Development Process and technical sketches - WFS

It is important, when designing software, to look at the model at hand from various angles. I did much research when it comes to Warhammer and the results that I got led to learn how to write pseudo-code and draw sketches to understand the inner workings of systems.

Here are some of my sketches. The first one shows some design about spells data schema and about triggers and how they should work. Also visible, near the bottom of the image, is the details about the development environments I have been using. Notice the move from C++ GDI to DirectX and the IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that followed. Eclipse was big at the time, with support for pretty much all languages.

Various drawings about the development cycles and kernel of the game

This screen shows designs for the Spells, Abilities and Items screens and data layers. Also more Model OOP design.

Models, Abilities and active effects are all interlinked in the design

The next screen is about the ActiveEffects and how they dynamically affect the attributes displayed. This is the same principle for many games today, especially Blizzard, who likes to have basic attributes (Strength, Intellect, Dex) boosted by items or buffs.

A concept for dynamic modifiers being applied to attributes of a Character in Warhammer

This screen is for the Active Effects (FX). I have designed arrangements of Queues data structures to hold various items (such as models and items)

Data structures being designed to hold the data for the Active FX and Models Queues

Notice that although multiple terms are very similar, the game differs from Medieval 2 Total War or Total War Warhammer. Even if we talk about the good old "Shadow of the Horned Rat", it still is not the same as this game. This game is much more about a simulation of the real tabletop game.

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Warhammer Fantasy Strategy - Game Screens

I began developing Warhammer Fantasy Strategy in 2003. Initially, I had to learn how to code. I thus learnt C++. Then I had the challenge of making a Windows. That's when I started to use the GDI. Eventually, I did pretty much what I wanted with the GDI but I moved on to DirectX 8. Here are some of the graphics designs for the game, starting with the Main Menu Screen:

Main Menu Screen for Warhammer Fantasy Strategy based on GW Warhammer Fantasy Battles

Following, we have the Army Creation Screen:

Army creation screen. Allows edition of armies and their composition. Points displayed.

Then the Custom Game Screen, where both armies can be selected. The points limits are set and also the Battlefield can be selected or customised.

The Custom Game Screen is where decisions are made about the battle to customise it.

Then the Formations screen:

Formations are set for each unit/regiment and Auto-Arrange is possible

The in-Game screen:

The Main Game screen. This is where the action happens. Lead your armies to victory!

The Model screen:

The Model screen is where all stats about models are displayed

The Options screen:

The Options screens is where global game options reside and can be turned on or off.

The Message Box:

A Message Box as a simple picture with text drawn on top dynamically

This Message Box is to display information to the player and ask simple YES / NO questions.

I will continue to document the project in the future.

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MEDIEVAL 2 TOTAL WAR: Call of Warhammer - BOTET

Main Menu for BOTET (M2TW mod COW) - Archaon The Everchosen

General / Tips

I have been searching the web for information on this game: Medieval 2 Total War, for the mod called "Call of Warhammer" and/or with the campaign called BOTET (Beginning of the End Times.) I could not find all the information that I wanted and ended up compiling some data myself. I wanted to share it to help others find this information. This applies to v1.5 Public Beta of BOTET.

I have started playing the High Elves campaign and I can point out some useful tips for new players:

Overall

• I suggest you alternate between the following (presented in no order here): retraining, economic buildings, happiness buildings, training new troops, upgrading your troops, improving your navy's size, religion buildings. Focus a bit more on the economic buildings early on to snowball your economy and don't forget your navy.
• To build the best units available, you will have to chain build many buildings. This takes time. Plan ahead.
• To build the best units available, you will need to have cash but the main issue is the time to build. You cannot speed that up.
• When an enemy unit reaches the side of your city but doesn't attack (because it's path got blocked), you can just send archers and shoot and then retreat before taking damage, thus damaging the enemy for free. But it will accumulate your "battles lost."
• You can build watchtowers with your armies in the middle of the world map to extend your visual range. They cost 200 gold.
• Sometimes the auto-battle will yield great results and saves a lot of time.
• It's okay to lose a Spearmen unit or an Archer unit from time to time but roughly 90% of your troops should stay alive and be retrained.

