Medieval Total War - Redux (Beta)

[Axalon]

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Medieval Total War - Redux (Beta)
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This is a BETA-version of new Redux (Medieval Total War-Redux 3rd Edition) as such not everything is carved in stone yet, however most things seem to be settled at this point. Anyhow, it requires the original MTW game in order to run - as in the V 1.1 version or with the compatibility-module it can also run on VI/V 2.01 versions – the game and experience is the same.

To install Redux you first set up a clean install of MTW somewhere and then properly patch it up to either V1.1 or VI/V2.01 – once that is done you THEN copy/paste over Redux on top of MTW, standard package first and VI-module last… If done this way, Redux should work just fine.

The primary campaign in this version of Redux is “RX-classic”, a scenario which offers a campaign spanning from 700-1260 AD – in total 560 turns. 11 out of 18 factions are playable in it along with unruly rebels and pirates as well. The overall goal is total supremacy over Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, either by achieving 60% or a 100% domination of all provinces. The means for achieving this goal are troops, ships and agents, and yet more of the same. Development and a functional economy are key-factors for survival on the road to glory - without it you will surely perish.

Anyhow, while we wait for the formal release, please report in bugs, typos and anomalies if you see any.

- Enjoy


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Mod Name: Medieval Total War – Redux
Mod Version: BETA 1003
Language: English (Multi edition compatibility, European editions)
Terms of Use: P.U.O, Personal Use Only, thus it is restricted material.
Size: Rared 192MB /Zipped 244MB /Uncompressed 348MB
Compatibility: All major versions. Medieval Total War v1.1 or VI/v2.01 using the VI-upgrade module, see below...
Operating System: 2000/XP/W7 (Vista unconfirmed)
Hardware: see “Redux_ReadMe1003.txt”-file, hardware issues & info section, virtually everything else is “try and find out” essentially.
Description: see above...
Credits: see “Redux_ReadMe1003.txt”-file, credits section…
Download Links:

Download zip-version: (primary)
http://www.atomicgamer.com/files/971...redux-beta1003

Download rar-version: (reserve)
http://www.gamefront.com/files/21606...x_Beta1003_rar


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This is the VI-upgrade BETA module, as such it makes Redux compatible with the VI/V2.01 version of MTW. At this point it does not bring any “extra features” to the game-experience which is thus nearly identical to the standard version of Redux. This is still a beta so it is possible it may contain some minor errors here and there....

Anyhow, have fun with this module and please report in any bugs,
typos and other errors if you encounter any.


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Module Name: Redux VI-upgrade
Module Version: BETA 1003
Language: English (Multi edition compatibility, European editions)
Terms of Use: P.U.O, Personal Use Only, thus it is restricted material.
Size: Rared 8.5MB /Zipped 10.8MB /Uncompressed 19.5 MB
Install: VI-upgrade must be installed after the standard package.
Operating System: 2000/XP/W7 (Vista unconfirmed)
Compatibility: Medieval Total War V2.01 only. (Patched Eras- and Gold-editions included).
Credits: see “Redux_ReadMe1003.txt”-file, credits section…
Download Links:

Download zip-version: (primary)
http://www.atomicgamer.com/files/971...ux-vi-beta1003

Download rar-version: (reserve)
http://www.gamefront.com/files/21606...I_Beta1003_rar


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Some demo-screens of new Redux...


Demo01


Demo02


Demo03


Demo04


Demo05


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Furthermore, there already are regular Redux-threads since 2008 with various questions, answers and discussions over at the ORG and TWC respectively. Feel free to go there and post related stuff to Redux at your discreation...

Link to ORG:
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/forumd...?263-MTW-Redux


Link to TWC:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190721


- A

[Axalon]

Redux News….

I am currently working on RXB1003 and thus I can now confirm that there will be another Redux-release in 2012. Maybe more, but one thing at a time. I don’t know about release dates at this point – all I can say is that “its on its way”. One thing is certain anyhow - as of RXB1003 - Redux will officially support Windows 7 and that means that folks using (or considering to use) that OS will then be free to try out Redux at will (and from that point I’ll then try the best I can to support people, if problems occur on Redux) – if there previously was any uncertainties due to OS – they are now gone as far as W7 is concerned. I can now fully confirm that running RXB1003 on W7 (and essentially modern hardware) seems to present the game within fully acceptable parameters with only a few small-time anomalies of various kinds that can’t be helped due to the MTW-engine and various drivers (see Redux & W7-thread for details).

As for Windows Vista, that OS will continue to hold the status of “not officially supported”/unconfirmed on Redux, even if I have seen several claims that it too does work with Redux as well. I don’t have any Vista available and thus I can not confirm and check on anything related to it. Regardless, that status will still stand until further notice.

At any rate, what might we expect of the future RXB1003-release then? Here are the things that are already are set to be included in the release – it is possible that there will be even more stuff eventually, time will tell…

• Windows 7 officially supported.
• Upgrades on GFX, Burgundy.
• Upgrades on GFX, France.
• Upgrades on GFX, Papacy.
• Upgrades on GFX, Portugal.
• Upgrades on GFX, Russia.
• Upgrades on GFX, units (minor)
• Upgrades on GFX, Peasant BIF-plate (minor).
• Upgrades on GFX, models (for improved experience with W7)
• Upgrades on GFX, interface & icons (various).
• Upgrades on GFX, frontend and loadingscreen
• Upgrades on GFX, various models and textures
• Campaign/stratmap-texture upgraded.
• All princess portraits (Catholic, Orthodox and pagan) upgraded to the “2012-paradigm”.
• Upgrades on “battle-animations”, Dragon Order Knights, Russian Boyars, Slavic Horse Archers, English Knights, Spanish Knights, Frankish Knights and Papal Knights.
• Russia will be unlocked and be fully playable as an optional faction (officially).
• Spies returns to Redux, now available via the chancellery-building. “Travellers” are out - the engine could not handle it properly....
• Minor adjustments on unit-roster.
• Minor adjustments on buildings/tech-roster.
• European-editions compatible, French/German/Italian/Spanish-editions. (In English)
• Low resolution faction-shields fixed. The engine could not handle the colours properly...
• A few minor bugs and errors killed.
• Scottish Nobles get their shields.
• ?

