(Historical Battles Project) The Siege of Minas Tirith - Version 2.1 is UP, Helm's Deep - Version 1.0 has been released (Read OP for details)

[Metallistic]

Just thought I would share this, since the sieges in custom battles are really limited.

IMPORTANT:

For better overall performance, follow these instructions by YassirX how to use FPS booster and how to make an application use more than 3GB of RAM if you are running a 32-bit OS.

THE BATTLE FOR MINAS TIRITH

Features:

• Multiple Mordor Armies
• ~17k troops on the battle map in total
• 4 siege towers utilized by the AI
• Battering Ram placed on the other side of the map so you have some time to focus on defending the walls until it reaches the gate
• Battering Ram reaches the gates in 10 minutes
• Rohan reinforcements - they join the battle in 12 minutes (2 minutes after the gates have been breached)
• Harad army added (Placed on the other side of the map... The Mumakil start advancing when the gates gets breached, however, the Rohan reinforcements have been timed to intercept them.)
• Battle models for different heroes (Thanks to killersmurf )

Please note that the battle has been created to be played with Gondor!

I do realize that the number of soldiers on the map is through the roof, however this is my preference. I may add a version with half of the current units size.

As of now Gondor reinforcements from the south. I am considering it, but that is it at this stage.

Installation:
Extract the file to: Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age_3\data\world\maps\battle\custom


Pictures:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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HELM'S DEEP

Features

• Multiple Isengard Armies
• ~13k troops on the battle map in total
• 3 Ladder Units utilized by the AI
• Battering Ram placed on the other side of the map so you have some time to focus on defending the walls until it reaches the gate
• Battering Ram reaches the gates in 15 minutes
• Rohan reinforcements - they join the battle in 25 minutes (10 minutes after the gates have been breached)
• The units from the Rohan cavalry reinforcement will be controlled by the player when they arrive, depending on the number of free unit slots that are available
• Elves (they are a part of the army of the defenders)
• Battle models for different heroes (Thanks to killersmurf )

Installation:
Extract the file to: Medieval II Total War\mods\Third_Age_3\data\world\maps\battle\custom

Pictures:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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Credits:
killersmurf - Battle models and portraits for different heroes

[Emperor of Hell]

I'll give this a try

edit: I did some text editing and now one of the mordor armies is led by the witch king (with good battle model and portrait). And the Gondor army is led by denethor, but with gandalf battle model and hero ability.

[Keyser_Soze]

Definitely give it a try!
tried my own as gondor, with 3 Ithilien rangers, 3 gondor archers, 5 gondor infantry, 3 citadel guard, 3 dismounted swan knights and 3 fountain guard versus 2 olog-hai, dismounted nazgul, 7 uruks, 5 orc raiders and 5 orc bands (no catapults due to their ineffectiveness in creating a movie-like experience and the lack of useable catapults/trebuchets for Gondor. This was the most intense battle I ever played, look forward to giving this a go!

[toopers]

What about adding in some Trebuchets for Gondor. I know they cant be placed optimal. but would be great to see them in. Any thoughts ?

[Keyser_Soze]

What about adding in some Trebuchets for Gondor. I know they cant be placed optimal. but would be great to see them in. Any thoughts ?

Trebuchets and other artillery units are useless in defensive siege battles, even moreso when it's an enormous map with huge walls. waste of unit space.

[Aragon150]

gandalf led the siege really denithor just sat and wanted to die

[Metallistic]

I'll give this a try

edit: I did some text editing and now one of the mordor armies is led by the witch king (with good battle model and portrait). And the Gondor army is led by denethor, but with gandalf battle model and hero ability.

Thanks mate. Didn't bother with the details as I mentioned but I appreciate it. I'll add this to the OP just in case.

Edit: Oops, just tested it out. There seems to be a problem with the Gandalf model, the texture is silver/metallic.

[Emperor of Hell]

yeah I saw that, It's because it has no texture selected for Gondor. Too bad

edit: You could make it optional, then I'll add some instructions in the spoiler:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

To give gandalf a texture you should only edit one file. ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP!!

