The Chamber of Records Middle-earth Modding Interview #3

mrtn: ‘Head Henchman’ of ‘Lord of the Mods’

The LotM title screen

This interview was first posted on the 1st of November, 2006.

COR: In this third Middle-earth Modding Interview we are honoured to have mrtn from the Lord of the Mods modification for Civilization III as our guest. Thank you, mrtn, for taking time off from what must be a busy schedule to answer our questions.

Hi, thanks, it’s really no trouble at all.

COR: To start this interview off, perhaps you could tell us a little about yourself? Name, age, location, whether you are a student or worker – that sort of thing.

My name is Martin and I’m a 30 year old Swede from Stockholm.

COR: And what is your position within the LotM team?

We don’t have a fixed “command structure”, but I’d say I’m “Head Henchman”. That’s “Second in Command”, but without the fancy hat.

I’m mostly responsible for 2D graphics and ideas, and the usability of those ideas in a Civ 3 context.

The LotM military advisor screen

COR: For those who may not know much about the Civilization games, could you give us a quick introduction to the series?

Civilization was one of the games that made Sid Meier one of the most famous game developers in the world. This mod is being developed for Civilization III: Conquests (aka C3C), the second expansion pack to the game.

COR: When was the mod started? I believe it has been in development for quite some time?

Yes, it’s been quite a while now, more than two years. We started even before C3C was released, with preliminary discussions.

COR: Lord of the Mods is a unique name for a LotR-related mod: how was that decided upon?

It was a joke that got out of hand.

The LotM domestic advisor screen

COR: Do you have a large development team? Could you tell us a little about how the mod is organized? Do you, for example, have one ‘Mod Leader’, or a number of ‘Managers’, or perhaps a more ‘democratic’ set-up where everyone has equal say, or even a combination of any number of the above?

Well, the mod is quite disorganised, actually.

We have a democratic set-up, but with a Mod Leader, PCHighway. He does most of the work putting the mod together, and thus is allowed to put his foot down from time to time.

COR: Is the mod largely based upon one single Age of Middle-earth, or have you drawn inspiration from all four Ages?

The mod stretches from the Age of the Sun to the end of the Third Age. In other words, everything in Beleriand and Middle Earth, but not the Fourth Age or Aman.

COR: Which civilizations can we expect to be able to play as? And who are they led by?

Gondor led by Hyarmendacil
Númenor led by Tar-Minastir
Arnor led by Valandil
Rohan led by Théoden
Northmen led by Vidugavia
Easterlings led by Ulfang the Black
Harad led by Sangahyando
Isengard led by Saruman
Mordor led by Sauron
Angmar led by Dwimmerlaik
Noldor led by Gil-Galad
Moriquendi led by Galadriel
Sindar led by Thingol
The Dwarves led by Durin the Deathless
The Shire led by Samwise Gamgee

King Hyarmendacil of Gondor

COR: What types of units do you have for the different civilizations?

Oh, a lot! Maybe 15-20 for each civ. As the game is divided in four Eras we usually have one defender, one offensive unit, one archer and one cavalry unit for each era. Plus settlers, workers, scouts, kings and special units. We also have über-units for the evil civs (trolls, dragons, spiders…) and special units spawned from Great Wonders you can build in the game. The total is somewhere around 300 units.

Some of the units in LotM, including Ents and Nazgûl

COR: What got you interested in Tolkien and Middle-earth? Was it the films, the books, or something completely different?

My dad read The Hobbit to me when I was seven years old.

COR: Is the mod based on the books, the films by Peter Jackson, or a combination of the two?

The mod is only based on the books. This means that there are no crossbows in it, for example.

COR: Research is particularly time-consuming for most LotR mods; has that been the case for LotM too? Are there any particular books, websites, etc, that have been of special help in the development of the mod?

Yes, it has been quite time consuming. The Encyclopaedia of Arda has been of help, and of course the professors own writings.

The LotM science advisor screen

COR: How ‘strictly’ have you been adhering to the lore?

As strictly as possible. But we’ve had to adjust to the fact that Civ 3 is a game of technological advancement, while Middle Earth has declined for most of its history. But we couldn’t start the game with dragons and balrogs, and later “downgrade” those to hobbits, that wouldn’t really work…

COR: Is there one particular aspect of LOTM you think is crucial to the immersion into the world of Middle-earth for the player?

We will make a brand new interface to the mod. We will also rewrite all text files and change most of the graphics, so there shouldn’t really be anything much left to remind the player that you’re playing a version of Civ.

COR: How did you enter into modding? Did you mod any games prior to Civilization III?

I’ve been making house rules for board games for a long time, I’ve also modded Civ 2 Test of Time prior to starting to mod Civ 3.

The Rohirrim battling the Elves

COR: Which aspects of modding are you most proficient in? And which, if any, are you totally clueless about?

Personally I’m most proficient in modding 2D graphics and realising “what can the AI handle”. I’m also very much an “ideas man”. I’m quite clueless about making 3D unit graphics, but the mod team has other members and friends who help us with that.

COR: Is there some aspect of the mod that you are personally very proud of having modded?

I have made some elven and evil city graphics that I’m quite proud of. I’ve also made most of the new tech icons.

