Horsemen Of The Steppe

[Stilgar]

Je viens de découvrir ce mod et je dois dire que le projet a l'air rudement bien mené. En quelques mots il s'agit de faire un mod qui donne aux hordes, et plus particulièrement aux mongoles, un intérêt et une profondeur de gameplay qu'ils n'avaient pas vraiment dans le jeu de base. La carte est magnifique, les unités aussi et le gameplay qu'on ne pourra juger que lors de la sortie du mod ne semble pas délaissé. A suivre donc.

Voici les previews disponibles :

PROLOG

Spoiler:

Horsemen Of The Steppe is a project of a mod focused on the western steppe in early middle ages. Below I present you the general idea of the project which is still to be discussed if some interested modders join the this initiative. I wish you nice reading.

STORY BEHIND

Spoiler:

The 1040 year was a breakthrough period. In that momentous time the old empires were falling, and new powers were rising, but nothing was decided yet. The history from 1040 could run many ways. The events that trigger all the changes in the civilized world happened in the heart of the Asia, on the ancient land Khorasan. This rich yet blooded province was desired by two powerful contenders .On one side there was a great Ghaznavid Sultanate in its peak of glory that dominated vast lands from India to Transcaucasia. On the other side there were warlike nomads of the Great Seljuk Sultanate who had just risen into surprising power and made ambitious claims to the lands of Central Asia. And both powers got strong allies, Ghaznavids were supported by the Yabgu of Qghuz from north Aral Sea steppes, while Shahdom of Khwarezm from lower Amu Daria were friendly to Great Seljuks. The conflict had risen through a few years, many heavy battles were already fought with different luck for both sides. In 1040y the conflict reach its peak with its culmination on a plain of Dandanaqan, not far from famous Merv city. A two glorious armies stood facing each other. The Sultan Masud I of Ghaznavids brought army of heavy troops supported by a squad of battle elephants. Toghrïl Beg of Great Seljuks gathered army of lightly armored nomadic horsemen. And they clashed in a bloody battle after which emerge a new empire of Central Asia - the Great Sultanate of Seljuk nomads.

But Masud I survived the battle and started to collect a new army that would challenge the victorious nomads once again. Though he avoided the mountainous region of Ghur of his reign and moved further to India. He never truly yoked those stubborn highlanders who now can take the opportunity of the great fall of Ghaznavids in Dandanaqan and proclaim independent Ghurid Sultanate. Meanwhile the struggle between the Ghaznavids and Seljuks allies is about the final solve. Malik Shah, the ruler of Oghuz Yabgu gathered a massive army on the border of Khwarezm Shahdom and is preparing a great invasion to avenge Ghaznavids defeat. The ruler of Khwarezm - Ismail Khandan expects that but the long wars with Ghaznavids blooded his army which now seems insufficient to repel the nomadic invasion of the Oghuz.


The year of 1040 witnessed also another epoch-making event, the split of Qarakhanids Empire. In the result two independent states appeared. The vast land of eastern Turkestan and steppic Zhetysu is now ruled by Eastern Qarakhanids Khanate. A bit smaller area was taken into possession by Western Qarakhanids Khanate, but those are the richest and most fertile part of Central Asia - Fergana and Transoxiana.

Finally shortly before 1040y third fateful for the steppe event happened. The once glorious Qaghanate of Kimeks suffered disintegration. That greatest steppic confederation of nomadic tribes had been left by two most ambitious groups that migrated south and west in search for new homeland. The first group of nomads marched down to the northern shore of Syr Darya and Lake Balkhash founded Qipchaks Khanate with capital in Syghnaq. The second group took longer trip westwards, crossed the Embe river and crushed the Oghuz who withdrew to dry steppes of Mangyshlak Peninsula. Then they crossed Yaik river further west, where they gained another win, this time over a coalition of Pechenegs and Bashkirs. And they settled here, took into possession this fertile steppe between northern Black and Caspian Seas and founded Qumans Khanate. But the once powerful Kimek Qaghanate still persist, still occupies a vast land, though those are only wilderness inhabited by few nomads that are no threat for anyone now.

