[Download & Info] Main Thread CHIVALRY I TW

[DaVinci]

The Original Medieval Total Conversion Modification Of Rome Total War, 2004 - 2009,
for Rome Total War 1.5 or the expansion Barbarian Invasion 1.6.

Released

CHIVALRY I TOTAL WAR
Version 1.0/1.05, patched 1.051

Campaigns:

The Rise of the Knighthood

and

The Crusader Epoche

plus the overhauled Historical Battle:

Battle of Hastings

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Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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Download - Release Info

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DOWNLOAD-LINKS

Full Version 1.051, latest application by hip63

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Direct DL-Link: Full Version 1.051
Very comfortable exe-setup-installation, with included intro-movie which was created by popgnner12.

For details to that installer application, go here:
Thread by hip63: Installer Application Version 1.051

Full Version 1.05, Patch 1.051, former download-links still available

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Full Modfolder| Installer, exe file | compressed to 362 MB - hosts:
Full Mod # Filefront Mirror: Exe Version 1.05
(credits for the exe-installer production go to Aradan)

Patch Modfolder - Update on 1.05, 139 kB:
Patch for 1.05 # File-Upload Mirror: Zip Version 1.051 (Patch)

Installation version 1.05 plus 1.051
(updates aren't saved game compatible)

1. new fresh install: Full Modfolder 1.05 Installation
2. update: Patch Modfolder 1.051 Installation

("fresh" means here: remove or rename an already installed chivalry modfolder of a former version)

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QUICK-INFO

Preferences File

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The 1.05 installation comes with an empty preferences file to avoid possible issues with a pre-set preferences file.
So the first mod-start with 1.05 generates your own RTW (or BI) vanilla preferences-settings.
You can adjust all settings along your liking via the Options menu and the chivalry/preferences/preferences.txt file, just as usually (after the first mod-start then).

General Install Advice

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For all zipfiles
- Recommend to download the zipfile onto your desktop.
- Unzipped with 7zip or winzip or winrar (do not use the windows-unzipper) you'll get a modfolder calling: chivalry.
- Copy and paiste this modfolder into your RTW directory (the RomeTW folder).
Common valid
- The base for the mod installation is an unmodified RTW 1.5 or BI 1.6 installation (for mod newbies: "unmodified" is also called "vanilla").
- The extracted modfolder needs about 950 MB hd space.
- Do not overwrite an older chivalry modfolder installation, remove or rename a former chivalry modfolder! (... not valid for patches or hotfixes - here you shall overwrite).
- A former used Chiv-desktop-shortcut will still work as before (in case of a former chivalry-install), when the location has not changed.
- For the game-start instructions/infos in detail, look further below in the section 'official mod info' -> 'installation-game start'.
- Normally you've installed correctly if the version notification ("ChivTW x.xx) is viewable on the left upper corner of the menu screen in little white letters.

Readme Version 1.0

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CHIVALRY I Total War
Version 1.0
___________________________

Chivalry is a complete medieval modification of Rome Total War 1.5 (RTW 1.5), and playable also with Barbarian Invasion 1.6 (BI 1.6) installed.
We even recommend to play with the BI exe, as the AI shows slight more performance.

The mod needs circa 950 MB free space on the chosen harddisk partition (the location where you'll install this mod).

The game spans from 1072 to 1222 AD, and aims to represent the typical timeframe's flavor of the early and high middleage. For example Normans, Reconquista, Crusaders and Saracens, or Seljuks and Byzantines wait for you to getting a virtual life led by you. Choose from 20 playable factions within a medieval world, and experience the very unique gameplay of this modification.

There are two campaigns available to play:

The Rise of the Knighthood - start AD 1072 (in menu via MAIN CAMPAIGN)
The Crusader Epoche - start AD 1099 (in menu via ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN)
For game details look into the support forums (links below).


