Amazon:Total War

[SubRosa]

I thought I would create a new topic, since this way I can update the OP, which makes things a lot easier.

Overview

Amazon Total War is a partial conversion for Rome Total war version 1.5 or Barbarian Invasion version 1.6. There are separate versions of the game for each executable. It uses the mod:switch option, so it will not interfere with any of your original game files. Be sure you apply it to a clean install of RTW, as you may experience ctd's when entering battles if not.

ATW adds three new Amazon factions to the game: Amazonia, the Valkyrja, and the Gorgons. These belong to a new culture, that of the Amazons, with new units, generals, retinue members, and traits just for them. My inspiration for this was the Amazons of legend, and I have tried to keep everything in the mod in the spirit of those legends. So just as legend has it, the Amazons are outstanding archers and horsewomen. They also fight in the standard greek hoplite style, as well as having some troops using the sagaris, an axe that was a signature weapon of the Amazons (and where calling a woman an "old battle-axe" comes from). As the Amazons were not known to be sailors of any repute, I have limited them to recruiting biremes and triremes.

As the Amazons were reputed to be the progenitors of the Sarmatian people, I have also created a new Sarmatian faction, occupying their ancestral homelands between the Don and Volga rivers. I have tried to emulate their close ties by making Amazonia and Scythia begin the game as Allies. While the Valkyrja and the Sarmatians begin as allies as well. I have also made Sarmatian mercenaries recruitable in Amazonia, as well as Amazon mercs recruitable across the steppes.

While all Generals are female, the spies, assassins, and diplomats remain male by design. These men would be specially recruited from the Amazons courtesan class of men, or from men in foreign lands. The reason being that in the world outside of Amazonia men can move far more easily through society than women can. Due to the constraints of the game's hard coding, they will all have female names however.

But Amazons and are not all that is different in ATW. The original game map has been modified by the inclusion of 31 new territories. Most of them are located in North Africa, the Steppe, and the mountains of Armenia. Scythia has been moved to its more historically accurate starting position in the Crimea and lower Ukraine. It has also undergone a large change in its unit roster, now having many more infantry units of better quality than before. This reflects the effects of their having become partially sedentary at the time the game begins.

Every Barbarian faction now has a 4th tier of development. There are many new units, including Onagers for all Barbarians. Maiden Axes have been added to Britannia and Gaul. Chosen Slingers added to Britannia, Carthage, and Iberia. Dacia and Thrace now have Chosen Falxmen. Gaul and Germania have regular Archer Warbands. Mercenary Cretan Archers and Rhodian Slingers are now recruitable by the Hellenic factions from their home islands. Scutarii are now recruitable by Carthage. Elephants and Noble Cavalry have been added to Numidia, Noble Cavalry to Iberia, and Heavy Cavalry have been added to the Greek Cities.

In addition I have tweaked the stats of many units, such as increasing the range and damage of all Slingers, reducing the attack of Warhounds, and increasing the attack and defense of Iberian Infantry and Equites, and increased the defense of Naked Fanatics. Many factions have had their unit recruitment trees altered, with most temple units now being recruitable from a regular barracks instead.

The game's corruption triggers have been changed so as not to kick in until your treasury reaches 100,000 and 150,000 denarii respectively. So you do not have to worry as much about making too much money.

Every faction has a Legendary Artifact associated with it. Each is unique, and had can only be possessed by a member of its parent faction. These artifacts are represented in the game as retinue members, and give their holders very significant bonuses. If lost through character death there is a random chance they will reappear later in the game.

As this is an early release there is still work to be done. The general portraits are also only placeholders. Permanent ones will come in a future release. I have disabled the pre-battle speeches of the Amazons, and will also create new ones in a later release, and possibly add strategic map sound effects for Amazon units.


Download Options

There are two separate copies of Amazon Total War. One for use with the Rome Total War executable, and the other for use with the Barbarian Invasion executable.  

Amazon: Total War 2.5c For BI - Full Version

Amazon: Total War 2.5 for BI to 2.5c Patch

Amazon: Total War 2.5c For Rome Total War - Full Version

Amazon: Total War for RTW 2.5 to 2.5c Patch

Saves from 2.4 or earlier are not compatible with 2.5. Savegames from 2.5 are compatible with 2.5c.

Installation Instructions

Unzip the file you download to your base Rome Total War folder (i.e. the one with RomeTW.exe in it). When you are done you should see the folder "amazon" alongside your data, logs, Miles, preferences, saves, and other folders. Like so:

RTW
:-amazon
:-bi
:-custom
:-data
:-logs
:-Miles
:-preferences

Now create a new shortcut for Amazon Total War.

