Updating for 0.400
Download the mod (v 0.401)
https://mega.co.nz/#!5BExxbLL!c1svplWzyJ8vah_KXoobGx4YZiNFDFH6B4ZtdlJy6uY
or
http://rapidshare.com/files/38243452/Empires_of_Faith_v0401.rar
Note: Developing your character can get a bit complicated, in part because I needed to do a lot of workarounds to integrate the web-based part of the game and the WB engine.
But, it's designed so that you cannot really mess things up for yourself. Feel free to experiment.
1. QUICK START
2. STARTING A CHARACTER
3. DEVELOPING YOUR CHARACTER OVERVIEW
4. RELATIONSHIPS
5. FIEFS:
6. MISSIONS:
7. SINGLE-PLAYER
8. COMBAT OVERVIEW
9. THE STRATEGIC MAP
Instructions by game mode type
CARAVAN RAIDING/PLAYER CARAVAN.
LIVESTOCK RAIDING
PLAYER BATTLE
FIELD BATTLE
SIEGE
SEA RAID
Download the mod (v 0.401)
https://mega.co.nz/#!5BExxbLL!c1svplWzyJ8vah_KXoobGx4YZiNFDFH6B4ZtdlJy6uY
or
http://rapidshare.com/files/38243452/Empires_of_Faith_v0401.rar
Note: Developing your character can get a bit complicated, in part because I needed to do a lot of workarounds to integrate the web-based part of the game and the WB engine.
But, it's designed so that you cannot really mess things up for yourself. Feel free to experiment.
1. QUICK START
*Unzip it and put it in your module folder
*Play Warband
*Hit "multiplayer" on the splash screen and create a character in the Warband engine. His or her name will be the name of your house, dynasty, or clan. If you want to be historically accurate, it will be a family name, not an individual's name
*Join a server. There are currently two or three servers -- all named Empires_of_Faithxxx. You can play with others or on an empty server, fighting bots, and gain renown (as of 0.400, the game's equivalent of experience points) as well as gold to spend later on
*When you join a server, it can take up to 10-20 seconds (occasionally a bit longer) before you can play. I'm sorry about this -- it primarily has to do with dynamic terrain, but also with the system's need to get various variables from the Web. Faction names in particular will not be loaded until this process is complete, and your character's stats and gold will not be available. When your character's gold arrives, that usually means the process is complete.
*You can hit 'i' in-game to see how the game mode is played. There are lots of different game modes which can be explained below, but basically, if you kill enemy bots, you can't go too wrong
*You can play as long as you like in this way, accumulating gold and renown
*Play Warband
*Hit "multiplayer" on the splash screen and create a character in the Warband engine. His or her name will be the name of your house, dynasty, or clan. If you want to be historically accurate, it will be a family name, not an individual's name
*Join a server. There are currently two or three servers -- all named Empires_of_Faithxxx. You can play with others or on an empty server, fighting bots, and gain renown (as of 0.400, the game's equivalent of experience points) as well as gold to spend later on
*When you join a server, it can take up to 10-20 seconds (occasionally a bit longer) before you can play. I'm sorry about this -- it primarily has to do with dynamic terrain, but also with the system's need to get various variables from the Web. Faction names in particular will not be loaded until this process is complete, and your character's stats and gold will not be available. When your character's gold arrives, that usually means the process is complete.
*You can hit 'i' in-game to see how the game mode is played. There are lots of different game modes which can be explained below, but basically, if you kill enemy bots, you can't go too wrong
*You can play as long as you like in this way, accumulating gold and renown
*Write down the five, six, or seven-digit unique ID that appears in the message queue on the bottom left hand corner of the screen. It might call it your "password." This will be your log-in. If you don't write it down the first time, you can download again.
*When you're doing playing, you can go to this website - http://87.229.55.124 or empires.arrakis-net.com. You can log in for the first time with this number. After that, you can log in with the player name and set a password.
*Look at the map. Browse around the provinces a bit. Note that at this point in the game, only the western half of the map is active. (The dividing line runs through Panjab and Madhyarashtra). Also, some northern provinces (Nordlands, Novgorod, Litva) and some African provinces (Nubia and south of that, plus Arabia) are not active. If you're in doubt, click on the province. If there's a landscape, it's active.
