Faerûn[Forgotten Realms]TW - v0.2 released, check the first post

[Vladyvid]

Thanks for asking.

Things are actually getting better, and that could also be said in relation to the mod.

Im well aware that there is a lot of material which could be released, and probably even should be. The only major problem is that the campaign is unstable and unplayable for more than 10 turns or so, hence the only viable release option in any foreseeable future would have to be custom battles mode only. The campaign itself needs to be fixed ofc. I dont have all that much time to devote to modding yet, so i cant honestly tell how long would something like that take. I dont know if this is even a good idea, and would need to consult with the team, see what they think.

For now Im trying to sort out the unfinished units models i had in the pipeline, and they are at different stages of completion. Im talking about the rest of the zhentarim and luruar rosters, but also units for cormyr, tethyr and some more. Maybe i can get some time to work on that over the weekend or something.

Also Ive seen (that during my inactivity) Assurbanippal has been creating many new units models, and Ive seen some great stuff in there.

[Nelduin]

I understand this is not easy. The only advise I can give as a long-member of TWC and TW player, as I saw many mods and thousands hours of modding going to void, that if you think you won't be able to finish the mod, you should release everything you have so it doesn't get lost, as it would be a shame. Otherwise, take your time because you don't owe anyone anything.

But anyway, the main thing is to never get all the work done lost. People would still enjoy it, and people may still come, get interested and help you and/or continue the work.

I always get annoyed when I see beautiful previews and nothing gets ever released, even if unplayable. Such as waste.

Good luck for everything!

[Vladyvid]

Thank you Nelduin!

I mostly agree with what you are saying, but luckily the mod data is in several places so there are backups, for most of the stuff at least.

I have some 5 or 6 different mod versions in different mod folders, some more outdated or updated than others, so i will have to first identify which one is the most recent and i could probably set up a new mod folder (again ) to make a custom battles version. I could probably only include the full roster factions that are ready, so not all of them.

I will see what i can do, if i get some time, then yeah im sure i could do it, its a simple mod folder version to build. I really want to give this idea a try, seems relatively easily achievable.

[Vladyvid]

I checked my faerun mod folders. Considering what factions rosters are ready in terms of stats (could be tweaked later ofc) the first custom battle release (Faerun v0.1 lets say) will definitely include the following factions:

Captains Confederation
Moonshae Isles
Waterdeep
Baldur's Gate
Luruar
Many-Arrows
Unther

These are the only rosters that i have coded with stats, there are many other factions ready in terms of graphics but not coded. Depending if/how many more factions will be coded by the time v0.1 is released, probably more factions can be included in it.

That is the most rapid release version i can prepare now.

What remains to do, to make the release:
- UI elements
- loading screens
- units sprites

Ive done UI and loading screens before so i know they are not hard to make, and the sprites are generated with a tool, so its not that bad.
That should not take a lot of time, i will give a better estimate in a week or maybe sooner.

Then whatever factions are not released in v0.1, will be added in v0.2 patch.

[Arclath]

Glad to hear you're doing better Vladyvid, health always comes first!

[Nelduin]

That is great news! Hopefully seeing a release would motivate people to give a hand, eventually.

[Vladyvid]

Thank you Arclath, also good to see you!

(Faerun v0.1 lets say) will definitely include the following factions:

Captains Confederation
Moonshae Isles
Waterdeep
Baldur's Gate
Luruar
Many-Arrows
Unther

and Calimshan aswell, they have been coded and everything, i must have missed them earlier. The Zhentarim will be there too, so that makes 9 factions i can confirm for this release plan right now.

While im putting together this v0.1 mod folder, it includes doing some copy/paste from my test mod folder where i work on new models. I added the zhentarim Blackguards, and posted for the team to see, but i guess i might just aswell show them here, as they will be part of this release aswell. They are a general unit, may use a different horse but maybe the one you see below will stay for now, or they may actually even end up as infantry cause i have another model version of them for that, which i had to simplify to better sit/animate on horseback.



and here a 'variety' comparison



They were created a while ago, so this and two more units make the Zhentarim ready, essentially. Im not gonna show the other two units here now cause i will be changing something and i dont have time now to do it all.

I also found some interface panels i created in the past so the missing UI pieces will be comming along.

While i was at work i looked at some faerun forgotten realms d&d wallpapers and have seen a lot of great art that could be used for loading screens, but im not sure how does it work with the copy rights. Is giving the artwork creator credits enough or is there anything on top of that required to use them in a mod intended for public use? I have to figure this out, cause it would be great to use some of those artworks.

