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The World of Total War Mods (Part 2)
The much anticipated follow up to Rome didn't disappoint many although it never surpassed its predecessor either. Many people still found it another excellent game while the others who didn't decided to do something about it. Out of that came some fantastic modifications that has kept Medieval Total War 2 installed on my desktop since its release. One of the mods I first played was Stainless Steel which takes your plain version of MTW2 and gives the much needed rework it needs. It doesn't radically build a new game but it does enhance it to the point were you will believe that this is the way the game was meant to be played. Broken Crescent is another modification which raises the bar. BC is in a league of its own and I would not call it a modification, but more a unofficial expansion pack. BC expands MTW2 in the Middle East all the way to India for some exciting new gameplay. Deus Lo Vult is the third mod which takes the tactical approach to the extreme but in doing so creates a very deep game that constantly requires you to watch over your empire like it was your own baby.
Broken Crescent (Take note CA!)
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Broken Crescent is not a mod about the Medieval Muslim world more than it is a mod about the Medieval Middle East, a landscape far from homogeneous in faith, faction or fighting style. Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Pagans all fill the diverse landscape from Greece to the Himalayas, the Steppe to the Sudan. Typically left on the fringes of any medieval setting's attention, with a brief stop over with the Crusades, we wanted to celebrate the stories and especially the personalities of the cast this part of the world had.
A strong inspiration to the creation of the mod was that sense of character that each faction had, how much like the ancients a people and kingdom could be symbolised in a phrase, an ideology, an avatar. Though the dynasty may be transient the people behind it were anything but, echoes of times as far back as the Achaemenids and Greeks lingering on through their ancestors.
They held themselves to an official motto of "Historically inspired, historically influenced, but not a historical imitation." in our approach on the ever present specter of Historical Accuracy for Total War Mods. Even in greater wealth and prosperity compared to Dark Age Europe, the attention to military detail present amongst the ancients was far less plentiful in the Middle East. Furthermore, the Feudal quality of all armies in this period lends towards a irregularity of 'the norm' in dress and unit as men dressed individually and trained often individually. Of course any tale can grow a little bit tall.
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Beyond story, beyond history, Broken Crescent is a mod attempting to introduce players to something fresh, exotic and exciting.
Broken Crescent's first release gave us a body to build a brain behind as well as touch up the muscle and skin of the product. There's been a lot of code-work undertaken with unit and campaign balancing with three major additions taking center stage in the upcoming release.
The first is a regional recruitment system colloquially known as "Auxilia" by the team, inspired by such mods as Europa Barbarorum. Armies of the Medieval Middle East had a rich variety of backgrounds and nationalities no matter the rulers commanding them, where only the Kingdom of Jerusalem chose not to command troops of another religion. We really want players to feel the "Thousand Nations of an Empire" dynamic that a Roman Emperor or Caliph would have felt.
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The third has been kept secret, and while they won't mention what it is, you can see it in some of the screenshots of never-before-seen units.
I love BC. I feel like I'm robbing them somehow though. Their mod is epic and feels like a free game. If this had been a CA release then I would have gladly handed over my well earned money to get my hands on it. Luckily for me and you it's completely free. On par with the Kingdoms expansion this is a must have for any total war fan whether your bored of MTW2 or not. BC will surely pump some much needed life into copy.
Stainless Steel (The way it's meant to be played)
Stainless Steel 6.1 (SS) is a modification of the Medieval Total War game, which like the game itself has evolved, adding in many new features, factions and units, such that today it is one of the most popular mods available, winning the 'Favourite M2TW Mod' award for 2007 and 'Favourite M2TW Modder' award for 2007 for its young German creator - King Kong. The current version is based on the kingdoms expansion and maximises the potential of the game engine containing 500 units, 200 regions and 30 historical empires. Its many new features include; |
- Brand new map based of gps data that maximises the potential of the MTW II engine, extending all the way from the green lands of Ireland to the depths of the Persian deserts
- Grand campaign extending from 1080 to 1560, as well as a middle era campaign based from 1220
- New exciting new factions as the Knights Templar, Kwarezmain Empire, Kypchak Confederacy and Aragon
- Many brand new units hand crafted by KK himself, or drawn from the new kingdoms campaigns. This allows players to create historic armies of French Lancers, English Longbowmen, Spanish Pike and Shot tercio, Mongol hordes, Mamluks and many more
- A 'reskinning' of many models to give faction units a greater depth and distinctive look
- Historical re-balancing of all units to give them more accurate capabilities for there era
- New education system to allow players to develop there generals into conquering heroes or wise governors
- Ancient Wonders such as the Hagia Sophia, Mosque at Cordoba and Holy Sepulchre
- Total re-work of many of the graphical features of MTW II to give the mod its own unique feel and aid the player in immersing themselves in their empire
- Improved Campaign and Battle Ai to challenge the player
- Full kingdom features such as burning oil, controllable Ai armies etc
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In designing it KK has tried to balance historically accuracy against the shear fun of playing a total war game. Maintaining this balance has been a challenge, but I think the mods success speaks for how well this has been achieved, and has ensured that fans keep coming back for more.
