[SUBMOD - RELEASED] - Epic Armies

[Epic28]

Got the itch for bigger battles in Rome 2?

The purpose of this submod is a full workaround of the ESF editor allowing everyone to automatically install a campaign of their liking with 30 units per army to allow for more diverse armies and more grand battles with larger individual armies battling it out. Included are 30 units per army for land and naval forces. All campaigns included in this mod are set at ULTRA unit sizes and HARD campaign difficulty, this cannot be changed.


INSTRUCTIONS:

Simply download the link given below and run the custom installer, you may have to run as administrator. Install the files to your Rome 2/save_game folder.
C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\The Creative Assembly\Rome2\save_games

The installer is automatically directed to that path. Enable Epic_Armies_Banner.pack in the mod launcher. Launch Rome 2. Load Campaign. Choose the faction you wish to play with (delete the other saves if you'd like).

NOTES (Compatible with DeI version 0.95x):

There will not be a faction "intro" upon loading campaigns, this is normal.
Battle difficulty can be adjusted in the game options after loading a campaign.
Campaign difficulty however cannot. I will make a new installer for people that wish to play on varying difficulties (personally Hard Campaign provides the best DeI experience).
There will be no Steam version for this mod.
I do not own all the DLC so any playable faction included with Hannibal at the Gates, Caesar in Gaul, and Pirates & Raiders will not be available in this version. (PM me if you do have these DLCs and would like to help)
If you do not own the DLC packs (Greek states, Nomads) these factions will not be available to you (obviously) despite being in your options for a saved game.
A 40 unit version will make an appearance if it gets enough love (Vote on Poll for your preference).
This is mod not compatible with Multiplayer Campaigns.

INSTALLER LINK:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/593oz4aaytv4uxp/Epic_Armies_Setup.exe

PREVIEW SCREENS: (Feel free to add your own!)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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[FlashHeart07]

Just out of curiosity. How are you going to do this? And if Im understanding this correctly you will just change the amount of units being deployed by each faction in a battle from 40 to 30 thereby making the battles smaller in unit size?

[Epic28]

I am not editing unit sizes. I am editing the amount of units one general can recruit in his army. Default vanilla is 20. Max units you can control in Rome 2 at one time is 40.

I may consider making 40 units. I feel the vanilla's 20 units is too small. 40 units on the other hand is quite massive especially given the small battle maps utilized in Rome 2. Also not everyone's PC can play with 40v40 unit battles.

[Dresden]

The only way to do this is to make a save game with every playable faction, god speed

[FieryMastermind]

I voted for 30 units, but I still feel that two options would be best, if you have the time of course!

Good luck!

[Purplzhazy]

40vs40 is a good idea ... but on these small battlemaps. It may not work.

[FlashHeart07]

I see. I also fear that the armies will get too big for these small battle maps that we currently have. Is it even possible to alter the size of the maps?

[Dresden]

Causeless and some others were working on map size in another thread, not sure if its possible - http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...ttlefield-size

[Epic28]

Combining both versions would be a very large file. If 40 units receive enough votes I'll consider making a separate custom installation program for it. Keep in mind with 40 units you can not control any reinforcements until one of your units completely routs or dies. The campaign UI becomes too cramped with 40 units in one army panel as well. For gameplay purposes I like the idea of directly controlling my reinforcements to simulate the notion of cycling out troops. That's why 30 is the best option all together. You gain a larger main army with expanded options to create more diverse armies during your campaigns (ESP with the DeI teams great work on the AoR and Merc units) while still being able to directly control a supporting reinforcement army (10 units).

Dresden, I assume you or other DeI team members have the above mentioned DLC needed for a complete playable faction setup?

[McCarronXLD]

Seeing as this requires save files I take it this won't be multiplayer compatible?

[Epic28]

Mod released. Compatible with DeI 0.95g.

[Cope]

Mod released. Compatible with DeI 0.95g.