Economy

• You can leave a Castle without any units inside as you can't adjust it's tax rate so Castles are more riot-proof than cities.
• When you capture Enemy cities, you will find some structures that bring nothing to you. Sell those and you will roughly get a 3000 gold per city (plus what you get for Occupying or Sacking.)
• When you have multiple leaders in a single city or castle, some of your leaders might offer discounts on buildings or training/retraining. But the governor of the city might have no discount. So to get your discounts, get the current governor right out of the city. Make sure your new governor is the hero that gives the discount now. Pay for the building / troop. Then bring the other hero back inside the city. Sometimes, you can forget this but over time, the difference will show.

Religion

• I can't tell if keeping a Priest in an Army or inside a city has a particular advantage. But I like to send my priests out to explore and also to find and kill heretics on the world map (no battle needed.) The religion of the world will slowly change when you conquer cities (and hold them), build religion buildings, have Piety with your governors and have Priests.
• Your religion as the High Elves is the Pantheonic Mandala. The Dark Elves follow the Cult of Khaine. The Lizardmen follow the Old Ones.

Navy

• I suggest you invest in your Navy overtime to build it up and to really control the seas. It makes conquest much easier when you can embargo the enemy's ports while dropping troops lightning fast from ships. This is how I crushed the Dark Elves, by quickly moving troops to siege multiple cities with small armies all at once. Then some of those sieges led to capturing the cities and by selling the buildings you get money to fuel your aggression even more. If the Dark Elves then recapture their city, they'll have to deal with unhappiness.
• So the important point is that your Navy is a critical part of your overall success.
• There are 3 ship types available, each costing the same upkeep. So even the best ship (Man O'War) costs as much upkeep every turn as the worst ship (Independent Ship). Ships of the Line are in the middle.
• I like to use "local fleets" of damaged ships to ferry units from Anlec to Arnheim. When conquering the Dark Elves, this ferry activity is crucial. Later on, another ferry fleet is assigned to the inner sea and that helps to bring troops to Lustria faster.
• Initially, to supplement your need to ferry troops to Naggaroth and back, Independent Ships do the job of costing little to buy. But over time, remember that the upkeep is the same for an Independent ship as for a Man O'War.
• Build up your infrastructure to be able to build Man O'War. By turn 31 I had a single Man O'War and 4 Ships of the Line and 5 Independent Ships (4 of which were given to me by a Mission reward)

BOTET - Archaon - Chaos Undivided - Crusades

• There are many scripted events in the campaign. I do not know all of them at all. I read somewhere that at turn 60 Chaos Undivided would really start raining down troops on the world. Maybe is that when Archaon enters the scene, I don't know. Up to date, I have focused on capturing all of the Dark Elves territory and rebuilding (ports and some mines). I have established multiple trading rights with other good civilizations, including the Lizardmen but they ended up attacking me! At turn 31. So finally I have set upon conquering Lustria also. They cannot stand in the way of our quest to stop the End Times. Archaon must be stopped! For Ulthuan!
• Around turn 18 I got told that Chaos Undivided was calling a Conquest on Middenheim. By turn 28 they had conquered it.
• Around turn 60, another crusade was launched against Altdorf.

Buildings of the High Elves

Sorry for the formatting, I could not import the table directly here. I will format it later.