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1. Hints
2. Requirement
3. Installation
4. Shortcut
5. Last Remarks
6. Credits

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1. HINTS

- Chivalry is in its own modfolder ( -mod:mymod function, also called 'modswitch').
- The proper installation of Chivalry won't change your original RTW data. That means you can't damage anything of the RTW installation (or BI), and you can play still the original RTW or BI versions (vanilla!).
- The mod can be installed and played parallel to any other mods that don't change the original RTW or BI data, means, have as well their own modfolder which doesn't change the original data (vanilla!).
- The mod should be very stable, if installed properly.
- The modification is exclusively distributed and supported via our online-forums.
- Personal use is free, for any other cases, contact us via our forum at TW Center (and see the subforum 'Free ChivTW Modding for exceptions).
- We do not keep any kind of responsibility, if a user is downloading and installing our modfiles on his computer.

An important gameplay hint:
ChivTW has a certain design unlike to other RTW mods. It contains different AI advantages, or in other words, human player disadvantages (examples: a start script subtracts money from your start-treasury, AI generals are usually stronger than yours, and a starting character trait-penalty is in place).
Those are just gameplay additions to increase the challenge versus the imcapable AI compared to the human player capabilities.

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2. REQUIREMENT

- Unmodified (vanilla!) Rome Total War 1.5 or Barbarian Invasion 1.6 installed.
- If Chivalry was installed prior to this installation, first remove or rename this older chivalry folder, and provide a fresh chivalry installation (means: do n o t overwrite the older version!).
- You should know the location of your RTW directory.

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3. INSTALLATION

There will be different ways to install (zip file and exe-setup), depending on the download file.

a. Zip-installer:

Just unzip the zip file and put the modfolder chivalry into your RomeTW folder.
Unzipping needs software installed on your system: winzip or winrar or 7z or similar programs, and do not use the windows-unzipper (see more tips in the main release thread).

b. Exe-installer:

You must point the installer via the browse-button to your Rome Total War folder (RTW directory), not to data folder or anything else, also not, if you plan to play it with the BI exe.
If you have pointed the target-location to the RTW directory, then chivalry namely will be automatically added behind the chosen RTW path. Click 'Install'.

Example, RTW default (english original version) target-path, before you drop the install button:

C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War

Gold or Era's Pack target-path, before you drop the install button:

C:\Program Files\The Creative Assembly\Rome - Total War

Custom RTW directory: In case you have a customised RTW directory, just browse to your custom RTW directory and enter analog as above the right path, and drop the install button.

After the installation:

If Chivalry is correct installed, the path-directory is by default (first example):
C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\chivalry

Or second example (Gold or Era's Pack):
C:\Program Files\The Creative Assembly\Rome - Total War\chivalry

To uninstall the mod, simply remove the chivalry modfolder manually. Or in case there is a chivalry uninstall exe application, you can use that. An alternative removal is possible, if Chivalry is listed in the known Windows 'Software' application.

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4. SHORTCUT

- After the proper installation: the gamestart via shortcut -

Default shortcuts are included in the chivalry modfolder - with such one copied to your desktop you can instantly start the game, if your install-path is a default one.
"Default" means: RTW is installed in its original location under partition + path C:\(from on here, different per RTW version), also explained above.

Please open the contained folder 'CTW - Shortcut', or named similar, and find the right instructions for your RTW 1.5 or BI 1.6 installation.
There you will get accurate help, how to provide the needed ChivTW desktop-shortcut.

In case of a exe-setup, it might be that the shortcut is already thrown on your desktop (depends on the installer-setup and the installation-location) with the right path.6

A t t e n t i o n !!!
If you going to start the mod the first time, start the MAIN CAMPAIGN one time before you are playing the Custom/Historical Battle mode or before you are starting the ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN. You only need to start the MAIN CAMPAIGN 'Rise of the Knighthood', you can quit then instantly if you want. And afterwards play the Custom/Historical Battle mode or the ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN (the reason for this is that the game needs first to generate one map.rwm file on the MAIN CAMPAIGN mode and also, the preferences-settings will be taken over for the ADDITIONAL CAMPAIGN, which you can customise though in detail later in the preferences.txt file or in the menu Options-Video etc..

