The Hyborian Age - Total War

[Taranaich]

They're wearing white paint which could give that impression. :)

[Helgi]

Bwain was working on this for Rome total War, until he got swamped with metal mayham

I hope this Project does not suffer the same fate as did Bwain's attempt to bring us The Hyborian Age - Total War

Looking foward to this mod

[Taranaich]

Cheers mate. I've actually been in contact with Bwian, who has been very helpful and informative to me over this. He's even very kindly given his permission for me to scavenge from of his models from Warhammer, though to be truthful I'd rather make my own attempt at modeling before using other people's stuff.

Continuing with the barbarians, here come the Aesir!

The Aesir are proving pretty difficult, as it's hard to give them big flowing beards and horned helmets without having to delve deep into modeling, which is a worrying prospect. I have all the tools and some tutorials, but it's finding a good starting point that's the problem.


Oxmen (Axemen)
Every man in Nordic society knows how to wield a shield and axe, and when times are grim kings will summon these farmers and craftsmen from their homes to defend their land. They are not particularly well trained nor well equipped, but very well motivated to battle, and they can use their trusty household handaxes to good effect so long as they are not committed to the hardest fighting.


Hirdmen (Swordsmen)
Hirdmen are the sworn companions of mighty Nordic chieftains – great fighters loyal to the death to the nobleman they serve. They are stalwart warriors in either attack or defense, but excel in the dense and almost unbreakable shield-wall. Like the Huskarls, these men are handpicked veterans given the best that their lord’s generosity can provide.


Huscarls
The Huscarls are the elite forces of the great Nordic kings and athelings. Veteran warriors, hand picked, given the very best equipment and fed from the lord’s table. They swear the mead-bargain with their lord, giving loyalty to the death in return for mead, wealth and land. It is considered the greatest disgrace to live if your lord dies, and such men will be condemned to live as exiles. As a result, these units have exceptional morale, and will fight to the death rather than retreat unless their lord orders it.


Berserkers
Dedicated to Ymir, the Frost-Giant of Nordic mythology, these men are an elite among the Nordic warriors, set aside for war. They protect themselves with little other than animal pelts and an unshakeable belief in their own invulnerability, hurling themselves against the enemy line in reckless fury. They are best used to shatter enemy defensive lines before the warbands pour in behind them, for they can rarely be held back long enough for any sustained defense.


Jarls
Jarls are the closest thing the Nordheimir have to a nobility: the chiefs and sons of chiefs who commit their tribe's forces to their local King's army. They are the most well-equipped of the Nordheimir, and act similarly to a general's bodyguard. They wear heavy scale mail, the heaviest armour available to the barbarians at the start of the game, but through conquest or alliance can gain access to plate mail in the campaign.

And a look at the first campaign map, providing I can get a handle around making the darned thing:


Sadly it looks like the Zingarans won't be making an appearance, since extending the map further would encroach on Koth, Corinthia and Argos, and that's probably too much for the first build.

The Vanir are pretty much just the Aesir with red beards, but I'm trying to give both sides unique units so it's not like playing the Scipii/Brutii/Julii.

The Aquilonians & Nemedians are pretty much done too, just need to figure out the bump maps. Hyperborea's also shaping up, and since Howard says very little about the nation I've been given a bit of creative leeway.

[Gurkhal]

Great work. Although I'd like to ask about one thing:

Dedicated to Ymir, the Frost-Giant of Nordic mythology,

would it not be more sensible to simply name Ymir the patron of the Aesir and Vanir? Do they (Vanir and Aesir) even have any other gods except Ymir?

[Taranaich]

No others are mentioned, but there's no reason to assume Ymir's the only one. I will be taking the absence of evidence = evidence of absence approach though, unless I find another Nordic god in the books. Perhaps "Ymir the Frost Giant, god of the Aesir and Vanir" or something.

[Gurkhal]

I think Ymir is mentioned as the patron of the Aesir and Vanir peoples in the story "The Frost Giant's Daughter". He is also called the Father of Giants, if memory serves.

[ninjahboy]

wow looking really good so far keep up the good work! Will there be new voice acting or will it just have default sounds :P