The file is battle_models.modeldb. You can find it in Third_Age_3/data/unit_models. Open the file with notepad (or preferably notepad++). Use the search function and search for:

gandalf_white

If you searched correctly, you should find an entry like this:

13 gandalf_white 
1 1 
44 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/gandalfw_lod0.mesh 6400 
4 
8 timurids 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
5 turks 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
5 slave 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
4 merc 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
4 
8 timurids 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
5 turks 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
5 slave 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
4 merc 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
4 
4 None 
16 MTW2_2HSwordsman 0  
1 
24 MTW2_2HSwordsman_Primary 0 
5 horse 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 0  
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 0 
8 elephant 
18 MTW2_Elephant_Crew 0  
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 0 
5 camel 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 0  
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0

Replace that part with:

13 gandalf_white 
1 1 
44 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/gandalfw_lod0.mesh 6400 
5 
8 timurids 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
5 turks 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
6 sicily 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
5 slave 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
4 merc 
51 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw.texture 
58 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalfw_normal.texture 0 
5 
8 timurids 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
5 turks 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
6 sicily 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
5 slave 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
4 merc 
54 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att.texture 
61 unit_models/_Units/Heroes/textures/gandalf_att_normal.texture 0 
4 
4 None 
16 MTW2_2HSwordsman 0  
1 
24 MTW2_2HSwordsman_Primary 0 
5 horse 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 0  
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 0 
8 elephant 
18 MTW2_Elephant_Crew 0  
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 0 
5 camel 
18 MTW2_HR_Non_Shield 0  
1 
18 MTW2_Sword_Primary 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0

If you made a mistake, the game won't even show a splash screen. Then you probably copied too much, or not enough lines. You can always post a visitor message with more questions. This is compatible with all mods, which don't change the gandalf the white model.

[Metallistic]

Currently working on a version that adds Rohan and Harad.

[ztmario]

actually, I'm 99% of the way done with a trebuchet that works in minas tirith, and it's fully functional but I can't get the thumbnail to be right. the trebs are very effective just as in movies, and can even fire from the courtyard on top of the city. also was able to increase placement options by halving the number of troops with the unit. as soon as I fix the thumbnail I'll upload files for it.

[Nelduin]

Could you make a more lore-accurate version ? I mean Gondor has veteran units with gold "ranks". Obviously the advantage is in favour of Gondor, and it's too easy to win the battle.

[Emperor of Hell]

Yes, but Mordor has like 20 times more troops. It's not so easy IMHO

[Metallistic]

Rohan fighting the Mumakil in front of the White City. Things are looking pretty darn epic.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The Ram reaches the gate in ~10 minutes.

Rohan joins the battle in ~12 minutes. I have calculated it in a way that they intercept the Mumakil when they are on their way to the broken gate.

New version will be uploaded soon. Probably tomorrow.

Right now, the biggest problem is that the Mumakil are incredibly OP, even without chevrons and upgrades.

[vercassivelaunos]

What about some Swan Knights and Rangers for Gondor? I think in the book they fought in the siege.

[Emperor of Hell]

One mumakil unit then?

edit: or If you make a version for Baron Samedi's you could add Aragorn with some oathbreakers, that's OP

[goblinking]

lol mate mumakil are so vunerable to ap units like javlin u should see what riddermark skirmishers do to them LMAO. i was on the wrong end of those javelins in a campagin with harad i tried to cross a river ford with mumakil and 2 riddermark skimrishers kille before they crossed.

[Metallistic]

lol mate mumakil are so vunerable to ap units like javlin u should see what riddermark skirmishers do to them LMAO. i was on the wrong end of those javelins in a campagin with harad i tried to cross a river ford with mumakil and 2 riddermark skimrishers kille before they crossed.

Totally forgot about those. Will add them for sure.

EDIT: Definitely better.

A glimpse of my Minas Tirith historical battle update.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

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[Rora Lion]

Well made! Howhwever, you should add some dismounted Knights of DA, axemen and Guards of the fountain to the battle as Gondor as they were present at the Pelennor, there was not just Line troops.

[Metallistic]

Well made! Howhwever, you should add some dismounted Knights of DA, axemen and Guards of the fountain to the battle as Gondor as they were present at the Pelennor, there was not just Line troops.

Yes, I know, I just want it to have more of the movie feeling. However, that does not mean that I will add the oathbreakers. I am not a big fan either. Maybe I will add the axemen of Lossarnach, and troops from Dol Amroth as a reinforcement instead.

I am also working on Helm's Deep and it is almost ready.

[ER5013]

Oh man this looks really epic, problem is the amount of lag that will most likely happen. How does it run on your setup?