Progress/Development Thread

[Hidole555]

The only one I'm getting a bit of a history lesson from is the Lombard League. We don't need to know when it was founded. It could be something like "For over 30 years they have acted to counter the Holy Roman Emperor but... (then you state the current problems they face)

[Al_Mansur]

I am making an Aragonese helm shown in a manuscript dated between 1190 and 1220 for my own mod, but I can share it with you.

(click to show/hide)

The texture and normal stills need some fixes.

[quapitty]

I am making an Aragonese helm shown in a manuscript dated between 1190 and 1220 for my own mod, but I can share it with you.

(click to show/hide)

The texture and normal stills need some fixes.

Very nice!!

[MihailoSRB]

I find no "feeling" in these introductions, as educative as they might be. There was something special and very cool in old Warband introductions to the towns.

I think I said the similar thing some time ago, when I was posting my first 5 intros:

(click to show/hide)

You arrive at Dubrovnik, capital of the Republic of Ragusa.
Ragusa is a maritime state that mostly relies on free trading with its neighbours - Bosnia, Serbia and the Roman Empire, all while keeping its waters safe from pirates and others who want to claim Dubrovnik.
The ruler of Ragusa bears the title of Prince, and is elected every four years, the current one, Prince Dobroslav, was elected by the Grand Council in 1197.
Ragusa is currently at war with the Principality of Arber. This conflict was sparked by several raids that struck Ragusan caravans on their way to Constantinople.

*

You arrive at Soli, capital of the Banate of Bosnia.
Bosnia is a semi-independent state, nominally under Hungarian control, but whose inhospitable terrain has kept Hungary from controlling it completely.
Their ruler, Ban Kulin, despite being labeled a heretic by both Orthodox and Catholic churches due to his unconventional religious beliefs, manages to keep his people happy in these unstable times for Bosnia.
Bosnia is currently at war with the Kingdom of Hungary, whose King Imre was ordered by Pope Innocent to either convert or destroy the heretics in Bosnia.

*

You arrive at Perth, capital of the Kingdom of Scotland.
Scotland has been free of English rule since 1189, but is still under constant threat by England, and by occasional Baronial revolts that shake the land as well.
The ruler of Scotland is King William, a brash and headstrong, but also energetic and effective ruler, who is nearing his fourth decade on the Scottish throne.
Aside from warring with the English, Scotland is also at war with the Kingdom of Norway, who control the Orkney and Shetland islands that belonged to Scotland.

*

You arrive at Venezia, capital of the Republic of Venice.
Venice is a rich and powerful maritime state, that follows the mantra of ''economic supremacy before military might'', in their quest for domination.
Their ruler is the aging Doge Enrico Dandolo, who is planning an huge scale revenge on the Roman Empire, for blinding him many years ago.
Venice is currently at war with the Roman Empire, not only because of the severely anti-Latin policy in Constantinople, but also over control of the Mediterranean trading routes.

*

You arrive at Kruja, capital of the Principality of Arber.
While Arber is technically a part of the Roman Empire, it enjoys a certain degree of autonomy that was ''won'' for them by Prince Progon, around the year 1190.
Their ruler is Prince Gjin, son of Archont Progon, who just recently became a Prince because of his father's passing.
Arber is currently at war with the Republic of Ragusa. This conflict was sparked by several raids that struck Ragusan caravans on their way to Constantinople.

Yes, I am aware that those intros are very default, and that they do not have the feeling, but at least it's something.
I already said I don't really know how to write a good intro which is different and special for every faction.
So I decided to write these ''quick'' intros not as a permanent solution, but as a temporary thing until someone who has time and good writing ability decides to write a ''intro with feeling'' as you would say.
The main reason I wrote the intros is that it really sucks when you start a game, and when you choose a faction, you are simply dropped in front of the town, without any intro or knowledge of said faction.
I played with Genoa and Leon some time ago, and I had to search the internet to see the history of those 2 factions, because I wanted to know at least some basic info on them, before I start playing.
So, yes, maybe these intros are a bit boring, but at least they will inform the player of his faction choice.

The only one I'm getting a bit of a history lesson from is the Lombard League. We don't need to know when it was founded. It could be something like "For over 30 years they have acted to counter the Holy Roman Emperor but... (then you state the current problems they face)

I actually agree with you. I will see for it to be changed.

I am making an Aragonese helm shown in a manuscript dated between 1190 and 1220 for my own mod, but I can share it with you.

(click to show/hide)

The texture and normal stills need some fixes.

Very nice!!

Indeed!

[Komnenos]

I think that it is quite time that we speak about some differences and unique features to any fraction. I mean f.e. higher battle advantage when fighting sea battles as a Genoese/Venetian vassal, better Archers when Brittish, trade or production bonus in Flanders, Piety bonus when Spanish catholic and so on... And the Intros issue may announce these unique features (or drawbacks). I think that minor discrepancies between fractions will improve strategy gameplay and diversificate the allegiance choice for players...

[Welshinabadway]

I second Komnenos' notion. Long Live Komnenosia!

[Korinov]

I've been a bit off lately (had problems with my laptop) but I hope to recover the work rythm soon, even considering I'm approaching exams period.

That Aragonese helmet seems nice. Was it really so wide? 

[quapitty]

Here is my suggestion for the HRE intro. Thanks to Nike and Mihailo.

