Visual Enhancement - Good and Evil menu packages released

[Ragnarök]

No problem it does not harm anything. The other files like the age + name mod work?
And the "family" folder for the "northern_european" should be under northern_european\portraits\, it's in the wrong place

[Louis Lux]

I tested the proper aging and it was working, generals age one year every 4 turns.
Thanks for checking the files for me, I will rep you when I can.

[raistlinmajere8]

If I install this now, will my previous save have the new portraits in it? Cause I have a nice dwarves campaign going... and I really don't want to restart.

Edit: oh and what, if any, mods is this one compatible with? I have Real Combat, TATW Additional Units Mod, the "evil" and "good" alliance mod, and the Dwarves scottish accent mod. Oh and Mune's campaign AI balancer


I forget which one it was but one of them alters the vanilla desc_strat file, since this one does the same, I'm screwed right?

because I'm not gettin rid of any of the mods i have already..

[Louis Lux]

For now I didn't do much with dwarves portraits, the main thing is that when they die they will have gray portraits in the family tree.
When I release new dwarven portraits they will be save compatible and they might appear in your campaign.

[Varjon]

Very nice job Louis, I don't know how I managed to not notice this until now.

[raistlinmajere8]

Any word on that release that will be compatible with all those other mods I have?

[Louis Lux]

I'm uploading it now.

[raistlinmajere8]

OMG OMG haha jk. But awesome. Can't wait! +rep

[Louis Lux]

@raistlinmajere8 Wait till you have 50 post to rep people. Otherwise it won't count.

Download that does not modify descr_strat.txt: http://files.filefront.com/13723472

An option you have it's to modify your descr_strat yourself, it's fairly simple just changing names.
Quick guide:
-download the full version http://files.filefront.com/Visual+en.../fileinfo.html
-extract the files to your desktop or another location except your medieval II folder. In the downloaded folder go to mods\Third_Age\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign. There you will find the modified descr_strat file, delete it.
-backup your Third Age folder (recommended)
-Copy the mods folder you downloaded and paste it in your Medieval II Total War folder and overwrite the files.
-Open your descr_strat located at Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age\data\world\maps\campaign\imperial_campaign.
-Open the attached .pdf file in this post, the words in red were the ones that were changed in the descr_strat. Find the location of this modifications in your descr_strat with the ctrl+f function and add/modify the needed words.

[Konsul_Gando]

hmm I think that beard on the dwarv women is to big and coloful, first it should be the same color as her hair, and second I think they have only very little beards and soft hairs, not like men.

[Louis Lux]

Do you mean this one?

[raistlinmajere8]

Awesome stuff man. Really. Awesome. Any little thing that can change the Aesthetic feel of the game is always appreciated.

[JohnLenon]

Hmm, look nice Good work, and I'm happy for that my loadingscreens have been of use for something

[Louis Lux]

Status report

I'm working on Dwarves and Wicked men portraits, I will see if I can make an update tomorrow that replaces all vanilla portraits of Rhûn and Harad.

Attachment 41275Attachment 41276Attachment 41277Attachment 41278Attachment 41279Attachment 41280Attachment 41281Attachment 41282Attachment 41283Attachment 41284

Since Aragorn has a son I made him a portrait.



I have also started working on event pics, but I really need some feedback to keep at it. So post a list of the vanilla event pics you do not like and give suggestions for replacements.

Northmen
war declared

important death

largest faction


Elves
war declared

bride presented

ancillary character

council mission


Dwarves
war declared

council mission

important death


Generic good factions
alliance broken

army ambushed

[Devils_Advocate]

Great Louis that you already started to make some happening pics, since the vanilas are atmosphere killers!

I try to give you some feedback on those you have posted so far.


Good concept to make some specific weapons, armour etc. for each factions as a war declaration pic.
Works well, quality is great. But as far as I see those are all movie pics i.e. wallpaper stuff. I hope you find some proper pics for the none popular factions like harad, rhun.
Northmen
war declared



Like it, looks great.
important death



I am not sure what I should think about this one. Good thought, tough I think it doesn´t really fit along with the others. Probably another (better quality) landscape pic of course from the movie (or related stuff) works better.
largest faction



Great.
Elves
war declared



Good one as well.
bride presented



You mean ancillary/trait gained? Haven´t read that ancillary character thing anywhere so far.
Works as well.
ancillary character



Get a better quality one! But apart of that great.
council mission



...Great...
Dwarves
war declared



...as well...
council mission



...as well...
important death



By far the best (imo)
Generic good factions
alliance broken



Doesn´t work for me. Something in that style would work properly but this scene is a bit "boring", one a bit more expressive would be great!
army ambushed


Some minor changes should be done imo but overall - awesome - hope you get some more stuff with that quality done!

[MadTiest]

Awesome, the event pictures are definately one of the things I really want.

*Couldn't you could take screens of the dwarven, elven and human kings (during the ring verse at the beginning of the film) for council missions?

*For the elves largest faction I'd take a picture of Rivendell, not exactly a perfect fit, but it looks to cool to leave out of the game.

*Isengard largest faction: FotR, 2nd DVD 10 minutes in (for me) there is a scene of Saruman on top of Orthanc (while the fellowship is traveling through the Misty Mountains) A screencapture of that scene would be perfect.
*Isengard strongest faction: see sig.
*Isengard most advanced faction: forges of Isengard (again 2nd DVD FotR beginning)

*Important death: I don't remember what they did with Boromir? On a boat that was then set on fire or something?