* Once you decide which province you like, choose it as your home province. This will also set your faction and religion. You can always fight for other factions (think of these games as fighting as a mercenary -- a common practice in the medieval era, even when the buyer was of a different religion).
* If you change your CD-Key for any reason, the game will start a new character. Sorry -- there's no easy way around this. I can manually switch over some of your characteristics and fiefs, probably.
*When you're doing playing, you can go to this website - http://87.229.55.124 or empires.arrakis-net.com. You can log in for the first time with this number. After that, you can log in with the player name and set a password.
*Look at the map. Browse around the provinces a bit. Note that at this point in the game, only the western half of the map is active. (The dividing line runs through Panjab and Madhyarashtra). Also, some northern provinces (Nordlands, Novgorod, Litva) and some African provinces (Nubia and south of that, plus Arabia) are not active. If you're in doubt, click on the province. If there's a landscape, it's active.
* Once you decide which province you like, choose it as your home province. This will also set your faction and religion. You can always fight for other factions (think of these games as fighting as a mercenary -- a common practice in the medieval era, even when the buyer was of a different religion).
* If you change your CD-Key for any reason, the game will start a new character. Sorry -- there's no easy way around this. I can manually switch over some of your characteristics and fiefs, probably.
* This is where 0.400 gets a little different, and a little more complicated, than 0.300. In 0.400, you develop your character by creating relationships with NPC subfactions, and holding fiefs in lands controlled by those subfactions.
* Your currency to do this is influence and wealth.
* The basic order of play is -- develop a relationship, start a fief, accept missions
* Your currency to do this is influence and wealth.
* The basic order of play is -- develop a relationship, start a fief, accept missions
* To have a fief, you develop a relationship with an NPC faction. You start a relationship by taking a position on an issue.
* Browse through the provinces in your faction. Find an NPC subfaction that has political opinions. Find one that your character might agree with. Hit the "We agree" link
* There is a list of other factions and their opinions on the issue. Note that you only gain relationship with 1) the NPC to whom you're speaking, and 2) any NPCs with whom you already have a relationship
* Relationships slowly decay over time
* Relationships are with an NPC subfaction in one province. In all other provinces, you have either a separate relationship or half the highest relationship with that faction (Sorry, that's a bit complicated).
* The higher a relationship that you have, the bigger the fief you can develop.
* Browse through the provinces in your faction. Find an NPC subfaction that has political opinions. Find one that your character might agree with. Hit the "We agree" link
* There is a list of other factions and their opinions on the issue. Note that you only gain relationship with 1) the NPC to whom you're speaking, and 2) any NPCs with whom you already have a relationship
* Relationships slowly decay over time
* Relationships are with an NPC subfaction in one province. In all other provinces, you have either a separate relationship or half the highest relationship with that faction (Sorry, that's a bit complicated).
* The higher a relationship that you have, the bigger the fief you can develop.
* You can have one fief in each province. They give you money and renown, and unlock troop types for you.
* You can visit your fief through the "host a game" menu or defend it as a mission. As you develop a fief, you should be able to see changes in the scenes.
* Fiefs are part of the lands of a larger ruling house. You start a fief by developing a relationship with that house.
* The basic size of your fief is the agricultural level -- this represents how much land you have. Each ag level lets you buy one level of a building. The max ag level for a fief is 6.
* You can develop your fief's fortress (2 levels), religious building (2 levels), market (1 level), or stable (1 level). I don't want to add new levels unless I can have scene props that are appropriate for all the geographical areas in the game.
* Fortresses give you more troops for the fief defense battle and also unlock troop types for your character and your retinue
* Temples give you an influence income bonus
* Markets give you a wealth income bonus
* Stables unlock troop types
* To see your fief in the 3D game engine, go to Host Game. Select the province in which your fief is located. Enter in the unique ID code. Hit "return" -- not Start Game. If you have a fief in that province, then in a few seconds you will go there.
* You can visit your fief through the "host a game" menu or defend it as a mission. As you develop a fief, you should be able to see changes in the scenes.
