Blue Lotus: Total War

[DragoonXXIV]

Hmm, they're both pretty good, but personally i perfer the newer one. But that's just me.

By the way, great job with the splash/loading pic. so far.

[blindfaithnogod]

yeah i think i like the new one better.

[Androo]

Ok, my first post in this forum so I will begin with the important stuff: like just about everybody else I have been absolutely stunned with what you guys (the mod team) have already accomplished. My jaw is getting a little sore from dropping every time I look at one of your screenies, but it is worth it... Way, way, way beyond anything I could do.

A thought about this faction symbol... I wonder if it might be a little too literal, perhaps even slightly visually redundant if it appears on the unit banners, ie in a battle we see a unit of infantry with a banner depicting an elephant and howdah standing beside a real elephant and howdah. Apparently Indian art makes frequent use of icons, so an alternative could be a simple tusk. Or (my favourite) an elephant's footprint. I think that one has a nice degree of menace to it, especially since I recall reading that it was customary following battle for one Indian king or another to neatly arrange his captives in prostrate rows and then have an elephant stand on their heads, one by one...
Or perhaps, if you wanted something a little more obscure, a depiction of a deer- apparently the belief is that Krishna (I assume Krishnapur is named for him) was killed by a hunter who mistook him for one.
Just some thoughts- I would have no problem if the symbol stays as it is.
Cheers all!

[Androo]

Or a cobra.
Or a snarling tiger.
I know "ideas" are the easy part, actually doing the graphics the hard part...
Please ignore completely if I know not what I suggest...
Andrew

[Captain-Tiguris]

Yeah, a golden cobra on a purple background.

I would like that, suits how they want to be seen as agressive.

[Kageka]

I really like the new one, much better than the one before. It follows the might and style of the faction.

A Cobra sounds cool but I don't see any reason to have it as the symbol for the faction. I mean there are no cobra-influenced troops/units or heraldry reminding of cobras/snakes.

An elephant with a wartower makes more sense. Atleast I think so.

[Androo]

Glad you liked the cobra idea Captain-Tiguris; I think it would look pretty striking in those colours too. Yikes- pun not intended.
Yeah, I know what you mean Kageka, a war elephant does make perfect sense (and I too like the second one better). It's just that if I were facing them across a battlefield and I saw the elephant on their banners it wouldn't make much of an impression- 'Yeah, I know you've got elephants'. Of course oftentimes countries/kingdoms choose symbols which are allusive of their battle-spirit or ideals or deities, symbols which tell their enemies something they didn't know about them and which inspire their own troops. I don't know, but I'm guessing the cobra and tiger were the most respected / feared creatures native to India, they certainly are centuries later in "The Jungle Book". And both those animals had a profound effect on martial arts, to the east of India, anyway. I don't think it is that great a stretch to imagine the study of those animals affecting the way an Indian general might deploy and use his troops e.g. the stealth and ambush of the tiger, the lightning fast strike of the cobra. As for a precedent in heraldry, just about every native animal you can imagine, from the tortoise to the crane, is used in Jain iconography* and heraldry is basically just military iconography. If a medieaval English army could have a lion on its banners I think an Indian army could pretty reasonably use a t. or c.!
Anyhow, not a big deal, I just enjoy these esoteric discussions. Oliphant is still kule.
*Nope, not claiming any authority, learning as I go on this one , happy to be corrected by someone who knows better.

[Kageka]

Well you're right, there is no reason not to have a cobra or tiger as the symbol for the Krishnapur.

What it comes down to in the end is how the Krishnapur army wants to profile them self.

A behemot elephant with a war tower gives the army the feel of majestic might, titan strength and boundless toughness. A stomping steamroller that just advances and never crumble.

A serpent-like cobra ready to snap (or spit) at its foe gives the army the impression to be unpredictable, aggressive, venomous, deadly and lightning fast. A cold blooded assassin that always find a way to sting and kill the enemy.

A snarling monstrous tiger with terrifying claws would give the army a mixed impression of the elephant and the cobra. A majestic warrior hunter/killer that are lightning fast and incredibly strong, deadly and tough. But even though tigers are fast, they are not as fast as cobras, and even though tigers are strong, they are not as strong as the elephants.


Atleast thats how I see it, but in the end it is Hoggy & crew who decides. I like the elephant symbol, it gives the Krishnapur a distinct look and profile. A cobra as their symbol would give the faction a malicious and slightly evil touch. The tiger-idea sounds nice and could work pretty well.

[Captain-Tiguris]

Hey, whatever is best!

Just having an elephant gives the rightful impression that they have elephants. And I doubt even the brave would like to face a presumably fast enemy with elephants too.