Especially for Taiga Khanate, a misterious state that is hidden in inaccessible and cold forests of the north. Its inhabitants, the Ugric people, are recorded in the annals as forest people, lives in peace far from the greatest centres of civilization and grow their settlements where the Tobol river join the Irtysh. Similarly peaceful life lead their eastern neighbor - Kyrgyz Khanate. Those hardy nomads used to be the mightiest among all steppic tribes, as they crashed the empire of Uighurs exactly 200y ago and dominated the steppes of Central Asia. But since that glorious time they suffered some defeats, retreated to their core land and defend independence from the more powerful neighbors. Like the nestorian Naiman Khanate - an unusual Turkic state of eastern Christians that led nomadic life on the steppes of western Dzungaria. Soth of them lives old foes of the Kyrgyz - the Uighurs who once again built strong state which is now known as Uighurs Idiqut. The nomadic Uighurs are moving away from their roots in their new homeland and now got great fame for their trade and craft skills, while their cities are among the richest in Central Asia. That buddist state maintain peacefull relations with another buddist kingdom placed on the other side of Tibetan plateau - Kingdom of Guge. This small state struggles to hold the independence and religion from the aggressive Muslim neighbors that hug it from the north and south and await an ambitious leader that would bring back the great glory of Tibetan warriors.

In the north-west edges of the Steppe flourish another unusual state - Emirate of Volga-Bulgars. This Sunni state gained independence not far ago after the Russ together with Pechenegs defeated Khazar empire in the second half Xc. Bulgars accepted Islam and similar to Uighurs built prosperous state of numerous cities. Bulgar or Bilyar are famous far away as they attract merchants from all sides of the world who come here to buy the goods of the north and great pieces of Bulgarian craft. Civilization of Volga Bulgarians influence neighboring nations, among them - Bashkir Khanate. Although Bashkirs suffered a defeat in a coalition with Pechenegs when Qumans invaded Volga steppes, they still managed to retain its possessions in the southern Ural mountains area. Similar to their Bulgar neighbor Bashkirs also founded some towns that have slowly gained regard as more and more merchants visit them. Looking further to the north the slopes of the Ural Mountains belong to Finnish peoples of Principality of Great Perm. This relative small state is in loose dependence of the powerful Novgorod the Great. In exchange for moderate gifts the Permians gain a powerful Novgorod military support in case of any threat., which hold Bulgars at bay. Though the Bulgars have to defend themselves more often from another Rus state - Grand Principality of Kiev. The year 1040 is a year of prosperity in the turbulent history of the Kievian state, which stretch authority over the majority of the Rus lands at that time. Kievians has become a local power after together with Qumans in 1038y they heavily crushed Khanate of Pechenegs. After that great defeat situation of the nomadic Pechenegs is dramatically hard. Their military power collapsed, their eastern lands were seized by Qumans, their authority declined. They have nowhere to shelter and their only ally is Kingdom of Hungary. This great catholic state of once nomadic Magyars occupy safe position protected by Carpathian Mountains in the east and broad Danube river on the south. Their army is still more like nomadic horse archers then western knights and is a dangerous threat for its neighbors, including the Greeks empire in the south.

Eastern Romans Empire after the recent subjugation of Danube Bulgars is once again powerful and their territory stretches on vast lands from Thracia in Europe, to Antioch in the South and Armenia in the East. And that great size turns out to be problematic for the empire, as the distant lands tend to rebel against the proud Greeks. The greatest foe of the Romans are Islamic states on the east, like Fatimid Caliphate. The Egyptians of the Caliphate holds not only the Nile and Red Sea coasts, but also rich Levant. And they seem to suffer similar disease like Romans, the distant lands tend to be disloyal. Islam world is divided. Even the great Buyid Caliphate ruled by Buyids dynasty struggle to keep the lands unity. The Iraq province is ruled by Caliph al-qa'ima, while the Iran land is subordinated to the Sultan Abu Kalijar. They are brothers by blood but foes in politic. Though three years ago Sultan besieged Baghdad and force the Caliph to swear loyalty to him, still he can not be sure of the brother's real intention.

