The Hobbit: Character Portrait sub-mod for 3.X (1.0)

[erestor629]

The Hobbit: (mini) Character Portrait sub-mod for 3.X (1.0)

Hello, this is my first ever try at modding a game such as Medieval II, but I've had past experience with Rome before.

This is a slight "graphical improvement regrading characters", oh, fancy words for such a small change... for The Third Age Mod. Basically, it'll replace the portraits in-game for Thranduil the Eleven King (Silvan Elves), Balin and lastly Gloin for the Dwarfs with their "The Hobbit" movie adaption appearances.

This will also replace the portrait for Thranduil in the campaign menu.

Thranduil: http://images.wikia.com/lotr/images/...The_Hobbit.jpg

Balin: http://img2-1.timeinc.net/ew/i/2012/.../balin_458.jpg

Gloin: http://hobbit.tribute.ca/wp-content/...2/07/Gloin.jpg

There is a BACK UP folder of the originals. To un-install, simply follow the same steps but with the folder in the "original (backup)" folder.

How to install:

1: Locate where you have installed The Third Age mod.

SEGA> Medieval II Total War > Mods > Third_Age_3

2: Extract then open the downloaded folder. You'll find two folders named "backup" and also "Third_Age_3".

3: Copy the "Third_Age_3" folder from the downloaded file, into the same location as the "Third_Age_3" folder in The Third Age mod. It should then say, "would you like to merge these folders". Click yes to "Copy and Replace" all files.

4: Success, the changes have been made. (Well, I hope so! Do at your own risk! It worked for me though).


I hope this hasn't been too confusing to install, and I hope to add more into it in the future (read below). At the moment it's basically "nothing", but it's "something" to those who need it desperately - like myself!

Note on regrading updates:

I am not the best modder ever, but when new releases of images of The Hobbit adaptions, I'll be (hopefully) updating this sub-mod. This isn't anything major in terms of editing, and it's just for those who wish to view the "Hobbit" versions of the characters in The Third Age mod instead.

I'm still learning how to improve these portraits and such, and also trying to figure out other things such as giving Dori his picture, as well as the other (spoiler) surviving Dwarfs - to try to make them look like the ones already in-game, but it's a learning curve at the moment. Also, you may already know me for my work on "Erestor629's Helms Deep Movie Map" for "The Battle for Middle Earth II - Rise of the Witch king", just thought I'd up it out there.

Enjoy!

Will add these, once images have been released:

Thrain
king Dain Ironfoot (Billy Connolly)
Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans)
+ More?

[erestor629]

Pictures of new portraits in-game:

Thranduil (Campaign Menu): http://i.imgur.com/vwo3u.jpg
Thranduil: http://i.imgur.com/nZxnU.jpg

Balin: http://i.imgur.com/DPEqU.jpg

Gloin: http://i.imgur.com/Rpk9N.jpg

[paradamed]

This is cool! Thanks!

[erestor629]

This is cool! Thanks!

Thank you, hope you've/you'll enjoy it! It might be nothing, but even the smallest of things can make a big difference...

By the way guys, I think*, and this is a BIG I think: I think it'll work with other sub-mods, such as the MOS + others. So long as they use the same locations for folders etc, or if you're more experienced you can place the images in yourself if it doesn't work first time round.

[MIKE GOLF]

This does look nice, I was wondering when someone would tackle this, very nice job! Will you be adding other characters as well?

[erestor629]

This does look nice, I was wondering when someone would tackle this, very nice job! Will you be adding other characters as well?

Thank you, I began to wonder myself too, and since no one has so far (to my knowledge), I decided "that's enough, I will!"

I'm still learning the ins-and-outs of Medieval II modding, but here's a little list of things which I hope to archive for this sub-mod in the future:

Please remember, this is done during my free time. I'm currently a Sixth form student in the UK, year 13. So I do have other work to attend to from time to time.

1) The Characters

- portraits, mainly. If I know how to add an extra hero and such, I'll add them. I've seen a sub-mod which will give Dori and Ori etc their portraits, and other Dwarfs their movie pictures - I think. This is something which I hope to figure out in the future, I currently have no clue. This would probably be the last thing I'll do.

