Boop878

 

I doubt the team would want to resort to such an overhaul. I think a nice aesthetic compromise might be the following: give every evil faction the same ships and the same for good, but use that pirate flag/Cirdan update to change the colour of the sails and the symbol to represent the flag of the faction. It's not an overhaul, but at least it would give players the feeling that they are fighting with ships that are fitting to their faction. Lore-wise it would also work. The elven ship builders provide ships for their allies, the corsairs for theirs, but the factions themselves get to make these ships their own and have them sail under their flag. 

I asked the devs about a new texture of a Dol Amroth ship some time ago, they were not doing any new texture or models for ships, just some minor stuff.

 

And most of what I'm suggesting already exist, is just not in game.

 

That's a pity. I think adding the appropriate factional insignia + colours on the sails would do a lot to make naval warfare more attractive, and reflective of the great variety this mod offers in other places. And that without requiring the team to design new ships. Btw, I think one of the devs answered on Mod db that the bombard ships may see a comeback. I think they are considering it, perhaps trying to find ways to balance it better. Nothing confirmed of course. 

Since 8.0 is going to be the last 'big' update, I do hope they add some minor visual changes to make the ships at least a bit more appropriate to their faction. I mean, I love the Dol Amroth sails, it's just a shame that they are thrust upon factions that do not suit them. Also, and this is just a small thing, I find the green-ish bodies of the Umbarian ships to be rather unfitting & out of place. I wonder what inspired them to give the updated ships that particular colour, instead of something more metallic or dark. 

I should add that without these changes, 8.0 will still be great. It's just that it would be a shame to have such beautifully detailed and appropriate units for every faction, and have the ships be entirely non-distinct and detached from their factions. Just a thought. 

Yep, Sûladan got killed by Théoden. And that's the sound we're going for.

I really like the backstory you have given him. The whole 'works for the Golden King, but really wants to free his people from Gondor's oppression' is just a really nuanced take. It really evokes that tragedy of war, like with Faramir talking about how many of the Haradrim were forced to fight against their will. Adding to that the Zigur-hardcore followers, the Umbarians with beef from the Kinn-strife + their own anti-faithful feelings going back to Numenor, the tribes and creatures subjugated with fear and endoctrination to fight for Sauron. This faction is just so fascinating and varied lore-wise. It's lightyears away from most MotE factions that just duplicate slightly different versions from the Rhun/Harad designs seen in the movies. Can't wait to see what else 8.0 has in store for us. 

Would it not make more sense to have the 'Tribes of Harad' spell summon a couple of tribal units, like with Easterling spell now, and have the 'Forth, Men of Darkness' spell summon an Easterling Encampment instead? That way the unit summon is for units that are already a part of the faction. And the building summon is for units that are allies of Harad, but are not part of their main army (like with Dol Amroth).

I think some players would prefer this, because it allows for the possibility of having the Easterlings be a bit more closely tied to Harad, without fully absorbing them and making Haradwaith just an 'Evil Men' faction. The latter is not on the table, but this would be a good alternative, and would keep the integrity of Haradwaith in tact. 

I doubt the team would want to resort to such an overhaul. I think a nice aesthetic compromise might be the following: give every evil faction the same ships and the same for good, but use that pirate flag/Cirdan update to change the colour of the sails and the symbol to represent the flag of the faction. It's not an overhaul, but at least it would give players the feeling that they are fighting with ships that are fitting to their faction. Lore-wise it would also work. The elven ship builders provide ships for their allies, the corsairs for theirs, but the factions themselves get to make these ships their own and have them sail under their flag.