Middle-Earth campaign map?

[drone]

I'm happy you are still working on this project, Stazi. Can't wait to see how far you can push the engine for this mod.

Are you doing anything with mithril?

[Stazi]

Are you doing anything with mithril?

Mithril deposits will give you access to the higher level armory which results in better armor upgrades. It will be the 2nd best armor available. Only elves (but not wood elves) will have access to the best "gold" quality armors. The idea is: (+4) elite eleven armor, (+2) dwarven mithril armor, (+1) steel plate armor. Should mithril have any influence on trade? IIRC it has never been mined in sufficient quantities and dwarves never sell it. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Generally, +4 and +2 armor upgrades will be very rare. Mithril armors will be directly connected with provinces (Moria, Lonely Mountain). Elven armors will be available for elves in provinces to the west of the Misty Mountains (I'll post an improved map with province breakdown soon). Armory branch will be separate from other technology branches. It won't give you access to new units - just armor bonuses (maybe a little morale too). This way AI will still have access to all units even when it'll lose its "core" provinces (and eventually armor bonuses).

Other ideas about mithril or anything else? Feel free to post them.

[Durango]

Stazi, I'd be happy to contribute my thoughts about the mod, as well as feedback - but shouldn't you have a proper "mod thread" of your own these days? Stazi's Reimagined Middle Earth Mod or something like that? Anyways, I've reread the LotR compendium and I'm currently rereading The Silmarillion, so I should be able to offer suggestions here and there.

[drone]

Mithril deposits will give you access to the higher level armory which results in better armor upgrades. It will be the 2nd best armor available. Only elves (but not wood elves) will have access to the best "gold" quality armors. The idea is: (+4) elite eleven armor, (+2) dwarven mithril armor, (+1) steel plate armor. Should mithril have any influence on trade? IIRC it has never been mined in sufficient quantities and dwarves never sell it. Let me know if I'm wrong.

I would say no to trade with mithril. As you said, the dwarves hoarded it, and gave gifts of armor, but not the secrets to forging it. I'm assuming mithril is a resource? For accuracy (and if you haven't already), maybe make the armory that grants the bonus dwarven only. IIRC, I don't think mithril was used with weapons so an attack bonus isn't applicable in the canon.

I like the armor types, but is the elven bonus too high? Not sure how this will affect fatigue.

Generally, +4 and +2 armor upgrades will be very rare. Mithril armors will be directly connected with provinces (Moria, Lonely Mountain). Elven armors will be available for elves in provinces to the west of the Misty Mountains (I'll post an improved map with province breakdown soon). Armory branch will be separate from other technology branches. It won't give you access to new units - just armor bonuses (maybe a little morale too). This way AI will still have access to all units even when it'll lose its "core" provinces (and eventually armor bonuses).

Tying bonuses and troop access together in one building has never sat well with me.

Other ideas about mithril or anything else? Feel free to post them.

I agree with Durango, this needs a new thread. When you start pushing out more info and teaser images feel free to create one and I'll sticky it.

[Stazi]

I would say no to trade with mithril. As you said, the dwarves hoarded it, and gave gifts of armor, but not the secrets to forging it. I'm assuming mithril is a resource?

yes

For accuracy (and if you haven't already), maybe make the armory that grants the bonus dwarven only. IIRC, I don't think mithril was used with weapons so an attack bonus isn't applicable in the canon.

Only dwarves will be able to build Dwarven Armory which gives mithril armor bonus. I didn't think much about attack bonus but I'm sure mithril will have nothing to do with it.
Should other races have any use of mithril? Let me know what you think.

I like the armor types, but is the elven bonus too high? Not sure how this will affect fatigue.

It'll surely affect fatigue but that's how it works. I can't do much about it. There are only a few desert provinces that will hurt those heavy armorer units. Harad, Khand are formerly sand desert provinces. Mordor is rock desert. btw does snow affect heavy armored units (fatigue)?

Bonus too high?.. hmm.. as huth said elves (due to their accumulated knowledge and magic skills) make armors far more superior to even those made from mithril. Mithril armors are only that good because of material used, not any highly sophisticated technology.

I agree with Durango, this needs a new thread. When you start pushing out more info and teaser images feel free to create one and I'll sticky it.

Thanks for the suggestion guys. I'll make an official mod thread when I'll have something more to show. Please, let me stay here a while more. I hope it won't stop you from posting comments and ideas. As always any feedback/criticism is welcomed.

[drone]

Only dwarves will be able to build Dwarven Armory which gives mithril armor bonus. I didn't think much about attack bonus but I'm sure mithril will have nothing to do with it.
Should other races have any use of mithril? Let me know what you think.

Elves used mithril for craftwork and ithildin. The LotR wikia mentions mithril weapons but I don't ever recall reading that.

[Durango]

Some random thoughts in the evening...

How about having several campaigns with different maps? What strikes me when reading Tolkien books is how so much time is covered, and how the land changes over time. Numenor rises and falls, Angband gets destroyed along with Beleriand (westernmost middle earth), the immortal lands is veiled/unveiled etc. Perhaps something could be done with this dynamic. And the factions could be changed and have their power rise and fall as well. Elves having more influence in the second age for example. I would certainly be interested in rendering the maps, unless you are already content with yours.

This would also make the mod unique among it's counterparts. At least it would set it apart from the immensely popular TATW mod for MTW2...

[Stazi]

Some random thoughts in the evening...

How about having several campaigns with different maps? What strikes me when reading Tolkien books is how so much time is covered, and how the land changes over time. Numenor rises and falls, Angband gets destroyed along with Beleriand (westernmost middle earth), the immortal lands is veiled/unveiled etc. Perhaps something could be done with this dynamic. And the factions could be changed and have their power rise and fall as well. Elves having more influence in the second age for example. I would certainly be interested in rendering the maps, unless you are already content with yours.

This would also make the mod unique among it's counterparts. At least it would set it apart from the immensely popular TATW mod for MTW2...

Yes, it's great idea but..new map/era means: new factions, units and animations, buildings, provinces' properties, the whole game balance. It's nearly totally new mod so...a lot of work and time. For now, I'm going to finish LOTR era mod with units and battle maps done by Middle-Earth team. Creating new battle maps with custom settlements (like in TATW) is especially hard because MTW's 3D engine is absolutely unaccessible. All you can do is adding existing models in different scale and with different textures. And you can only do it via in-game editor (and text editing properties files) cause CA made their own 3d file format unrecognized by any popular 3d modeling software.

I'd love to make all campaigns you mentioned but I have only two hands and days are only 24 hours long. I'll think about new campaigns after I'll finish the ME campaign. Of course, your maps will be very warmly welcomed.