There is a winner of the Fatimids, Abbasids and Romans weakness, it is the Emirate of Uqaylids. The state gain independence and settled firmly in northern Iraq and Syria. It is ambitious and hungry of more lands. In the contrary the lands of Transcaucasia, north to the Mosul, are weak and divided. There are quite a few independent or partially dependent small states and none of them is more powerful over others. Though it may be Shirvan Shahdom that will unite those lands and hold aggressive neighbor ambitions. Their major rival seems to be not the great powers like Buyids, Greeks or even Mosul, but the freshly united Kingdom of Georgia. Both states are of similar power and the history in Transcaucasia may follow many ways. On the northern side of Caucasus Mountains lay an unusual steppic Kingdom of Alania, the only orthodox state of nomads. Alans are experiencing a period of prosperity, they even managed to found some cities and build some keeps, which is rather rare achievement among nomads. Nonetheless their future is uncertain, despite friendly relations with Georgians. The threat comes from the steppes and got well known yet sinister name of Qumans.

Those are the states the fate of which you may take in your hands. But those are not all the states you will meet on the way of total conquest. As your journey starts in 1040 and will follow up to 1205y, you will also witness two great invasions. First the Europeans of the west lead by their faith will march to the holy land to retake it from the hands of Saracens and to built Kingdom of Crusaders. A few decades later the Kara Khitan Qaghanate will came from the east in search for the new homeland.

BASIC FACTS

Spoiler:

timeframe:1040-1205

FACTIONS&RELIGIONS

Catholic Christians:
Kingdom of Hungary <Hungary>
Kingdom of Crusaders <Crusaders> invading in 1096y
Orthodox Christians:
The Eastern Roman Empire <Eastern Romans>
Grand Principality of Kiev <Kiev>
Kingdom of Alania <Alania>
Kingdom of Georgia <Georgia>
Nestorian Christians:
The Naiman Khanate <Naimans>
Sunni Islam:
The Great Seljuk Sultanate <Seljuks>
The Ghaznavid Sultanate <Ghaznavids>
The Ghurid Sultanate <Ghurids>
Emirate Of Volga-Bulgars <Volga-Bulgars>
The Khwarezm Shahdom<Khwarezm>
The Western Qarakhanid Khanate<Western Qarakhanids>
The Eastern Qarakhanid Khanate<Eastern Qarakhanids>
The Shirvan Shahdom <Shirvan>
Shia Islam:
The Fatimid Caliphate <Fatimids>
The Buyid Caliphate<Buyids>
Emirate of Uqaylids <Uqaylids>
Tengriism:
The Kimak Qaghanate<Kimak>
The Quman Khanate<Qumans>
The Qipchak Khanate <Qipchaks>
The Bashkir Khanate <Bashkirs>
The Kyrgyz Khanate<Kyrgyz>
The Kara Khitan Qaghanate <Kara Khitan> invading in 1125y
The Oghuz Yabgu <Oghuz>
The Pecheneg Khanate <Pechenegs>
Buddhism:
Kingdom of Guge <Guge>
The Uighur Idiqut <Uighurs>
Paganism:
The Taiga Khanate<Taiga>
Principality of Great Perm <Great Perm>
Hindu
Heresy

MAP DEVELOPMENT

Preview 1: Anatolia + Caucascus.

Spoiler:

Wide perspective look:

Anatolian lakes ----------------------- Cilicia ----------------------------- Eastern Anatolia ------------------ Armenian lakes --------------------- Pontus Anatolia



Southern Caucascus ---------------- Central Caucascus ------------- Northern Caucascus --------------- Crimean coastline


Closer look:

Western Anatolia -- ---------------- Anatolia lakes ----------------------- Ankyra --------------------------- Cesarea ---------------------------- Sebastea


Northern Anatolia - ---------------- Smyrna ----------------------------- Tarsus ---------------------- --- - - - Tabriz - ----------------------------- Ardebil


Dvin ------------------------------------ Edessa --------------------------- Khlat - ------------------ -- - -- - - - - - - Alania - --------------------------------- Samandar



Derbent - ------------------------------ Ganja - ---------------------------- Kutaisi - -------------------- - - --- - - - Nicopsia -

Update to Preview 1: Anatolia + Caucascus.