Cost     Name Turns Type Req

4300    House of Shield 3 Army Building

4000    Smithy 2 3 Army Building Smithy 1

4500    House of Youth 4 Army Building

5200    House of Spear 4 Army Building House of Shield

5000    Fletcher’s 4 Army Building

5000    Weaponsmith 4 Army Building Smithy 3

5000    Smithy 3 4 Army Building Smithy 2

6000    Smithy 4 4 Army Building Smithy 3

3500    Elven Bowyer 4 Army Building

7200    House of Sword 5 Army Building House of Spear

7000    Smithy 5 5 Army Building Smithy 4

5800    House of Swiftness 5 Army Building House of Youth

4900    Elven Practice Range 5 Army Building Elven Bowyer

9000    Smithy 6 6 Army Building Smithy 5

8100    Halls of Bravery 6 Army Building House of Sword

6900    House of Honor 6 Army Building House of Swiftness

5700    Archery House 6 Army Building Elven Practice Range

9500    Halls of Heroism 7 Army Building Halls of Bravery

8400    House of Dragons 7 Army Building House of Honor

7000    Archery House 4 7 Army Building Archery House

15000  Beastiary 10 Army Building

2400    Smithy Army Building

1500    Market 1 3 Economy

4000    Mines 3 Economy

2500    Market 2 4 Economy Market 1

6000    Mining Network 4 Economy Mines

8000    Jeweler’s Shop 5 Economy

16000    Mint 5 Economy

4000    Market 3 5 Economy Market 2

6500    Warewhouse 5 Economy Merchant Warf

5500    Market 4 6 Economy Market 3

6700    Docklands 6 Economy Warewhouse

7500    Market 5 7 Economy Market 4

5600    Merchant Warf 7 Economy

9000    Dockyards 8 Economy Docklands

1000    Land Clearance 3 Farming

3000    Fisher’s 3 Farming

4800    Crop Rotation 5 Farming Communal Farming

6500    Irrigation 6 Farming Crop Rotation

9000    Huge Farms 8 Farming Irrigation

3000    Communal Farming Farming Land Clearance

2500    Brothel 3 Happiness

3900    Inn 4 Happiness Brothel

5500    Entertainment 3 5 Happiness Inn

7200    Entertainment 4 6 Happiness Entertainment 3

8900    Pleasure Palace 7 Happiness Entertainment 4

4200    House of Philosophy 5 Happy/Econ

4000    Art Gallery 5 Happy/Econ

5800    Hall of Philosophy 5 Happy/Econ House of Philosophy

6500    Tower of Philosophy 6 Happy/Econ Hall of Philosophy

7200    Great Tower of Philosophy 6 Happy/Econ Tower of Philosophy

6000    Artist’s Studio 7 Happy/Econ Art Gallery

1200    Shipwright 2 Ports Port

2000    Dockyard 4 Ports Shipwright

3000    Naval Drydock 5 Ports Dockyard

2500    Port 6 Ports

3200    Elven Shrine 4 Religion

4600    Elven Sanctuary 5 Religion Elven Shrine

6100    Elven Temple 6 Religion Elven Sanctuary

7300    Elven Great Temple 7 Religion Elven Temple

1500    Paved Roads 4 Roads Dirt Roads

2500    Highways 6 Roads Paved Road

4500    Ballista Tower 5 Wall

2000    Wood Pallissade Wall

3000    Wood Wall Wall

My YouTube channel is live! Go check it out to see my army!

I have just finished uploading my 3rd video on my new YouTube channel: Intelli Gaming. Here is the link to go check it out: Intelli Gaming.

Specifically, go check out my army vid: *HUGE* High Elf Army - Warhammer Fantasy - YouTube

Also noteworthy are some of my videos about Warhammer Online: Return of Reckoning, which is excellent: Warhammer Online - RoR - 2021 - High Elves Story Lore Background - Quests - No Commentary

Another of Warhammer online: Free MMORPG Amazing SP RPG Experience - Warhammer Online - Lore High Elves Ulthuan Reckoning ROR PVE

And finally the one about the excellent: Lothern Sea Guard - How to use effectively - Medieval 2 Total War - Call of Warhammer - BOTET 1.5

Thanks for Watching!

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Prince Tyrion, Defender of the High Elves

I should have posted my Tyrion miniature a long time ago. I painted it a long time ago. I finished it roughly in the summer of 1998. I took great care to clean the miniature, and I even painted it with an empty brush, just to get used to the curves and shapes of the miniature. I also followed the model of Mike McVey from Games Workshop. See this link for an interview with McVey: Realm of Chaos 80s: Citadel Colour: An Interview with Mike McVey.

High Elf Prince Tyrion - Up View

One of the toughest parts of painting this miniature, was to paint the dragon visible on the left side of the miniature (Tyrion's left!) I practised painting the dragon on other surfaces until I was comfortable enough to paint it well.

High Elf Prince Tyrion - Front View

Other than the Dragon, it was the hearts and the face, of course, that were difficult to get right.