For more information on editing the Command Line of Rome Total War look here.

If you have downloaded the RTW version, then go to your RomeTW.exe file and right-click on it.

If you have downloaded the Barbarian Invasion version, then go to your RomeTW-BI.exe file and right click on it.

An options box will pop up.

Move your mouse down to "Send To". Another box will pop up along side the first one.

Move your mouse over to "Desktop (Create Shortcut)", and click on it with your left mouse button.

Now go to your Desktop and you will see the new shortcut there, named "Shortcut to RomeTW.exe"

Right-click on the new shortcut, and a box will pop up.

Click on Properties in this box.

A new window will open up, with three tabs across the top. If the Shortcut tab was not already selected, click on it.

Click in very right end of the box named Target.

Now add in a space and then the following text: -mod:amazon -show_err

So your Target box should look something like: "C:\Program Files\Rome Total War\RomeTW.exe" -mod:amazon -show_err

Now click on Apply.

To rename it something more descriptive click on the General tab.

There will be a field at the very top of the window. Type in: Amazon Total War.

Now click on Ok. You are done.

Optional: I have included several  desktop shortcuts which you may wish to use. While you still have the Shortcut Properties window open, click on the Shortcut tab, then click on the Change Icon button at the bottom of that window. A Change Icon window will appear. Click on the browse button to navigate to your RTW\amazon folder. You will find several.ico files there. Select the you would like by double-clicking on it. Then back at the Change Icon window click on Ok. Then finally click on OK again to close the Shortcut Properties window.


Some Screenshots

Amazonian Agema Axweoman fighting a Macedonian Hypaspist.


Amazonian Militia Hoplites vs. Thracian Infantrymen.


Amazon Cavalry ready their bows.


Amazonian Hoplites hold the line against a Thracian General's charge.


Amazonian Axewomen on the move.


An Amazonian Captain.


Amazonian Agema Archers lay in the weeds.


Amazonian Chariots in action.


The Sacred Band of Carthage stands against the Gorgon Horde


Gorgon Armoured Elephants charge.


Gorgon Agema Axewomen taunt their foes.


Thracian Bastarnae.


Thracian Noble Cavalry skirmish with the enemy.


Thracian Peltasts hurl their deadly javelins.


The Maiden Axes of Gaul wait patiently for their chance to decapitate an unwary foe.


The Chosen Slingers of Briton in action.


Carthaginian Scutarii prepare for a volley.


Poeni Slingers under heavy fire.


The Chosen Falxmen of Dacia attack.


Spartans Charge!


Numidian Noble Cavalry.


Numidian Elephants on the move.


Spartans brace for a Gorgon Elephant charge.


Sarmatian Noble Cavalry deliver a devastating charge.


Sarmatian Virgin Cavalry desperately battle the Bosporan Infantry of Scythia.

[SubRosa]

Faction Preview: The Gorgons



The Gorgons are the third and final Amazon faction. Very different from Amazonia and New Amazonia,  the Gorgons have spent the last thousand years in the desert. This has caused them to shift from the strong hoplite and chariot base that the other Amazons possess, and instead are based on skirmishing, maneuver, and sudden, devastating charges. A desert faction, they incorporate camels and elephants into their ranks, and all of their units receive bonuses when fighting in the sand.

In the RTW version they begin with the settlements of Dimmidi and Theneste, and are poised to sweep north through North Africa. Before them awaits their former home of Triton, now in the hands of their hated Greek enemies. In the BI version they instead begin as a horde, making them the terror of North Africa.

RTW


BI

Thousands of years ago the Amazon tribe of the Tritoni lived upon the sacred island of Hesperides, which lays off the Libyan coast. However, an earthquake destroyed their city and forced them to flee to the mainland. There they encountered another Amazon tribe known as the Gorgons. The two initially clashed, but soon they put aside their differences and united with a third Amazon tribe called the Pallantids, forming a single nation. Even their religions integrated, with their new pantheon of deities including Medusa of the Gorgons, Sipylene of the Tritoni, and Athena of the Pallantids. They settled upon the shores of Lake Tritonis and built the great city of Triton to be their capital.

Under the rulership of the legendary Queen Myrine the Great, the Gorgons expanded eastward along the coast of Africa, up through Phoenicia, and finally conquered Asia Minor. However, far too over-extended to hold this vast tract of land, they were forced to gradually withdraw from most of their new-won territory after the death of Myrine. Only on the Thermodon plain in northern Asia Minor did they retain the colony of Themiskyra, ringed by fortresses to protect it from the encroachments of the nearby Greeks.