* I hope you're also going to replace the 'relationship worsened' pictures? They pop-up regularly and are rather ugly. Perhaps a picture of the arguing council? Or a picture with Aragorn and the Mouth of Sauron? 2nd half 2nd DVD FotR: Gimli looking at elven bows aimed at him.

* War declared: beacons of Gondor on fire?

* I like the orcs ambush picture, but one of the rangers ambushing the Southrons could also be great.

* For the 'path blocked' message: Gandalf from the Balrog scene, or the Watcher in Moria?

* Assassin/spy spotted: Eye of Sauron?

* When you engage an enemy army on the campaign map: Rohan cavalry charging at the orcs?

* Siege details&Battle deployment: Forces gathering in front of Minas Tirith or Hornburg?

* Settlement captured: Ents in Isengard would be cool, although not very fitting. Orcs in Osgiliath? There must be several scenes of Rohan or Gondor soldiers cheering after battle that can be used.

* Faction anouncement, Retinue expands: Perhaps Pippin as a Gondorian soldier near a human Gondorian soldier. Grime Wormtongue near Saruman. Mouth of Sauron. 2nd half 2nd DVD FotR; Uruk-hai are being 'dressed'.



I;m just brainstorming here. I think I'd prefer pictures that might not fit every situation perfectsly, but are really cool (such as ents in Isengard, beacons of Gondor). Although I'll understand if you opt to use more generic (and thus slightly boring) pictures that fit every battle/siege etc.



EDIT: TBH, I prefer the current menu screen. If you are going to use a map of middle earth, I'd suggest downloading the BFME 2 living world map, it looks incredible.

Keep up the good work :-)

EDIT2: added some stuff, if you wind forward through the movies you'll see plenty of stuff that can be used. Unfortunately it's almost 1:00 and I still have to read a few chapters so I can't do it :-/

[Louis Lux]

Thank all of you for the feedback. +rep
I will hold off the update till I get some more stuff.
I'm glad to announce that Maxmazi will be helping out with in-game screenshots, for those of you that have seen his work I'm sure you will be excited.

Wow great.
Only thing I would say is the Elven council mission is slightly blurred and I think a few lore heads may have a problem with Arwen being a bride.
Really great stuff though, I love the Northmen and Dwarves war declared.
Maybe a pic of the Misty Mountains as the Dwarves largest faction?

The council mission is really blurred, I'm going to change it. Arwen as presented bride serves only to illustrate the concept, and she's also present at the marriage celebrations one, people will just have to not take things too literally. Some mountains for Dwarves

And OotMM should have Morias huge gaping chasm for largest faction...

Event pics are culture specific, for orcs largest faction I will probably use a mordor landscape.

Looking forward to the next release. I also hope this will be included in the future official TA:TW patches

Portraits definately will, the rest is up to KK, I don't know if he has someone currently working on these things.

*Couldn't you could take screens of the dwarven, elven and human kings (during the ring verse at the beginning of the film) for council missions?

Them at elrond's council makes more sense to me.

-For the elves largest faction I'd take a picture of Rivendell, not exactly a perfect fit, but it looks to cool to leave out of the game.

Since I'm using landscapes for these ones i was thinking about using woods, for new building tier I might use rivendell.

I hope you're also going to replace the 'relationship worsened' pictures? They pop-up regularly and are rather ugly. Perhaps a picture of the arguing council? Or a picture with Aragorn and the Mouth of Sauron? 2nd half 2nd DVD FotR: Gimli looking at elven bows aimed at him.

Arguing council sounds good

-I like the orcs ambush picture, but one of the rangers ambushing the Southrons could also be great.

I'm going to use the rangers as army ambushes, orcs in army ambushed.

* For the 'path blocked' message: Gandalf from the Balrog scene, or the Watcher in Moria?
* Assassin/spy spotted: Eye of Sauron?
* When you engage an enemy army on the campaign map: Rohan cavalry charging at the orcs?
* Siege details&Battle deployment: Forces gathering in front of Minas Tirith or Hornburg?
* Settlement captured: Ents in Isengard would be cool, although not very fitting. Orcs in Osgiliath? There must be several scenes of Rohan or Gondor soldiers cheering after battle that can be used.
* Faction anouncement, Retinue expands: Perhaps Pippin as a Gondorian soldier near a human Gondorian soldier. Grime Wormtongue near Saruman. Mouth of Sauron. 2nd half 2nd DVD FotR; Uruk-hai are being 'dressed'.

I will consider them, thanks for the suggestions.

Later this week (tuesday/wensday) I could make some of these pictures for you using the DVD's (extended edition). It'd be up to you which ones you'd like to use. Of course I understand if you'd rather keep this project to yourself.

This is supposed to be a collaboration project, initiative and suggestions are welcomed. So as not to clutter the thread with images you can just post the time of the scene.

[LeBons83]

The Harad and Rhun generals pictures still shown the vanilla object... Any idea how to fixed it on the script? They should be wonderful

[JonSnow]

Nice stuff man! I'd love all event pics to be improved upon by you, I really think you're doing a wonderful job... some things that are really annoying are the diplomatic notifications and the turn report or whatever because they pop up so often..

[Danny_K_1]

Wow great.

Only thing I would say is the Elven council mission is slightly blurred and I think a few lore heads may have a problem with Arwen being a bride.

Really great stuff though, I love the Northmen and Dwarves war declared.

Maybe a pic of the Misty Mountains as the Dwarves largest faction?