DCI: Last Alliance - Open Beta released, NEW: 10 October 2020 new patch released, contains Ents - Wolves - Spiders crashes fix! (and more)

[Ngugi]

DCI: Last Alliance is a TATW submod and the independent sequel to Dúnedain Counter Invasions: Tôl Acharn

Take the role as Gil-galad, last High-king of the Noldor, or Elendil, High-king of the Númenóreans in exile, as they rally Elves and honourable Men into the League which is called the Last Alliance.
The counter-invasion Tôl Acharn, 'Vengeance Comes', allows you to move mighty hosts against the Dark Lord.

Strengthen the cause of the League if you wish to, as the indomitable Durin IV of Khazad-dûm, or as the brave riders of Rhovanion (using the DCI mechanic).

Unless you wish instead to fulfill the will of Sauron? Unleash the hunger of Orcs and wolves, be the warlord over the Easterlings, command the savage natives of Eriador to recapture their homelands,
or reign as a Black Númenórean lord at the head of the grim Haradrim, in the Invasion of the West.

Will the Men of the Mountains be loyal to the Númenóreans, or will they become the Oathbreakers instead? The choice is yours.

DCI: Last Alliance Public Beta Requirements:

'DCI:Last Alliance Public Beta' requires the 'Medieval II Total War Kingdoms Expansion' and the mod 'Third Age Total War 3.2'
A fresh working installation of 'Third Age Total War 3.2' is recommended Download and Instructions for TATW 3.2 If you can't start DCI:LA after you installed it, try the Submod fix HERE.
Alternatively, there is a simple "quick and dirty" TATW 3.2 install option with a smaller file size, located directly below the "Installation Guide Video"
For setting up multiple installations of 'Third Age Total War 3.2' please follow this Guide by Emperor of Hell

DCI Last Alliance Public Beta installer instructions:

1. Download the files below

DCI: Last Alliance Public Beta Part 1of2 Download | Mirror #1 | Mirror #2 |
DCI: Last Alliance Public Beta Part 2of2 Download | Mirror #1 | Mirror #2 |

DCI: Last Alliance Public Beta Patch Installer Download Not save game compatible! Install by clicking on the exe file, the right path should be determined automatically. Always install patches last.

DCI: Last Alliance Patch content: updated October 9th 2020

Changelog: Ents, Spiders and Wolves no longer cause crashes during battles Replaced Ents' shoving attack with a ground slam attack Ents can attack and kill Mumakils Great spiders can be recruited in Cirith Duath by Mordor and Orcs of the Misty Mountains Great forest spiders can be recruited in Amon Lanc by Mordor and Orcs of the Misty Mountains Hunter spiders added as very rare mercenaries in Greenwood area Great Spiders added as very rare mercenaries in Cirith Duath and Minas Ithil regions Changed spider stats Added strat map model and portrait to ambushing spiders Added rebel garrison to Thoronburg Added rebel garrison to Erelond when playing as Harad Added rebel garrison to Dalathails Added gate to Kibil Dum and Goblin town allowing garrisons to sally out Mordor orc units have been revamped: optimized and given visual armor upgrades. DcilaReference.pdf updated with more info Sicca province can be upgraded to next level settlement Harondor aor units can be recruited from Harondor, East Harondor, Harfalas and Barad Ethir More sprites added to mordor units Spawned Nazgul are no longer silver surfers Anduin Marhdrauht Lancers and Anduin Marh Archers are available as mercenary units and as Tol Acharn mercenaries in the regions of Rhosgobel, Imathrad, Langhaims and Grarhaims Anduin Marhdrauht Lancers have armor piercing attribute when using axes Chieftain's Haladin unit no longer has ap attribute Numenorean Guardians vambraces have correct texture placement Numenorean generals under Mordor rule have correct title when mousing over them in the strategy map Updated descriptions for orc mercenary units Unit descriptions for Galadriel's Guard, Lórinand Bodyguards and Archers refer to the correct secondary weapon 'Roquen' (knight) units have correct name spelling Tol Acharn tooltip refers to tradition instead of obedience Elven heralds for Lothlorien and Eryn Galen spawn with correct strategy map model Rhudaur Reavers use correct animation Lindon captain model in mercenary units display the correct texture Miner militia have correct description and battle ui for their ability "dwarven bellow" Khazad Spearmen unit has been given spearmen animations Reshuffled elven portraits for added variety and some other 2d fixes Mention of the Osgiliath Ferry has been removed Credits: Arkay for the updated Goblin Town and Kibil Dum custom settlements, further fixes and implementation by Araval Alreadyded for Spider units and animations (spider textures by Louis Lux) Jojo00182 for fixed skeletons

