10/27/2007 RJ-RotWK Update

Well, due to a whole lot of things I missed last week's update, but I sure hope you all will like this week's update. I've got more I could show, but this is all I'll do this week:

1) RJ-RotWK has a new contributor/skinner. Coming with work on WoA, ElrondHighLord has provided RJ-RotWK with more skins than I can code/model/etc. all at once. So I'll show off some of the work. (Models by me, skins by ElrondHighLord)

Celeborn - a new armored version of Celeborn added to the mod. (2nd and 3rd pic)



Arwen - similar to The Elven Alliance, when Arwen is purchased you will get one of six variations of Arwen. Whether in WotR or Skirmish, whichever Arwen model you get will stay with your through the rest of the game or she is armored in the final skin.

#1


#2


#3


#4


#5


#6


Armored (Forgot to take a mounted screen)


This is just the beginning of ElrondHighLord. Join me in welcoming him to the mod.


2) I've gotten many requests from those who want to join the private beta team, and one of the ways you can be added in the next round of testing for 1.05.05 is a screenshot contest. A number of great entries have been received and I hope to see many more. At least the winner of the contest will be added to the beta team, if not more. I want to include at least a few more testers soon, so here is your chance. More information for the contest can be found at:

http://forums.revora...showtopic=54992


3) Yeoman (Rohan infantry) Well, Rohan's infantry yeoman units have been completely enhanced with the addition of more units/skins/combos and more. Now the idea is similar to the Thrall Masters, but in a way that fits Rohan.

Herald - This unit can be purchased from either the Archery Range or the Barracks, and is used to rally the yeoman to war. Once purchased the Herald (Rohan infantry banner carrier) can rally troops for free based on which upgrades are purchased.



When purchased at the beginning the only thing that can be summoned are Yeoman Swordsmen. But the equipment of other units can be purchased as well at the archery range and barracks. Archery Range - Spears for Throwing, Bow/Arrows. Barracks - Pikemen Spears, Axes. Once the equipment is purchased the herald can then rally yeoman that can use the weaponry. Some things of note - a CHOP damage type has been fully enhanced to be used by Yeoman Axemen and others that are suitable. This damage type follows SLASH, but is stronger against structures and non-upgraded units and weaker against upgraded units. There are other things to be mentioned, but for now here are screens of the different units:

Swordsmen: Model - The Dead Player, Skin - Nazgul


Axemen: Model - The Dead Player, Skin - Battles of Gondor (Stealthsnake)


Spearmen: (I'll be doing a higher quality skin at some point)


Archers: Skin - Nazgul


Spear Thrower: Model - Me


Now with the addition of the new units and such, the number of combo horde combinations has definitely increased for the Yeoman:


4) Rohan Cavalry - I added 2 new units. Rohirrim Axemen - used more against structures than the spearmen. And Yeoman Scouts - these come in battalions of three and are the fastest cavalary for Rohan with the best vision. They also have 2 different abilities at other levels for a tempory speed boost and a permanent vision bonus.

Scout: Model by me, and horse skins from WoA (Eldarion)


Axemen: Model by Battles of Gondor, and skins from WoA (Eldarion)


And all of the Rohirrim Combos:


5) The last thing I'll do is mention some of the work with Arnor. As I mentioned in the last update the elves have been revamped for Arnor. Since then, I've done all the combo hordes for them - seven different combinations in total. Also, I've added the first of the captain units - the imladris captain. For Arnor, they are broken up into 3 factions so far. Arnor, Dunedain Rangers, and Elves. (Hopefully hobbits to come). For each faction a single units can be purchased as captains for them that provide small amount leadership as well has other items. Here is the elven captain:



That's all this week. I hope to have more good stuff next week as I'll be releasing 1.05.05 to the private team this week or next.

Robert J.

p.s. One last note. I wanted to mention those who have contributed 2d art on the beta team. So many good things I'll show off in an update.

Allathar
el kevo
Thorin III Stonehelm
astrinax
Caluadan
Shikari (and thank you for the team sigs)

Edit: - lol I forgot one thing. It's small but it's been bugging me since I first had BFME1 and so I thought I'd do more work in this area. See if you can spot what it is. (I made this too easy.)

Edited by robnkarla, 29 October 2007 - 06:38 PM.

Very Nice.

I really like the way you did the new rohan heralds, and HighElvenlord's work too, this will be a great addition to this mod.

You brought back the sparkle from BFME1 weapons. I loved the sparkles

Wow, not much new to me but seeing as WoA can't zoom in close to see the skins they do look quasi-new to me. Hmmmm.... now all Celeborn needs is original powers and his real voice

Although I did not understand exactly how it worked, I like the Arwen skins (don't really like her face but w/e).

