Preview of Eriador (outdated)

[mephistopholes]

Do the town militia, bandits, and peasants have to be so green? i don't think it's realistic for bandits to wear uniforms, green could be common in their outfits but they should have some variety.

[Pallantides]

Some nice GW miniatures depicting the Rangers of the North.

[cherryfunk]

Those raccoon caps... did Middle Earth have raccoons?

[Mithrandir]

Middle-Earth had roughly the same animals as Earth. I don't think raccoons are too far-fetched, but I think they look a bit out of place nonetheless.

[Pallantides]

They look really odd in my opinion...






Halbarad


these are licensed by Tolkien Enterprises and New Line Cinema, there is a lot of artwork out there.

[Rugulator7]

I dislike this faction and Dale, no offense member that starts with a K...
but not that GREAT like everyone keeps posting(I may have over exadurated about everyone)

[cherryfunk]

Middle-Earth had roughly the same animals as Earth. I don't think raccoons are too far-fetched, but I think they look a bit out of place nonetheless.

Raccoons are New World animals, Eriador is the Middle Earth equivalent of Western Europe. Unless someone can cite a raccoon in the text, personally I find it totally inappropriate. Daniel Boone was not a Dunedain.

and couldnt you use some hobbit peasant archers? the old king of arnor used them too in the war against Angmar. they are good archers. and maybe some sherrifs? i know this is a lot of work, but they need something special i think.

That's an excellent idea... the faction does need some more interesting units, hobbits would definitely be cool

And they should have some heavy infantry I think, maybe armored spearmen. :hmmm:

[krapyl]

THIS PICS ARE SEXY!!!
I mean it ^^

[cherryfunk]

Dale is allready in process. But if you don't like Eriador - your choice. I tired to remake it more and more. I only learned modelling for TW than I started making them and I loose quite big amount of time for them. So than I at lasdt could make what I want I didnn't have desire and time to do it most perfect. So if people want I could leave the project. I'm not so skilled as DG, Alletun, KK and Shredder. It's true. ASnd I have too 3 more projects for that I could work for. Now I have skills for that and enough time to do all perfect

I don't understand the way you're going about it. Take the various woodsmen units; since they're Dunedain or the descendants of Dunedain, why wouldn't you use the appropriate Gondorian units as a starting point? There's no need to create things from scratch when you have first-rate units in this very mod that you can use as your starting point.

But Phunkracy is correct -- it's really the team's fault for not supporting you better and giving you feedback until the units were as good as the other factions. Ultimately, KK has to take responsibility for letting unfinished work go out.

[Old Hobbits Die Hard]

krechet wow much improved from dale i love the archers with the camo great job i think your doing good
and if people want to complain about the quality do it yourself its not right to compare krechet to some of the best modellers out there he is doing great i like the units and how they look

keep it up amzing work i like eriador alot now especially the cloaks you gave them +rep

To be entirely honest, I don't think it's about modding ability. Kretchet's skills have clearly come on in leaps and bounds in that regard - the units look crisp and well made. I just have aesthetic issues (i.e. very fixable issues) with the units - most of them are too bright or colourful, the raccoon hats are out of place etc (even though they are well modelled). So, I think the modelling is very skillful and actually quite good, I just think it's some issues of image that can make a big difference. I don't know if this is innate or can be learnt, but I do know that it can be easily addressed.

[marceror]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

@Kretchet.

I've got some serious critics. They are not meant to insult You, but they rather serve the purpose of your self-improving.


1. Weapons.
You should give up making your own weapons. They just don't fit the units and are too crude and blocky and, in most cases, simply too big. Use Vanilla ones instead, they not only provide wide variety of weapons, but are of good quality, and they can be reskinned if needed.
To remove:
-axes

-scythe

-halberd (use the vanilla one, the textures are better)

-town militia weapons -hammers are too big and too crude, need to be slightly changed or removed, the one weapon which they are not using is weird (not similiar to any medieval weapon) and handled in strange angle)

-spears of Breee land-raiders

Bandit's swords are suprisingly well done

2. Models
They aren't always as good as they should be. But the only one which really needs changing is the 'ranger sentries' capes. They are supposed to look like they're floating in the wind, but they do not float when the Rangers are staying, am I right? So better make them normal.