2. DCI_LA_BETA_Part1of2.exe and DCI_LA_BETA_Part2of2.exe have to be installed into the default installation path: "...\SEGA\Medieval II Total War"
or "...Steam\steamapps\common\Medieval II Total War" for Steam users. (If you have installed Medieval II into another folder, please check if the installation path is correct.)
The installation process will overwrite your TATW files, meaning that you will not be able to play TATW.

3. At the end of the installation for DCI_LA_BETA_Part2of2.exe a cleaner will delete files that need to be auto-generated at game launch, you'll be prompted to 'press any key to continue...'

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

4. After exiting the installer, a launcher for 'DCI: Last Alliance' will be created and added as a shortcut to your desktop, you will be prompted to 'press any key to continue...'

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

5. Install the any patches when applicable.

6. Once both parts are installed, double click the 'DCI Last Alliance' icon on your desktop to launch the mod. Alternatively double click the DCILA.bat file in your mod folder.
(DCILA_NoBaiSwitcher.bat will run DCI:LA without the battle AI switcher)

Optional: delete the Third Age Total War shortcut from your desktop

DCI Last Alliance manual installation instructions:

1. Download the file below

DCI: Last Alliance Public Beta 7zip Download | Mirror #1 | Mirror #2|

2. Extract/unzip the downloaded DCI_LA_BETA.7z file into your '...\Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age_3' folder. Accept overwrite and/or merge folders when requested.
This process will overwrite your TATW files, meaning that you will not be able to play TATW.

3. Run DcilaCleaner.bat - located in '...\Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age_3' folder This is absolutely necessary.

4. Run CreateLauncher.bat - located in '...\Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age_3\dcilaOtherFiles' folder.This creates a shortcut on your desktop, creates DCILA.bat and DCILA_NoBaiSwitcher.bat, and deletes Third_Age.bat.

5. install the DCI: Last Alliance Public Beta 7zip Patch

6. Launch the mod by double clicking the 'DCI Last Alliance' icon on your desktop or the DCILA.bat file (DCILA_NoBaiSwitcher.bat will run DCI:LA without the battle AI switcher)

Optional: delete the Third Age Total War shortcut from your desktop

Installation Guide Video

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

For those that are in need of a quick and simple way to get a working TATW version, so that they can install DCI Last Alliance even faster:

1. Download the file below

Third_Age_3.7zip N.B. file size is 3.29 GB

2. Unzip the file in the 'mods' folder of your Kingdoms install. The result should be a folder named 'Third_Age_3' located in the Kingdoms 'mods' folder.

3. Optional, check if TATW can be started.

4. ready to install DCI Last Alliance.

Tôl Acharn and DCI mechanics:

The "Tôl Acharn" is a 'counter invasion', the M2 Jihad-feature renamed; just as TATW has the "Invasion" for the evil factions, which in turn is the Crusade-feature renamed .
Factions with the culture 'Hosts of the West' [religion islam] can join the Tôl Acharns at will.
The unique DCI mechanics allow factions of other cultures [religions] to temporary join the Tôl Acharn, if allied to the calling faction of the 'counter invasion'.

Main Features:

• Third Age campaign map adapted to Last Alliance era * Video * Preview *
• New battle map settlements * Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 * Part 4 *
• Extensive new rosters and unit models
• All new unit stats, prices and recruitment system
• Custom prominent generals on the battlefield like Elendil, Elrond, Galadriel etc.
• New and extensive mechanics for the One Ring, for good and evil; if wrested from the hand of Sauron! * Video *
• New scripts (example: Immortal Nazgûl, Tôl Acharn)
• Useful palantirs without drawbacks, and Galadriel's Mirror * Video *
• Extensive AoR system for the Númenórean Kingdoms
• Corruption-balancing for the Númenórean Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Khazad-dûm and the Kingdom of Lindon
• New buildings
• New UI * Faction Symbols * Portraits * Ancillaries * Unit Cards *
• New music * Part 1 * Part 2 *
• Ample lore credibility * Part 1 * Part 2 * Part 3 *

For more information on features check the DcilaReference.pdf document inside the Third_Age_3 folder.

