LotR Thread I:
LotR Modders UNITE!!! Half-way-point.
LotR Thread II:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?postid=1015305#post1015305 Half-way-point.
LotR Thread III:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (cont) Half-way-point.
LotR thread IV:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (4) Half-way-point
LotR thread V:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (5)http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=60650 Half-way-point
LotR thread VI:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (part-hex)http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63116 Half-way-point
LotR thread VII:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (septa)http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64619 Half-way-point
LotR thread VIII:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (octa)http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=67049 Half-way-point
LotR thread IX:
Middle-Earth: Lord of the Mods (nona)[latest] Half-way-point
It isn't necessary for the regulars to read this part, feel free to skip it.
We started working on this .mod as a gathering of Modders, who had an acute interest in Lord of the Rings and Middle-earth. This is a continuation of
nine threads created and discussed, as seen at the links above. We made some significant progress in actually working together to get a collaboration of ideas, to please everyone. This will take some time, but should be beneficial for all LotR fans in the long run. The more we professionally discuss our varied beliefs, the closer to the end we will be. As each thread goes by we gather more of these 'LotR' modders. However, it is paramount that we get the earliest edition out as soon as possible. This will allow us to test and mold our idea's while we use in a playable biq. Yet still, it is important to be patient, it always takes a long time to make a mod from scratch for one person (only one can work on the .biq). Look at DyP and TAM. Both have been worked on since C3Cs release and the c3c updates are not yet available. Making this a quality project will take time, but we still have hopes that the beta will be out sometime in February.
Thread Log
-In the Third installment of our collaboration, significant work was completed on the buildings\wonder\improvement front. Unfortunately it was sort of sporadic, and it's hard to define just what we did
. Discussion of the maps also took place, at which point Yoda Power offered to make an older version of Middle-earth, you can see this
here.
-In the Fourth thread, we have gathered some new blood, and discussed about how to implement certain civilizations into the game, namely Isengard and Rohan. We set our course to make it clear, to stomp on the sporadic-ness of the third thread.
-In the Fifth thread, more new blood, significant progress in accumulating graphic designers, and a recession, in which the new blood has expressed their long bottled up opinions on how the mod should go. Talks on the tech tree in a forum based discussion has been put off for a bit. We should let the new (and old) idea's re-circulate, meanwhile, chat based discussion will take place at undefined periods, then re-introduced into the sixth installment of the thread.
-In the Sixth thread, believe it or not more new blood, and many of them CFC 'old-timers'. The tech tree thread
should be getting a tech update, to initiate discussion about how to branch the tree itself. Lots of opinions have been rattling around, and we have gotten even more beautiful works and ideas from the unit creators\graphic designers.
-In the Seventh thread, we have developed a secure style of going about making the .bix. And that is by going tab-to-tab. For instance, we already covered the
Citizen and
General Settings tabs, allowing us to go in depth with the mod. Civilizations are agreed on, and soon we will start on the
Civilzations tab.
-In the Eighth thread the
Combat Experience is complete, and the
Terrain tab is very near this goal also. Now that we wish to have a playable beta out within the month, it is very important that we come to decisions quickly and effectively. The beta itself will be somewhat hap-hazard, missing many civilopedia changes, and constantly evolving to the alpha version. If you want your vote to count, don't forget that even passing modders have their vote, then please post as quickly as possible so we can move on to the next subject. Do not be alarmed if new tabs get brought up before discussion has ended on the other. However we will make sure the vote has been tallied.
-The Ninth thread marks some changes, the release date pointing somewhere around the February month. We are down to the last three tabs in the tab system, Buildings, Units, and Civilization Advances. Some minor changes are taking place, the biggest being the additions of leaders for the civilizations, which will more than likely never be completed until the beta.
The near future should hold these tabs-
1.)
Buildings
2.)
Units
3.)
Civilization Advances
4.)
Civilizations
After this is
completed, we will be at
90% completion with the mod. After this is finished, the label txt will be worked on, and corresponding art gathered. Needless to say, after this the public beta will be put up. Civilizations are supposed to be worked on through all of this.
FAQ
What is going to be in the MOD? When will it span? What are the Civs? Has work started yet? Will it be for PtW, Vanilla, or Conquests?
1.)
When will it span?