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5. LAST REMARKS

Before you enter the play modes, check the preferences/game settings, and adjust it to your liking within the technical possiblities.
In case any of those game settings make trouble, you can always copy/paste the preferences.txt file of your RTW or BI preferences folder into the chivalry preferences folder.
Note, that video-settings on 'Highest' can make trouble, so it is merely recommended to use maximal 'High' settings, whereas also 'High' is not recommended for Grass and Vegetation details on all pc's.
For more infos go the support forums.

Finishing degree: (in ..% - mentioned are only the open tasks)
- Unit ui's (unit icons, unit info cards) need to be finished (87,5%).
- A few unit skins/models are wip (98,5%).
- Combat model relaunch will get some changes in future (92,5%).
- The voicemod enhancement project (~ 70%)
- Cosmetic works for texts/2d-graphics (~ 91%)
- Global balancing (~ 91%).
- Historical Battle Mode is wip, only 1 historical battle is playable (10%).

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6. CREDITS

Really a lot people worked on this real total conversion project, which was started at the end of 2004 as a medieval multiplayer battle mod on RTW, and in may 2006 a first campaign release came out (the first total conversion with a working map), which got more than 10000 downloads within 7 days - later servers broke down. Since middle of 2006, DaVinci took over as project leader and led the development to a high degree of a quality mod focusing on the campaign mode, with a lot of historical accuracy, atmosphere and a challenging gameplay - a solid and stable game. See the ingame credits animation, under menu 'Options - Menu - Credits' to view all the people who contributed, and then visit the forum and worship the mod makers.


***

Support:

Main Support-Forum, TW Center: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=58

Backup Support-Forum, Modrealms: http://www.modrealms.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=40

***

Enjoy this modification

DaVinci
in the name of the
Chivalry I TW Team

- February 2009 -

# End Readme

Extras

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A) DVD-box format cover:

click to enlarge
The cover is incl. in the modfolder.
It is a dvd-cover-format ready to print and as usage for a dvd-box. Eventually burn the mod-installation-file on a cd.
Perhaps it makes a nice present for friends who have RTW 1.5/BI 1.6. Alternative you can use that to store the mod outside the harddisk.

B) Signature-banners:
Can be taken from here: (source currently not available, DaVinci's signature-pic can be taken though)
You need to click on the chosen picture, and then with right-click context-menu choose:
Copy graphic-adress ... then paiste that into your signature application.

C) Fan provided videos:
Source recently discovered by our fan Mind on YouTube: Road to Jerusalem and other.

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Official Mod Info

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Battle mode file versions pre-0.34 / Releases: End of 2004 - start of 2006.
Fully playable campaign versions 0.34 - 0.6x / Releases: 2006.
Fully playable campaign versions 0.9x / Releases: 2007 - 2008.
Fully playable campaign version 1.0 / Release: 2009.

Degree of the mod development:
Version 1.0 is already a quasi final build.
The mod is finished in the whole view with circa 95 %.
A patch version 1.1 is in work though that will make it to
a circa 98,5 % finished status.

A Gold version is possible in future
as result of all former work and the voicemod
enhancement. The latter part would render the
project 100 % done.

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Some Features

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Technical

# Playable with RomeTW 1.5 or with the expansion Barbarian Invasion 1.6 installed.
# Complete modfoldered.
# A very stable mod.

Gameplay

Originality! You'll find a new and unique game experience - the ancient RomeTW game is actually modified to simulate the medieval world between 1072 and 1222 AD, while this modification keeps here and there the atmosphere and gameplay of the classic MTW 1.

# A complete new and unique medieval appearence (a real total conversion of Rome TW 1.5) for the interface, texts/descriptions, the picture-material, own music/soundtrack (Justin R. "Edgen Animations" Durban) and own voice-modding, a new strategy map and new battlemaps, unique and historical accurate units (with flag-bearer units), siege battles with motte/donjon/castle 3d-settlements, complete new tech-tree and its buildings, historical events, historical characters, countless new traits/ancillaries/retinues, and religion.
# A historic-realism campaign atmosphere and a challenging gameplay in the strategy and the battle mode throughout the whole campaign, underlayed with a lot of AI enhancement modding.
# 20 playable historical factions within the reflection of the crusades to the Holy Land, Baltic Crusades, the Spanish Reconquista, Jihad, a pretty strong Seljuk-Turkish faction that invades Asia Minor, further religious and time-typical unrest, and even the independent factions will challenge you.
# AI supporting extra codes.
# Naval invasions.
# Many, really many custom battle locations.
# Historical battles: 'Battle of Hastings' (there are more which need an overhaule).
# Multiplayer capability: A thread can be found here