* Fiefs are part of the lands of a larger ruling house. You start a fief by developing a relationship with that house.
* The basic size of your fief is the agricultural level -- this represents how much land you have. Each ag level lets you buy one level of a building. The max ag level for a fief is 6.
* You can develop your fief's fortress (2 levels), religious building (2 levels), market (1 level), or stable (1 level). I don't want to add new levels unless I can have scene props that are appropriate for all the geographical areas in the game.
* Fortresses give you more troops for the fief defense battle and also unlock troop types for your character and your retinue
* Temples give you an influence income bonus
* Markets give you a wealth income bonus
* Stables unlock troop types
* To see your fief in the 3D game engine, go to Host Game. Select the province in which your fief is located. Enter in the unique ID code. Hit "return" -- not Start Game. If you have a fief in that province, then in a few seconds you will go there.
* A mission is a multiplayer game "sponsored" by a player, who gains extra relationship with a faction if it is completed.
* Missions may take multiple sessions to complete. You get completion percentage based on the total score and the balance of scores.
* You can end a mission at any time through the website. You gain extra gold, renown, and relationship with the subfaction based on the completion percentage. It increases exponentially, so 100% gives you four times the benefits as 50%. There is no penalty for ending a mission early, however.
* There are currently three missions active: 1) Escort a supply caravan, 2) Lead a battle, 3) Defend a fief. Escort and Lead a Battle are part of a military campaign sequence. Completing Escort loads Lead a Battle in your mission queue.
Note that your fief is not damaged when you host a raid there.
* You load a mission into your mission queue via the website. Load fief defense by inspecting your fief, or a military campaign by speaking to an NPC.
* Once it's noted on your character account, you then need to load it onto a server. You do this by joining a server and gaining the minimum score, which changes according to how long you last did a mission.
* However, only one player at a time is given a chance to sponsor a mission on the server. The game gives a 30 second window of opportunity to the player whose score, minus the minimum score they need, is highest -- assuming they have a mission queued, and have not already turned down a chance to sponsor a mission.
* Hitting tab gives you a rough idea where you stand
* If you are able to sponsor a mission, hit "m" for the EoF special menu and then hit "sponsor mission" (in the middle, second button from the top -- I believe).
* When the current game ends, your mission should begin. Other players can join and fight with you or against you.
* Missions may take multiple sessions to complete. You get completion percentage based on the total score and the balance of scores.
* You can end a mission at any time through the website. You gain extra gold, renown, and relationship with the subfaction based on the completion percentage. It increases exponentially, so 100% gives you four times the benefits as 50%. There is no penalty for ending a mission early, however.
* There are currently three missions active: 1) Escort a supply caravan, 2) Lead a battle, 3) Defend a fief. Escort and Lead a Battle are part of a military campaign sequence. Completing Escort loads Lead a Battle in your mission queue.
Note that your fief is not damaged when you host a raid there.
* You load a mission into your mission queue via the website. Load fief defense by inspecting your fief, or a military campaign by speaking to an NPC.
* Once it's noted on your character account, you then need to load it onto a server. You do this by joining a server and gaining the minimum score, which changes according to how long you last did a mission.
* However, only one player at a time is given a chance to sponsor a mission on the server. The game gives a 30 second window of opportunity to the player whose score, minus the minimum score they need, is highest -- assuming they have a mission queued, and have not already turned down a chance to sponsor a mission.
* Hitting tab gives you a rough idea where you stand
* If you are able to sponsor a mission, hit "m" for the EoF special menu and then hit "sponsor mission" (in the middle, second button from the top -- I believe).
* When the current game ends, your mission should begin. Other players can join and fight with you or against you.
If you don't want to play on the official multiplayer rpg servers, you can play single-player or on a local network by hosting a game. The modes "caravan raid", "livestock raid", "siege", "field battle", and "naval battle" all work. If you play auto-start, you will restart instantly and then receive messages telling you that you are not an official server.
* Whenever you start a game, in any mode but "naval" you can choose a retinue of up to five bots to fight with you. You choose them by hitting the "choose retinue" button after selecting your equipment.