2) Loading Screens

- Silvan Elves, Dale, and lastly The Dwarfs? Anymore will be a bonus I think.

- Again, figuring out if there is anything to make them appear. I've seen the folders which contain like 45 screens each or so, however, I'm unsure how they work. I would assume, just place one in, and it'll randomly pick one while loading. If so - GREAT!

3) Event pictures

- Silvan Elves, Dale, and lastly The Dwarfs taken from images released for The Hobbit.

At the moment, what I have in the main thread is all I've done so far. Glad it's enough to make people happy!


Question: The Dwarf Family member in Thorin's Halls, is this thee Throin Oakenshield character? - It does not say in the game files (from what I've seen), and I have little knowledge, but I do know he character dies in The Hobbit books.

[bushmonster951]

Great work on pictures , btw i made a portrait for bolg even though it isn't the most lore accurate because he's dead haha, but you can use it if you want.

[erestor629]

Great work on pictures , btw i made a portrait for bolg even though it isn't the most lore accurate because he's dead haha, but you can use it if you want.

Wow, thanks very much! Slightly hinting I should favor the "evil" factions too?

I did forget to mention about them if I'm honest, but things for them will mostly be for The Orcs of the Misty Mountains and such.

I'm unsure how much this sub-mod will do, but I wish for it to be graphics-wise, as in, improving the overall experience of viewing the portraits, loading screens etc, which are based on The Hobbit movies. No new models or heroes etc, I think I'll let someone else do that kinda thing who is more experienced, but, we'll see, we'll see.

I am currently experimenting with loading screens and how they work. I think that'll be the next update. At least it's better than nothing! When I feel like a 2.0, I'll post it. Since this is only the beginning, I'll be updating the main thread when I have access to edit opinions.


Thanks guys for your support!

[erestor629]

13 New Loading Screens - The Hobbit Style


- Doesn't replace any screenshots in 3.2 -
- May conflict with mods which offer new screenshots past 71 (always able to rename in numeral order though) -

13 new loading screens (so far... remember, we still have two more movies and many more released images to come). A reference to the 13 Dwarfs. Previews in the download file. All HD. (Or so I could find).

I would update the main thread, but I haven't found/got an option to edit posts yet.

Doing this bit by bit. After this has a bit more attention, and far more progress made, I'll update (create a new) a thread to a 2.0, if that's okay to do so.

This thread will then be one full download instead of in-parts like this one.

Same installation as mentioned in the main thread. A simple drag and drop. Previews are included in the downloaded folders.

I hope you don't mind using sharesend.

Download link: http://sharesend.com/vrlpdrb5

Any feed-back? Or suggestions on what else to include? I am only doing this for my own pleasure playing The Third Age mod, as some may already might be able to tell.

[Araval]

I would avoid using screens of Thorin's company and Bilbo since Third Age isn't about the quest of Erebor.
And I think after scaling the images they shouldn't look streched.

[erestor629]

I would avoid using screens of Thorin's company and Bilbo since Third Age isn't about the quest of Erebor.
And I think after scaling the images they shouldn't look streched.

Avoid? Well, perhaps in a more updated thread downloads could be optional, like now, but in one post not many XD. I think that would be best.

I only included Thorin's company since The Third Age mod also includes a lot of back-story information about these characters and co, as mentioned in The Battle of the Five Armies map and a few of the Dwarf settlements. I even thought I saw a quote from The Hobbit which is by Thorin. But yeah, this is down to opinion at the end of the day.

The scaling isn't too extreme from my view. They look fine in-game, well, I think so. They're not stretched, only minimized to fit actually since I downloaded them like this. Only one has been, and that is very slightly so it fits like the others - the council chambers scene (not the long shot). But then, it isn't by noticeable much.

Anyways, thanks for the feedback, I'll keep it in-mind for future progress.


But yeah, as mentioned, it's just out of interest and my own pleasure this little project and I'd like to share what I've done so far.

[AltairBasic]

WOOOW! GREAT　WORK　INDEED!! but.. where's Thorin?? Thorin in the game is the same on as in the movie right?