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Campaign Start Situations

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Campaign Start/Overview: Version 1.05/1.051

Main Campaign "The Rise of the Knighthood" - AD 1072

... it's the time when knight and horse become one and seek for chivalrous adventures. The feudalism grows and many rulers fight for supremacy.
William I Duke of Normandy just conquered England. Troubles in and around the Holy Roman Empire. The slow rising of the Spanish Reconquista.
Normans hold southern italian realms and now going for the whole isle of Sicily and challenge the surrounding lands and even the East Roman Empire.
Seljuks stream successful into Asia Minor and the Levante and threaten the christian world ... this will challenge the 1st crusade.

Additional Campaign "The Crusader Epoche" - AD 1099

... now Frankish and Norman dukes and princes just have founded the first Crusader States in the Levante. The word chivalry gets its meaning due to
knights who apparently go to war for christendom and high virtues in the Levante and on the Iberian peninsula, while firm muslim realms hold their ground.
The Roman Empire strikes back to keep the Seljuks in Asia Minor at bay. Furthermore the Grand Seljuk Empire struggles.

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The 20 Playable Factions

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Christian (Catholic):
Comune di Pisa (Italians, Italian City States)
Regnum Castiliæ (Leon-Castile)
Ducatus Bohemiæ (Bohemia)
Regnum Ungariæ (Hungaria)
Regnum Franciæ (Franks)
Sacrum Imperium Romanum (East-Franks, Germans)
Regnum Angliæ (Norman-England)
Regnum Siciliæ (Siculo-Normans)
Magnus Ducatus Poloniæ (Poland)
Regnum Daniæ (Denmark)
Corona Aragonæ (Aragon, Barcelona)
Christian (Orthodox/other):
Basileia ton Rhomaion (Roman Empire)
Kievskaya Velikiy kniazhestvo (Rus)
Principatus Armeniæ de Cilicia (Armenians)
Muslim (Shiits+Sunnits):
al-Murabitun (Andalusia, Moors)
al-Fatimiyyun (Fatimid Egypt)
al-Salajiqa (Grand Seljuk Empire, Turks)
al-Salājiqa al-Rûm (Rum Seljuks, Turks)
al-Ziri (Berbers)
Pagan:
Desht-i Qipchaq (Cumans, Kipchaqs)

plus tons of historical independent factions (non-playable).

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Installation Requirements

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- Rome Total War 1.5 or Barbarian Invasion 1.6 installed, unmodified (vanilla!).
- Enough free harddisk space in this partition. Installed, Chivalry has about 950 MB within its modfolder.
- Knowledge, where your RTW installation is located (the Rome Total War folder).
- Remove or rename an eventually former chivalry modfolder installation! (not valid for little patches or actual add-ons).

Parallel mod installation: (if modfoldered)
Confirmed is as yet the parallel installation into one RTW directory of: ChivalryTW, FATW, EB, TFT(FRRE), 77BC(FRRE), RTR-PE, IBFD, End Of Days, 58BC(FRRE), RTR-TIC, Napoleonic TW (NTW), VI2, and more.

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Installation

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

-> Installer-setup file versions
Run the setup.exe. The default RTW target directory is:
C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War (as example for the english original RTW version).
In case of other language versions, Gold or Era's Pack or customised RTW directories:
Just make sure you are pointing the installer analog as above to your RTW directory.
If Chivalry is installed proper, the path-directory is by default (example):
C:\Program Files\Activision\Rome - Total War\chivalry

