Ideal/Challenging Submod Compilation.

[JiangZiya]

EDIT - Removed Crimson Tide 4.2 from the list, as it appears to be incompatible with 6.2. After I insalled 6.2, the particle effects were blown up 5x their size, so when arrows impact the cloud texture is enormous.

- Fixed Basileia ton Romaion mod name from Byzantine Reskin
- Directions on 7z installer by Bane_tw

First, I have nothing but respect for those of you who have taken time out of your lives to create all the mods out there. These are just some of the ones I have found successful/challenging and most of all COMPATIBLE with each other.

This is for those of you who are just installing SS, or those of you who are frustrated with some aspect of gameplay. The most predominant aspect probably being AI. Let's face it, SS is an excellent mod, but every game has its weaknesses. I spent quite a bit of time trying out different mods and these are the ones i've settled on, and i'm finding it quite challenging and fun. It's amazing to FINALLY have to pressure Scotland into a Ceasefire before they sack York.

I am aware that these can be found through the search function, but I figured i'd give a hand and direct people to where they oughta go. Okay, so here we go.

1. Install SS6.1 http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=159996

DO NOT PATCH to 6.1!!!! bane_tw's installer will do that for you from a 6.0 clean SS to 6.2.4

Now you can... Install Various Reskins/Texture Packs. I like the Ireland, Hungary, Byzantine and Novgorod reskin packs personally. They are located generally in the first few pages of the submods section. If you just want the skins for the Byzantine pack, make sure to extract the data folder to a different location and take only the files you want.

Submods
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=653
Ireland Reskin
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=278658
Hungary - The Impalers (Very Draconian!) Reskin
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=268729
Basileia ton Romaion (Byzantine Reskin and much much more.)
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182151
Novgorod Reskin (From Battle for Baltic 1.0 I think, It's FANTASTIC!!)
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...vgorod+re-skin
SS6 New Warhorns!!
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...6+new+warhorns
SS6.2 - Release Candidate 4
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...&highlight=rc4
Use bane_tw's 7z installer, it's the only one that worked for me, at least. Made the game much more difficult and the AI actually cares about their people enough to defend them, or even counterattack you.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

Turn Speed Issue/Resolution (INCOMPATIBLE WITH 6.2)
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...ght=slow+turns
Go to the last post on the first page, Cang087's, and download the custom_script and campaign_script files. These will DRASTICALLY cut down your turn speed. I went from about 25 seconds to 9 seconds between turns. In the late campaign, from 30 to 12 seconds. That's a big jump. It basically just cuts out a ton of filler/flavor text. Really improves the quality of gameplay when you don't dread waiting to move again. Less waiting more gaming!


Remember! Many mods are incompatible with others, especially ones that alter the campaign_script, custom_script and descr_strat files. Even texture packs may include something you don't want, so always read the file descriptions and even take a second look.

ALWAYS BACK UP YOUR DATA FOLDER!!!

I hope this was useful for you. This compilation of mods improved the quality of play tenfold, at least for me. I don't like steamrolling Europe as a small faction like Aragon in 55 turns, and this put me to the test, while adding tons of flavor units to different factions. SS is the best mod for MTW2 out there, and these just make it far better.

P.S - If you use this installation guide, be sure to install them in order so as not to overwrite certain scripts or delete textures. I will add more mods to this list if/when i find and enjoy them.

[JiangZiya]

Screenshot utilizing the various mods. Notice the formations and of course the crazy awesome new skins for cavalry.

[Anaatti]

Thanks!

[bɑne]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

SS6.2 - Real Combat 4 = SS6.2 - Release Candidate 4

[Awellesley]

So, just to clarify, you are simply providing links to mods you enjoy?

[Caesar Clivus]

As this thread is about submods, moving thread to submods forum

[JiangZiya]

Yep

[Anatorax]

I like your idea. I've already thought myself of making a list of mods compatible with each other, but I didn't play so much yet and have little exp. in it. If we organize this thread that would be rather helpful.

However, you made a big mistake - as bane said, SS6.2 RC4 is a release candidate and it is NOT compatible with, say, BGRIII (ticked while installing SS6.1). And as far as I know it is also not compatible with many other mods.

Maybe it's time for a list of 6.2-compatible mods?