It was those Greeks who spelled the doom of the Libyan Amazons. Brought into direct contact by the conquests of Myrine, the Greeks and Amazons were natural enemies. They competed for trade, political influence, and most especially were from totally antithetical cultures. The Greeks supported rebellions in the areas conquered by the Amazons, and after they withdrew enlisted their populations in anti-Amazon alliances.

For centuries the conflict went on, until finally the Gorgons were driven back to their city of Triton. There an allied-Greek army led by the Athenians laid siege. Unable to storm the impregnable walls of the great city, the Greeks settled into a blockade to starve out the Amazons. After long months the end of Triton came suddenly. The exact cause of her demise remains shrouded in mystery to this day. Some say that a priestess of Athena murdered the Amazon Queen and let the Greeks into the city. A theory lent support by the fact that afterward the Athenians brought the worship of Athena back to their city (and indeed renamed it to Athens after her). In any case, the Greeks entered the city and in an orgy of blood lasting for three days they slew every living thing. Not even the livestock were spared.

Yet some of the Amazons managed to escape across Lake Tritonis with their men and children. This rag-tag band took advantage of the Greek preoccupation with the slaughter of Triton and fled south into the desert, hoping that even the blood-mad Greeks would not dare to pursue them into the trackless wastes. Many died in the terrible exodus. Dark rumours still circulate that in order to survive, the living were forced to drink the blood of the dead and eat of their flesh.

In time the remnants of the once proud Libyan Amazons came to a place of refuge in a mountain range far from their former home. Here they found shelter from the sun in the caves, and hidden sources of water deep within the earth. They learned to adapt to their desert surroundings and bided their time, knowing that one day vengeance would be theirs.

That was over a thousand years ago. Now even the Greeks barely remember the details of their destruction of Triton and the mighty Amazon nation there, and even that only as fragments of myth and legend. But the Gorgons have not forgotten. They have spent the years sharpening their arrows and axes, and forging their very bodies into weapons of retribution. When a star fell to earth north of their mountains they knew their time had come. It was Medusa pointing the way back to their ancient home, and their ancient enemy.

So the Gorgons stirred themselves and made the long trek back across the unforgiving desert. They now stand poised at the edge of the wastes, with the fertile Tritonian plain beyond. They have come to reclaim their ancestral home, and to end the world of men...

Temples
Medusa - Snake Goddess - temple_of_law
Athena - Bird Goddess - temple_of_victory
Sipylene - Moon and sea goddess - temple_of_love


;;;;Units;;;;;

Governor Tree:

1st Tier - Peasants, Diplomats


Missile Tree:

1st Tier -
2nd Tier (practice_field) - Desert Skirmishers
3rd Tier (archery_range) - Amazon Archers
4th Tier (catapult_range) - Agema Amazon Archers, Onagers
5th Tier (siege_engineer) - Heavy Onagers


Infantry Tree:

1st Tier (muster_field) - Desert Infantry
2nd Tier (militia_barracks) - Desert Infantry exp1
3rd Tier (city_barracks) - Axewomen
4th Tier (army_barracks) - Agema Axewomen
5th Tier (royal_barracks) - Axewomen exp1, Agema Axewomen exp1


Cavalry Tree:

1st Tier -
2nd Tier (stables) - Militia Cavalry
3rd Tier (cavalry_barracks) - Heavy Cavalry, Elephants, Camel Riders
4th Tier (hippodrome) - Gorgon Cavalry, War Elephants, Camel Archers  
5th Tier (circus_maximus) - Companions, Armoured Elephants


Horde Tree:

Horde Spearmen
Horde Axewomen
Horde Archers
Horde Horse Archers
Horde Cavalry

Desert Skirmishers


Gorgon Archers


Agema Archers


Onagers & Heavy Onagers


Desert Infantry


Axewomen


Agema Axewomen


Militia Cavalry


Heavy Cavalry


Elephants


Camel Riders


Gorgon Cavalry


War Elephants


Camel Archers


Companions


Armoured Elephants


Early General's Bodyguard and Captain


Late General's Bodyguard


Horde Spearmen


Horde Axewomen


Horde Archers


Horde Cavalry


Horde Horse Archers

[SubRosa]

Here is a complete map showing every territory, city, and port (click on the thumbnail to see the full version):


Most of it is the same as in vanilla, just with more territories. The major changes are the Gorgons down at the lower left in Saharan Africa, and the Numidians along the western coast of North Africa. The Greek Cities now hold the new city of Triton on the coast of Lake Tritonis to the south of modern Tunisia, and they have Athens as well, but not Thermon anymore. The Romans are the rulers of Italy, as I wanted them to still be a powerhouse. The Parthians no longer start with Campus Sakae way up on the plains, and instead have a third territory in the middle east. The Seleucids have nearly doubled their territories, but are still in the same general location. Amazonia is located roughly where Pontus used to be, and New Amazonia is way off to north in the forests of modern Russia. Scythia has been confined to the north coast of the Black Sea, and the Sarmatians have the steppe between the Don and Volga rivers.