Playable Factions:

League members that can call and join the Tôl Acharn

• Númenórean Kingdoms - Arnor and Gondor united under High King Elendil * Roster * Elendil * Isildur&Anarion *
• Kingdom of Lindon - High Elves under Gil-galad * Video * Roster * Lords 1 * Lords 2 *
• Lothlórien - Silvan Elves under Amdir * Video * Galadriel *
• Eryn Galen - Silvan Elves under Oropher * Video * Roster * Lords *

Non-League members (can join the Tôl Acharn if player)

• Kingdom of Khazad-dûm - Ancient Dwarven realm * Video * Roster * Lords *
• Rhovanion - Northmen horse riders * Video * Preview * Lords *

Sauron's followers (can call Invasions)

• Mordor - Realm of Sauron * Video * Preview * Wolves *
• Hill-men of the North - Barbarians and sorcerers * Video * Roster * Boldogs *
• Orcs of the Misty Mountains - Goblins * Video * Roster * Boldogs *
• Wildmen of Enedwaith - Primitive but cunning tribesmen * Video * Roster *
• Rhûn Confederacy - Easterling tribes * Video * Roster *
• Harad - Southrons under Black Númenórean lordship * Video * Roster *

Invasion, Tôl Acharn or neither depending on player choice (Oathbreaker, Oathkeeper or Neutral)

• Men of the Mountains * Video * Roster *

Cinematic and Trailers:

* War in the North Trailer * War in the East Trailer * War in the West Trailer * War in the South Trailer *
* Invasion In-game Cinematic *

Screenshots:

Click images to enlarge

Made by Xholycrusader: Made by Louis Lux: Made by Veteraan: Made by Araval

Team and Credits:

Team members:
Ngugi - lore, coding, unit stats, game balance and sound
Withwnar - scripts and coding, strat & battle mapping
Araval - unit cards, portrait creating and editing, battle model editing
Veteraan - portrait sorting, spellcheck, screenshots, game test official
Earl of Memory - modelling/textures
xHolyCrusader - movies, screenshots, unit info cards, battle mapping
Louis Lux - modelling/textures, strat map models, unit cards
(And then we do a bit of everything anyway )

Previous & inactive members:
Emperor of Hell - some battle mapping, NK's roster design
​ MIKE GOLF - ancillary 2D resource
Curufin - roster and modelling/textures
misteed- unit cards
Celtic Magister - character strat map models
h7GF - some Númenóreans battle models, more detailed 3D assets, helping to refine the design of Númenóreans

Direct contributors and freelancers:
Zantorian strat map models: 'barbarian settlements'
Kahvipannu creator of the first Galadriel model and the phial model for the new Galadriel
cedric37 creator of splash screen and menu
Garriath behind the majority of the Númenórean Kingdoms unit description texts
goldenrichard for codes and ideas to additional forts as well as some Rhovanion settlements coding
Lü Bu for several 3D assets
Yarrum for some 3D models
T&D for Glorfindel and Cirdan base bone assignment
DeeLegion Artisan of signatures
Bercor for UI interface tweaks
Arandir Tur-Anion resource and coding of most of Lindon family trees
Boogie Knight proofreading and text updates
knight of meh for proofreading
LadyDoll for UI input
Arkay improvements to wildmen town and Imladris custom settlements
Fahnat creator of Invasion cinematic and promotional videos for the mod
King Athelstan for the install instructions video
BagaturSasha for Gondor Axemen unit card

Test team

Bercor; lordargento; Woold; Gratzy2; Mike Golf; Arachir Galudirithon; JJJaikishan; Manekemaan; Elem; Red Viper; Jmonstra; xHolyCrusader; Macilrille; Hermod; Lortano; Pyres Δt Varanasi; Arandir Tur-Anion de Bodemloze; Arthohir; Shankbot de Bodemloze; KingsofCanada; Tar-Falassion; Basileos Predator; Elem; Roma_Victrix; Flinn; El Monstero29; Etruscan; Aruthiel; HGW; Gratzy2; Boogie Knight; Rampante-Cid; Socrates1984; Greymane; Nimble; King Athelstan; ♔atthias♔; orclover; Bladvak; Philoceraptor; Revan The Great; Fahnat; JVR; Mhaedros