3. Unit designs.
Regardless what people are saying, the biggest flaws of your units are their designs. And the one who made them, needs some serious improvement, as well as painfull spanking in the ass.

a) Colours
I don't know what made you think that Seledine would make excellent faction colour for Eriador. Seriously, don't you see the obvious contrast? It made your units look much worse that they actually could. They are also too bright, especially metalic textures.


Examples (10 minutes in PS to change the colours, effect-much better than original IMO):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Fixed no.1. ^ (I improved tegilay's texture, because I think it's a good concept to maje those warriors wear tegilay)



Colours are now much better.

b) Textures and base models
And use vanilla elements, goddamnit!! It will be labour-saving, and will improve your units quality. There's nothing shameful of using basic models and textures, even modellers and skiners such as KK do it! (also, for Dunedain and scout units you could use modified Ithilien Rangers). And remove self-made faces and heads with vanilla ones, yours look bad.

c) Unit designs

Now, lets review each unit, one by one:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lumbermen
Very good texture, although their faces aren't as good. Their eyes make them look like asians, I assume they shouldn't look like that?

Upgraded:
First, I don't see any point of making lumbermen looking lik Davy Crocket. There are thousand possible hat designs, but you chose the most innapropiate. Also, why with the upgrade lumbermen are gaining additional shield? Doesn't it drastically change their balance? Also, this shield looks like very valuable one, while f.e. dale militia uses normal, viking-like round shield. How could any lumbermen possibly afford such shield?


Hunters
Same as above.
Peasant militia
If you'd change the colour and the scythe they'd make well made unit.


Town milita
I dunno what stands behing giving them blunt weapons and hammers. They're militia, goddamnit! They should be given spears and some other clothes and armour!- so far the only difference between them is their funny cap and weaponry. Give them mail/leather armour, change the funny hat into helmet!


Bree land raiders
Change the colour and spears. Maybe you should give them upgrade (helmet and armour).


Ranger sentries
Nicely made unit. Change the colour and shape of caps and it will be all right. Maybe a dismounted version?


Scouts
Nonetheless I like the idea of some camouflage, the general look should be changed. So far leaves completly cover their clothes, which is rather strange. Instead, you could ask KK for permission and modify Rangers of Ithilien by removing Gondor symbol and adding some leaves into the texture.


Bandits
Very poor design. Their shield, to be honest, sucks. Why lumbermen are able to afford some crazy-valuable shield, while bandits use some crazy-ass shield worth of being creation of some blind and crazy orc?! Give them normal shield, change the hair into normal, use vanilla faces, and add some details.


Greenwood Guards
Nice unit, however you should decide if they are halberd unit or not, and definetly change the colours.

+rep for this post phunkracy. You obviously spent a lot of time, and have a lot of great constructive criticism here. And someone made a comment about you using a "GD," but you were just using those words to emphasize your point. I didn't see it as offensive. I particularly like your recolored units.

I agree that many of the posts have been less than tactful, but I think this and several others have some great, and fairly simple recommendations for improvement opportunities. Krechet's curse is that his first modding experience happens to be on one of the finest and most anticipated M2:TW mods out there. Reusing others' work as much as possible seems like it would have been the most sensible approach. But since that wasn't the path the was chosen, there are some clear opportunities to take what Krechet has built and move it forward a level or two. Of course, I know he only has so much time, and that may not be doable before first release. These units will do fine as is in the meantime.

[Hyperion]

After reading through most of the thread there have been a great deal of suggestions for improving on this faction. Some have been more respectful and helpful than others. I don't feel that I could add anything of value that hasn't already been mentioned, so I won't provide any suggestions.