[assurbanippal]

new in game preview, we haave done unther roster for some months ago, for any reason it havent been showed yet


All 3D models made by me from the scratch but hands (they are vanilla) including every mount. all units have been designed for us due to the lack of pics, same for the previous rosters and incoming ones
Textures: some made by me, some taken from TES: oblivion, skirym, romeII and Dark souls III. Also Elvasats shield textures pack and Sumskilz's Models & Textures

slaves archers nd spearmen

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archer levy

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axe levy

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levy spearmen

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northern wizard

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serpent guard

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knights of the five-thorned rose

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chariots

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surely some of them will need some kind of impreove but this is more or less the roster

tomorrow ill post shadovar roster in game

[assurbanippal]

new in game preview: shadovar


All 3D models made by me from the scratch but hands (they are vanilla) including every mount. all units have been designed for us due to the lack of pics, same for the previous rosters and incoming ones
Textures: some made by me, some taken from TES: oblivion, skirym, romeII and Dark souls III. Also Elvasats shield textures pack and Sumskilz's Models & Textures

due to the lack of lore info on the net dn other places the units dont have name asigned yet

Unit 1

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Unit 2

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Unit 3

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to be continued...

[assurbanippal]

unit 4 ( multiweapon)

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Unit 5

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unit 6

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as usually some tweaks to do but this will be the roster

[assurbanippal]

Some Damara units pre in game

Companion of the noble heart

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Their horse

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their retinue

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Order of the golden cup knights

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Their horse

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Their retinue

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Bodyguards

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bodyguard horse

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Nobles

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Their horses

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Noble squires

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[Warcrafthero]

Hello Vladyvid and assurbanippal, I am happy to see you here again, I hope Titus is ok too. Thank you for the news and the previews, these are high quality models in my opinion, +rep to both

[Titus le Chmakus]

Hello Vladyvid and assurbanippal, I am happy to see you here again, I hope Titus is ok too. Thank you for the news and the previews, these are high quality models in my opinion, +rep to both

Thanks Warcraft for enquiering ! I'm completly out of the game for now as the models need to be done first ! So I'll get back in business when my 2 fellows will have finished !

[Vladyvid]

Great to see you Titus!

As for my update, the battle ui is done; loading screens done, menu bugs fixed. Im working on the battle banners now, and after that i will finish the remaining unit icons.

The june release plan stands.

EDIT:
I updated the first post with the current progress status, and i removed lots of old junk. I should probably add some pics there but not now.

As you can see, there is a lot of completed material, but still a roster that says its complete may still be later changed bla bla bla you know.

[Vladyvid]

Hello Warcrafthero and thanks for your support! There will be an official release announcement for the custom battles version in a day or two.

[Vladyvid]

Planned Release Date of Faerun TW v0.1

Having considered what remains to be completed to release a custom battles version, it is my pleasure to announce the planned relese date to be until end of June - June 30 - this month.

I have figured out the sprites generator, and im working on the battlefield UI. I will have some units icons to make, some banners to finish; so a lot of minor stuff really. From there it will be all about which factions will make the first release.

Also, let me say here clearly that this first release will most certainly be later patched and rosters will be expanded or maybe in some cases changed in other ways. That also goes for the units stats.

We have more material than what will be released in June, but eventually all factions will be added, and then the campaign will be restarted so to speak. I reckon if we just remove most special features from the campaign, it may work without the crashes, so that could be the next step in release. I will have to rebuild the campaign anyways because that is the only way to identify the CTDs reason/s.

That would be all from me for now. You all have the great stuff from Assurbanippal's previews to check at the bottom of the previous page - 53 - of this topic. Really worth to see i think. I will try to give some update on the mod status like once a week, so a week from today more or less.

Thanks to everyone for your attention and support!

[Nelduin]

Just can't wait.

[Vladyvid]

Hey guys im hitting the freaking wall again with my searching efforts, so if anyone has any suggestions, id be glad to hear them.

I just cant seem to find ANY INFO on the heraldic designs for Unther and Calimshan. Never had luck searching for those factions, because apparently despite them being many thousands of years old in the Faerun lore, nobody bothered to describe what kind of symbols or flags they were using. (SIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

They are empires existing for many millenia, and yet some stinking villages in the North have coats of arms described in the lore but these age old empires not? That kind of stupidity is really infuriating me, to the point that i think i have to myself design all of the missing Faerun's heraldry and best publish a freaking book on that, so the future generations of nerds don't have to get pissed as i do. I mean come on ppl, those kinds of holes in the lore are totally unnacceptable and must be fixed! Its only a pitty that i have to be the one to fix that... (>.<)

So for the banners of unther and calimshan i will just have to come up with some ideas of my own.

[Vladyvid]

So that im not just ranting, let me show you something disurbing here:



so you see, this collage is disturbing enough to look at, at least for my eyes, but if you imagine that a large part of what you see had to be designed based on vague bits of lore, then that is the real disturbing thing im referring to!

That will have to do now, because im moving on to finishing other stuff.

[Nelduin]

This is great!