[erestor629]

WOOOW! GREAT　WORK　INDEED!! but.. where's Thorin?? Thorin in the game is the same on as in the movie right?

Thank you for the support!

As for Thorin, I was questioning this myself. The "Thorin" in "Thorin's Halls" on the map of The Third Age mod (from what I remember) doesn't have a last name. So I am unsure if this is thee Thorin Oakenshield from The Hobbit - unlikely I think, considering his fate in the books.

Can anyone double check this? If they are the same, then I shall upload the files for the change, agreed?

I believe the tale of The Hobbit starts at 2941, and finally finishes at 2949. Whereas the campaign for The Third Age starts 2980. I am unaware if another Dwarf was named Thorin, after the great, but rather geedy Thorin Oakenshield. Unless, the mod lets Oakenshield live past the events of The Hobbit, but that's unlikely I would imagine.



Thoughts on this?

[IHV]

Those are different Thorin's but i once used him as Thorin portrait anyway
Had some dwarven ideas some time back in this thread.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...aits+too+foggy

[erestor629]

Those are different Thorin's but i once used him as Thorin portrait anyway
Had some dwarven ideas some time back in this thread.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...aits+too+foggy

Ah, never spotted that thread, just had a nice little read through, any idea if that Dwarf portrait thing ever happened in the end? Looked very interesting. I'm not copying, just never knew anyone had corrected them beforehand - after all, that was a whole year ago. :O

I've been making a few Hobbit loading screens too, just for my own pleasure - more variety the better I say!

The Thorin in The Third Age mod is Thorin III Stonehelm, as mentioned in that thread for those who haven't taken a look. Many thanks for the information!

[Araval]

Yup, the one in Third Age is Thorin III Stonehelm

I've made Hobbit style portraits for Gloin and Balin too btw.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/attac...5&d=1351020639
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/attac...3&d=1351020639
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/attac...4&d=1351020639

[diazannetto]

I was wondering when someone would tackle this

[erestor629]

Yup, the one in Third Age is Thorin III Stonehelm

I've made Hobbit style portraits for Gloin and Balin too btw.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/attac...5&d=1351020639
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/attac...3&d=1351020639
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/attac...4&d=1351020639

I've seen before, and many thanks for pointing it out too! I myself wasn't keen on the images used (sorry!), and about the "aged" effects after a period of time. So I then decided to change this, but of course I found the images, and re-sized them all myself in GIMP. Hope you don't mind of course! I think it's good this way, now people are able to choose what they'd prefer!

I was wondering when someone would tackle this

Thanks, but like I've said many times, it isn't a major change. Only very minor - just something for those who would prefer to play with the movie adaptions instead, like myself, thought I should share this change/sub-mod too, so I did!



I have no idea if I'll be doing any more modding, but I think what's next is something simple, likely changing the event pictures for Dale, Misty Mountain Orcs, and Dwarfs to reflect The Hobbit movies.

E.g.

Battle picture? for Dwarfs = battle scene from the prologue from The Hobbit/or flashback, unsure, haven't seen the movie! Just based that idea off the trailer.

Goblin general killed in battle = Goblin King killed (Hobbit trailer)?

I don't know, just doing this for my own personal game, but if anyone would like it, I don't see any problems uploading it either.

[Araval]

I've seen before, and many thanks for pointing it out too! I myself wasn't keen on the images used (sorry!), and about the "aged" effects after a period of time. So I then decided to change this, but of course I found the images, and re-sized them all myself in GIMP. Hope you don't mind of course! I think it's good this way, now people are able to choose what they'd prefer!

I don't mind it at all. It's just a matter of taste. These portraits were requested from me and I haven't even released them to wider public yet but I'll include them to FRoGS.

[erestor629]

I don't mind it at all. It's just a matter of taste. These portraits were requested from me and I haven't even released them to wider public yet but I'll include them to FRoGS.

Ah' okay then! Since it's out of a matter of taste, would you be willing to mention this topic/download maybe as an alternative download? Just wondering! If you do/whoever does, a mention of a name will do, no more permission needed.

Anyways, good work on yours too! Not long until the film's released (UK here) Seeing it on the 19th!