the elephant screens very much!

[SubRosa]

Thank you deus. They are my favourites too. I made two of them into loading screens.

[Spartan198]

The only real deviation from that are the Triarii, whom I did give the overhand attack and a shield wall. I am not sure if I want to do the same for the Infantry Auxilia. Right now I am thinking not.

Triarii were essentially still just Roman hoplites for all intents and purposes, AFAIK, so they should have the overhand spears (and this is how EB depicts them). I agree with Luke and suggest keeping Infantry Auxilia and barbarian spear warbands paired up with the underhand animation to differentiate them from hoplites.

[SubRosa]

Triarii were essentially still just Roman hoplites for all intents and purposes, AFAIK, so they should have the overhand spears (and this is how EB depicts them). I agree with Luke and suggest keeping Infantry Auxilia and barbarian spear warbands paired up with the underhand animation to differentiate them from hoplites.

Exactly how I implemented them!

[SubRosa]

I have recently learned of a CTD being caused when entering a battle with the Eastern culture foot Archers. This affects the BI version only. I have released a patch here that fixes it. The full version download has also been updated to 2.5b. Save games from BI 2.5 are compatible with BI 2.5b.

[SubRosa]

I have added reskins for the copy-cat Legionaries of Numidia, Armenia, and the Seleucids, courtesy of Medusa0.

Armenian Legionaries


Seleucids


Numidians


You can find Medusa's texture pack here.

[SubRosa]

I am now working on integrating Pinarius' horses. His horse textures are much, much better than those of vanilla. They also provide more variety in the appearance of different faction's horses.

It is going to be a lot of work however. He did not include sprites. So now I have to create new sprites for all the horses that have changed a shade in colour. That is at least half of all the horses in the game. Most likely three quarters when I am done.

Here are some samples of what I have have integrated so far:

The Valkyrja Medium Horse is a roan


All General's Horses are now white.


Most Heavy Horses are now black.


The Amazonian Medium Horse is a red.


The Sarmatian Light Horse is a grey-brown

[neo_deus]

Oh, new horses! That's so nice! I've thought about that plenty of times, but with my artistic skills never even tried.