UPDATED: Feb. 14th, 2010
I keep getting asked the same questions, so I figured this might be a good idea. I've also tried to anticipate a few questions. If you have any, please add them to this thread and I'll update the main post.
What is the current status of the mod?
I've just restarted this project after about a 3 year hiatus. I had become discouraged at the lack of interest in people staffing the project, and now I figure screw it, I'm doing this for me. If someone wants to help, great, if not, I can handle a basic functional mod on my own, and maybe I'll be able to reel some people in once I get a demo released. So we're back to a green light, but I'm not making promises.
What is the planned release date?
"When it's done"
Why "Age of Mortals" rather than the more popular War of the Lance era?
For two primary reasons; longevity and practicality.
Much like "Fourth Age: Total War", which has been asked why they don't cover the War of the Ring, the era in question is simply too short to do justice. The War of the Lance is only about 5 years long, and at the start the Whitestone forces are so fragmented and disorganized they'd have no chance against a Dragonarmy blitz. Not much fun starting from an impossible position. The entire game would be basically hanging on for dear life until the scripts said you can go forward, according to the progress of the Heroes of the Lance.
Moreover, it simply isn't practical to do the War of the Lance; a war the relies heavily on Dragons, which are virtually impossible to create in M2:TW. If I were able to do them, they would likely be shadows of their true selves, with no-where near the destructive ability they have in the books. No flight, no breath weapon... pretty boring dragon. During the Dragonpurge of the Fifth Age, the majority of Krynnish dragons were killed. By the Age of Mortals, they have not yet rebuilt their numbers... thus they're a non-factor, and thus Dragonlance can be done without sacrificing authenticity.
Do you plan on doing other ages in the future?
No. But because I don't plan too doesn't mean it wont happen. It depends on the team, what we can accomplish through modeling. Clearly if I suddenly found myself an absolutely brilliant team that put together a dragon that could make the War of the Lance worthwhile, I'd consider it, though I'd likely start that campaign at the opening of the Fourth Age, just after the Cataclysm, for the sake of game balance.
You've mentioned different maps... will there be more than one campaign?
I certainly hope so. I want to release stuff as I go. I am planning several provincial campaigns based on events in the Age of Mortals... specifically the ascendancy of the Emperor of Solamnia and the mainland invasion by the Minotaurs (see RISE OF SOLAMNIA trilogy by Douglas Niles and THE MINOTAUR WARS trilogy by Richard A. Knaak). Rise of Solamnia will include Humans (Solamnia), Hobgoblins (Lemish), and Dwarves (Kaolyn). Minotaur Wars will include Minotaurs (Mithas and Kothas), Ogres (Kern and Blode), Humans (Nerakans and Khur), and Elves (Silvanesti). That will give me enough to create a full campaign.
What factions will be in the game?
As of right now, The Empire of Solamnia, The Knights of Solamnia, Throt, Lemish, The Knights of Neraka, Qualinesti, Silvanesti, Khur, Kern, Blode, Thorbardin, Daltigoth, and The Minotaur Isles are definite. Kendermore, Que-Shu tribes, the city-states of Sanction, Kalaman, Haven, and Tarsis, the Plains of Dust tribes, Nordmaar, the Blood Sea tribes, Onyx Order, and the Knights of Darkhaven are possibilities.
Why no Legion of Steel faction?
While I feel the Legion is one of the few good things to come out of Fifth Age, it is not a military order proper, and does not have it's own state. One could argue that they have a strong influence in Solace, but Solace is an independent city state under no obligation to the Legion. If anything, Haven would have more right to "own" that area. The Knights of Solamnia has it's own state, based on Sancrist Isle. The Nerakans as well, based around the Nerakan valley. The Onyx Order are a sect of the Nerakans that have taken over rulership of Qualinesti, and the Knights of Darkhaven are ex-Nerakans that rule the Desolation (what was Kenderhome until the Great Dragon Malys destroyed it). They'll certainly be represented, but not as a faction unto itself.
How big will the campaign map be?
As big as practical. Right now I'm making it approximately 275x200, but I'd like to go bigger. The problem is movement... make it too big, and I end up with a continent that seems massive, when Ansalon is only about 2/3rds the size of Europe. Think Spain to Germany.
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