PREVIEW: Battle for the Baltic v2.0

[Caesar Clivus]

Battle for the Baltic v2.0

Building on the features of Battle for the Baltic v1.0 released by Firebat11 and myself, the next version will include some exiting new features.

Features of v2.0:

New unit rosters for Novgorod and Kievan Rus
Thanks to the Rusichi: Total War team, Battle for the Baltic v2.0 will feature all new units, models and skins for both Russian factions in Stainless Steel. The rosters of these two factions will be more similar than they are now: after all they are the same people. But there will still be a healthy mix of units unique to each faction that will differentiate how these factions will fight. Infantry will still play a strong role in both factions but Novgorod, influenced more by the west, relies more heavily on archers and heavy cavalry. Kievan Rus, exposed more to the peoples of the steppe, will focus more on mounted archers than their northern neighbours.

Screenshots

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Woodsmen


Senior Militia
Older militiamen who have had some training and some experience on the battlefield. At the end of the day, they are still militia and won't hold up well against professional soldiers.


Novgorod Crossbowmen
A unique unit of Novgorod. Professional crossbowmen, protected with a large pavise-like shield.


Novgorod Home Guard


Gridni
Professional spearmen. Replaces the spearmen unit.


Druzhina
The personal soldiers of the Knyaz.


Druzhina will receive an extra armour upgrade to make them viable in the later stages of campaigns.


Chernye Klobuki
Steppe horsemen in the service of Kiev. Replaces the Heavy Horsearchers.


Brodniki
The forerunners of the Cossacks. Brodniki lived along the rivers in Rus territory. This unique unit for Kievan Rus has the advantage of being able to hide on the battlefield


Boyars
The Russian equivalent of feudal knights.


Heavy Boyar Cavalry
It's proximity to the west meant that Novgorod developed heavier cavalry than in other areas of medieval Russia. Novgorod's status as a major centre of trade meant that the armour of the richer Boyars is a mixture of Russian and western styles and technology.


Heavy Boyars also fight dismounted, where they forgo their shields and wield their blades with both hands.


Sulitsi Cavalry
Javelin throwing cavalry of Novgorod.


Cossacks
Swift and deadly, these masters of the steppe provide Kiev with great mobility on the battlefield.


Cossack Gunners


Streltsy
These musket armed militia are available to both Kievan Rus and Novgorod. Strictly speaking, Streltsy were only formed in Muscovy under Ivan Grozny. But given the fact that there is no Muscovy in SS and given the need for a late gunpowder unit for these factions, it's much better to have a unit that did historically exist, even if in a slightly different context. Oh and it should be pointed out that if Streltsy ever get into melee combat, their opponents will be in for a big (and historically accurate) surprise....


Russian Leaders
From left to right: Faction Leader, Heir, General and Captain

Additions to the Teutonic Order
In addition to Firebat11's new unit roster, the Teutonic Knights will receive a few minor changes:

• New ancillaries specific to historical positions within the Order
• Minor German grammatical fixes.
• Minor graphical fixes to units.
• New optional german unit name installation file. For that extra bit of realism
• New hospital building. Reflects the original reason why the Order was first founded.

Thanks to Stephen St de Omer for his help with information and suggestions on the Order

New Strat Map Models
Again, thank to the Rusichi team, Kievan Rus and Novgorod will include all new strat map models for all armies and agents on the map.

From left to right:
Top row: Faction leader, heir, general, captain.
Bottom row: Assassin, princess, diplomat, merchant, spy, bishop and priest.



There will also be new strat models for the Teutonic Order.