Unfortunately, I have not yet figured out an elegant way to give information about the bots like the mouse-over for equipment. So, just be aware that the further that they get more powerful as they move across the screen from left to right, and that the light blue background means cavalry and the light yellow means infantry.
* You can fight for any faction, regardless of your own faction. (This is historically accurate -- even during Christian/Muslim holy wars in Spain or the Levant, noted warriors fought for kings of the other faith, and suffered no lasting damage to their reputations). However, in future games, you will earn more renown by fighting for a faction of your own faith.
Unfortunately, I have not yet figured out an elegant way to give information about the bots like the mouse-over for equipment. So, just be aware that the further that they get more powerful as they move across the screen from left to right, and that the light blue background means cavalry and the light yellow means infantry.
* You can fight for any faction, regardless of your own faction. (This is historically accurate -- even during Christian/Muslim holy wars in Spain or the Levant, noted warriors fought for kings of the other faith, and suffered no lasting damage to their reputations). However, in future games, you will earn more renown by fighting for a faction of your own faith.
* The six empires, and the factions within them, will struggle for control of the strategic map that can be viewed on the website. This will affect where you can build fiefs, and your income from them. It will not cause your character to actually lose fiefs. So, don't be too worried if you are lord of a lonely citadel of faith amid a host of infidels.
* The Chinese are not yet active, nor are a number of minor factions -- the Norse, the Lithuanians, sub-Saharan Africa, the eastern half of India, Japan and Korea, and Southeast Asia. These will be gradually added in future versions of the game.
* The Chinese are not yet active, nor are a number of minor factions -- the Norse, the Lithuanians, sub-Saharan Africa, the eastern half of India, Japan and Korea, and Southeast Asia. These will be gradually added in future versions of the game.
Instructions by game mode type
CARAVAN RAIDING/PLAYER CARAVAN.
The map is large. It is suggested that you play this mode as cavalry.\
*Two rival caravan routes run along the two sides of the map. To make money, escort the caravan camels safely to their destination, or attack the other side's caravans and loot them.\
*It takes a little while for the bot raiders to get to the other side of the map. Give the game a minute or so to get started in earnest.\
*To raid caravans, kill the camel riders. The cargo of the caravan will then spawn. Hit f to collect it, at which point you as a looter will gain a 40 percent share, and the one who killed the rider will gain a 60% share. The cargo will eventually go away.\
*To make money from escorting, stay on your own side of the map. You will gain a bounty for each raider you kill, plus extra bounty when a caravan reaches its destination. The more players join the other side, the more money you make by escorting caravans on your side.\
*If you want to heal, go stand in front of the carpets, laid out with water, that also marks the cavarans destination point.\
*In order to keep the map from filling up with lost bots, the game removes guards who have lost their caravans, or raiders who have lost their mounts. Normally this should not happen in the middle of a fight, but if you see someone disappear, this is probably what is going on."),
*Two rival caravan routes run along the two sides of the map. To make money, escort the caravan camels safely to their destination, or attack the other side's caravans and loot them.\
*It takes a little while for the bot raiders to get to the other side of the map. Give the game a minute or so to get started in earnest.\
*To raid caravans, kill the camel riders. The cargo of the caravan will then spawn. Hit f to collect it, at which point you as a looter will gain a 40 percent share, and the one who killed the rider will gain a 60% share. The cargo will eventually go away.\
*To make money from escorting, stay on your own side of the map. You will gain a bounty for each raider you kill, plus extra bounty when a caravan reaches its destination. The more players join the other side, the more money you make by escorting caravans on your side.\
*If you want to heal, go stand in front of the carpets, laid out with water, that also marks the cavarans destination point.\
*In order to keep the map from filling up with lost bots, the game removes guards who have lost their caravans, or raiders who have lost their mounts. Normally this should not happen in the middle of a fight, but if you see someone disappear, this is probably what is going on."),
LIVESTOCK RAIDING
The map is large. It is suggested that you play this mode as cavalry.\
*Two rival clans live in neighboring river valleys, split by a plateau. You spawn in the middle of your clan's valley. The villages and corrals filled with cattle and goats are in the corners.\
*Raid the other clan's livestock corrals and defend your own. You capture livestock by moving close to them when no enemies are around. Livestock will cross the map on their own, but can be recaptured easily.\
*You and your teammates gain points according to the total number of livestock held by your side.