You will notice a great many more territories in North Africa, the Steppe, and the Middle East. I have done this to make those areas more interesting. The normal vanilla game tends to funnel activity in toward the center of the map by leaving only a few territories around the edges. I have tried to reverse this by giving the factions on the map edges more room to play in, and hopefully make their neighborhoods more exciting to play in, rather than being sideshows.

Here is a map showing the starting territories of each faction:

[SubRosa]

Faction Preview: Amazonia

"We are riders; our business is with the bow and the spear, and we know nothing of women's work."
-- Herodotus IV, 114

Founded long before the legendary fall of Troy, Amazonia has stood in the east for over a thousand years. Her capital in Themiskyra, on the banks of the Thermodon river, has stood against fire, flood, and siege and held firm through all. The Amazon race is said to descend from the blood of the god Ares himself, which may account for the zeal they show when partaking in war.

The word Amazon is the Ionian Greek form of the Iranian word ha-mazan, meaning "fighting together." The regular Greek form would be hamazon, but over time it simply became amazon. Also known to the Greeks as Androktones, or "The Killers of Men", and to their Scythian cousins as Oiorpata (which has the same meaning), the Amazons are women who refuse to submit to any man. Indeed, it is said by some that before she may procreate, an Amazon must kill at least one man in battle. While this is likely a tall tale, at least concerning the common women of Amazonia, it is true that among their warriour elite that a woman must face battle before being considered fully one of their own.

In the Iliad, the Amazons were referred to as Antianeira, or "Those Who Fight Like Men". Indeed, they do fight in the same hoplite fashion as their male Greek counterparts. However, they are also practiced in the use of the axe, a weapon favored by many of them for its killing power in hand to hand combat. Yet these are the least of their martial distinctions. For ever have the Amazons been especially gifted horsewomen, having tamed the horse long before the men of Greece learned to ride. Most fearsome however is their legendary skill with the bow, which some say is a sacred gift of the goddess Artemis, who is held in higher regard by the Amazons than even their progenitor Ares.

While most men in Amazonia live in drudgery, some of them may rise to positions of a certain stature. While the Amazons may sometimes be described as warriour-priestesses praying for battle, they also realize the need for trade and diplomacy. In aid of this they often send distinguished men from their courtesan caste out into the world as spies, diplomats, and merchants. Surprisingly, these men show an extraordinary amount of loyalty to their female overlords, refusing to break even under the most attractive enticements or the harshest of tortures.

Although originally a colony of the ancient Gorgon Amazons of Libya, Amazonia has been an independent monarchy for a thousand years. Since the fall of the Libyan Amazons a millennia ago, they have carried on the torch of Amazon civilization. During that time the Amazonians have maintained a conservative policy of alliances, diplomacy, and heavily fortified frontiers to insure their survival, even paying humiliating tributes to super-powers such as the Persian Empire and Alexander the Great in order to survive with their freedom and culture intact.

Long have the warriour women of Amazonia been quiet in the hills and valleys of their homeland. Waiting patiently as the titans of the world did battle with one another outside their doorstep. First the Persians, then Alexander. But the days of the great empires has passed, and their successors squabble with one another like dogs fighting over scraps from their great table. For the women of Amazonia this is an opportunity to carve their own mighty empire, one that might never again come to pass...

The starting territories of Amazonia


Temples-
Artemis (Hunting)
Ares (violence)
Kybele (Leadership)
Demeter (Farming)

;;;;Units;;;;;

Governor Tree:

1st Tier - Peasants, Diplomats


Missile Tree:

1st Tier -
2nd Tier (practice_field) - Peltasts
3rd Tier (archery_range) - Amazon Archers
4th Tier (catapult_range) - Agema Amazon Archers, Onagers,
5th Tier (siege_engineer) - Heavy Onagers


Infantry Tree:

1st Tier (muster_field) - Militia Hoplites
2nd Tier (militia_barracks) - Hoplites
3rd Tier (city_barracks) - Armored Hoplites & Axewomen
4th Tier (army_barracks) - Agema Axewomen (Brides of Ares)
5th Tier (royal_barracks) - Armored Hoplites (exp 1)


Cavalry Tree:

