Preview Scroll Three: The Song Dynasty

**anhquang** · August 25, 2009, 09:43 PM

Thank you all, modders, great work. I will buy a new computer to play AUH when it becomes available.

**Augustus Lucifer** · August 25, 2009, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by Sigma

Are those hand cannons, hollowed bamboo stalks? other than that, great work.

My understanding is that the first hand cannons were made out of hollowed bamboo, as such. They have their inherent problems, but the first of everything has its drawbacks. Just as when we say phone we don't think of the one Alexander Graham Bell used, when we think hand cannon we don't really think of the first attempts. I'm fairly certain it's one shot and done or something to that effect, though Yelu would better know the exact specifications of that.

Originally Posted by Paradox596

dose wit work on steam?

Well a preview doesn't work with any external program!

I assume all mods will work with steam, but I'd need to see the steam file structure in order to be sure. Probably the only problems I could think of is if it stored its config files differently or something, which could be resolved.

Originally Posted by Amroth

Amazing preview! I was in here yesterday looking to see if there were any updates, and now this! Newsied on MR!

Thanks for the plug mate.

Originally Posted by Blackleaf-Wille

First I doubted clicking, because I thought it was Rome, but... GOD "¤%¤%"¤#DFW¤% DEAM that's a huuge preview and lots of great materials and sollutions. When can I download:p?

What we need is a robot which goes around mod forums and says "when it's done" with hilarious witticisms to the chorus of release date inquiries.

Originally Posted by Reverend Scott

Most excellent-eagerly awaiting release.

( Let me know if you need beta-testers

)

When the time comes that we require beta testers there will surely be an announcement to that effect.

**JonathanB** · August 25, 2009, 11:13 PM

Damn fellas! That is an incredible preview. The mod looks fantastic. Keep up the great work.

**Pnutmaster** · August 25, 2009, 11:14 PM

This is the definition of a Total Conversion mod.

I might actually be able to play it without any modifications of my own

**Hymne der Nacht** · August 25, 2009, 11:31 PM

Congratulations - what an outstanding work your team have done.
Looking at the ships, just one little question: the left one is a trading vessel and the right one a battle ship, if I´m not mistaken ?
Do you paln to have different units for different battleships ?

Thanks again for this wonderful preview.

**Augustus Lucifer** · August 25, 2009, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by Hymne der Nacht

Congratulations - what an outstanding work your team have done.
Looking at the ships, just one little question: the left one is a trading vessel and the right one a battle ship, if I´m not mistaken ?
Do you paln to have different units for different battleships ?

Thanks again for this wonderful preview.

The way the strategy map naval models work is they are dictated by a file which applies one specific model across the board to a specific faction. This can be "leveled up" to a new model based on certain parameters, but in order to do so it requires the ship to be an admiral. And one of the sillier aspects of the navy in M2 is that no two admirals can be in the same fleet.

As such the models can't be attached to a specific recruited unit and the leveling up would need to be used sparingly and only on ships which already had admirals, or it would force the use of 1-ship fleets. We initially made the three models shown separately, and decided that combining the three models into a 'fleet' representation would look better than trying to find some arbitrary indication for when to level an admiral's ship type up.

**Atterdag** · August 26, 2009, 01:59 AM

Awesomable!

**Wundai** · August 26, 2009, 02:06 AM

Leshan Buddha looks great Alex

Ehm but guys, I can't seem to open any of the spoilers? Can't see my Shengmudian picture either in that way

is it my browser? (Mozilla)

**MorganH.** · August 26, 2009, 02:20 AM

What can i say other then;EPIC and Amazing!!
Looking forward to the release

+rep
Greetings!

**Aerrol** · August 26, 2009, 02:26 AM

AAAAAAWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEESSSOOOOMMMEEE! I'm just stunned by the amount of work you guys have put into this one (admittedly major) faction. The factions within the faction, the trade routes tied to unit recruitment, why...I didn't even think those kinds of things were possible! I look forward to your other previews with baited breath, and can only dream of the day when this mod is released.

Now that I'm done gushing (and this preview is certainly gush-worthy), I do have to mention that while I am of course impressed with the units overall, the faces especially, I can't help but notice that the militia/lower ranking troops feel more...polished. Their proportions appear better overall, and their textures play out cleaner. I imagine this is because they have simpler textures, and so any warping is less noticeable (as opposed to say... intricate cloth or mountain armour), but I figured I should mention it anyways. As well, the militia seem to have better proportions (to my eye) than their elite counterparts. Oh, and the elite swordsmen seem to be be afflicted by a case of floating shields

. Please don't take this the wrong way - they're awesome units, I'm just trying to present some constructive criticism!

In any case, keep up the great work! Jin next?

**Killerbee** · August 26, 2009, 03:26 AM

Well .. Er yea ...

Amazing ! Seriously , this is great ! I'll try to help out when work is done in STW3

**Rinan** · August 26, 2009, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by Aerrol

Now that I'm done gushing (and this preview is certainly gush-worthy), I do have to mention that while I am of course impressed with the units overall, the faces especially, I can't help but notice that the militia/lower ranking troops feel more...polished.

I do have to agree, I had this same feeling when I first saw the more "elite" units. They still look very, very awesome though. The design for all units is absoulutely outstanding.

Anyhow, I wondered; since artillery will have a more defensive purpose in this mod (at least for factions like the Song), does that mean you've found a way to make artillery more effective from behind city walls?
I believe Dominion of the Sword was trying to elevate catapults and ballistas and cannons up on the castle walls, but I'm not sure, might be wrong.
It would be cool to see, anyways.

**S-te-Fan** · August 26, 2009, 03:53 AM

It's about time it came out

. I can't open the spoilers

.

**WImPyTjeH** · August 26, 2009, 05:28 AM

Originally Posted by stefaneke

I can't open the spoilers

.

Seconded

But awesome preview

**AlphaDelta** · August 26, 2009, 06:23 AM

Fantastic work. This is without doubt, the most fascinating, original, and beautifully crafted M2TW mod work yet undertaken, and I'm only half way through the preview.

All the best for the coming development.

Cheers

**Hyllus** · August 26, 2009, 06:27 AM

What can I say?I am spechless.Great work and it will be a Great Mod.I wish I could give rep.

**Yelü Dashi** · August 26, 2009, 06:41 AM

Youtube video should now be public.

For those of you complaining about spoilers not opening: wait. There are literally 100mbs of images in the preview, which is why we created a thumbnail version in the first post.

AD - Your comments are much appreciated. Fancy coming out of retirement to help us... ?

There is a novelty Tai mercenary unit to be made with your name on it....

**Azrael de silva** · August 26, 2009, 07:21 AM

wow when I first heard of this mod I assumed it would just be medieval total war new Asian designs...however when I saw this thread I was stunned the level of work yall have put in is mind boggling ...not only in the superb military models (on both the campaign and battle map) but the new governing system is awesome...Congratulations great work
Will be panting for the release!!!...but no pressure guys