Spoiler:

Preview 2: The land of Persia/Iran.

Spoiler:

Panoramic view:




Zoom:

Preview 3: Punjab, India, Himalayas, Tibet, southern Tarim basin.

Spoiler:

PANORAMIC VIEW

India/Punjab:


Himalayas:


Tibetan Plateau:


Tarim basin:



CLOSER VIEW

India/Punjab:


Himalayas:


Tibetan Plateau:


Tarim basin:

Preview 4: Qusdar, Sistan, Khorasan, Mavarannahr, Hindukusch, Pamir, Tien Shan, Khorezm, Mangyshlak, Kara Kum, Kizyl Kum .

Spoiler:

PANORAMIC VIEW:











ZOOM VIEW:

FACTION ROSTER concepts

Khanate of Qumans

Spoiler:

Quman Army Characteristic:

Advantages:
- many units of cavalry
- great horse archers
- many warriors within a unit
- high stamina

Disadvantages:
- lack of heavy units
- lack of infantry
- medicore morale

Details:


CAVALRY

name: Shepard horsemen
class: very light
armor: no armor
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: knife
skills: poor
stamina: standard
morale: low
availability: very good
price: very low

name: Tribal horsemen
class: light
armor: padded
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre
skills: average
stamina: good
morale: poor
availability: great
price: very low

name: Tribal lancers
class: light
armor: padded + helmets
primary weapon: spear + medium round shield
secondary weapon: light axe
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: average
availability: average
price: average

name: Boarder horsemen
class: light/medium
armor: padded+helmets/partially lamelar
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: spear + medium round shield
skills: good
stamina: very good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Camel riders
class: light
armor: padded
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: average
availability: average
price: average

Name: Javelin horsmen
description: Qumans liked to hunt with javelins, sometimes they used them in battle
class: light
armor: padded + helmets
primary weapon: javelins
secondary weapon: sabre
stamina: good
morale: average
availability: average
price: low

name: Khan horse archers
class: light/medium
armor: padded+helmets/partially lamellar
primary weapon: composite bow, small round shield
secondary weapon: light axe
skills: great
stamina: very good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Khan lancers
class: light/medium
armor: padded+helmets/partially lamellar
primary weapon: spear, large round shield
secondary weapon: axe
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Noble horsemen
class: medium/heavy
armor: partially lamellar or mail/full lamellar or mail
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: mace, medium round shield
stamina: very good
skills: great
morale: good
availability: average
price: high

name: Noble lancers
class: medium/heavy
armor: partially lamellar or mail/full lamellar or mail
primary weapon: spear, medium teardrop shield
secondary weapon: mace, medium teardrop shield
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: low
price: very high

name: Khan guard
class: heavy
armor: full lamellar or mail
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre, medium round shield
skills: great
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: general unit
price: -


INFANTRY

name: Shepard archers
class: very light
armour: no armour
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: knife
skills: poor
stamina: average
morale: poor
availability: very good
price: very low

name: Tribal archers
class: light
armor: padded
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre
skills: average
stamina: good
morale: poor
availability: very good
price: low

name: Noble archers
class: medium
armor: partially lamellar or mail
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre + medium round shield
skills: average
stamina: very good
morale: good
availability: average
price: high

name: Tribal spearmen
class: light
armor: padded + helmets
primary weapon: spear, medium round shield
secondary weapon: -
skills: average
stamina: good
morale: average
availability: average
price: low

name: Khan spearmen
class: ligh/medium
armor: padded + helmets/partially lamellar
primary weapon: spear, large round shield
secondary weapon: -
skills: good
stamina: very good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Tribal axemen
class: light
armor: padded+helmets
primary weapon: light axe + medium round shield
secondary weapon: -
skills: average
stamina: good
morale: average
availability: good
price: low

name: Khan footmen
class: light/medium
armor: padded + helmets/partially lamellar
primary weapon: sabre, medium round shield
secondary weapon: -
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Noble footmen
class: medium/heavy
armor: partially lamellar or mail/fully lamellar or mail
primary weapon: mace, medium teardrop shield
secondary weapon: -
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: average
price: high