-> Zip file versions
Just unzip the zip file and put the modfolder chivalry into your RomeTW folder.
-> Unzipping needs software installed on your system: winzip or winrar or 7z or similar programs, i personally use 7z.
How to handle downloaded zip modfolder files, if they are downloaded for example onto your desktop:
a. Having a neutral folder elsewhere on a hd partition, call it ie. Game+Mod-Setups. Put (cut and paiste) the downloaded zip-file into this folder. Now unzip there this zip file (result: the modfolder). Copy (rather cut) the modfolder. Go to your RomeTW folder. Paiste the modfolder into this RomeTW directory. Proceed the other instructions for the gamestart (shortcut). Play.
or
b. Copy (or cut) and paiste the zip file into your RomeTW folder. Unzip the zip file there (result: the modfolder). Proceed the other instructions for the gamestart (shortcut). Play.

Tip for unzipping zip files: Use the context menu (right-click) commands for the zip file, ie. use 'Extract Here' or whatever that command calls in your zip-tool.

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Game-Start

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Valid for the setup-file version only:
The exe-installer version gives you a desktop-shortcut automatically! No further shortcut-action needed. Double-click the shortcut.

Valid for the zip-file version only:
In case of a provided default installation, the player has only to copy the ChivTW-Shortcut (contained in the installed chivalry folder in a sub folder) to his desktop. Double-click the shortcut.
(A former used Chiv-shortcut is still working if the path has not changed).
For non-default path installations:
Open the contained shortcut sub folder for the help how to provide the ChivTW-Shortcut (there are the shortcuts contained plus an accurate description how to change the shortcut-path).
Alternative, create your own desktop-shortcut from the RTW (or BI) exe, open properties, and insert the following behind the path of the first editable line in this new desktop-shortcut:
-show_err -nm -mod:chivalry -movie_cam (while the part "movie_cam" is optional)

Important:
- If you are starting the game the first time, you shall run the Main Campaign one time (just one campaign start!) before you are going to play the Custom Battle mode or the Additional Campaign. Especially the Additional Campaign start will take over some settings you did with the Main Campaign menu options (as a few of them aren't available in the Additonal Campaign menu).

Recommendations:
- In the menu, open 'Options' and make basic settings: the resolution etc..
- Campaign mode: do not use auto-management for the settlements, do not use Arcade mode, unit size recommendation is Large, AI turn display disabled.
- Battle mode: green arrow markers disabled, minimal ui enabled, banners disabled.
-> Those settings can be customised via the chivalry/preferences/preferences.txt file and/or via the 'Options' menu.
- Difficulty setting campaign mode: Medium or Hard (Easy for RTW beginners)
- Difficulty setting battle mode: Medium or Hard (Easy for RTW beginners)
(note, the difficulty settings have been renamed: Easy - Levy, Medium - Mercenary, Hard - Knight, Very Hard - High Noble Knight)

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Support / Team / Credits / Misc

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Support

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

1) SCC (subforums on stratcommandcenter.com - no support, the site isn't active), once the original home of the Chivalry Total War project.
link removed

2) TWC (main support)
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=58
Offical Local Moderators: DaVinci, Athenogoras, Alavaria

3) Modrealms (backup support)
http://www.modrealms.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=40
Local Moderator: DaVinci, Athenogoras

The Website: On SCC (edit: the site isn't active, not accessable)
link removed

Mod Leader: DaVinci (DV) ; project directorship until and including v1.051
Mod Co Leader: Athenogoras ; project directorship post v1.051

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Official Team Members 2009 - main departments
(in alphabetical order)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Active Devs/Members
Alavaria - testing (official beta tester); moderating public TWC (1st support person for ChivTW subforum), forum moderator TWC (ChivTW AAR and ChivTW Submod forum)
Athenogoras - coding (combat model, AI formations, diverse modparts), some descriptions, some graphics, some model-animation changes, testing; forum moderator
Cathar 1209 - creating additional historical event-messages (post v1.051)
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager; forum moderator
Extended - Devs+Contributors&Honory Members: parttime (differs between in-/active since 2007/2008)
Atterdag - graphics (events, ancs), anc coding
Basileios - skinning/modeling units, coding, historical researchment
BNS - graphics (frontend, interface ui, ancs), anc coding, skinning units (flag bearers)
Pompeius Magnus - graphics (ancs, buildings), anc coding, descriptions, historical researchment, testing; management assistence (for 0.98)
Uranos - graphics (unit cards+icons, map enhancements)
Voicemod team:
dragondale, Gen.jamesWolfe (manager), Pseudo Romanus
Honory members:
SicilianVespers - out of service since post-0.60/0.65
drak10687 - out of service since post-0.96.

