Rhyf's Improvement Project

[Caledonian Rhyfelwyr]

After going on a RTW spree, I felt like returning to M2TW for a while. Unfortunately, the vanilla game had too many bugs for my liking, too many broken units (pikemen, 2-handers etc). And I wanted to add some interesting new features to the game as well as sorting those problems out.

In the end, there is a completely redone battle system, and all the units are now functioning as they should, and have much more historically accurate roles on the battlefield. Mixed armies are now essential, as certain unit types are no longer overpowered, and battles will last longer and be more challenging due to higher morale/defence and lower attack values.

I have also added some cool new features like Muslim Princesses, Grand Imams, and Orthodox Patriarchs. As well as a map-wide regional recruitment system.

Plus I made other tweaks to fix features I felt were effectively broken in vanilla (bribery and assassinations were too tough, for a start).

And this is the result of my efforts so far.

REBALANCED BATTLE SYSTEM

units more specialised
light units weaker but faster (fast pony mount for all light cavalry), more stamina, better in rough terrain
heavy units stronger but less stamina, more prone to fatigue and hampered by heat and terrain
longer-lasting battles (attack values reduced, defence values raised)
morale increased (roughly double for most units, a few units including Bodyguards now no longer rout)
cavalry weaker, smaller unit sizes, but rely on shock (heavy cavalry have 'frighten_foot' attribute)
late-era units more effective (bills, halberds, pikes, guns)
pikes fixed (removed second weapon so they now function more like a RTW phalanx)
2-handers strengthened (all armour piercing, strong charge and have 'frighten_foot' attribute)
missile units weaker (but bigger difference - longbows deadly but peasant archers really only for harassing)
crossbows altered (shorter range and lower max angle of fire means they need to be deployed more carefully)
specialist elite troops more interesting (eg Sherwood Archers can hide anywhere, Forlorn Hope have 2HP)
new formations (schiltroms removed, replaces in some cases with shield wall, more units can deploy stakes etc)
artilley better against units (now worth using - more accurate and larger damage radius)
officers added to some units (just a cool feature left over from RTW!)

NEW AGENTS

muslim princesses (for Moors, Egypt, and Turks)
grand imams (one per faction, ancillary acquired from Minareted Masjid building)
orthodox patriarchs (one per faction, ancillary acquired from Orthodox Cathedral building)

AREA OF RECRUITMENT SYSTEM

22 AoR zones covering entire map
AoR units recruited in new buildings using hidden resources
Local Levy requires Town/Wooden Castle, allows poor quality local troops
Local Muster requires Minor City/Fortress, allows higher end local troops

MINOR CAMPAIGN CHANGES

get family members from a younger age (14 for Generals, princesses change to 18 because of certain traits, lol)
new traits and ancillaries to improve princesses
assassins better, especially against agents
bribery significantly easier
brigand spawn rate massively reduced, somewhat reduced for pirates

********** INSTALLATION **********

This mod uses the Kingdoms.exe, and so requires the expansion to play. Installation is dead easy. Just install the Barebones mod. Then, download this, and replace it over the old barebones folder.

And that's it! You can run the mod from the barebones batch file, and still play vanilla and keep all your vanilla save games.

Let me know if there are any problems!

[Liu Zheng]

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