So, to get the basics of how to play these maps:
1) You will start the map with the base for the faction that you selected. Each faction has their own base, and they all can be AI controlled. (Except Rohan at this moment. The game will crash after about 3 minutes if you have the AI control Rohan.)
2) In this base, there are two building ranges. There are only defensive build plots, everything else is build anywhere. Capture an Wayfarer's Inn or another Castle to build in more areas.
----The outer range spreads a little outside of the base, allowing for a ring of money producing buildings as well as the Ent Moots for now.
----The inner range is about the size of your camp. Most of the buildings can only be built within the walls/fences of your base.
3) Each faction will have a set of starting units. These will be outlined below.
4) VERY IMPORTANT!! If you lose your Fortress you will lose your walls and you will be unable to build again until you have captured a castle.
5) There are 3 types of capturable buildings available on all maps, and 1 that will be available on some maps. Each building has their own upgrades/discounts. (The idea and the models chosen follow much of BT2DC's Conquest mode. Thank you MaDDoX for allowing their use.)
Now each base is different, depending on the faction. I've attempted to give them each a their own style/feel while maintaining their balance.
1) MotW - Same Castle imported from BFME1. Instead of a citadel, the MotW have their fortress without the expasion slots. All upgrades are available for purchase from the Fortress. Upgraded Stonework affects the castle walls while Flaming Munitions upgrades the Towers and Catapults attached to the walls.
2) Arnor - Currently, basically the same as the MotW.
3) Dwarves - Gondor Castle shape reskinned to match some of the textures of Erebor/Dale. The textures also come close to their fortress, which is used as their citadel. Same as the MotW, the stonework and upgraded weapons affect the expansion slots attached to the walls. Also, there are 4 spaces available for a postern gate upgrade.
4) Elves - New fortress based on the walkways of Rivendell and the Rivendell. Their walls have two layers, first is the outside walls based on the elven wall system. The inside portion is based on the walkway and is walkable. The vines upgrade from the fortress only affects the outer wall. All upgrades are available from the fortress. There are no wall upgrades available for the Elves.
5) Rohan - Same Castle imported from BFME1. See note above for MotW.
6) Mordor - Same concept as the BFME1 Castle. Instead of the citadel they have their fortress. A difference between Mordor, Isengard, & the Wild and the rest of the factions is the fact that they have the Fortress Expansion Plots. (Except for the wall hubs.) All upgrades are available from their fortress as well as sentry towers are buildable for 200 each.
7) Isengard - Same as Mordor above.
8) Wild - Same as Mordor and Isengard above.
9) Angmar - Their camp is basically the Fortress in the middle and a circular wall surrounding the perimeter. The walls are upgradeable with Towers/Catapults/Postern Gates. They do not have their expansion plots on their fortress nor do they have the 200 sentry tower plots.
Starting Units:
1) MotW - 2 soldier hordes
2) Arnor - 2 soldier hordes
3) Dwarves - 1 guardian horde
4) Elves - 1 lorien archer horde
5) Rohan - 2 peasant hordes
6) Mordor - 2 orc hordes
7) Isengard - 1 uruk-hai horde
8) Wild - 2 goblin hordes
9) Angmar - 2 thrallmasters (Will probably be limited to all upgrades outside of the wolf riders)
Expansion Buildings:
Aitheon-
Upgrades available:
1) Discounts to infantry
2) Upgrade to resources collected
3) Heroes can be purchased here
4) Commandpoint bonus
Vardarin-
1) Discounts to Monsters & Cavalry
2) Upgrade to resources collected
3) Commandpoint bonus
Workpit-
1) Discounts to upgrades & Siege Weapons
2) Upgrade to resources collected
Wayfarer's Inn
(Screenshot to come - finished but I need to take a screen)
1) Shortens Science refresh times
2) Purchase Inn Units
3) Can purchase heroes
4) Allows the inner and outer ring of buildings to be built in the area surrounding the inn.
5) Commandpoint bonus
The particle systems and effects are still to be modified slightly for the upgrades. I'm really close to where I want them to be. As a note - there is a 100 initial bonus when you capture the building. Each building has it's own resource amount collected every 6 seconds (from 5-10 for the 3 main buildings). The upgrade triples the amount collected.
Maps:
The current release includes a beta version of the Fords of Isen without the expansion buildings and a slightly different gameplay. The maps that will be included in the second release of this gameplay:
Fords of Isen
The Brown Lands
Anorien
Mouths of the Entwash
Dunharrow
Cair Andros
Belfalas
Other maps will follow in later releases, but I wanted to get a healthy amount released in the mod. With these maps, the new hero maps, and the campaign as it stands to date there will be plenty to play while the campaigns are finished. I hope you will enjoy!