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Credits
(in alphabetical order)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Credits extract, the complete credit-list is ingame under Options-Credits menu.
Listed per release version, in sum though of course all former developers and contributors for each version.

Guest contributions 1.051 version:
hip63 - creator of the newest full installer application (included the Chivalry intro-video)
popgnner12 - creator of the Chivalry intro-video included in hip63's application.

For the minipatch 1.051 version:
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager

For the 1.05 version:
Athenogoras - city view fix
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager
Uranos - unit cards+icons, map texture updates
Thanks to Aradan for a few building-icons debugging, the exe-installer production,
and for the permission to use a few of in VI2 implemented M1TW building icons

For the 1.0 version:
Athenogoras - combat model changes, customised ai formations (Sinuhet's)
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager
Features once again more implemented CrusaderTW units
Thanks to Aradan for some building-icons debugging, and the exe-installer production
As well thanks to Amroth for the recent mod hosting jobs since 0.99.x releases

For the 0.99.x versions:
Athenogoras - combat model changes, customised ai formations (Sinuhet's), descriptions (buildings)
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager
Pompeius Magnus - graphics (buildings)
Uranos - unit cards+icons
Features again more implemented CrusaderTW units
Guest contribution by Aradan (the load-bar graphic fix)
Thanks to MasterofNone, who converted M1TW music files to mp3 format (VI2)

For the 0.98.x versions:
This version was a major overhaule of all former versions, since the 0.6x - 0.9x versions.
Basileios - skinning/modeling units, coding, historical researchment
BNS - graphics (frontend, ancs), coding
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager
Pompeius Magnus - graphics (ancs, buildings), anc coding, descriptions, historical researchment, testing; management assistence
Uranos - unit cards+icons
Testers: Pseudo Romanus, William the Silent, Zombiemode
Features more implemented CrusaderTW units
Freelanced with a contribution: Jingle_Bombs (awesome edited screenshots which went into the mod)
Thanks also to Garnier for a few gloss-files

For the 0.90 - 0.96 versions:
Atterdag - diverse ancs
Brian2818 aka BNS - graphics (interface overhaule, frontend, ancs), flag bearer unit skins, coding
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; design manager
drak10687 - flag bearer unit skins+models, coding
Uranos - unit cards+icons, map enhancements

For the pre-0.9x since post-0.34 versions:
Includes the very major release of version 0.50.
DaVinci - chief coding, descriptions, graphics; designmanager since 0.44
Dirty Peasant - main unit models+skins before and with 0.50
Dragases1453 - unit re-skinner+modeller and some codes for 0.50, generously offered the use of the Crusader TW units
drak10687 - 3d buildings modeling+skinning / 3d settlement coding for 0.50 and its fixes to 0.9x
GenghisKhan - besides DaVinci the modder of the significant 0.44 patch, especially created the basic Chivalry traits+ancs and more
SicilianVespers - characters+family tree's and some graphics for 0.50; provided the new factions Pisa-Italians and Zirid-Berbers for 0.6x, plus units re-skinning+modeling for 0.6x
Uranos - unit cards+icons, map overwork for 0.50
Additional modding contributions for versions between 0.50-0.90:
Ahmose - different artwork contributions
AsPaladin - event codes and texts
Atterdag - event/message graphics
Count Flip - different codes and graphics
Palatinae - different text file descriptions
Teutonic Knight - different text file descriptions and some unit balancing
Zombimode - different text file descriptions

Especially thanks to Darth Vader for making the customised AI formations file for 0.50.

Big thanks to the whole CrusaderTW Team, for the permission to use their units.