New faction: Sweden
No Baltic mod could be complete without the inclusion of the Kingdom of Sweden as a faction. Sweden will boast strong infantry and ranged units, but will lack cavalry due to the unsuitability of most of Scandinavia for traditional cavalry tactics.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

New skins for Poland
Thanks to MadTAO and the Lithuania Mod team, Poland will receive new skins for some of it's units:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Lithuanian Archers


Polish Knights


Piast Nobles


Polish Retainers


Spearmen

New feature: Brand new units for the Mongols!
Again thanks to Rusichi, Battle for the Baltic will feature brand new units for the Mongols. No more general "Mongol Heavy Archers" or "Mongol Infantry". Now you will fight against (or with) the likes of the Turhugut, the Merguen and Keshik. Why are there new units for the Mongols in a submod about the Baltic I hear you ask? For two reasons:
1. The mongols feature in the new Baltic campaign map.
2. When I saw how absolutely beautiful these new units are, I couldn't not include them.
All credits go to the amazing Rusichi team.











New Battle for the Baltic Campaign.
Battle for the Baltic will feature an all new campaign map centered on the Baltic Sea. Instead of using the Teutonic campaign map from Kingdoms as I initially intended, I am very pleased to announce that BftB2 will feature an all new Baltic map designed and crafted by EarendilElenthol. This map will feature MANY more regions than the Kingdoms map. Please head over to http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=221534 to give EarendilElenthol some rep!










More information to come soon!

Release date: When it's done!

Notes:

• Will require SSTC (but if you don't like the officers and standard bearers, you can easily turn them off)

Credits
Models & textures: the Rusichi team (units), ArgentUsher (horses) & Lord_Calidor (weapons), MadTAO (Poland skins)
Research & info: Stephan St de Omer and various others throughout this thread
And thanks to Firebat11 for his Teutonic Order mod and (of course) the original Battle for the Baltic

[Hyperion]

Looks awesome, can't wait.

[Boyar'sNephew]

Definitely awesome. I'll be looking forward to this one!

[Santiago de Pola]

Wow..the units from Rusichi mod look awesome, but the kingdoms campaign with SS units and improvements, sounds extra sweet!

[Principe Alessandro]

Will be compatible with Point Balnk's Real Recruitment?

[Caesar Clivus]

Will be compatible with Point Balnk's Real Recruitment?

A version will be released for RR yes

[Gnostiko]

Can we see a more detailed screenie (i.e. closeup) of the new strat map agents, please?

[Caesar Clivus]

Can we see a more detailed screenie (i.e. closeup) of the new strat map agents, please?

Sure thing. As soon as I get them in the game

[Bacon!]

I love Battle for the Baltic v1.0, cant wait for this

[ghosla]

Could add Madtao's Baltic Crusade new units? that's will be great!

[maxstill]

again spears for the Druzhina,they should have lances not those toth picking sticks

[Caesar Clivus]

again spears for the Druzhina,they should have lances not those toth picking sticks

Lances were a western european weapon.

[Teutonic Joe]

is the New Battle for the Baltic Campaign within SS 6.1 or is it a seperate folder altogether...?

also have you considered asking the Lithuanian mod to borrow some of their teuton/lithuania textures?

[Caesar Clivus]

is the New Battle for the Baltic Campaign within SS 6.1 or is it a seperate folder altogether...?

Within SS6.1. It just adds a new campaign to select from on the screen where you select the late era campaign

also have you considered asking the Lithuanian mod to borrow some of their teuton/lithuania textures?

SS already uses their lithuanian textures. And I'm happy with the new textures that SS uses for the Teutonic Order already

[Teutonic Joe]

will it still be capadable with the RR/RC mod pack?

[Caesar Clivus]

will it still be capadable with the RR/RC mod pack?

Of course. I can't play without RR

[Teutonic Joe]

YAY

[Radiso-FIN]

New Battle for the Baltic Campaign.
Now you can play the Teutonic Campaign from Kingdoms but with all the features of Stainless Steel that you love (and none of the bad bits from vanilla that you hate). Experience the battle for the baltic on a close, personal level. Unlike vanilla, all factions on the map will be playable. Will include special events such as the Hanseatic League and Crusading Nobles. The Kalmar Union, however, will not be included due to faction limits.

My dream is about to come true...

[wolfen_84]

This is really amazing! thank you! i hope to play it soon!

[Teutonic Joe]

is it possible to know how much has been done? like a progress report for we simple forum people