Quick question for you Epic:

How does this work regarding reinforcements? As you know plenty of the battles in Rome II are more than one stack, and since I assume you've been unable to edit the way armies reinforce (ie max number of units allowed = 40) does that mean that loads of battles are going to include units appearing in dribs and drabs? The only reason I ask this is because CA pretty much effed up the reinforce mechanic, so as far as I can tell, if you have more than one reinforcing army, then half of each will appear instead of all of one - if that makes sense.

[Epic28]

Quick question for you Epic:

How does this work regarding reinforcements? As you know plenty of the battles in Rome II are more than one stack, and since I assume you've been unable to edit the way armies reinforce (ie max number of units allowed = 40) does that mean that loads of battles are going to include units appearing in dribs and drabs? The only reason I ask this is because CA pretty much effed up the reinforce mechanic, so as far as I can tell, if you have more than one reinforcing army, then half of each will appear instead of all of one - if that makes sense.

I'll use an example, I have one main army 30/30 units present, I have a reinforcing army with 16/30 units present, 46 units total. I attack the enemy and the battle begins as usual with me deploying 30 units. As soon as the battle starts 10 of the 16 units I have from my reinforcing army walk into battle and I have direct control over them. The remaining 6 units from the reinforcement army are not granted access to the battlefield due to the 40 unit control cap (hardcoded). Those remaining 6 only will enter the battle upon other units fully withdrawing or completely dying, in which case yes they appear in drips and drabs so to speak. This is how the TW system has operated in past titles with regards to reinforcements entering the battle.

The main reasoning behind this was to ultimately increase battle size and allow for more diverse individual armies, while still giving the player as sense of being reinforced by supporting troops.

Has anyone had any issues with the installer? Wouldn't mind some feedback.

[Cope]

I'll use an example, I have one main army 30/30 units present, I have a reinforcing army with 16/30 units present, 46 units total. I attack the enemy and the battle begins as usual with me deploying 30 units. As soon as the battle starts 10 of the 16 units I have from my reinforcing army walk into battle and I have direct control over them. The remaining 6 units from the reinforcement army are not granted access to the battlefield due to the 40 unit control cap (hardcoded). Those remaining 6 only will enter the battle upon other units fully withdrawing or completely dying, in which case yes they appear in drips and drabs so to speak. This is how the TW system has operated in past titles with regards to reinforcements entering the battle.

The main reasoning behind this was to ultimately increase battle size and allow for more diverse individual armies, while still giving the player as sense of being reinforced by supporting troops.

Has anyone had any issues with the installer? Wouldn't mind some feedback.

Yeah I mean I understand how it works, I was just wondering how it works with this submod. For instance, do you experience the AI getting double thrity stacks regularly or?

[zombieflanders]

Just to clarify, would I be correct to assume the "huge" unit size is Ultra?

[Epic28]

Yeah I mean I understand how it works, I was just wondering how it works with this submod. For instance, do you experience the AI getting double thrity stacks regularly or?

I don't follow you. Double 30 stacks? This is no different from vanilla in terms of how the AI manages it's armies. They recruit 30 unit stacks instead of 20. Sometimes you'll have multiple 30 stack armies attacking you yes, in which case the above method of battle occurs. Overall this mod will increase the average size of every battle you play in DeI.

Just to clarify, would I be correct to assume the "huge" unit size is Ultra?

Yes, I'll change that. Although as a reminder, if you can't play regular DeI smoothly with 20 units/army then this is probably not the mod for your setup.

[totalingend]

Looks exciting, can't wait to try this out, thanks man!

[Durador]

Cool thanks for making this mod! its Epic!

[Zonac]

Hey I wanted to ask you guys if it is possible to do a 41 units savegame file for everyone since there is a mod which deals with the banner apperance: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?667734-Army-strength-bar-mod-for-up-to-41-units .

[Krasnaïa Zvezda]

Is it still compatible with DeI v0.96 ?