Well, we decided that the Mod should start slightly before the coming of man. Like this:
- Era#1 First Age (Middle-late first age, with the arrival of man)
- Era#2 Time of the Rings (Elven supremacy and Saurons Power)
- Era#3 Time of the Númenóreans\Dark Age (Supremacy of Man, Numenor and it's later subdivisions\Last Alliance)
- Era#4 Third Age (Best known, time of the peace, yet weakened state, time of the fellowship)
This way it wont be strange to have all civs in existence, and yet it still has the remarkable, mythological old middle-earth in tact.
2.)
What are the Civs?
To start out, we will have less civilizations than vanilla civ3. Civilizations are a problem because of lack of cities in Middle-earth. Feel free to post on this topic at any time! This is what we have so far:
http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads6/lotmTRIBES.zip
A few important Civs we have made lists for can be located here:
The Shire
Gondor
The Dwarves
Mordor
High Elves(Noldorian)
Some civs that may or may not be added, or ones that are not finished yet, can be found here:
Valinor-SoCalian
Haradrim-SoCalian
Numenor-SoCalian
Rohan-SoCalian
Arnor-SoCalian
Dale-SoCalian
Ossiriand-SoCalian
Mordor and Angband -SoCalian
Gondor-SoCalian
Hollin-SoCalian
Lorien - SoCalian
Ents-SoCalian
Dwarves -SoCalian
Haradrim (Plexus)
Mirkwood Elves (Plexus)
Thanks SoCalian!
3.)
What is going to be in the MOD?
We plan on numerous versions of the Mod, most important first.
Mod Types
- Random Map Mod (regular)
- Middle Earth- Map of Middle Earth, with specific placed things (like dragons)
- Lord Of the Rings quest- (You can only choose out of 3 Civs, though the rest make an appearance, but depending on the Civ you choose, you have a specific Victory cond.)
- Older version- This will have modified ages, and different civs, such as the Vanyar, and unique buildings\wonders.
4.)
Has Work Started on the .biq yet?
Yes, a communal .biq has been under way for quite some time.
5.)
I would like to join in this project, is there anything I can do to make the production go faster?
Well, we will always have need of those talented artists. If you would like to make some building graphics, just pick one off the list below, but make sure work on that hasn't already started or been completed.
If you would like to make units for the game, certain ones we are looking for are:
- Silvian Archer\Elven Archer
Thanks embryodead!!!
- Troll
Thanks Kindred72! Great units
!
- Elven Cavalry
Thanks again embryodead!
- Dwarf Defender
Possibly a complement Kindreds High Guard.
Thanks mrtn\utahjazz
- Dwarf Offensive
Another complement to Kindreds unit, this time the Ironbreaker, probably heavy armor. Somewhat like the Dwarves of Belegost, with a metal mask\helmet to protect them from heat and flame?
- Dwarf Archer
We know from accounts that the Dwarves used missile units in defense of their towers in the days of old. We also know they were common throughout The Hobbit. This Archer would probably be heavily armored, and not agile. A more defense oriented unit.
- Dwarf Militia
A fast runner, think Dain and the dwarves from Iron Hills. A pickaxe and a shield would be very cool.
- Medieval Worker
A worker, more heavily clothed than the Civ3 counterpart, yet still more 'medieval' than the Civ3 Modern Worker.
Of course, beggars can't be choosers, and we would take anything LOTR (or similar) you throw at us!
Text
RRnut's been doing some civilopedia texts, post in the thread if you would like to make some of these files. We need some buildings entries, but this can be done after the beta.
6.)
Will it be for PtW, Vanilla, or Conquests?
So far only a conquest version is planned, but later a PtW version might be in store. There will be no vanilla version.
-end FAQ
Resources
View the resources at
this link.
Unit Lines
A word on the difference between civilizations unit lines in the RTF file. If you would like to download the Unit lists, you can do so here, they are available in two formats yet both in one .zip, the first being of better quality, the second is the lists straight forward, in standard text format.
Mrtn's Unit Lines
Overview plan- Get the FAQ in standard Wordpad and Notepad format.
Other CFC LotR\fantasy oreinted threads to look at, in no paticular order:
Embryodeads WH MOD
Embryodeads Fantasy Units Preview Thread II
Unit Preview Thread:LOTR
Middle Earth Map
ME: Lord of the Mods (Tech Tree)
)
Dwarf Thunderer comes from 
.