Testing: (via the former main ChivTW-forum at SCC until the end of 2006)
The official beta-testers, for the major release 0.50 : aduellist, Atterdag, Baron von Manteuffel, bobdole, flip2121 aka Count Flip, Isostran, joshino, Gaius Baltar, KtotheC, Lord_Crichton, marktehman, matte, palatinae, Steel, Székely, Teutonic Knight, Zombimode. Before and during the development of the major release 0.50 managed by Teutonic Knight aka Grandmaster of the Order. Key beta test management by DaVinci since 0.44.

Honor and glory belongs to the basic stuff makers until version 0.34, especially:
Adherbal - main programmer/creator for all the pre-0.34 mod content (all the core 2d/3d unit- and building-stuff, this first extended/overhauled with 0.44+0.50).
alpaca - mod leader for v0.34 (coding/scripting, stuff first extended/overhauled with 0.44+0.50)
militiaman - mod co leader for v0.34 (mapping/coding, stuff first extended/overhauled with 0.44+0.50)
... and a lot other more. The pre-0.34 and the 0.34 stuff is the basement for everything that came after,
credits for all post-0.34 versions belong always also to the pre-0.34 and to the 0.34 team members/contributors.

Also mentioned shall be here some of the first hour people:
Sleaker and Viking Horde (probable origin founders and first makers/managers of starting stuff) together with many others.
Go here to the original dev home of Chivalry: SCC -link removed- (the site isn't active atm.) .

Once more, thanks a lot to the many other not here listed contributors, helpers, supporters and just to the whole community.
And see the complete list of Chivalry's developers and contributors in the ingame-credits-animation.

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Copyright

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Chivalry: Total War is a fan based and non-commercial modification project of the commercial pc-game Rome: Total War (copyright by CA & Sega).

All Chivalry mod files are in the ownership of the active Chivalry team, see also the readme of v0.34 to this point. Contact us for any questions via our forums (links above), respectively the public relations person, alternative ask the mod leader.
In addition to this statement, Chivalry files will be free for submodding and their public release, when the Chivalry I TW version 1.0 is released - this organised via the sticky subforum "Free Mod Projects / Submods": Check out the conditions if you intend to modify/publish the chivalry modfiles without to ask for permission.

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Modding History

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The Story

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The project was started at about October 2004 right after the RTW release with the idea just to add a medieval battle mode to RTW with the MTW flavor and multiplayer capability - that was done very successfully between 2004 and 2006 (mainly via SCC; the site isn't active anymore). And then since the following listed releases developed to a full playable campaign mode, as a real RTW 1.5 total conversion modification. Furthermore originally it was planned to have the same era campaigns as MTW: Early, High and Late era (some material has been provided, known from ie. Dirty Peasant famous High and Late era unit previews). This idea of a multi-era mod on RTW was erased since about the post-0.50 releases, as the team realised what it means to create a full working, historical accurate and balanced total conversion (= era changing campaign modification, with 20 playable factions and a "world" map) - besides that Dirty Peasant lost all his done High and Late era units. In conclusion the Chivalry Total War project focused its work on the Early-High middleage period (campaign timeframe 1072 - 1222 AD), but this since 2006 with a big passion to improve the with version 0.34 released campaign. The result of all these modding efforts is now in 2009 a very unique and stable game-experience on the RTW engine - just a new medieval game, entertainment and even with educational content.

Another short note to ChivTW's name: "Chivalry Total War" has been renamed to "Chivalry I Total War", because SicilianVespers and DaVinci developed the successor-mod on M2TW, calling "Chivalry II: The Sicilian Vespers", or short ChivII:SV, a multi-era campaign mod for M2TW-Kingdoms (find it in the hosted mod forums for M2-Kingdoms).

Major ChivTW Releases:

0.34 (may 2006), 0.44 (july 2006), 0.50 (october 2006), 0.60/0.65 (december 2006);
0.90 (february 2007), 0.95 (may 2007), 0.96 (december 2007);
0.98 (july 2008), 0.99 (december 2008);
1.0 (february 2009);
1.05 (june 2009); 1.051 (september 2009).

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The Spirit

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... from the maker of Chivalry's modding design and style, its developed concept since mid-year of 2006.