Kingdom of Hungary

Spoiler:

It will definitely be improved, I discuss it with Csatadi and Dome.

CAVALRY

name: Inseg horsemen
description: poor tribal horse archers
class: light
armor: padded
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre
skills: average
stamina: standard
morale: average
availability: very good
price: low

name: Boseg horsemen
description: richer tribal horse archers
class: light/medium
armor: padded+helmets / partially lamellar or mailed
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: spear, small round shield
skills: very good
stamina: good
morale: very good
availability: good
price: high

name: Jobbagyur cavalry
description: ruler's elite unit
class: medium / heavy
armor: partially mailed or lamellar / mailed or lamellar
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre, medium round shield
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: very low
price: very high

name: Black Magyars horsemen
description: tribal cavalry originated in turkic allied tribes (like Kabars)
class: light/medium
armor: padded + helmets/partially mailed or lamellar
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: mace, small round shield
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Szekelys horsemen
description: famous horse archers settled in mostly boarderland areas
class: light/medium
armor: padded + helmets/partially mailed or lamellar
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre, small round shield
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: average
price: high

name: Pecheneg horsemen
description: Pechenegs refugee which served Hungarian king
class: light
armor: padded+helmets
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: mace
skills: good
stamina: very good
morale: average
availability: average
price: average

name: Croat cavalry
description: Slavic horsemen from Slavonia
class: medium
armor: partially mailed
primary weapon: spear, teardrop shield
secondary weapon: axe, teardrop shield
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: average
availability: average
price: average

name: Mounted servientes
description: the knights that appeaed in Hungary with Christianity adoption were assisted by them
class: light/medium
armor: padded+helmets/partially mailed
primary weapon: spear, teardrop shied
secondary weapon: axe, teardrop shied
skills: average
stamina: average
morale: average
availability: very good
price: average

name: Feudal knights
description: late unit', feudalism spred very slowly in Hungary, but as the time passed more and more native knights appeared in Hungarian army
class: heavy
armor: fully mailed, barded horse
primary weapon: spear, kite shield
secondary weapon: sword, kite shield
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: average
price: very high

name: German knights
description: those are knights from Swabia and Bavaria which were invited and settled by Hungarian ruler
class: heavy
armor: fully mailed
primary weapon: spear, large kite shield
secondary weapon: sword, kite shield
stamina: very good
skills: great
morale: very good
availability: low
price: very high

name: Royal guard
description: general bodyguards
class: heavy
armor: fully mailed
primary weapon: spear, large norman shield
secondary weapon: sword, large norman shield
skills: very good
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: general unit
price: -


INFANTRY

name: Varjobbagy archers
description: castle soldiers of mostly Slavic origin, non noble freemen
class: light
armour: padded+helmets
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: sabre, shield
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: good
availability: good
price: low

name: Inseg archers
description: poor tribal archers
class: light
armor: no / padded
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: dagger
skills: average
stamina: average
morale: average
availability: good
price: low

name: Boseg archers
description: richer tribal archers
class: light
armor: padded + helmets / partially mailed or lamellar
primary weapon: composite bow
secondary weapon: spear, small round shield
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: good
availability: average
price: high

name: Varjobbagy javeliners
description: castle soldiers of mostly Slavic origin, non noble freemen
class: light
armor: padded + helmets
primary weapon: javelins
secondary weapon: round shield + light axe
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: good
availability: average
price: average