[Androo]

Hmmm, Kageka, you mention something I hadn't given enough thought to: the malicious connotation of the cobra. I still think it could be cool, but you're right, a faction might not neccessarily want to be associated with that symbol.
Yes, it will definitely be the mod team who will decide; after all, it is their creation. Based on everything I have seen so far, I am sure the faction symbol for Krishnapur, will look very, very good- in fact the second elephant design is already there, I think.

Yeah, Captain-Tiguris I am amazingly courageous on virtual battlefields , but even I don't like facing pachyderms. If my enemy has 'em, I almost always lose, and there isn't much left of my men to bury...

[hoggy]

a bit more of the intro image developing:

[The Panda Centurion]

It excels beyond anything i've ever seen, almost. Absolutely superb all the same.

[Snarkfarfar]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but i wonder if the battles in Blue Lotus will be slowed down to a reasonable speed like in RTR and most other major mods, so that strategy determins the outcome of a battle, and not how fast you can move around and click. I really really hope so, and so far nothing from the BL team has ever been dissapointing, let's keep that up :P

[blindfaithnogod]

well, right now we're concentrating on other areas of the game. we have had a small discussion about it. i think we will likly do something about the battle speeds. nothing is concrete as of right now.....

[hoggy]

Alot will depend on how the expansion affects gameplay as we intend to be integrated into the expansion if possible.

On a seperate issue I've just done a tally of the units, so far 88 are built with 25 to go. On top of that are a bunch of reskins for mercenary units and rebels. We'll probably start on buildings and strategic map models once the main factions are done and then do the odd unit inbetween to keep it fresh. After that there's environments and animation and a bunch of other tasks. Blindfaith and Sykotic are both tackling the 2D art and Blindfaith is dealing with all the text files, campmap unit integration etc. Sykotic is also dealing with the sound effects and music for the mod. We should hopefully have a fair amount done ready for the expansion pack and then the work of getting a playable demo will begin. We'll keep posting here to keep you all up to date, many thanks to everyone for your continuing support

[hoggy]

Gubook Jangoon (sp?) suggested a logo change for the Koreans and I agree. Here is the updated logo using the symbol from the korean war drum:

[Gubook Janggoon]

Gubook Jangoon (sp?) suggested a logo change for the Koreans and I agree. Here is the updated logo using the symbol from the korean war drum:

Haha, that's much better!

[Androo]

Yes, much better, very nice indeed!

[Ferocious_Imbecile]

a bit more of the intro image developing:

iIf all your 2D graphics for the intro and event announcements are of this quality the game will be a joy to play on this account alone. Very nice choice of artwork. I'd love the game to be a kind of magical introduction to the cultures of the orient, the music, the art, the costumes.

[hoggy]

some more intro image...

[hoggy]

etc ...

[shifty157]

Is it just me or does it seem like everyone is dying in your intro picture?

[Moros]

only 4 out of 5...
I like the picture will it also be included in the game in some sort of way?

talking about this will you also make a new intro movie,make a new Ui for the menu, add new music and speech to the game? Will you also change other aspects like EB (traits etc...?)

[DragoonXXIV]

Gregoor as far as i understand it that picture is going to be the splash screen.

Great work as usual hoggy, i'm really impressed by both your CGI and hand drawn stuff. Keep up the great work. Just one suggestion, keep the Samurai fighting the demons but put them to one side, have the chinese fighting demons on the opposite side and the Indian fighting the demons in the middle of the background, then it would be a true Blue Lotus splash screen.

[Moros]

Gregoor as far as i understand it that picture is going to be the splash screen.

Great work as usual hoggy, i'm really impressed by both your CGI and hand drawn stuff. Keep up the great work.

like the idea!

[Turin]

Hey Hoggy, though it's been said before... you are a god among modders! Do you secretly work for Blizzard?

Anyway, I'm sure you've looked around on the EB forum and noticed their new animations, especially the 2 handed animations for swordsmen, spearmen, and mounted lancers. They are all relevant to your mod probably right?

Have you worked out your own animations or are you thinking about borrowing some from the EB team, or a little bit of both?

Oh an BTW, about that list you were supposed to send me...

[hoggy]

Ah, yes. sorry Turin, keep forgetting. Ive got it on a bit of paper so i will get round to it. For animations I'm definitely going to be looking around for anims to use. I'm going to have a go at a couple where i know there are no suitable ones and use that as a test to wether i can do them or not.

[LeftEyeNine]

I am so assured of the quality of this mod that I voluntarily made up a mini sig AD forwarding URL to this forum.. How does it look ?

[ramareddy]

You could simply use a trident or peacock for a symbol for the Indians. Possibly a cow?

http://kipukatrading.com/necklaces/in-nk13.html

http://murugan.org/pix/3coins.jpg

[GiantMonkeyMan]

@ LeftEyeNine: it looks quite good actually i made mine myself but gaver it blue instead of red and added some screens.... yours looks really great i am sure hoggy will like it