In the result, Chivalry is done mainly to reflect my personal preferences and imaginations for a historical-realism shaped medieval game, which shall offer a greater chance of an historical gameplay - this is a goal since v0.44/0.50, released 2006 for ChivTW - and i had the luck to meet mod members who shared this view. The design contains as well AI support codes, what is pretty limited within the RTW engine, especially if no show-me/background scripts are used. But something is done that the AI behaves here and there special.

Such a special mod design is fully independent if average TW players like that or not and play in this direction or not. ChivTW offers as well fun for players who look for pure entertainment.
However, mainly because the historical players are in the minority as well as that players quite often mentioned that ChivTW is too hard in some parts, some codes were changed during the years to a mere average TW mod style, but still special. The campaign difficulty/challenge is partly decreased to offer a more lighter fun play, for example cashflow, religious conversion and such was far harder in earlier versions, but i also like this realised lighter approach - after all it is done by me, and i wouldn't do things which i dislike.

My personal suggestion for ChivTW players is to learn about the timeframe of ChivTW and try a historical play to get into a real immersive game experience ... to feel the spirit.

DaVinci

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Release Pictures/Features

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From release v0.50 (Oct 2006)
Special Feature: Vast overhaule of former versions, plus especially siege battles with medieval 3d settlements

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From release 0.60/0.65 (Dec 2006)
Special Feature: New factions Pisa and Zirid Berbers added

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From release v0.90 (Feb 2007)
Special Feature: Overhauled interface. And at this time planned mod content nearly completed

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From Release 0.95 (Oct 2007)
Special Feature: Flag bearer units

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Release 0.96 (Dec 2007)
Special Feature: The bugfixed 0.95 version

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Release 0.98 (July 2008)
Special Feature: Vastly extended, enriched and overhauled version

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Release 0.99 (Dec 2008)
Special Feature: The bugfixed 0.98 version plus tons of new contents and changes

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Release 1.0 (Febr 2009)
Special Feature: Nearly finished product. All unit model slots filled up

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ChivTW Museum

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

TWC Eagle Standard Interview of November 2006 about Chivalry with DaVinci: Interview

TW-Org Awards 2006 (Link), Chivalry is mentioned in category ...

Best RTW non-Classical/fictional period mod
Winner: Napoleonic Total War 2
Runners up: Blue Lotus, Chivalry Total War, Fourth Age Total War - Corsair Invasion

TWC Modding Awards in 2007, votes valid for the former year 2006, Chivalry won in one category 'Post Roman Era', and DaVinci besides MasterOfNone 'Best RTW Coder'; find the complete award list here TWC Modding Awards - Archieves

Some new Opifex awards were voted at TWC in April 2007, and Chivalry was considered with a kind of team nomination besides other teams. Note, only active/current core members plus past core members could have been recognised with the usual TWC requirements of that rank, which means especially exceptional contributions within the TW community. See here the new Opifexes at TWC with this vote

Interview - November 2007 - with DaVinci, by Pompeius Magnus aka schwarzeHH of Gamestar PC Magazine (in german language): gamestar-forums interview

Old mod historical threads:

The FAQ for 0.50 release of 2006 (at last updated December 2008): http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=65630

The 0.50 release feedback thread: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64790

The 0.44 release thread: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=55023

A link to the first ChivTW interview (after 0.34) at TW-Org: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51874

The 0.34 release thread: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=51340

The old SCREENSHOT thread: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=31183

The old FAQ: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=22936

DP's High and Late era unit developments (screenshots at SCC): http://www.stratcommandcenter.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14227&st=440 (SCC isn't online anymore)

A very early Late era unit preview (Dec 2005): http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=39294

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Older DL-Links

Still available v1.0 DL-sources

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Full Modfolder| Setup-Installer / Exe file | compressed to 356 MB - hosts:
# ModRealms Mirror: Exe Version 1.0
(credits for the exe-installer production go to Aradan)

or as

Full Modfolder| Zip file | compressed to 480 MB - hosts:
# ModRealms Mirror: Zip Version 1.0

Other v1.0 dl-links have been removed.

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End Thread