*Two rival clans live in neighboring river valleys, split by a plateau. You spawn in the middle of your clan's valley. The villages and corrals filled with cattle and goats are in the corners.\
*Raid the other clan's livestock corrals and defend your own. You capture livestock by moving close to them when no enemies are around. Livestock will cross the map on their own, but can be recaptured easily.\
*You and your teammates gain points according to the total number of livestock held by your side.
PLAYER BATTLE
This mode can be played as either cavalry or infantry.
*The two sides' armies are arrayed on opposite sides of the field. They are divided into 10 formations -- light and heavy cavalry on the wings, skirmishers and light infantry in front, and spear formations in the middle.
*Players spawn without their retinues, but may take command of individual formations during play, and then issue them commands, by using the called up by hitting 'm.' In addition, the players sponsoring the mission may give general orders to the entire army.
*Morale is very important. Each side's agents will become less confident the further they get from their spear formation, and the attackers will get less confident the further they get down the field. This gives the defender an advantage. But the attacker may always break off, reform, and try again.
*Once the attacking army leaves its hold position, neither side can respawn agents, and only the defender can restock ammunition. This lasts until the attacking commander orders the army to regroup and reform, at which point both sides spawn replacements.
* Each player can hit the "rally"button, accessed from the M menu, once every two minutes. It provides a boost to the morale of units close to the player and can make a big difference at criticals point in play.
*The two sides' armies are arrayed on opposite sides of the field. They are divided into 10 formations -- light and heavy cavalry on the wings, skirmishers and light infantry in front, and spear formations in the middle.
*Players spawn without their retinues, but may take command of individual formations during play, and then issue them commands, by using the called up by hitting 'm.' In addition, the players sponsoring the mission may give general orders to the entire army.
*Morale is very important. Each side's agents will become less confident the further they get from their spear formation, and the attackers will get less confident the further they get down the field. This gives the defender an advantage. But the attacker may always break off, reform, and try again.
*Once the attacking army leaves its hold position, neither side can respawn agents, and only the defender can restock ammunition. This lasts until the attacking commander orders the army to regroup and reform, at which point both sides spawn replacements.
* Each player can hit the "rally"button, accessed from the M menu, once every two minutes. It provides a boost to the morale of units close to the player and can make a big difference at criticals point in play.
FIELD BATTLE
This mode can be played as either cavalry or infantry.\
*Rival formations of spearmen hold the two sides of the field. They are the anchors of each side's morale. Light troops and cavalry skirmish in the middle, and try to inflict casualties on the spear formations.\
*The formations' levels of discipline (blue), aggression (red), and fear (yellow) are shown in the corners. As the formation takes casualties, discipline will decrease and aggression and fear will increase.\
*When aggression exceeds discipline, troops will break formation and the formation itself will begin to advance. When fear exceeds discipline, troops will start to run away. Once a spear formation breaks, that side will quickly lose the battle."),
*Rival formations of spearmen hold the two sides of the field. They are the anchors of each side's morale. Light troops and cavalry skirmish in the middle, and try to inflict casualties on the spear formations.\
*The formations' levels of discipline (blue), aggression (red), and fear (yellow) are shown in the corners. As the formation takes casualties, discipline will decrease and aggression and fear will increase.\
*When aggression exceeds discipline, troops will break formation and the formation itself will begin to advance. When fear exceeds discipline, troops will start to run away. Once a spear formation breaks, that side will quickly lose the battle."),
SIEGE
This can be played by both infantry and cavalry.\
*A besieging army is encamped outside a town. This is night, a period between assaults. Each side tries to raid the other and destroy its siege engines and supplies to wear down its morale.\
*The defenders try to burn the besiegers' catapults. The attackers try to burn catapults and siege stores in the defenders' towers. Hit backspace at any time to see your objectives (red) and the objectives you must defend (blue).\
*Most of both sides' armies are asleep until they are attacked, or they notice a raider. Infantry can approach more closely before they will alert the other side.\