name: Crossbow militia
description: late unit originated in mostly non-Magyar town's western settlers
class: light
armor: padded + helmets
primary weapon: xbow
secondary weapon: sword
skills: average
stamina: average
morale: average
availability: low
price: high

name: Varjobbagy spearmen
description: castle soldiers of mostly Slavic origin, non noble freemen
class: medium
armor: padded + helmets/partially lamellar or mailed
primary weapon: spear, round shield
secondary weapon: -
skills: good
stamina: good
morale: good
availability: good
price: average

name: Spear militia
description: late unit originated in mostly non-Magyar town's western settlers
class: medium
armor: padded+helmets / partially mailed
primary weapon: spear, teardrop shield
secondary weapon: -
skills: average
stamina: average
morale: average
availability: good
price: average

name: Feudal footmen
description: late unit, rich feudals could afford own castles and footmen that garrison them
class: light / medium
armor: padded + helmets / partially lamellar or mail
primary weapon: axe, teardrop shield
secondary weapon: -
stamina: average
morale: average
availability: average
price: average

name: Dismounted knights
description: late unit, knights sometimes fought on foot
class: heavy
armor: full mailed
primary weapon: sword, large norman shield (kite)
secondary weapon: -
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: low
price: very high

name: Varyag axemen
description: Hungarian rulers similar to neighbours like ERE, Kiev or Poland recrutited famous norse warriors
class: medium/heavy
armor: partially lamellar or mail/fully lamellar or mail
primary weapon: 2h axe
secondary weapon: -
stamina: very good
morale: very good
availability: very low
price: very high

THE HotS TEAM

Spoiler:

HOTS MODDERS
(in alphabetical order)


Akar - 2d artist
hyretic - 2d artist
Ilmrik - scripter, coder, 2d artist
Rus-Bey - 2d/3d artist (irregular fellow-worker, as he is busy with other project too)
Silesian_Noble - leader, mapper, scripter, researcher and who knows what more
Wudang_Clown - scripter, coder (irregular fellow-worker, as he is BC leader at first place)

demand:
All kinds modders, but especially:
- scripters
- coders
- 2d/3d artists

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HOTS RESEARCHERS
(in alphabetical order)

ALFAJI- Mosul, other Arabic
atalay1988- Qumans, Kyrgyz, Western Qarahanids, Eastern Qarakhanids, Volga-Bulgars, Khwarezm, Seljuks, Oghuz, Pechenegs, Uighurs
Boztorgai_Khan - mostly Qipchaks, Qumans, Kimaks
Csatádi - Hungary
Eisberg- Shirvan
mahmood95 - Khwarezm
matmohair1- Abbasids, Fatimids, Mosul
Russian Gondor - Thaiga, Great Perm, Kiev, Kyrgyz, Kimaks.
Tatarasei - Kara Khitan, Ghaznavids
Tureuki - Oghuz, Seljuks, other Turkish

demand:
All kind, but especially:
- northern factions: Kiev, Great Perm, Taiga, especialy with an access to great Russian sources
- south-east factions: Ghurids, Ghaznavids, Kashmir, Guge
- Caucasian factions: Georgia, Alania
- Eastern Romans
- KoJ
- Kara Khitan

EPILOG

Spoiler:

What you have seen here is a project in the early stage of its development. I'm looking for modders and researchers interested in the medieval steppe idea in order to make it real. Despite the Horsemen of the Steppe is a project that can be classified as epic, it should not be that hard to create it, as there is plenty sources of scripts, units or 2d stuff - HotS project already received many permissions from other mods to use their stuff. Most of the factions can be borrowed from other mods (after little adjustment to steppic vision of the game world), but there are a few completely unique one that needs creation form basic. I believe we can make this mod within several months, but the HotS team need support of all kind. If you are interested - please don't hesitate to join

Thank you for your attention :thumbsup2

HOTS BANNERS FOR SIGNATURES

Spoiler:

[Le-Nain]

Le lien de la news qui doit rediriger sur ce topic ne marche pas (en tout cas avec moi...)

[Stilgar]

Je corrige ça merci