Krechet, you've obviously put an incredible amount of time and effort into your portions of this mod, and I would like to say thank you and congratulations on the upcoming release. I really like the idea behind the texture of the Scouts. Keep up the good work.

[Jean=A=Luc]

I don't see why ME wouldn't have racoons. You can always imagine they're weird squirrel or fox tails.

[Alone Elf]

Ok, hold on, these units really arent bad at all!!!
I really suggest darkening the colors like everyone previously suggested, and taking the hats off the town militia and getting rid of the racoon hats. But come on, looking at these units, I wouldn't mind playing as Eriador, they actually look quite unique. Good Job

[Jaguar6]

I have to say that I agree with Phunkracy and all those who haven give constructive criticism on the units in this previews, the bright colors and certain other aspects make the units unrealistic. Though I realize that Krechet has put a lot of effort in this, it definitely lacks the quality of the other factions. I am somewhat disapointed when I look at your past units for this faction in the old thread, they looked much better in my opinion.

Also, in my opinion the unit roster could really be reworked, in my opinion it doesn't acuratly reflect Tolkein's Eriador. For one, there should be more Hobbit units, along with more Dunedain, and Elves from the Woody End. If you don't mind here would be my suggested unit roster...

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

-Hobbit Militia: Hobbits weilding various scythes, axes, and other tools turned into weapons.
-Hobbit Hunters: Hobbits weilding hunting bows.
-Hobbit Shirrifs: The police force of the Shire, they weild staves and have better moral then other Hobbit units.
-Hobbit Bounders: Better trained Hobbit militia that use various swords and hatchets.
-Breeland Peasants: Breeland peasants armed with various farm tools.
-Breeland Hunters: Bow armed huntsmen from Breeland.
-Breeland Town Militia: Better armed Breelanders weilding various axes, swords, and sheilds.
-Breeland Watchmen: Well armed Breelanders that use spears and shields.
-Breeland Riders: Light cavalry from Breeland.
-Bandits: Sword and axe armed infantry with experience from plundering and pillaging.
-Ranger Sentries: Either mounted or dismounted light archers, I personally think dismounted would be better.
-Dunedain Archers: Bow armed Dunedain.
-Dunedain Warriors: Spear armed Dunedain.
-Dunedain Rangers: Elite Dunedain armed with bows and large swords.
-Grey Company: Elite Dunedain cavalry.
-Elf Sentinels: Elite Elven bowmen that are also good in melee combat.

A lot of these would be renames and slight changes to current units, if you want to know which ones just ask me

Just to make sure you know, I am not trying to insult your work, I am trying to tell you how you can make it better, and create a more lore-accurate and all in all better Eriador

[nic1794]

i think there is very little variation in between units...and so far i havent really liked the colors of most of the human factions. besides gondor.

but i do want to thank u and applaude(?) u for putting in the time and effort for these units...
good job for how little experience u have... but u can do better in time.

[Demon Deimos]

i agree with all points in jaguar6's post especially the unit roster.

[Krechet(SiCh)]

Unit roster is not my idea. Discuss abiout such things with researchers

[Pvt. Parts]

What about Hobbit Slingers? Then you have the whole concept of Hobbits being good rock-throwers, but with a military twist. They'd be a highly unique unit. And somebody once told me that the animation could be done. There could be Hobbit Archers and Hobbit Slingers, two completely different units which would emphasise the ranged style of their warfare.




As for units: I think the non-upgraded Lumbermen and Hunters are perfect. Great colours, great furs, great everything. I don't think they should have the Racoon hats though when they upgrade; maybe a fur cap instead? The Russian ones, don't know their name. As for the shields, I think that the Lumbermen should either fight without shields entirely, or fight with them from the start. And the shields themselves would be great if they were small and wooden-looking, small little circular shields like some archer units in vanilla have (Norse Archers for example).

