Polished Poland

[thrashing_mad]

Hello.

Few weeks ago I`ve decided to get back to modding, with aim to improve Polish roster in M2TW. Units from vanilla are not so pretty, or historically accurate, and so far nobody managed to create major overhaul of Poland - which is a shame.

What I would need from people who would like to help is detailed historical research. That includes variety of armour, weaponry, clothes, etc. that were present at specific regions at specific dates. Historical accuracy is quite inportant for me, so don`t hesitate to criticise if you spot some mistakes.

Here are some screenshots of early period units (late 10th - early 13th centuries). It`s still work in progress, so they may change - I`ll update opening post with proper preview, once they`re polished enough.

- Special thanks to Argent Usher for his 'Real Horses Project' textures.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Tarczownicy

(pol 'shield warriors' or 'shield wielders'). These infantrymen from 10th-11th centuries were levied from tribal freemen in times of war, and provided bulk of early armies. Their armament consisted of shield (oval or kite), spear, and sometimes axe or javelin, and main purpose of these undisciplined troops was to defend centre and give room of manoeuvre to cavalry.









Myśliwi

(pol 'hunters')







Łucznicy Grodowi

(pol. 'town archers') medium infantry garrisoning towns, armed with bows, shields, axes and clubs.






Piechota Grodowa

(pol. 'town infantry') Unlike Tarczownicy, these slodiers are semi professional warriors that receive payment for their services, and are serving as garrisons of most important towns of early Polish state. They include significant number of foreign mercenaries in their ranks. They are much better equiped (helmets, mail, hardened leather), better trained, but also much more expensive.









Lekka Jazda Plemienna'

(pol. 'light tribal cavalry'). Smaller component of tribal levy than Tarczownicy, these horsemen act as skirmishers and ambushers.






Topornicy

(pol. 'axemen'). Semi-professional medium infantry from town garrisons, armed with two handed axes.






Pancerni

(pol. 'armoured'). Similarily to 'Piechota Grodowa' they are mix of mercenaries, and local professional warriors. Primary heavy cavalry of early Polish dukes/kings.






Wczesni Rycerze

(pol. 'early knights'). This unit represent change in military and political structure of Poland from tribal to feudal, that started by the end of 11th century. Polish rulers began to pay their best soldiers in land, instead of gold, and thus - pancerni/drużyna warriors slowly evolved into class of knights. This is also accompanied by change of armament - mail is more common (also covers legs), and round shield is replaced by kite shield. *I`ve not decided yet whether to make them seperate unit, or just armour upgrade for Pancerni.






Drużyna Książęca

(pol. 'Ducal Druzhyna'). These elite professional warriors serve as bodyguards, and best heavy cavalry at Polish disposal. They wear finest suits of armour (mail,scale), distinctive 'szłom' eastern style helmets, and use best weapons.

Troops arrayed for battle:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

EDIT

Special thanks to Silesian Noble, for helping with historical research.

[Beorn]

Looking very good to me; From history perspective, I can't comment, but visually, they are looking very good

[Hrobatos]

From history perspective, I can't comment either, but they look awesome! +rep

[TomekPL]

Excellent work! I look forward

[Stephan]

looking very good

[EarendilElenthol]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=350027 Could help you a bit

[thrashing_mad]

Thanks for feedback everybody.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=350027 Could help you a bit

Thanks - looks very interesting + rep.

How long did it take you to make this roster?

About 3 weeks.

This looks great! My only suggestion would be to lose the faction colours. +rep I'd love to help with research.

Thanks. You probably mostly mean 'Wczesni Rycerze' unit? Indeed, they look a little bit too uniformly - I`ll give them more colour variations.

[nuel92]

Gooooood! this mod will be great!

[matija191]

very nice work
rep+

[ComnenusTheOne]

YEAH. Now thats what i call a Roster Polish-ing. Get it? Polish/ing?

Ok i know, my jokes are awful.

How long did it take you to make this roster?

[nce_wht_guy]

This looks great! My only suggestion would be to lose the faction colours. +rep I'd love to help with research.

[IVIarkI2I]

stunning work , welcome back to modding +rep

[Matthæus]

this is a very nice work. i will follow your progress

[Harðurāðaz]

NICE!!

[Musculus Maximus]

Nice Job +rep

[Guidrion]

Excellent work. Keep it up!
And you should indeed try to collaborate with the Baltic Total War team.

[Jan III Sobieski]

Nice. I'll go look foward to it

[thrashing_mad]

Here is new roster proposal - feel free to suggest tweaks/changes.


EARLY (1000-1250)

- Tarczownicy
- Piechota Grodowa
- Topornicy
- Myśliwi
- Łucznicy Grodowi
- Jazda Plemienna
- Pancerni
- Drużyna Książęca (bodyguard)
- Wcześni Rycerze


HIGH (1250-1380)

- Kusznicy (Crossbowmen)
- Chłopi (Peasant levy)
- Rycerze Piastów (Piast Knights - mail + variety of transitional helmets + kite shield)
- Spieszeni Rycerze Piastów (Dismounted Piast Knights)
- Rycerze Ziemscy (Land`s Knights - full mail + coat of plates and pot helmets - they will be seperate unit or armour upgrade for Piast Knights)
- Spieszeni Rycerze Ziemscy (Dismounted Land`s Knights)
- Pocztowi (Retainers - medium cavalry similar to vanilla 'Polish Retainers')
- Spieszeni Pocztowi (Dismounted Retainers)
- Rycerze Mazowieccy (Masovian Knights - distinctive eastern/baltic influences in armour)


LATE (1380-1550)

- Strzelcy Prochowi (Handgunners)
- Kusznicy z Pawężami (Pavise Crossbowmen)
- Halabardnicy (Halberdiers)
- Rycerze Polscy (Polish Knights - from battle of Grunwald - 'mail and plate', great helms or bascinets)
- Spieszeni Rycerze Polscy (Dismounted Polish Knights)
- Strzelcy (Shooters - mounted crossbowmen)
- Jazda Tatarska (Tatar Cavalry - mercenary unit)
- Arkebuzerzy (Arquebusiers)
- Pawężnicy (Pavisiers - heavy infantry)
- Kopijnicy (Lancers - full plate gothic or maximilian armour, barded horses)
- Racowie (Serbian light cavalry similar to vanilla Hussars)
- Husarze (medium/light cavalry - predecessors of Winged Hussars)
- Jazda Wołoska (Wallachian Cavalry - mercenary light horse archers)
- Lancknechci (Landsknechts - German mercenary pikemen)

[konny]

Excellent work! +rep

I cannot contribute to research either because I know close to nothing about possible units in High Medieval Poland, leave alone other periods.

In case you ever release it for use in other mods, I am appling on behalf of dHRR.

[thrashing_mad]

Excellent work! +rep

I cannot contribute to research either because I know close to nothing about possible units in High Medieval Poland, leave alone other periods.

In case you ever release it for use in other mods, I am appling on behalf of dHRR.

Thanks. Sure - once I release this mod - why not. I`m considering to turn this into regional campaign set in years 960-1150, involving Polans/Poland, Bohemia, HRE, Rus` and Denmark. Maybe you can help me out a little bit with 10th-11th century German military history (troops, type of weapons/armour)?