I hope you removed the Rohan Swordsmen from the Barracks anyway =P

looks nice, but...

why does Celeborn have his sword on his dress?
In the middle.... tch tch tch, you should remodel\remap\rebind him

Nice.

@ Celeborn: does he get his armour at a certain level or something like that?

Xingdao Fan- When did Arwen ever have a pretty face

I see nothing wrong with it Lauri

Yeah, the regular version of EA's Celeborn does have a sword down the middle of his robes (Guess it is their shortcut to adding any sort of designs...sigh). I have not touched it at all, and mostly showed the screen of it to demonstrate the difference between the old and the new.

I have a remapped version, but as far as I've been able to tell it's impossible to redo the binding on the celeborn to match EA's in gmax/renx. (EA used some weighting or elasticity between vertices in their binding, for example the back of the robe stays the same distance apart regardless of the movement of the bones. It just looks odd to have the robe split apart like pants. I see the area in the .w3d file that controls this, but nothing is created from renx and any hex editing does not seem to work to add it after the fact.

At some point I'll do a bunch of re-moddeling to make it usable and hide the fact, but for now it was mostly about showing the new skin than anything I did with Celeborn. It's not so bad with Celeborn as it looks like it could kinda fit. Change the skin to any color and it sticks out like a sore thumb.)

You're right about Arwen's face. It needs some work, more on the model side than the texture I think. But in game, 99% of the time it completely works. As I get better with modeling I'll go back and fix these things and do more touch-up work. I guess it's one down-fall of the camera system, everything can seen, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

......sparkles?.......

Robert J.

Edited by robnkarla, 29 October 2007 - 04:14 PM.

yeah, for the power buttons. when they are done recharging it gives off a sparkle (or was it when you click them they sparkle)

Well, every pro has it's cons. I don't mind about Celeborn, it's a minor but annoying detail...

@ my question: will his drobe/armour be random skins (like Arwen) or will he get his armour at certain level/upgrade... or armour only?

Edited by Allathar, 29 October 2007 - 04:43 PM.

Great update Rob can't wait to try out all these new combo hordes

Well, for the armored skins, an update will trigger them but I'm debating on how the upgrade should be obtained. I could do a pp like for Gondor, but I am brainstorming for a different idea so the factions will have different paths.

Some of those skins are amazing. Like the armored Celeborn and the Elven Captains, they look great. The yeomen ones looks pretty good too, but I love those new elves . I'm probably the only one, but I don't really like the new Yeoman thing for Rohan. I think it takes away from Angmar's unique-ness and ever since BFME I've always thought of Rohan as the faction without Infantry (Elves where more ranged really, and Peasants were just spam), but it'll probably be more fun playing Rohan this way, and add more strategy to them, so I it could turn out pretty well. Another amazing update .

I can't figure it out.... Can you set multiple powers to auto now or something (maybe you could do that already, I don't know). Whatever it is, good to know that you've fixed it.

yeah, for the power buttons. when they are done recharging it gives off a sparkle (or was it when you click them they sparkle)

no they didnt, it was when set for auto-cast. now you can have multiple auto-casts


anyway, awesome update rob!

Tjo! i really like the idea for rohan. It fits them pretty well. this adds some new tactics for rohan and it will be very fun to try them out. I like the new skin for celeborn. It makes him look more like a hero than a psycopathic patient with hospital shirt who have escaped a mental hospital. Nice progress, keep up the good work.

i liked celborn looking like an insane asylum escapee darn lol

Yes, the last picture is related to auto abilities. It's always bugged me that you could only have a limited number on instead of all the ones that can work with auto-ability. I've also been playing around with how they work.

For example some things I might do.

- Wizard blast being auto-cast when there are 10 or more units instead of just a couple
- Istari Light only cast on heroes and maybe cavalry
- Word of Power being cast when there are 50 units.

This does not prevent you from casting them manually, it just uses the powers a little more wisely.

Robert J.

This is a great idea and a lot of work. What bugged me though wasn't the 1 time limit, but the inconsistency of it all: One unit has it all defined in detail, all others don't have it at all. Why?
Any questions on this should be answered easily i think. If you need help designing the modules (which i doubt very much) i'll gladly assist you.

It's just one of those inconsistancies in the game it seem. It is a good deal of programming, but after combo hordes for 10 factions and some of the other stuff..... ......it's not that much comparitively.

And if I need any help I'll definitely call out for it Lately it just feels like so much is piling up to code/skin/model/etc. I'm playing catch up a lot. And I have to say I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Modding has been one of the greay hobbies for me in what little time I have with work and family responsibilties.

Robert J.