Cities of Mordor

COR: Most people stumble into the modding scene: any advice for those out there who’re just starting out modding Civ., or indeed any other game?

Find a forum for people who are modding the game you want to mod. See what they have done, and learn from their successes and mistakes.

COR: What would you say is the difference between LotM, and other fantasy mods out there?

The fact that it lets you immerse very deep into Middle Earth. I don’t want to go into “which mod is best?” (especially not since I’m also heavily involved in the Warhammer Mod ), but the feel of this mod is something I hope will be unique.

COR: Will you have entirely new units and city improvements, or will you use some from the original game?

The vast majority of the graphics we use are fan made. Quite a lot of them were made specifically for this mod.

More awesome LotM units, incl. Eagles and Mûmakil

COR: Which of the famous cities and fortresses of Middle-earth will we encounter? Will Isengard be on the map, and Minas Tirith, Barad-dûr, etc.?

First and foremost, we design this mod to be played on a random map, but those cities are all in our city lists to be randomly settled. Also, and this may be going out on thin ice, but I’d claim that you must really search to find a city not included in the mod.

COR: Will there be many wonders? Perhaps you could give us a few examples, and tell us a little about them?

Yes. There are 25 Great Wonders in the mod, and also quite a number of Small Wonders. In addition to those wonders, every civ will have a Unique Wonder that only they can build, and then we also have common wonders that only certain races/civ-groups can build. One such unique wonder is the Stronghold of Umbar, that produces a Corsair of Umbar every twelfth turn for Harad. The wonders stretch all the way from the first era (e. g. Elostirion which lets you sail safe in the high seas, and give your ships +1 movement) to the third (e.g. Hornblower’s Farm, which gives one happy citizen in each city).

Some of the many wonders included

COR: When it comes to civilopedia entries, will each civ, unit, tech, etc, have detailed entries?

That is our goal, though some of them will get less attention. After all, when you’ve said that an Easterling spearman has a spear and shield, what more can you say? But all of the units that have a real history should get that described in the civilopedia.

A 'Great Worm' civilopedia entry

COR: As we all know, the map of Middle-earth is well-known and well-loved – will you be using this map, or will random maps be used?

We will include one of more maps in the mod (or at least link to them), but the mod is constructed with a random map in mind.

COR: Will there be new graphics for terrain?

Yes. Most of it will use fan made terrain already posted on Civfanatics, but some will be made uniquely for the mod.

COR: Are you planning any innovations in gameplay, compared to the original game?

One of the big changes will be the Isengard civ, which will have very special gameplay due to the fact that it won’t be able to build settler units like the normal civs. Instead they will get a fixed amount of settlers spawned from wonders, but in turn they will get Orthanc Tower, one of the most massive structures in the game. You will want to have ent or dragon units to be able to destroy the tower and consequently defeat them.

Isengard and the Tower of Orthanc

COR: I have heard some rumours about unique victory conditions: are they true, and if so, could you tell us something about them?

Yes, one of the special victory conditions will be the destruction of the ring. This will only be available to the Shire, and is a peaceful way to win.

The Journey of the Ring special victory condition

COR: Can you give us an estimated date for a release (hard as that may be)? I believe you have a private beta out now?

No, sorry. I’ve learned my lesson not to promise something you don’t know if you can deliver. At the moment PCHighway is quite busy in real life, and as he’s the head developer I really can’t promise anything in his name. We’re doing our best, though, and we’re of the firm belief that the quality comes before holding any deadlines. It will be out sometime in the future.

COR: What does the future look like for LotM? After this release, will you continue to patch it and perfect it? Will there be any additional releases such as scenarios, or specific “mini-mods” focusing on different ages or regions?

I think there will be scenarios from members in the LotM team, but at the moment we’re focusing on the mod.

COR: Do you have any last words for all the old – and new, after this interview – fans out there, who are eagerly awaiting LotM?

We will deliver quality turn based game play in a Middle Earth setting. Hang in there.

The main civilopedia screen

COR: And at the very end we again have some ‘quick questions’:

COR: Which is your favourite civilization in LOTM?

Hm, tough question… Rohan maybe?

COR: Which is your favourite unit in LOTM?

The Balrog is looking awesome. One of the very best Civ 3 units ever.

COR: Which is your favourite book by Tolkien?

The Hobbit. You didn’t expect that from a hard core Tolkien nut, now did you?

COR: Who is your favourite character from a book by Tolkien?

Gandalf.

COR: What is your favourite moment from a book by Tolkien?

I like the siege of Minas Tirith as it’s seen from the eyes of Pippin.

COR: Which is your favourite film?

Out of the Tolkien films I assume? The Return of the King.

COR: Which is your favourite character from the films?

Gandalf.

COR: Which is your favourite scene from the films?

Gandalf and Bilbo hanging out at the birthday party.

COR: It has been great chatting with you, mrtn – many thanks!

My pleasure.

COR: For more Lord of the Mods info check out their thread at civfanatics.com

The First Age tech screen

The foreign advisor screen

COR: Some of the screens above show Work In Progress. Many thanks to WildWeazel for the screenshots.

Discuss in the forums.

Tags: Civ3, Civilization III, Firaxis, Interview, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Mods, LotM, Middle-earth