*Attackers can climb the walls with ladders, laid out before the smashed parts of the wall, and then exit via sally gates opened from the inside. Defenders can open sally gates from both sides.\
*You can hit f to start and fan a fire. You will have to do this several times to destroy an objective. After you destroy one objective, your incendiaries are used up and you can retreat to your own lines to restock and increase your score.\
*It is meant to be possible but very difficult for one player to successfully destroy an objective and escape, even with the help of a bot retinue. Players will probably do best if they cooperate."),
*A besieging army is encamped outside a town. This is night, a period between assaults. Each side tries to raid the other and destroy its siege engines and supplies to wear down its morale.\
*The defenders try to burn the besiegers' catapults. The attackers try to burn catapults and siege stores in the defenders' towers. Hit backspace at any time to see your objectives (red) and the objectives you must defend (blue).\
*Most of both sides' armies are asleep until they are attacked, or they notice a raider. Infantry can approach more closely before they will alert the other side.\
*Attackers can climb the walls with ladders, laid out before the smashed parts of the wall, and then exit via sally gates opened from the inside. Defenders can open sally gates from both sides.\
*You can hit f to start and fan a fire. You will have to do this several times to destroy an objective. After you destroy one objective, your incendiaries are used up and you can retreat to your own lines to restock and increase your score.\
*It is meant to be possible but very difficult for one player to successfully destroy an objective and escape, even with the help of a bot retinue. Players will probably do best if they cooperate."),
SEA RAID
This is best played by infantry. Player retinues are not spawned in this mode.\
*The battle takes place inside an estuary -- as indeed, most historical naval battles took place very close to land. Fast, light attacking galleys raid the defender's merchant feluccas, which sail down one side of the estuary. The defender mans heavier galleys to catch the attackers.\
*Press 'm' to go to a menu where you can command a ship or simply serve as part of a crew. You can also press 'm' to return to a galley, as long as no enemies are nearby.\
*A captain can control the galley with the arrow keys, speeding it up or steering it to either side.\
*You can attack an enemy ship by missile fire and by boarding. Killing oarsmen will slow a galley down. To board, ram or bump the enemy. This will foul both your ships for a while, rendering immobile. After some time, the ships will push off from each other, but you can ram and board again.\
*A ship that loses all its crew will begin to sink. The nearest enemy ship will get credit for killing it. If this is you, you can then row to the starting point (indicated by an arrow), your ship will be removed, and you will be returned to shore to start again.\
*You cannot move off the map, onto land, or into areas too near to the enemy's spawn points -- these are shallow waters, and you do not know the depths. A ship's helmsman will steer the ship away if you get too close.\
*Because of engine issues, you may see the occasional bot fall off a boat and hang in the air. Consider this the fortunes of war at sea -- I still am working on how to prevent it."),
*The battle takes place inside an estuary -- as indeed, most historical naval battles took place very close to land. Fast, light attacking galleys raid the defender's merchant feluccas, which sail down one side of the estuary. The defender mans heavier galleys to catch the attackers.\
*Press 'm' to go to a menu where you can command a ship or simply serve as part of a crew. You can also press 'm' to return to a galley, as long as no enemies are nearby.\
*A captain can control the galley with the arrow keys, speeding it up or steering it to either side.\
*You can attack an enemy ship by missile fire and by boarding. Killing oarsmen will slow a galley down. To board, ram or bump the enemy. This will foul both your ships for a while, rendering immobile. After some time, the ships will push off from each other, but you can ram and board again.\
*A ship that loses all its crew will begin to sink. The nearest enemy ship will get credit for killing it. If this is you, you can then row to the starting point (indicated by an arrow), your ship will be removed, and you will be returned to shore to start again.\
*You cannot move off the map, onto land, or into areas too near to the enemy's spawn points -- these are shallow waters, and you do not know the depths. A ship's helmsman will steer the ship away if you get too close.\
*Because of engine issues, you may see the occasional bot fall off a boat and hang in the air. Consider this the fortunes of war at sea -- I still am working on how to prevent it."),