Currently KK is taking a break from developing Stainless Steel, as he has been called away to help design the 'Third Age' mod based around the works of Tolkien and the Lord of The Rings trilogy of films. Once completed he intends to return to Stainless Steel and see what can be done to make it even greater than it already is, before the new Total War game of Empires arrives.
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SS really does enhance MTW2 to a higher level. One of the main criticisms of MTW2 was the poor AI. SS has managed to script this and ensure you don't walk all over Europe within the first few hours of starting a new game. Other factions now manage to attack in force and with a more balanced army. The modification also improves the diplomacy which means that no longer will the AI sign a alliance and immediately break it in the next turn. These are improvements that CA really should have done themselves.
The new factions are also welcomed and the mod adds more areas of Europe/Asia to get stuck into. Each faction also been reskinned and look completely new so there won't be any repetitiveness felt when playing as one of the factions included in the original MTW2. In fact playing as a faction you know well from MTW2 will play a lot differently using this modification. So never go into SS expecting minor improvements as this modification really does radically expand gameplay but for the better.
Deus lo Vult (Economics degree not required...but helpful)
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- Many more factions (reskinned) playable on a very large campaign map: + Ireland, Armenia, Lithuania, Teutonic order, Flanders, Norway, Kingdom of Jerusalem
- More medieval + graphical elements: Heraldic Titles, events and many other.
- Roleplaying: Characters (Generals, Princes,...) have a more medieval based trait and ancillary system. The player should be more attached emotionally to his characters because he has to make a lot of decisions during a life cycle of his characters: education, training, prison, retirement.
- Interactivity: The player has to make a lot of decisions regarding interactive events (economical, medieval as trade fairs, religious councils...) and collecting governmental\military points to achieve an advancement during his game.
- More logistical\strategic parameters than the standard ones (money): supply lines, population restrictions, field costs, etc
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Deus Lo Vult is a mod for those who love to plan ahead. It's even for those that love to plan 50 turns ahead. When I say that this mod requires careful planning and strategy I mean it. This is a interesting/neglected aspect of MTW2 that Deus Lo Vult has tackled. Rarely in the original MTW2 does economic development play such a vital role in how your empire survives and expands. In my own personal campaign I was playing as the French and was forced to alter my tactics based on my economic situation. The Holy Roman Empire were pushing me around and I knew I didn't have the resources to support a war. I entered a alliance to get them off my back while I planned to take a divided and mining rich Spain. That would greatly support any hostilities if my allies decide that I'm surplus to requirements. If that had been CA's version then my tactic have been to invade everywhere because money rains from the sky in that version.
The new role playing element really does make you care about your own characters. You can guide them down any path you wish whether that be the path of a malevolent dictator or a glorious crusader. So that little cheeky young prince has now become King thanks to your wisdom guiding him through his life. They grow up so fast. It's epically cruel to see a one of these future Kings killed in battle after your effort in guiding them to the crown.
Final Thoughts
For me MTW2 is dead and buried. I have played the original version to death but I also enjoyed it at the same time. I do believe CA did a good job. It could have been better but with a lack of any real competition CA have done well not to slip into the lazy release trap. These mods have rekindled my interest in the game and I must say that it is a perfect way to pass the time until Empire: Total War. There is something for everybody with these mods. For those who want to try something new will be drawn Broken Crescent. For those who want their original copy of MTW enhanced can chose between Stainless Steel and Deus Lo Vult. Either way no matter which one you pick you will enjoy what's on offer. Actually why not download them all. They can be found over at the TW Center.
| References to other articles | |
Medieval II: Total War - 1066 mod previewGraham takes an early look at one of the most eagerly anticipated mods to be released for Medieval II: Total War.
Total War Kingdoms dev diaryDaniel Lehtonen Game Designer at Creative Assembly Australia talks about the campaign mode of the Medieval II expansion.
Medieval II: Total War Kingdoms detailsSega and Creative Assembly announce an expansion to the excellent realtime strategy game.
| Related downloads | |
Medieval II: Total War - Kingdoms patch EUAn update for the expansion.
Medieval II: Total War v.1.3 patchThe largest patch in history?
Medieval 2: Total War demo - updatedIt's time to conquer the Medieval world.
Boomtown Staff Writer
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