Credits/Thanks to

King Kong and all other TATW creators Non-mod material (for third party use, contact the creator first) Luca Bonatti for permission to use his beautiful Entwives image Axl Rosenberg for permission to use, and tweak, his music for DCI. Currently Altiāre is used as menu and victory music, Ascendance and Into the Wild Chapter II are used as victory music and Unforgotten is used in battle for Númenóreans Magnus H. Tellman for permission to use, as well as tweak his music for DCI. Currently Deus Naaru is used as menu music Filip Olejka for his Rise of Mordor Soundtrack, for his: DoS and BotFA, for his Assassin's Creed Origins Soundtrack - Chasing The Target and for his The Witcher soundtrack – The Monsters (used in the invasion video) Scott Buckley for his music tracks (licensed under CC BY 4.0) "Hunted", "Tears of a Distant Sun", "Invocation", "March of Midnight", "Soldier of Fortune", "Legionnaire", "Maleficus" (edited) & "Inflection" Kevin MacLeod for his music tracks (licensed under CC BY 3.0) "The Curtain Rises", "Heavy Heart", "Clash Defiant", "Crusade – Heavy Industry", "Big Drumming", "Drums of the Deep", "Volatile Reaction", "Hot Pursuit" (edited), "Mountain Emperor", "Dhaka", "Echoes of Time", "Hidden Wonders", "Inexorable", "Tempting Secrets" (edited), "Nightdreams", "Spirit of the Girl" (edited), "Truth in the Stones", "Black Vortex" (edited), "Eternal Terminal" (edited), "Anguish", "Mary Celeste" (edited), "Decline" (edited) & "Frozen Star" BausicProductions for his music tracks (licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0) "Far Lands" & "Tale of the Brave" World Music OFCL for his Epic Arabian Battle Music | The Arrivals Altrusian Grace Media for his music tracks "Armor Of God" & "Riding Into Battle" Miguel Johnson for his music track (licensed under CC BY 3.0) "Good Day To Die [Epic]" promoted by BreakingCopyright Amoebacrew for their music tracks "Drums of Drakkar" & "Viking Story" Vindsvept for his music tracks (licensed under CC BY 4.0) "Stones and Bones" & "Grave of the Goblins" Brandon Fiechter for his music track "Full Moon" Pawl.D Beats for his music tracks "White Wolf Spirit", "Ragnar’s Journey", "Genghis Khan", "Berserker", "Death Of The Old Gods", "Skeggǫld", "Viking War Drums" & "Blood and Steel" James McGonigle for his Passing of the Elves (Cello Cover), A Lament for Gandalf - Cello Version, Fellowship of the Ring Prologue - Cello and Flame Of The West - Strings Arrangement Sampsa Rydman from Lindëfirion for permission to use some of his heraldic images for our faction symbols and icons Antonidas (at the The Veiled Stars) for the horse image used for Rhovanion's faction symbols Thanks to CavalierediSpade for permission to use her Celebrimbor painting for elven heralds Thanks to adlpictures for permission to use his dwarven art! Thanks to LadyCyrenius for Galion's source image! Elven marriage proposal is based on a photo from Lunaesque, who has our gratitude To Marcus for the triple horse shield-emblem for Rhovanion and their captain chest-emblem Mods, Resources and Permissions R: Briarius for Myth Total War (skull and withered corpse for Boldogs; sources for middle-men diplomats and Rhovanion Generals); for the wolves models and textures (and paradamed for his coding behind them) R: Thanks to Taro_M for units from New Units for Gondor, additional Orc units, his Bag o' tricks and several assets R: cino for the portrait resource Same goes to Stario for his portraits and wyruzzah for his Orc Portraits Project as well as Naras for his resource and TAKEDA ⬤ SHINGEN for his resources and MIKE GOLF for his Angmar & Broken Cresent portraits and Elessar23 for his portraits R: Kahvipannu for the resource for the Skjaldmaer, based on a model by the CoW-team who we thank for their permission to use in turn. Also thanks for the ancillary images P: Louis Lux for permission to use the Dúnedain Beastslayers P: Devils_Advocate for permission to reskin his settlements. P: leo.civil.uefs for the custom settlements (sometimes in edited form) used for Imladris, Barad-dur, Fangorn, Minas Ithil, Dunharrow, Goblin Town, Iron Hills, Mt. Gundabad, Narg-dum, Kibil-dum, Ost-in-Edhil and Black Gate; darker textures for rhunnic settlements; wall animation fixes; winter textures; some strat map models P: Thanks Kolwen for use of war wagons, treemen and treekins from The Sundering. OBS No third party permissions clearly