Hello all fans and modders!!!
I want to introduce you an older mod, which hasn't been unfortunately represented well here.
What is AoVaF TW?!
AoVaF is a modification for RTW/BI with patch 1.6 installed. It's an historically accurate modification representing the period 843 AD to 1099 AD, which includes viking raids, magyar expansion, the internal struggle between the frankish heirs: the western, central and eastern frankish empire, the semi-settled steppe people khazars, the abbassid khaliphate and the battle for britain including normandy, alba, gwynedd, Alfred the Great, Norway and Denmark. Historically, the first crusade reached Jerusalm in 1099 AD and the reconquista of the Iberian peninsula had progressed far at that time. Therefore, later in the mod crusader units and event related to the early crusades are also represented.
Focus of the mod
The time when power over Europe and the Middle east was shared between the three superpowers the Frankish empire, the Byzantine empire and the Baghdad khaliphate is nearly over. The Frankish empire has been divided between the heirs of Charlemagne, the Byzantine empire has only just survived the muslim jihad and the schisms with the catholic church, and the muslims of the Baghdad khaliphate have now been split up in many smaller khaliphates and have lost their will to expand, and as a result, let their armies be weakened.
This is the perfect time for new tribes to establish kingdoms - or even empires. While the pagan vikings battle for the supreme control over Scandinavia, Denmark and other parts of Northern Europe (including the British Isles, Russia and the northern coasts of the Holy roman empire and France), Magyars and Bulgars are threatening to sack the once mighty Byzantine empire. At the same time in the Mediterranean area, North African pirates conduct raids similar to the viking raids, occupying among other places Sicily and threaten the Pope himself. Can the vikings hope to win a battle against more organized, richer enemies in the long term? Will the formerly great catholic empires survive the storm of raids and conquests and the fury of the norsemen? Will the byzantine empire survive attacks from all directions - both from their former catholic allies, from magyars, from slavic peoples moving in from the steppes to the east, and from Muslims? Can the peaceful eastern muslims survive the growing power of the pope and his will to create a Christian crusader kingdom in Jerusalem? For this is also the time of increasing religious fanatism - al-murabitin will try to conquer more of Spain, the kingdom of Asturia try to push back the moors into North Africa, and in the end of the 11th century, the very first crusade is launched.
The focus of the mod will be vikings and invasion of Britain and colonization of Russia. However in order to put the vikings into a historically correct context it's in my opinion necessary to display the rest of Europe, as many decisions to the south affected the situation to the north. And including the more southern areas also gives the mod another bonus. The southern nations have as a matter of fact a history nearly as interesting as, or even more interesting than, that of the vikings. This period is an often neglected one, which is a pity, considering that it's a time that's very well suited for a game/mod - there is a balance in power between the nations, and almost anything can happen.
Time of the mod
Starting date is 843 (Verdun treaty, which split up the Frankish empire into 3 parts), ending date is 1099 AD (the first crusade takes Jerusalem).
Faction list
- Norway - pagan
- Sweden - pagan
- Denmark - pagan
- Rus - orthodox
- Normandy - catholic
- Saxons - catholic
- Scots - catholic
- Irish - catholic
- Welsh - catholic
- France - catholic
- Holy roman empire - catholic
- Kingdom of Lotharingia - catholic
- Kingdom of Asturia - catholic
- Papal state - catholic
- Magyars - pagan
- Bulgars - orthodox
- Khazars - jewish
- Byzantine empire - orthodox
- Abbassids - muslim
- Al Andalus - muslim
- (and of course the Rebels)
And another faction we haven't decided on. Might be Fatimids, Seldjuks or Great Moravia.
Progress
- Research: about 55 %
- Planning tech trees & units: 75 %
- Campaign map 20 %
- Buildings: 0 %
- Units: 30 %
- Testing: 0 %
- Planned release: probably July, August or September, earlier if more join the team
Team
- Basileos Leandros I/edyzmedieval - project leader/PR
- LegioXXXUlpiaVictrix - second leader/campaign map maker/unit editor
- Palissa - skinner
- Bar Kochba - unit coder/researcher
- Germanicus91 - coding/research/mapping
Recruitment
We are looking for more modders to join our team so we can complete the mod.
-2 coders
-2 modellers
-2 skinners
Strategy
- 0 turns build time for militia and untrained, very weak units.
- 1 turn build time for most regular units.
- 2-3 turns build time for elite units or others that historically required much training.
- This will prevent armies from consisting purely of elite units.
- Pope: Pope will hand out orders/suggestions/missions to the major catholic factions (HRE, France, Lombard league). The pope is not very powerful at this time so he can't reach the other catholics well. If you play a major catholic faction and become too powerful, the pope will excommunicate you and after that there's no way back - the other major catholic factions will become your enemies.
- Vikings will start with easily available good units. Catholic and other factions will get better units later, but in some cases be in pretty difficult positions from start. Vikings and fatimids will have double movement points for most of their ships.
- Byzantines, Abbassids and Khazars and others who historically relied on mercenaries will need mercenaries much here too, by restricting traditional recruitment in different ways. Their economy will allow them to hire many mercenaries.
- City levels: village, town, large town, city, large city. All factions will be able to construct all city levels, although vikings and others will have very slow growth compared to others, and therefore will probably not build many large cities.
Unit Screenshots
Viking Huskarls - heavy axemen
Geirmen - spearmen
Early Comes - Western Frankish Empire
Jomsvikings
Abbasid Banner Bearer
We will be releasing a new preview soon, as we have already completed some more units.
Thannk you,
Basileos Leandros I
Byzantium TW Leader/AoVaF TW Leader