(click to show/hide)

You travelled long to the Holy Roman Empire. With a caravan you made your way all along the Via Imperii, an important trading route that connects the harbours of Venice with the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Now you face the rolling hills and shiny ponds of the countryside around the city walls of Nürnberg - a powerful and well fortified seat of the German Emperors. Caravans carry local goods as well as exotic spices and the streets are filled with noise.
But late events have led to a distressed situation in the Empire:
Former Emperor Henry VI has recently died unexpectedly in Sicily and his son Frederik II is only three years old and too young to call for his right to the throne.
Otto IV of Brunswick was elected as the country's new ruler, with his election being backed by Pope Innocent III. But his legitimacy is questioned by some and the Holy Roman Empire faces a civil war. Because another man, besides Otto, claims the position of the new German Emperor: Philip of Swabia. Both of them are supported by rival groups within the Holy Roman Empire. A rivalry that also stands for the struggle of territorial and political interests and the influence of France, by supporting Philip, and of England, by supporting Otto. Pope Innocent III is also waiting for his chance to minimize the German influence in Italy.
As if it were not enough for the poor inhabitants of this country to be struggling through these inner wars, the country is also fighting some of its neighbours

[NikeBG]

So I decided to write these ''quick'' intros not as a permanent solution, but as a temporary thing until someone who has time and good writing ability decides to write a ''intro with feeling'' as you would say.

Aye, the problem with writing such intros is not only you'd need "a good writing ability", but also a good understanding of that country's history and "current" situation. The best case would obviously be to have a native write it, but that's highly unlikely considering how many countries we have and how "many" people are actually bold enough to even try writing, let alone finish it. So, IMO, placeholder texts are indeed better than no texts and would help the player to understand his starting position better - I've also had that feeling of "Ok, who do I start with? Oh, Banu Ghania?! Never heard of it! Sounds interesting, but then again, I know absolutely nothing about it. What if it turns out they're some evil, cruel pirates who kidnap innocent people and sell them as slaves, while I actually want to role-play a noble character? Nah, I'm going to Scotland instead - can't go wrong with the good old William "Freedom" Wallace, even if it's kinda banal."

[Komnenos]

Starting in a fraction doesn't always mean playing as a vassal of this fraction... But the way you are speaking about rascal banughaniyans and noble scotish... You mean user prejudices, right? Because I may have missed something but I didn't notice if all Banu lords are really foul despite scottish ones? Or this is something to be implemented, like in diplomacy - upstanding, martial, pitiless lords?...

[Cèsar de Quart]

So I decided to write these ''quick'' intros not as a permanent solution, but as a temporary thing until someone who has time and good writing ability decides to write a ''intro with feeling'' as you would say.

Aye, the problem with writing such intros is not only you'd need "a good writing ability", but also a good understanding of that country's history and "current" situation. The best case would obviously be to have a native write it, but that's highly unlikely considering how many countries we have and how "many" people are actually bold enough to even try writing, let alone finish it. So, IMO, placeholder texts are indeed better than no texts and would help the player to understand his starting position better - I've also had that feeling of "Ok, who do I start with? Oh, Banu Ghania?! Never heard of it! Sounds interesting, but then again, I know absolutely nothing about it. What if it turns out they're some evil, cruel pirates who kidnap innocent people and sell them as slaves, while I actually want to role-play a noble character? Nah, I'm going to Scotland instead - can't go wrong with the good old William "Freedom" Wallace, even if it's kinda banal."

Good one with the Banu Ghaniya xD

But it's an intro that tells you of "entering" the region and getting to the city.

When I wrote the intro for the county of Tolosa, I wrote of vineyards, hills and twisted roads, castles, hanging heretics...

When I wrote about Venice, I spoke of a land trip from Otranto, seagulls, pirates, isles, preachers, moneylenders... and winged lions holding gospels.

And when I made Ireland's intro, I just wrote "As you enter the Emerald Isle, everything gets so green it hurts just to open your eyes in the open air".

The last one was a joke, by the way.

[NikeBG]

Good one with the Banu Ghaniya xD

What, they really were a pirate faction?!
Anyway, what I meant was that we need intro-texts, even if they're just basic ones. Atmospheric ones are, of course, better, but also harder to make (at the very least, the one who writes them should know enough about the country/landscape etc, which isn't easy). Otherwise, historical ones are good enough as well, since they do the basic job that's required of them - to let the player know the background of where he's starting and possibly feel the atmosphere of the land a bit.

[Cèsar de Quart]

Good one with the Banu Ghaniya xD

What, they really were a pirate faction?!
Anyway, what I meant was that we need intro-texts, even if they're just basic ones. Atmospheric ones are, of course, better, but also harder to make (at the very least, the one who writes them should know enough about the country/landscape etc, which isn't easy). Otherwise, historical ones are good enough as well, since they do the basic job that's required of them - to let the player know the background of where he's starting and possibly feel the atmosphere of the land a bit.

Talk about Moorish exiles living in the Balearic Isles. In times of war, which is all the time except 3-5 year truces, the Muslim emirs of the isles and northern Africa became pirate sponsors of the first level. They didn't even have fleets, they gave all the ships to corsairs.

At the same time, Christian kings and sovereigns hired corsairs, or gave merchant the right to board Muslim ships and capture their cargo (and kill the sailors if they opposed some kind of resistance. At the corsairs' discretion, I guess).

[NikeBG]

Hah, I knew their location is just too great not to be used by pirates. And that's why we need such infos - Banu Ghaniya is much more attractive to me now.

[MihailoSRB]

I actually wanted to write an intro for BG (Banu Ghaniya, not Bulgaria ) a long time ago, but I was very short on info, so it's a good thing you mentioned some interesting things, Cèsar.
I will eventualy write the intro for them, if you or someone else doesn't make one of those long ''coming-to-town'' intros that you mentioned.

When I wrote about Venice, I spoke of a land trip from Otranto, seagulls, pirates, isles, preachers, moneylenders... and winged lions holding gospels.

Have you submitted it to Cruger? Or maybe he forgot to include it, because Venice does not have an intro currently.