demanded. P: cedric37 for permission to his UI work here and here PR: alleycat for permission to use and tweak Dunland & Vale of Anduin units from TURTLEMOD: REVOLUTION P: Brevi for his permission to let us use his reskinned wargs from his Evil Factions Reskin-mod R: Bungo Baggin's for his Archery Accuracy Submod for TATW 3.2 PR: Germanicu5 for the ReallyBadAI in accordance with his policy P: Europa Barbarorum II for slinger unit and animation. Through xHolyCrusader we enjoy the battle map settlement content (see settlement preview) P: Hero of the West and MOS for the spider lairs and mallorn building card, and portraits of Tamar and Hardan P: Spider colony info-image, arsenal and HotN Orc camps images from DaC (permission given by Arachir Galudirithon) R: Arkay for his Amon Hen and Undertowers ('White Towers') R: sisonn82 from cgtrader.com for Oropher's crown P: custom versions of the strat-map resource models from Albion, made by Zantorian. R: Rusichi TW for many assets R. horses: Third Age: Reforged for Rhun mounts Rusichi TW for the brown and red mounts paradamed (for textures), Rusichi TW (for Marka horses), King Kong and AnthoniusII for the NK horse War of the West: TW for the horses used by the Belfalas Roquen R: paleologos for the Rhovanion Fraujam and BG knights' shields frontside textures and elements brought to banners R: Arioria of mithlond for Cirdan’s Falathrim Bodyguard R: 3D models for Galadriel’s hands and feet are by Musculus Maximus P: MADTAO for Hillmen of the North models (and inspiration for the textures) R: TheEliteDwarf for ivory strat map resource model R: Septa Scarabae's M&B Texture Pack OSP R: SHREDDER for his elven units and some assets R: Razor for his eldar units R: smoesville for the númenórean star brooch R: Arthalion for his elven work in Lindon Reskin + More Lindon Units R: The Last Days Of The Third Age Of Middle Earth Mod for Thranduil's Hunters' shield R: bilwit for his elven textures and King Elessar texture R: G|I|Sandy for premade animated poses for unit cards, round shields for the Haerhun units and Cirdan/Glorfindel body base bone assignment R: Mr.Jox for the helmet that Durin's was based on R: Bucle_CT for the head used for Durin, his sons and generic dwarven general from his New Dwarven Units R: glassakias for original snow trolls model R: Orcs of Gundabad resource for Heavy Goblin Archers and Goblin Veterans R: sumskilz for his Arab Heads Pack R: Makehuman project for arms, legs, and faces For more specific unit and modelling resources see credits in previews. We did our best to mention all those that should be credited, but in case we missed someone we apologize and will rectify this ASAP. General Thanks to Nelduin for creating a ModDB entry for DCI:LA as well as for the french Mundus Bellicus Macilrille and Aikanár for lore feedback StealthFox and Aruthiel for gameplay feedback Mhaedros and Radboud for discussing some ideas initally TNZ who's proposals and knowledge lay the theoretichal foundation for the DCI-mechanics Baron Samedi for the conceptual inspiration to use the 'Apache technology tree'-system for OotMM when it comes to units DisgruntledGoat for inspiration on the Balchoth style wilddog & makanyane - for the IWTE tool and their shared knowledge and help in the Workshop Zarathos for Modeler's Toolbox Gigantus for providing us with several useful tips and suggestions Permitted but not used PR: From MADTAO and the whole team for allowing us to use Baltic Crusades as a resource, and Kovas for his settlement models specifically. Our sincere thanks to _Tartaros_ for priceless aid gaining access to BC:TW, and to EarendilElenthol who with grand helpfulness dug up missing files P: To Aruthiel and on his behalf the First Age: Total War team; PaHer, VIR, Antkamidiv; for permission to use of their Elven units of Avari, Hithlum and Nargothrond as resource P: Maltacus for his permission to his Unit cards P: dIRECTOR for allowing us to make use of the content in dIRECTOR's cUT P: Big one to our Age colleague Finarfin for permission to use content from the impressive Second Age: Total War

Promotional Graphics:

Logo

Signatures

Made by Araval: l Made by DeeLegion: Made by Ngugi:

Wallpapers

Made by Araval: Made by Louis Lux:

Other sites

For those who prefer to follow us on ModDB previews are provided there as well, while this is our main site.

For our French audience you are welcome to Mundus Bellicus.