Rusichi Units/5.8beta Battlefield Balance - 15/01/09 update

[Taiji]

There's a fantastic new russian mod out called Rusichi http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...hlight=Rusichi

Repman has been granted permission to introduce units from Rusichi into a future version of DLV and I've been honored with the task of doing the introducing.

This is for 5.8beta3.

Download this Attachment 27237 and unzip the contents of "Rusichi_Import0.1" to your "...dlv_ext\data" folder.

15/01/09Hotfix: Unzip this Attachment 27417 into your "...\dlv_ext\data" folder.

Units affected:
Dvor and dismounted dvor (swords instead of axes)
Druzhina and dismounted druzhina (spears instead of axes)
Berdiche
Tsars guard
Early and late bodyguard (maces instead of swords)
Woodsmen

Unit pictures have been changed where I can find an appropriate match.
Unit descriptions modified to make sense.
EDU entries match units.

As of 15/01/09 it:
Rebalances pikemen, they needed buffing after the animation change. More attack, more defense, more mass, higher mount_effect, reintroduced spear_bonus_X, etc.

Adds 'light_spear' to all anti cav units except pikes and spears which get 'spear'. This means pikemen and spearmen are excellent vs cav but also weak versus swordsmen. DGK can take most pikemen from the front but most other units will suffer badly if they try.

2h axe and sword, etc. are much happier about taking a cav charge due to 'light_spear' but they still suffer badly and should be used to support spearmen when they are to be used as anticav.

Further adjusts unit mass and together with the +2/+3 armor this has helped to slow battles down.

The rise in armor has caused a reduction in the effectiveness of all weapons. I will be looking at rebalancing missile weapons in particular at some point.

Enjoy

[musicdemon]

Here are some comparison screenshots of all of the units Taiji imported from Rusichi:
UPDATED DEC. 25, 2008 (in progress)

* = Changed in Version 2
** = New in Version 2

Woodsmen**

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Woodsmen

Dismounted Boyar Sons**

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Dismounted Boyar Sons

Berdiche Axemen

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Berdiche Axemen

Dvor Archers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Dvor Archers

Dismounted Dvor Archers*

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Dismounted Dvor Archers

Dismounted Druzhina

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Dismounted Druzhina

Druzhina

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Druzhina

Tsar's Guard*

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Tsar's Guard

Early Bodyguard

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Early Bodyguard

Late Bodyguard*

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Rusichi Late Bodyguard

[Brips]

Your comparison is very usefull to make the difference. thanks

[Xtiaan72]

Wow....Quite a difference. Look at the detail on the bodyguard units! Nice belt dude!

Fantastic work Taiji, MD.... There is a Mongol faction in Rusichi too... I'm going to play their mod tonight.

I love the multiple occupyable villages they have in provinces that give income but are hard to hold. Seems perfect for dlv. Especially as according to their fax

Imagine having objectives that are constantly fought over in DLV that arent Castles or towns.

Do you guys think some of those "village" ideas could be implemented in DLV?

[ivanhoex]

finally!!!! russian units!!!!!!!!!

thanks repman!!!!

and offcourse thanks taiji for making it faster to implement! forever gratefull!









----btw the shields are not as good as the rest by far.. is there a normal map missing?

[Xtiaan72]

Taiji,

What folder should Rusichi install to? The installer is a little confusing.

Didn't see any install instructions on the Rusichi thread. I just want to make sure I install correctly so I don't mess up my game.

Reinstalling M2TW is a nightmare as you know

Cheers

[Taiji]

It goes in 'Medieval II Total War' folder, sticks itself in the mods directory, it won't harm anything.

[Xtiaan72]

Thanks

[Mr_Fluffy]

Great news! I appreciate this is just the start and hope the lovely lower-class Rusichi troops make it into DLV too. Good to see a spirit of friendship amongst the modding fraternity.

[musicdemon]

I can do more screenshots on the other 4 units if you guys like my first comparison.

EDIT: I've added the new screenshots to my previous post.

[Taiji]

Double post

[Taiji]

Mr fluffy (and everyone else), I'd like to know which particular 'lovely lower-class' units from Rusichi you would like to see in DLV.

Being 1 unit away from 499 units, which I believe is the cap, really we can only replace units that the russian factions share.

I think the factions have identical unit rostas so if we want kiev and/or russia to have a unique unit it means reducing both factions rosta.

[ivanhoex]

isnt there a eastern europe militias? (and peasantry)
just replace those with the ones in rusichi, maybe we will need a more detailed colouring for the details on each country, if so i would gladly help (and maybe harry and tokus will too, they have more than enough knowledge to help with this things)

the models for kypchaks can be used by the old ones.. and maybe too for mongol mounted archers

spearmen can be replaced as well.. i have not the edu right here but there sure are more units willing to be replaced with this new beautiful skins


also the last time i checked edu (about 5.7) there were a lot of troops that belonged to one country alone, that has been becoming more and more streamlined since starts but it wont ever be perfect so you can always find a way to make room there

[Taiji]

Excellent, Ivanhoex, ideas like that are just what we need!

I want the DLV unit name and the Rusichi unit name where you find a suitable replacement. If, as you suggest, you can find a unit which can be combined with another then we free up a space which would be good.

Thanks!

EDIT: BTW I am addicted to Rusichi now which will probably slow things down

[Omar Nelson B.]

Excellent, Ivanhoex, ideas like that are just what we need!

I want the DLV unit name and the Rusichi unit name where you find a suitable replacement. If, as you suggest, you can find a unit which can be combined with another then we free up a space which would be good.

Thanks!

EDIT: BTW I am addicted to Rusichi now which will probably slow things down

Post some Screens of your game so far! I love the new spear model that was used. The old nilla one just bothers me....

[Mr_Fluffy]

Ivanhoex summed up what I was thinking. The Kiev peasant from Rusichi could become the 'standard Eastern European peasant' for DLV, for instance. As could woodsmen and peasant archers.

[Taiji]

One problem with replacing units that kiev and nov share with other factions is ensuring that those units have textures, sheilds, etc. that work for the other factions.

Woodsmen can replace woodsmen.

Sorry if I am being slow here but I can't work out the other suggestions.

What are these 'kiev peasants' called in Rusichi?

Which Ruisichi unit is a suitable replacement for peasant archers?

[Xtiaan72]

I love the head gear on the Tzar's Guard.... Reminds me of the gimp from Pulp Fiction. Absolutely terrifying!

[musicdemon]

I didn't see any units that would replace "peasants". I don't think they have anything comparable. However, I do think that the models of Junior Militia would be a nice replacement for peasant archers. Here are some screenshots.

Junior Militia

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Junior Militia with 1 armor upgrade

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Both units

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Mr_Fluffy]

Sorry Tariji, my fault - I tend to post at the end of long night shifts. Not good for clear thinking.

I *think* these guys are Carpathian Highlanders, willing to be told otherwise. Remind me of eastern european peasants from MTW (but much nicer, of course). No idea if the weaponry is easily changeable. The woodsmen are the woodsmen I was thinking of. Sods' law has kicked in here, I'm getting a ctd whenever I start a battle. Back after a thorough re-install.