[JiangZiya]

I like your idea. I've already thought myself of making a list of mods compatible with each other, but I didn't play so much yet and have little exp. in it. If we organize this thread that would be rather helpful.

However, you made a big mistake - as bane said, SS6.2 RC4 is a release candidate and it is NOT compatible with, say, BGRIII (ticked while installing SS6.1). And as far as I know it is also not compatible with many other mods.

Maybe it's time for a list of 6.2-compatible mods?

you're right i failed to catch that. although i think i did say that bgrIII may have compatibility issues ^^;

i am glad the thread was useful to you Fakir! i'll put up some more links and such to mods i find compatible. i'm currently running SS6.2 w/ RR/RC and SSTC. reskins are generally compatible with anything that doesn't mess with the export_units file from what i've noticed (could be wrong.) so generally it's a safe bet to download texture packs as long as they don't conflict with each other. i.e - downloading two byzantine texture packs, as they also affect the AoR, mercenaries and even stuff like the text files. you can end up with crashes or something easily fixable like unlocalized placement text.

i hope everyone finds this useful

As for Kievan reskins, I haven't bumped into any yet. I know Battle for the Baltic offers officer/general reskins, but that's it i think for Kiev. It's mostly directed to Novgorod, you know, since it's located in the vicinity of the Baltic :p the mod's namesake. I'll let you know if i run into any via pm.

Sorry for the messy post i'm kind of tired though;.

[Fakir]

Thank you very much for this, I greatly appreciate it!

I wish a thread like this had been made earlier. I must admit I have landed on my own configuration of sub-mod combinations by now, but it took a lot of searching through immense amounts of to do.

In any case, recommending re-skins and providing direct links is very generous of you. There are so many good re-skins, but sometimes you just have to take the best from others ones and make your own little mix.

!

[Fakir]

Could you also recommend ANY kind of skin alternative, whether it is to campaign map characters, colours, or unit models, for Kiev?

[bɑne]

I wish a thread like this had been made earlier.

There is a whole submod merging many others into a 6.2 compatible way so that might be the reason why noone did before.

[Caesar Clivus]

The next version of Battle for the Baltic will include a totally new revamped roster for Kievan Rus.

[bɑne]

PhantastiqueNoir please correct "SS6.2 - Real Combat 4" to "SS6.2 - Release Candidate 4" to avoid confusion

[JiangZiya]

Got it

[Shqiponja_Hayabusa]

I don't know if I correctly installed the Ireland reskin mod, hem. All I have to do is just copy the folder "data" which I downloaded into the sega/data folder, because I don't think I m seeing the same exact units shown in the modder's thread...

[Fakir]

I don't know if I correctly installed the Ireland reskin mod, hem. All I have to do is just copy the folder "data" which I downloaded into the sega/data folder, because I don't think I m seeing the same exact units shown in the modder's thread...

Open your config file (medieval2.preferences [you can open this with notepad]) and include the following lines anywhere on the page (just use the spacing on the rest of the page as an example):

[io]
file_first = true

then save the file and play. Now check if it worked!

It is likely that after having exited the game after playing, this line will disappear from the config file, and you will need to enter it again every time. If not, it will probably disappear after a restart or something. When I used to do this, I would just have a shortcut to the medieval II folder so I could edit the config file quickly and play.

[JiangZiya]

extract it into your Stainless Steel folder

[Caesar Clivus]

Open your config file (medieval2.preferences [you can open this with notepad]) and include the following lines anywhere on the page (just use the spacing on the rest of the page as an example):

[io]
file_first = true

then save the file and play. Now check if it worked!

It is likely that after having exited the game after playing, this line will disappear from the config file, and you will need to enter it again every time. If not, it will probably disappear after a restart or something. When I used to do this, I would just have a shortcut to the medieval II folder so I could edit the config file quickly and play.

That's not necessary. The stainless steel .cfg (or is it the .bat file? ) file takes care of all that. If it didn't, you wouldn't starting SS in the first place.

[bɑne]

You dont need to enter it before you start - you can writeprotect the medieval2.preferences.cfg if you want to prevent the game from making any changes.
You can change all settings ingame as usual but they will be the old ones next time you play as the game cant write into the file.
And as Caesar Clivus said this should already be called/defined/handled by the Stainless Steel.cfg (which is again called by the .bat file)