Reall, really, final (I mean it this time) mod poll

[Zim]

THe last poll just about stalemated after the two day period it was open ended I thought it best to open a new one to be open longer. This one will be open 5 days.

Former thread with pertinent discussion on mod choice.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=118503

Original starting post from former thread.

This will be the final mod poll. In one corner, we have the reigning champion of mod poll round 1, Lands to Conquer. Designed by Lusted, a distinguished modder that has gone on to to find employment with Creative Assembly. Lands to Conquer improves the game in just about every way imaginable while keeping much of the feel from vanilla. Better AI on and off the battlefield, slower pace on the campaign map, added features from Kingdoms, rebalancing of almost every facet of the game, and it is extraordinarily stable. I have played earlier versions and found them to be everything that vanilla should have been and more. It also has its own minimods and I am told is fairly easy to mod itself, compared to heavier full conversion mods. A description of the latest version and its features can be found here.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=137614

In the other corner we have Deus lo Vult. This mod has been put forth by CecilXIX as the best mod for our game. Deus lo Vult has a history every bit as distinguished as LTC, having been started in the early days of MTW2 with its last major version coming out just several months ago. It's strengths lie largely in its numerous features, offering many improvements to the game, and many aids to roleplaying. It has been brought up that as a more complicated mod DLV may be more difficult for us to mod to our purposes for the game, and contains some features that would have to be modded out for use in the game (note that at least some features can be deselected prior to installing).

For an explanation of some of the mod's cooler features I will direct everyone to Cecil's post below, as he has first hand experience with the mod.

I'd like to recommend Deus Lo Vult (DLV) very strongly. It's a well-made mod that's added many features, many of which would be great for roleplaying, and it is also available for both Vanilla and Kingdoms.

By far the best part of using DLV (for our purposes) is the ranking system. Anyone remember in LOTR how you had to be "certified" by a senior noble first before you could 'legally' command a battle? Remember how we all ignored it and moved each other through the process as quickly as possible because it didn't really mean anything? It was a good idea though, and DLV implements it in a very interesting way.

See here for a diagram of the system.

There a five ranks, available only to those who aren't The bottom two give morale penalties to represent the soldiers being uneasy at being led by a rookie. The other three give bonuses in the form of a trait and ancillary. There is limited space for the top three ranks, not everyone can get their own banner, although that may not matter depending on turnout. Still, the system as a nice hierarchal effect and would give excellent roleplaying opportunities.

The mod does have some of the traits that we don't want, such as a system for civil wars, but that can be eliminated by simply removing the triggers for one trait. There is a way for the FL to lock disobediant generals and family members in a Dungeon in the capital, which would be quite interesting.

There may also not be enough money to give everyone much to do, however DLV for Kingdoms starts each campaign with a series of yes/no questions on how much of the script should be activated. We could removed the extra monetary penalties the game levies for having (practically) anything outside a settlement, if we should so choose.

Those options are discussed here.

Other roleplay-enhancements include -

• Having characters choose careers (General or govenor?)
• Young military cadets can pick up traits by being in a stack adjacent to an experienced general.
• Old generals can retire and become govenors, for a fee.
• Cavalry units require a suitably high-ranked knight to be recruited
• A rank system for govenors
• A faction must accumulate 'government points' and 'military points' in order to upgrade settlements. (This can be switched off at the start of the campaign if we so choose)
• Crowns, Royal Banners, Province Banners and Legendary Swords. (Faction Leaders can gain multiple crowns!)
• Generals are given a trait representative of their command experience.
• Characters age, giving penalties. They can also die at anytime from ages 50-110. (Not having predictable deathdates would be a *huge* plus, in my opinion.

I know it's a lot, but it's really a nice mod. Here are some links for more info.

Download page for Kingdoms Version
Download thread for Vanilla version
Manual for Kingdoms version
Guide to the features of Kingdom's version.

[Cecil XIX]

Lands to Conqueor it is! Now I can finally realize my dream of roleplaying a General who fights dismounted.

[mini]

Let's get this show ready to roll damnit!

[ULC]

Lands to Conqueor it is! Now I can finally realize my dream of roleplaying a General who fights dismounted.

What kind of French Noble are you!

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'll be joining you as a Norman though

[Zim]

LTC has dismounted generals? Cool...

Don't worry Mini, we're getting started very soon here.

[ULC]

LTC has dismounted generals? Cool...

Don't worry Mini, we're getting started very soon here.

You have to tech up to them I believe - However, it does offer significant flexibility. Nothing will be more awesome then literally having your General storm the battlements with your troops - nothing.

[mini]

aye, it'll make for some awesome rp :p

[TinCow]

Will the LTC version we are using require Kingdoms?

[Zim]

The poll on whether to use Kingdoms was pretty overwhelmingly in favor. WOuld that cause any problems?

Will the LTC version we are using require Kingdoms?

[KnightnDay]

I am hoping to acquire a copy in the coming weeks.

[TinCow]

The poll on whether to use Kingdoms was pretty overwhelmingly in favor. WOuld that cause any problems?

Nope, it's going for $10 on Amazon new. I shouldn't have any problems scraping together that sum. Ironic that I never bothered buying the expansion pack for the game itself and will end up doing so just for one of our forum games.

[Zim]

I have to admit, I spent fairly little time playing Kingdoms, although a little more playing mods. Buying Kingdoms for a forum game actually makes a lot of sense to me.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Nope, it's going for $10 on Amazon new. I shouldn't have any problems scraping together that sum. Ironic that I never bothered buying the expansion pack for the game itself and will end up doing so just for one of our forum games.

I can one-up that: I bought M2TW because I didn't want to be left out of WotS's sequel. That, and I remember getting BI after reading that WRE Succession Game thread.

The Throne Room has been making CA some serious money.

[econ21]

Just this last week, I've discovered a big plus to Kingdoms - at least if you are a Tolkien fan - the Third Age mod:

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=654

Imagine a synthesis of the movies and M2TW and you have it (whether this is a good thing or not depends on your view of the movies and M2TW, of course).

[Cecil XIX]

Holy crap, econ! You're back, I hope?