Unique Kings mod (for M2K Grand Campaign/Retrofit)

[Epistolary Richard]

A French King in his individual heraldry takes the field

Unique Kings eye-candy mod
For Kingdoms Grand Campaign (Medieval 2 Total War Kingdoms with Retrofit mod 1.0)
Download size: approx. 2.5meg

Current status
Version 0.1 available for Download

Installation instructions
The zip file includes a data folder, this folder includes all files with proper folder hierarchies needed to use the Unique Kings mod with Retrofit.

Recommended Installation

Use the JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler, this allows easy installation and uninstallation of the mod. Details are here:
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showth...84#post1009484

Alternative Installation (file overwrite)

Just drag the included Data folder into your
\SEGA\Medieval II Total War\mods\retrofit\ folder

Note that this will overwrite your existing campaign_script.txt file however I have included the vanilla_campaign_script.txt file in the zip.

To uninstall, delete or rename the \mods\retrofit\data\unit_models folder and replace the campaign_script.txt file with the vanilla_campaign_script.txt file

Thanks go to the artists who provided the graphics used - for credits see readme.


Free use - You may alter and adapt this modification for other public modifications freely subject to the following conditions. It may not be used for any commercial purpose. The creator of the modification and any artists whose work is used must be identified within the credits included in any release.


What the mod does
One of the things that has always bugged me about the TW series is a certain lack of individual character. When I see my king on the battlefield I want to be able to stand out, not just as another general, but as an individual in his own right. This mod is a small step towards that goal.

This mod is designed to add some individuality to each faction's leaders on the battlemap, so that not only will you be able to tell your king apart from his generals, you will be able to tell each one of your kings from the other.

Unique Kings, something of a misnomer as their not entirely unique and it doesn't just apply to kings, assigns a specific battle model to each faction's leaders and heirs which they keep for the rest of their lives. When a faction leader dies and a new heir is chosen, the heir gets a different battle model from the standard faction general.

Here's the mod in action in a new Sicilian campaign:

1082: King Roger of Sicily leading the attack on Durazzo



1084: Prince Simon takes the settlement of Cagliani



1094: King Roger at the siege of Tunis



1116: Prince Simon orders the charge in the streets of Florence



1130: King Roger the Crusader captures the target: Cairo!



1142: After the death of King Roger, King Simon and the new heir Prince Gano at the relief of Florence



1150: New King Paolo and his heir Prince Azzerello on Corsica - in this instance the game has randomly assigned both characters the same heraldry



As you can see, Roger & Simon have been instantly identifiable on the battlefield throughout!


Also, here's an example of a Middle Eastern leader and heir



Here are some more examples:


These screenshots show the faction leader and heir in their heraldry with a standard Sicilian general for contrast.

First release
The first release has 19 variants (14 european, 5 middle eastern) to form a pool from which each heir's model is randomly assigned. Ideally, we would have a dozen variants specific for each faction but creating 200 new textures would take a while!


Subsequent releases
If there's interest, there's nothing to prevent more models & textures being added, general or faction-specific, aside from the getting the models & textures themselves. If anyone is interested in creating or donating either just drop me a line.

[B. Ward]

nice one man you could use the norman king model with the crown to give it more depth....only a suggestion, work is still great

[Kushan]

Great job ER. A definite inclusion in Rise of Kings when I convert to Kingdoms.

Kushan

[Caesar Clivus]

Do you have any plans to make some for Orthodox generals?

[GotRice]

From the screenshot I only noticed the kings were wearing one type of the full plate armor. Are you also using the model with the crown or the model with no helmet for the northern Europeans?

Thanks, great work I'm loving this mod easily a +rep.

[Chim]

yeah I love the crown model, I also really like the captains model.

[sabremookie]

I Am going to try this out, it seems really cool, I hope you make progress with it, I am the same feelings as you about the kings! I have Lusted Lands to Conquer 3.1 and Real Combat 1.3 installed. I can use with this and how? Thanks!