1st Tier -
2nd Tier (stables) - Militia Cavalry
3rd Tier (cavalry_barracks) - Heavy Cavalry
4th Tier (hippodrome) - Amazon Cavalry
5th Tier (circus_maximus) - Companion Cavalry


Blacksmith:

1st Tier (blacksmith) -
2nd Tier (smiths_workshop) - Amazon Chariots

Peasants


Peltasts


Amazon Archers


Agema Archers


Onagers


Heavy Onagers


Militia Hoplites


Hoplites


Axewomen


Armoured Hoplites


Agema Axewomen


Militia Cavalry


Heavy Cavalry


Amazon Cavalry


Companion Cavalry


Amazon Chariots


Amazon Captain and Early Bodyguard


Late General's Bodyguard

[SubRosa]

The Horde Units

The Gorgon Horde

Horde Spearmen


Horde Axewomen


Horde Archers


Horde Cavalry


Horde Horse Archers



The Barbarian Hordes (Germania and Gaul)

Horde Spearmen


Horde Skirmishers


Horde Horsemen


Horde Archers


Horde Chosen Axemen (Germania Only)


Horde Chosen Swordsmen (Gaul Only)



The Steppe Hordes (Scythia and Sarmatia)

Horde Spearman


Horde Chosen Swordsman (Scythia Only)


Horde Virgin Archer


Horde Lancer


Horde Chosen Lancer


Horde Horse Archer


Horde Virgin Horse Archer



The Eastern Horde (Parthia)

Horde Spearmen


Horde Archers


Horde Horse Archers


Horde Elite Horse Archers


Horde Lancers


Horde Elite Lancers


Now I just have to finish tweaking the number of units each faction's hordes receive. Then I was thinking of creating some new female Celtic units, tweaking the German and Amazon two-handed axe units by giving them a shield across their backs, making the Gorgons start as an emergent horde, and creating a provincial campaign for them so they can be played normally. Then 2.3 will be ready to release.

[SubRosa]

I added a shield to the Amazon Agema Axes.


While I was at it I removed the pteruges from their skirt.


I really like how they look.

A pic of them in action.

[SubRosa]

I am still working on ATW, although mostly I have been doing a Gorgon AAR here. Playing the Gorgons has been fun, and has helped me find many bugs that I have fixed. All little things like sprites not appearing correctly, the wrong banner appearing on empty Macedonian cities, the wrong faction name given in the pop-up text over Gorgon cities, etc...

I also went and created new Captain models for most factions on the Strat Map:




I also decided to not make New Amazonia a rebel faction shadowing Amazonia. With that in mind I am making some changes to their unit roster so they will be more distinctive from Amazonia. I will be removing all their hoplites and replacing them with a Warband for an entry-level unit, and a yet to be created Spearwoman unit for their second tier. Finally I will be giving them an entry-level horse archer, which I have nearly completed.



I plan to use this model/skin as a basis for a few more Celtic units, such as a Javelin-Cavalry unit for Gaul, and to replace the archers in the Light Chariots of the Britons.

[Jubal]

Looks great! Good to hear from you again...   :flashy:

[SubRosa]

Thank you. I will try to keep this topic up to date with ATW's progress.

[SubRosa]

Here is that Spearwoman unit I mentioned for New Amazonia. Thanks to Private Clark for the figure 8 shield, which is exactly what I was wanting for them. I am thinking of emblazoning it with something. Maybe a triqueta, or some form of magical beastie. I am not sure yet.



I am also fairly sure that I will replace New Amazonia's Agema Axewomen with a Berserker unit as well. An idea I got when I was working on unit cards from Andalus' AUP. I like the idea of putting one of those bearskins on an Amazon unit. Or maybe even just one of the Roman Velite's wolfskins. I could call them the Sows of Ares... (hmm, on second thought, maybe not).

[Jubal]

A unicorn rampant would seem the obvious choice, although thats more medieval... The crescent moon was Artemis' symbol I think, that might be good.

[SubRosa]

I have been thinking a dragon. It is the symbol of New Amazonia, and it also is very strongly associated with the Sarmatians, and with Germanic Barbarians in general. One of the things I would like to do with New Amazonia is to give them a barbarian flair, so things that have that feel would work best.

[Private Clark]

I love the ported thread, and the new units look incredible, especially that snazzy figure eight shield  :ninja: , lol If you would like to make it more realistic, you could actualy put a semi sphere on the orange thing to make it more 3dish.

[CN2]

Wow!

:PrivateClarkOnly:  

The top one is SubRosa ^^

[Andalus]

Liking the look of the New Amazonian units! A lot.