Prince Tyrion - 3/4 side view

I am quite proud of the result and I will also try to replicated the color patterns on the 6th edition of the model. But always, this one will remain close to my heart.

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Bought New Dragon Princes of Caledor - Ulthuan.net

Caledor Dragontamer, 1st

Recently, I have signed up and started posting on Ulthuan.net. I feel that it is a home for the High Elf collector in me to find a community of people who will appreciate the miniatures I have collected and built.

Also, just a week ago or so, I purchased 5 Dragon Princes of Caledor from the 4/5th edition. The "old models". But they are still beautiful to my eyes. Painting them again will feel familiar and fun. I intend to paint them in the familiar red and green pattern. I will upload images of the models when I can.

Along with those 5 new, plus the models that I use in the DPC unit but which don't really belong there (Imrik & Tyrion), I will have a unit of about 25. Along with high and impressive banner this unit will be a sight to behold!

Thanks for reading!

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Ellyrion Reavers - 4th ed. Warhammer

I am proud to present my newest creation, a full unit of the Ellyrion Reavers. Those miniatures are to be a part of my High Elf army. I finished painting those approximately in April 2019.

Ellyrion Reaver Musician

This model above is a musician, which is part of the command section of the unit. With it's horn, it can coordinate various troops movement for it's own unit.

I wanted them to feel as a part of my army and as such, they had to fit with the newest models for the Ellyrion Reavers and I have many of those (15 I think). So what I did was to customise the models to place their spears in their back when they wield a bow and vice-versa.

Ellyrion Reaver Musician

Ellyrion Reaver Standard Bearer

   

As for the colours, in order to differentiate them from other units, and also to represent their fleeting, fast nature, they are in purple, between the blue and the red of many other units, yet still have much white. Grey is also used on the miniatures. The horses were painted freely to have a natural look based on their diversity.

The full unit of Ellyrion Reavers, painted, with grass flock on their bases

Overall, I spent about 100h working those as I don't work fast.

Zoom on the unit - Ellyrion Reavers

Zoom on the unit's Champion - Ellyrion Reavers

Notice that small details are still missing, such as the banner, some blue lines on some spears, small corrections and their shields, which are completely missing as of now.

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Customizing your Army - Green Stuff

I have many chariots for my High Elves and at some point, the rules allowed you to have combination of models on the chariot. Those combinations were such as mage and archer, archer and spearmen, mage alone, etc.

I wanted to get as much flexibility in my army to cover everything and as such I decided to expand (physically) the size of some chariots to give them more space. That way I could fit more models (2 at least) in the chariot.

The following image shows you how you get the chariot to hold in place (with glue)

Here is and image of an unfinished chariot and (to the right) a finished "expanded" chariot.

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Modelling with Green Stuff

This model was packaged with the Heroquest boxed game circa 1994. Heroquest miniatures are very similar to Warhammer miniatures. Citadel miniatures was the company involved in those models, hence the similarities. It was originally on a base, all moulded from the same red plastic. Unfortunately, the legs broke off.

Here you can see how I drilled the inside of the legs to insert a section of paper clip in the openings. Finally, green stuff was used to add meat around those legs:

Legs are seen drilled

The model seen from the front

 

The model with his new legs made with green stuff

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Drilling Miniatures

Eltharion and Stormwing - Drilled and ready

 

Recently, I finalised an idea that I had in mind for many years. I wanted to drill my Eltharion on Stormwing miniature and insert a metal piece between the High Elf and the Griffon so that it held better.

More recently, I broke it by inadvertence. So that gave me the perfect opportunity to drill the model. I used the smallest bit that I have for my drill. I drilled about 1.5 mm inside of the miniature and 1.5 inside the griffon. Then I took a paperclip and cut it to roughly 3 mm. I verified that it fit well and cut a tiny bit more if necessary.

Eltharion and Stormwing, 4th Edition Warhammer

Finally, I made some epoxy glue, which I prefer for metal on metal. I dipped the 3 mm paperclip piece in the glue and then placed the glue-covered part in the griffon. Then I carefully applied some glue under Eltharion and also on the part of the paperclip that stuck out of the griffon and then joined both pieces together.

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