House Frey Preview

[Thomaso]

I love it - thanks for the preview.

[WinsingtonIII]

Good stuff, it looks great!

I know you say the skins are not final, does that mean that the plate armor will be changed for Knights of the Crossing? It looks a bit too "Renaissance" to me... but that's just personal opinion.

[Lordinquisitor]

We discussed many times about the different kinds of armour in the dev forum. Problem is, with all the fancy armour in westeros and stuff it`s hard to determine what fits and what doesn`t.

While we decided not to add certain kinds of armour, gothic for example, we decided to keep some others for the sake of variety. Ultimately we might still change stuff, but this would take some work and time. Time we`d rather spend on skinning the various factions.

[WinsingtonIII]

We discussed many times about the different kinds of armour in the dev forum. Problem is, with all the fancy armour in westeros and stuff it`s hard to determine what fits and what doesn`t.

While we decided not to add certain kinds of armour, gothic for example, we decided to keep some others for the sake of variety. Ultimately we might still change stuff, but this would take some work and time. Time we`d rather spend on skinning the various factions.

Yes, it's hard to figure out what fits and what doesn't. Whenever I envision Westeros I think I envision it a bit less technologically advanced than Martin intends. I tend to forget that they do indeed have plate armor and instead picture it as 10th-11th century Europe where mail armor and Norman style helms are the predominate armor for the nobility (certainly for lesser nobility). But, I guess this plate armor does fit into Westeros, and yes, it's far more important to skin new units than to go back and change one.

[Evilstein]

We can have some visual with the Card game and the Hedge Knight comic.

KingGuards frome the comics :

http://img694.imageshack.us/i/kingguards.png/

Fox teeth, house Florent frome the cards :
http://www.tcgplayer.com/games/images/FFG/080408-2.jpg

But I think you already know that

Btw, yes it's better to finish the skins, and we trust you for making something great ! (well the only think I don't like it's the pink men ^^)

[Lordinquisitor]

We indeed take inspiration sometimes from the various arts out there.

But sometimes we decide to make our own interpretation of things. Artistic freedom and stuff.

[WinsingtonIII]

You know, looking at it again, it's the helmets that throw me off, because those helmets are indeed in the gothic style.

These helms, from 1475 AD are almost identical (sorry the image is huge):

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Personally I think the armor and helms of the dismounted Guards of the crossing is much more fitting than the gothic helms on the mounted Knights of the crossing.

[Lordinquisitor]

Oh Sorry! I thought you were talking about the Guards of the Crossing the whole time.

I agree with you; Since we are reskinning the knights of the crossings anyway we`ll see whether we will give them new helmets, too.

[WinsingtonIII]

Oh Sorry! I thought you were talking about the Guards of the Crossing the whole time.

I agree with you; Since we are reskinning the knights of the crossings anyway we`ll see whether we will give them new helmets, too.

Haha, no worries I should have been more clear.

Glad to hear that this is being considered, those gothic helms just seem so out of place to me. The helms and armor on the dismounted Guards are perfectly fine though.

[redxavier]

I'm confused... unless they're recently been changed, the Knights of the Crossing don't have sallet helmets, they have pig snout bascinets.

[WinsingtonIII]

I'm confused... unless they're recently been changed, the Knights of the Crossing don't have sallet helmets, they have pig snout bascinets.

My bad, it's hard to tell from the picture. Even so, though that's a bit earlier, that helmet type wasn't used in real life until the late 1300's/early1400's. In my opinion Westeros isn't quite that advanced, but everyone has their own opinion and it's obviously up to you guys.

[redxavier]

See, I'm more inclined to think the War of the Five Kings is set in the same sort of period as Agincourt. There are just too many references to plate and highly skilled decoration of plate, and with all these advanced helmets, for it to be set in a 12th century variation of Europe, with most in mail and surcoat.

[WinsingtonIII]

See, I'm more inclined to think the War of the Five Kings is set in the same sort of period as Agincourt. There are just too many references to plate and highly skilled decoration of plate, and with all these advanced helmets, for it to be set in a 12th century variation of Europe, with most in mail and surcoat.

Yes, you're most likely right. Technically, what it's loosely historically based on is The Wars of the Roses, which would actually place the technological time period in the late 1400's. However, I think you're right in saying that it's actually a bit earlier than that technologically, and more like 14th, maybe early 15th century. On the other hand, though, Westeros doesn't seem to have gunpowder at all (right?), which was found in Europe as early as the mid 13th century.

I've just always found ornate plate armor to be a bit silly looking I guess (the Norman look of the 11th-12th centuries always looked far more business-like to me), but I guess you're right it does fit the lore.

[ShadowKiller2000]

I think the plate armor makes for a great setting in game. Gunpowder would ruin the books, I appreciate the focus on medieval arms and armor, as well as the magic.....makes for a unique setting.

At least the most decorative armor seems to be reserved for only the higher lords, such as Tywin. Most fought in less decorated armor, but more functional armor in my opinion.

I love the image of Renly losing part of one of his helmets golden antlers in the joust. Had a good laugh at that one.

[Lordinquisitor]

Trust me, if you see Hannibals rendition of Renly you certainly won`t laugh about him -or his armour- anymore.

Just felt like spoilering stuff.

[WinsingtonIII]

I'm assuming that the Frey's will also have a lesser knight unit in between the scouts and the Knights of the Crossing, right? Perhaps "Knights of the Riverlands," which I'm assuming they'd share with the Tully's. Or maybe "Knights of the Neck," as they are quite far north.

[Lordinquisitor]

As far as i know they have no other knight unit. The reason is that many knights are AOR and thus they will be recruitable if the freys get their hand on certain settlements.

[WinsingtonIII]

As far as i know they have no other knight unit. The reason is that many knights are AOR and thus they will be recruitable if the freys get their hand on certain settlements.

OK, that makes sense. I was just worried that it might seem a bit strange for them only to be using knights in full plate and barding (I know they are wealthy, but for their entire knightly force to be outfitted as such would be a bit much), but if they can recruit other, lesser knights, that will balance it out.

Personally, I would think that only the elite knights of a faction (general's bodyguards, elite knights such as Knights of the Crossing for the Frey's) would be wealthy enough to be outfitted in full plate and barding. Knights from minor houses (which I imagine make up the bulk of major factions knightly forces) would be more like a hybrid between the feudal knights and mailed knights of vanilla, with a mix of light mail, heavy mail, maybe some partial plate for a lucky few (to reflect the variety of equipment depending on individual wealth/social standing), and a variety of helms, such as mail coifs and nasal helms for the poorer members, and great helms for the wealthier members. Personally I would steer away from barded horse for these lesser knights, and leave that to the wealthier knights (plus the unbarded heavy horse is arguably more versatile from a gameplay perspective). Finally, hedge knights would be outfitted similar to the mailed knights of vanilla, with mainly light mail and a variety of more outdated, "Norman" style helms and mail coifs (preferably rusty and worn).

[eatme]

Kudos for nice preview!

I must say it very much stirs up my appetite for WTW release!

[avatarius]

well done for this