[BrandonM]

This is really nice! And the script is very easy to understand, should make expanding and customizing factions pretty easy. Thanks!

[Inhuman One]

If textures can be drawn from a random pool, can their model be as well? That way they could be either wearing chainmail with a crown, chainmail without a crown, or in plate armor. Perhaps a second plated armored version could be made as well.

Maybe the chances of these models appearing could differ for each faction, I assume that the scots or Danes would sooner wear mail than plate armor for example.

Maybe all factions could get a unique set of textures over time? Or perhaps the colors could simply be changed to suit their factions, and later their symbols could be added here and there.

I also have suggestions for the eastern generals. Maybe some could wear a mask like on some portraits? No other model would be needed for it. Perhaps the armor itself could be textured differently as well with symbols or perhaps make it seem like it uses a different material? Maybe there could also be a model with a tulban?

[Epistolary Richard]

Do you have any plans to make some for Orthodox generals?

There's no problems in coding it, I shall have to look out for an appropriate model...

From the screenshot I only noticed the kings were wearing one type of the full plate armor. Are you also using the model with the crown or the model with no helmet for the northern Europeans?

Just the full plate armour at the mo... for ease of putting the textures together, but definitely put some in without the helmet for the next version.

How do people feel about the one with the crown though? Looked a bit perched on, IMO, but how do people feel?

I also really like the captains model.

I like it too, I was hesitant about using it though as I thought it might look out of place next to the more armoured bodyguards.

I suppose strictly speaking it would be better to start with the captain model and then, after a certain date or something, move to the more heavily armoured family member model.

I have Lusted Lands to Conquer 3.1 and Real Combat 1.3 installed. I can use with this and how? Thanks!

Hmmm... I doubt it, you can check with Lusted but I imagine that he's changed the campaign_script.txt file.

Maybe the chances of these models appearing could differ for each faction, I assume that the scots or Danes would sooner wear mail than plate armor for example.

Maybe all factions could get a unique set of textures over time? Or perhaps the colors could simply be changed to suit their factions, and later their symbols could be added here and there.

I also have suggestions for the eastern generals. Maybe some could wear a mask like on some portraits? No other model would be needed for it. Perhaps the armor itself could be textured differently as well with symbols or perhaps make it seem like it uses a different material? Maybe there could also be a model with a tulban?

All good ideas, it's just a matter of getting the textures made.

[GotRice]

I'm a fan of the crown model for at least kings or heirs please include in your next update.

[D3lit3]

Are Russian generals/kings included and if they aren't can you please make them ?

EDIT: I just found out this is for Kingdoms only . Is it possible you can release it for Medieval 2 NON-Kingdoms? At least a Russian king/general/etc. reskin? Please, I would be forever grateful and rep you 100+ times ! I was looking for something like this!

[KhaziOfKalabara]

Subsequent releases
If there's interest, there's nothing to prevent more models & textures being added, general or faction-specific, aside from the getting the models & textures themselves. If anyone is interested in creating or donating either just drop me a line.

Here I am expressing my interest in more textures and models being added...

Sadly as a complete incompetent I cannot really offer to create any of these, but am happy to devote some time to research if that's any use...

[TheSilverKnight]

Can this be used with the Kingdoms Grand Campaign mod?
Reason i ask is because I know the title says so, but the top of the page says for use with the Retrofit..so I was just wondering

[Meister Sibrand]

Is this mod availiable for the regular game of MTW 2? Or maybe even kingdoms grand campaign?

[Sher Khan]

Merged with wayward "Unique Kings" thread from the WIP board.

[Xompistas]

Is this mod compatible with Machiavello or any other mod that changes the battle_models file?

[Harry Lime]

Is this mod compatible with Machiavello or any other mod that changes the battle_models file?

No. You would have to integrate Unique Kings into the battle_models file yourself.

[CC88]

so its only different colors? not actual faces and armor?