@Falwick
Just to clarify things, please read the following points:
- While some of my reskins like the Arbelist (soon to be changed) and the Vanguard (yet to be done) do indeed belong to the 11th century, both my Sergeant and my Knight reskins are based on the second half of the 12th century. My Knight reskin is a mix of German, Italian and Norman/French/English fashion from the 1170s-1180s, while my Sergeant improved armor can even pass the early 13th century. This means that my Vlandian reskin as a whole mixes different periods (not too far from each other), just as does Taleworlds design in a wider extent: 11th century Vanguard, 14th century Sharpshooter, 13th century Voulgier, etc. Once again, Mount & Blade is not a hardcore historically accurate game but takes place in a history-inspired fictional world so we can take some freedom in the design. I've nevertheless narrowed this chronological window, making the contrast between classes even less shocking (well apart that fancy Carolingian-inspired style that I'll limit to the Sharpshooter improved armor).
- As I already explained in a previous post, the Vlandian castle of the recent siege is mostly based on Anglo-Norman and French castles from the 1170s-1190s (here Châteaudun and Gisors). Only the deep gatehouse (Edward I's style) and the late medieval bartizan adjoined to the keep are later elements. What's more, there are other Vlandian castles in the game which look way older, like these 11th-12th century Norman/French square keeps, which have appeared in Taleworlds' Vlandian artworks from an early date. Thus, my reskin is entirely consistent with the Vlandian fortifications. By the way, the White Tower is far from being the only 11th century castle built in stones: Montbazon, Loches, La Roche-Posay, Saint-Sauveur & co are other examples. Even in England, some stone keeps were built prior to the Norman conquest.
Now, although I don't like to talk about myself like that, I have to say that I've always been a medieval warfare enthusiast and that I've been studying medieval arms & armors and military architecture for years now, both as hobby and in an academical context (in which I managed to talk about M&B several times
). I've even started to write papers which will be published. Just to say that I know what I'm talking about.
I would never spend hours making these reskins if they weren't consistent.
Again, what's not consistent in the first place is Taleworlds design regarding their own statement:
"
Vlandian arms and armour are based on that of Western Europe from the 9th to the early 12th centuries."
I am not a fan of the current knight design nor your early norman helmet design as well. While there are some better alternatives like enclosed helmets(primitive great helms).
Those helmets predecessor of great helm, used in the late 12th century among nobility.
While there are other variation without faceplate, commonly used among squires and sergeants are those pot helms(I presented in the post above)
Again, the faceplate phrygian helmet I chose is
not Norman/Siculo-Norman but
Italo-German, nor does it belong to the early Norman era as it appears in sources from the
second half of the 12th century.
About the enclosed helmet/transitional helm, I kept one for the
Sergeant improved armor. Historically, it would indeed rather suit knights as they used the latest fashion armors, but I decided not to go against Taleworlds choice as it doesn't look bad. Dismounted knights (well, sergeants here) with flat-topped helms look badass to me.
However, your first helm example is one truly awful reproduction (I would not even take it for free), while the second one isn't an enclosed helmet/helm but rather a faceplate flat-topped helmet. As to the simpler "pot helmets", they rarely appear in sources, and when they do, it's almost always on nobles (mostly on seals). There is little to no historical basis for their association with squires and sergeants, which is actually mostly due to the historiography, iconography and audiovisual productions of these two last centuries.
Having said that, I understand your frustration, and as I also like the 13th century style, I'll make alternative reskins with surcoats, helms, etc. One important point:
it's not 3D, but 2D work using only PhotoFiltre. So I encourage you to make reskins too. It takes some time, but it's way easier than 3D modelling.
@Ettenrocal @Mr Similan @GiipaGips
Thank you for your support. I wish I could make it quicker, I can't wait to share my ideas for the weapons with you.