Peasant Militia should be wielding battle equipment if they're actually a proper militia, but if they stay as they are then you should rename them to "Peasants". Just a tiny little thing. I think that a palette of browns would look much better on them, seeing as how that shade of green seems unlikely. It'd also make them look poorer (and more manly too ). And with their weapons, I think that there's just too much colour contrast between the two different variants. They should either be more similar shades, or one variant only. Maybe some scythes from the Town Militia?

Town Militia should bear only the striped, less shiny-looking shield variant in my opinion, and their helmets should be of a more Gondorian, metallic kind. The green colours are still a little out of place. Brown is a much more appealing colour, and it fits perfectly with the "bushland" theme that you've got going. Brown leather is also much more effective against blows than simple robes. As for the weapons, I think that the scythes should go to the Peasants, and that the Town Militia should wield a sword. Failing that, they should at least wield a more realistic warhammer, or even an axe.

Bree Land Raiders should wear a little more to differentiate themselves from the common folk. A simple helmet, a breastplate, whatever. As for shields, again I think that they should have the striped variant only. The spear tips are a little clunky, and the colours would look better as browns, but apart from that I think they're great, a lot like vanilla Mounted Sergeants.

The Ranger Sentries look excellent. the green works with this unit, and the dark green shades really complement the pale green. I think that the horses' equipment and saddle colours are a little garish, considering the stealthy demeanor of the riders. Dark brown would be perfect.

Scouts also look great. The only problem with them, in my opinion, is the overwhelming coverage of leaves, except for their exposed faces. Giving them balaclavas (like the Ithilien rangers variant) would make a hell of a difference. But that's the only problem, and it's a tiny one.

Bandits would also look better in browns. And maybe axes instead of swords? The shields are great, and so are the heads. And maybe they should have bare legs, instead of tght-fitting stockings? Just seems more "banditty".

As for the Greenwood Guards, I think they're near-perfect. The metallic shields look great, as do the outfits, helmets and armour. Only one niggle: colours. They shouldn't have bright blue between their legs, and the pink gloves are way off. The particlular model with brown between the legs and no gloves looks way better than any other variant (2nd from right in second row, 1st pic). Great shade of green on the vest (that one guy), as well as the emblem on the front.

The Guardian Captain (what's with the name?) should not have orange oven mitts, but apart from that he looks fine. Maybe a bigger sword too?

I agree with the suggestion that the Dunedain Rangers should be slightly-modified Ithilien Rangers, as the models would be very similar anyway and they would look great, without much extra work.

Grey Company (anyone else seeing Space Marine names here?) should perhaps be called "Grey Companymen"? Not sure whether the headwear is intended to be a helmet or shawl, same as the Dunedain, but as a helmet they would look perfect. A little more metal in the texture and bingo! Also the gloves, which would be better left as bare hands. The brightly-coloured horses look slightly better with these riders instead of the Ranger Sentries, but I still think they're a little too bright. A darker shade, or maybe a shade of grey would look much better. Maybe the spears should look more regular too, like the guy in centre screen who hasn't got the two curved blades either side of his spear tip.
PS: I love how they're killing a cannon crew. I can just imagine them yelling "Get out of our mod!"

Dunedain Knights are alright, but could use quite a few improvements. For one, they should be wearing armour, and a helmet instead of the Elvish-looking hat. Maybe it is a helmet, but the textures don't reflect this. And again, the horse colours are off. A darker green would be better than what's there now, and browns would be better than that.They should look like heavily-armoured vanilla knights, but with a hint or two of green and brown to reflect their origins (a robe). The shields, on the other hand, look great. Everything above applies to the Dunedain Commander too.








I would just like to congradulate you Krechet, on your hard work. Please don't think that I dislike your work, in fact I think it's great modelling, same as Dale. The little niggles listed above are just some very fixable things, which, unfortunately, draw the most attention and criticism. I've tried to be constructive, and I wish you good luck for a job well done.

[Krechet(SiCh)]

We dont have sling animation