- A

[Axalon]

Alright, all links are up...




Q. Why should I try MTW-Redux?
A. Because you want a different experience, Redux provides that and then some.

Q. Where are all the old troops from MTW?
A. Nowhere, they were thrown out of Redux…. Redux has it’s own and more advanced troop-roster made from scratch (more detailed and diverse in qualities, ensuring more interesting and dynamic battles)…

Q. Why are there so few factions? I like loads of factions and more variety!
A. In short, it creates a better and more functional game, and thus ultimately a better game-experience for you as the player of that game… Ironically a more diverse game as well, despite appearances…

Long answer…
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There are several reasons for it. Experience shows that “fewer” factions means superior AI-performance in general and that each faction included in such circumstances can be made more distinct - thus have more actual meaning within the game. There are only so many ways to distinguish factions on the MTW-engine. Once we exceed the threshold of what the engine can handle in such regards - and the more we do it - each faction loses distinction. Essentially, it becomes an illusion of variety, more or less hollow. Making each faction more and more like copies of other factions. This is in direct conflict with the very concepts of actual diversity.

It is one thing so call something by a new name and quite another to actually have something that is something else due to individual and specific traits that distinguish it. Redux excels in these regards because of the fact that it has fewer factions. Each distinction and trait becomes more important because it is more effective and valid under such circumstances. Redux is made with the doctrine of quality in parts, not quantity. If quantity has to go in order to ensure quality by distinctions and functionality in factions - then so be it.

Besides, fewer factions ultimately mean stronger and thus more dangerous factions, making the overall game-experience and AI-performance more exiting and challenging anyways - even without the enhanced designs that Redux has in place for both AI and factions on this note. This in contrast to a broken functionality due to the weight of too many factions that the engine can’t successfully handle or separate anyways - resulting in regular AI-apathy and passivity (usually due to the lack of strength somehow). Thus we would get poor AI performance and less exiting and entertaining game-experiences because of it. For Redux, it was an easy choice and obviously it was made for the benefit of the player and the overall game-experience…

The irony is that fewer factions, once properly designed, clearly offers more actual diversity and dynamics to a game then a multitude of factions does (which only offers increased levels of standardization - which in turn kills diversity and dynamics. Thus appearances deceive). It all boils down to this, variety or quantity…. As the reality is that the MTW-engine can’t have and handle both when it comes to factions. Redux has gone for variety to ensure quality in the game-experience...

Q. Where are the grand inquisitors and cardinals (and the others)?
A. Nowhere, they are not included in Redux. They did not have enough purpose in the game to earn a place in Redux and thus were taken out as redundant elements because of it.

Q. Why is there no era-progression in Redux?
A. It has a history of generating bugs. Besides, Redux is too cool to bother with any silly eras-progression…. Next question….

Q. Where are Malta and Rhodes?
A. Nowhere, they are not included in Redux….

Q. Where is Switzerland?! I want my Swiss armoured pikemen!
A. Nowhere, it is not included in Redux…. Relax, pikemen in Redux is just as good or better in every aspect…. For optimal pikemen, play HRE or Italy….

Q. Are all landbridges removed in Redux?
A. Many of them are… The only ones left are Denmark-Sweden, Cordoba-Morocco, Sicily-Naples and Sardinia-Corsica…

Q. Why are all generals, helmeted knights? (Norse – warriors?)
A. That is part of the customization aspects of Redux. They are essentially numbered placeholders, ready to be changed at the player’s discretion, either by the pre-made stock-portraits done for Redux or something you done yourself. All stock-portraits are found in the included the “Redux Bonus Materials” - as is the instructions on how this is exactly done (and sets of backup placeholder-portraits are also included). Basically, players can at any time personalize their “fave” general(s) by selecting and applying such stock-portraits into the game, according to personal preference.

Q. Are the campaign-map changed? Any extra provinces in Redux?
A. Yes, both the map, provinces and the connectivity between provinces has been re-drawn and changed all over. This to generate better circumstances, game-flow and AI-performance out of the game - all over. No additional extra-provinces have been added due to limitations of the v.1.1-engine. The raw tax-value of the Redux-map is 30.000 fl. MTW got about 32.000+ fl. in raw tax-value on the same amount of provinces. So, Redux has fewer florins assigned to it. You were not supposed to swim in florins anyways, at least not without having to work and fight for it. You know, florins are supposed to be precious somehow….


Ok, so much for the "old questions, new answers”…

- A

[Axalon]

A note on the links...

It seems that GameFront-management in their infinite wisdom has screwed up once again and lost all Redux uploads and thus people will have too rely solely on the AtomicGamer links for Redux until further notice. I'll try to fix it, possibly put up some other uploads elsewhere.


EDIT:
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The GameFront links for Redux are up and fully operational again...

- A