Hyborian Age mod (Conan the Mod)

[Miihkali]

While the name Hyborian Age may sound alien for many, Conan the Barbarian is familiar for the most of you. This is a Darkest Hour mod that attempts to be a total conversion from the 20th century warfare to the fantasy world created by Robert E. Howard.

As far as I know, there never has been a pre-industrial warfare mod for any incarnation of Hearts of Iron. There have been several projects to create one, however, and I did participate in couple of these. I have been toying with this idea for years, but I felt I lacked skills. With the increases moddability of Darkest Hour, I think it is finally possible to really create this such a mod. Of course there are several problems which can never been completely overcome —these include the nature of time (hours instead of days), as well as the fact that Darkest Hour models frontal warfare instead of classical formation battle— which is the reason I chose a fantasy world. In REH's Conan stories it becomes obvious that they are analogies of modern-day nations. While the technology level is dark medieval, the societies are very advanced, with judiciary, police forces, and ideas such as nationalism. Thus, I think, Darkest Hour fits actually quite well to model this world.

EDIT 2023-10-22: There is no playable version or a download link available at the moment. Don't hold your breath.

Thanks to

• Arcanjo Zero, Vaximillian, and 077 for flags.
• Hannibal Barca 2 written several events for HoI2 Medieval Mode project in 2007. I have re-used these events.
• Muna Jäkli has created unit icons (though some are still to be made).
• Khor has gave several good suggestions, as well as created some events and GFX.
• MartinBG and Novapaddy for their kindness.

Known bugs

• The game does complain for some kind of a bug when loading a scenario. When the loading screen stalls, press enter and everything should be O.K. The bug doesn't affect gameplay in any way, as far as I can tell.

R

 

[warpedmind]

nice idea, i will see forward to this mod

 

[Miihkali]

I have good and bad news.

Bad news: I have lost some of the progress as I have recently changed my computer several times.
Good news: Most of the progress since the downloadable version is still in my hands. I just found them!
Bad news: I'm gonna have a long trip to Mongolia next month, so I won't be able to continue this project then...
Good news: ...but I will definitely keep on working.

The next version will include:
- All graphics with significance for the gameplay will be converted to fit the Hyborian Age theme.
- More playable nations as well as some events to create more interesting storyline (instead of random DoW's).
- More and better random events.
- Lots of bug fixes.
- Extended tech tree.
- New resources system, oil being included as food.

After that, I will focus on drawing a new map! All help (especially with GFX) would be welcome and greatly appreciated.

 

[Cap`n Jim]

This'd probably work a lot better on CKII. I mean, you're be saving yourself a massive pain in the neck with a lot of this stuff.

 

[pirro]

This'd probably work a lot better on CKII. I mean, you're be saving yourself a massive pain in the neck with a lot of this stuff.

Yup, if it was for CKII, I'd help because I want to do it myself, but I'm just too lazy

 

[Miihkali]

That may be true, but there are several reasons that make me continue with DH. First of all, around once a year or two pops up with an idea of a Medieval mod for HoI2, so there definitely seems to be an interest for such a mod. On the other hand, HoI2/DH is the only Paradox game I know how to mod. Besides, I don't own CK II and I don't like Clausewitz Engine... And, I have already converted a large part of the game to match the milieu, and it works quite well, so I don't see a reason to switch to another engine.

 

[pirro]

That may be true, but there are several reasons that make me continue with DH. First of all, around once a year or two pops up with an idea of a Medieval mod for HoI2, so there definitely seems to be an interest for such a mod. On the other hand, HoI2/DH is the only Paradox game I know how to mod. Besides, I don't own CK II and I don't like Clausewitz Engine... And, I have already converted a large part of the game to match the milieu, and it works quite well, so I don't see a reason to switch to another engine.

But hyborian age on Dh... it cannot be, it'd be ridicoulous. No city building, no characters...

 

[jamhaw]

Cool idea.

 

[Miihkali]

But hyborian age on Dh... it cannot be, it'd be ridicoulous. No city building, no characters...

I'll probably focus on a shorter period of time and abstract things a bit. In Howard's history of Hyborian Age Aquilonian Empire started to spread about 4,500 years after the Great Cataclysm. This expansion was short enough to be seen by one generation. I think that will make a good scenario for a warfare-centered game like DH.

I've been also toying around with an idea of event-based city-building. Let's see if I can make something out of it.

And by the way, there will be characters ("Heroes"). They are special divisions which represent a sole character, having no terrain malus and superior morale.

nice idea, i will see forward to this mod

Cool idea.

Thanks

 

[pirro]

I'll probably focus on a shorter period of time and abstract things a bit. In Howard's history of Hyborian Age Aquilonian Empire started to spread about 4,500 years after the Great Cataclysm. This expansion was short enough to be seen by one generation. I think that will make a good scenario for a warfare-centered game like DH.

I've been also toying around with an idea of event-based city-building. Let's see if I can make something out of it.

And by the way, there will be characters ("Heroes"). They are special divisions which represent a sole character, having no terrain malus and superior morale.




Thanks

a'right, gotta try the next beta and I'll tell you if I can help. I'm a huge fan of conan and I own many comics and every single novel and Howard's story

 

[Marshall18]

Just gave this mod a try. I must say you have done some nice work
Please keep working on this, it is a fun idea

 

[Miihkali]

I'm still on my trip, but I have a lot of plans and ideas for the mod to come. You can contribute too just by telling your ideas.

New random events

I'd like to have a lot of random events--one hundred in total would do! They will improve the immersion and give players more chances to affect the course their nation takes as well as some role-playing possibilities: am I a ruthless tyrant or a benevolent gentleman. It would be nice to have so many random events that player would unlikely never have the same event twice during the same game, or at least not within a few years.

Tell which kind of events you would like to have, what (if any) are the triggers, and what different options there are available for the player.

Some of my ideas:

Mutiny
Trigger: More than 10 dissent and the country is at war.
Effect: A random unit loses 5 or 10 strength and 100 organisation; -1 morale.
Another possibility: Make end of this stupidity! (Unit loses 10 organisation and 30 strength.)

Urbanization goes on
Trigger: Technology "Urbanization" is known.
Effect: One Settlement (IC) built in a random province.

New roads have been constructed
Trigger: Technology "Road Network" is known.
Effect: One infrastustructe is built in a random province.

An enemy army wants to join our ranks
Trigger: at war.
Effect 1: Accept! New divisions, +5 dissent, -1 Unity.
Effect 2: Never. No effect.

And so on.

Naval Doctrines

There are two possibilities.

1: I can make a naval doctrine tree, where the player can specialise a lot etc. etc. This takes an entire tech tab.
Pros: An extensive and detailed tree adds immersion and gives more different strategic possibilities.
Cons: There would be no technology tabs left, after that. And I'm not very good at naval things when it comes to my knowledge on medieval warfare or modding skills.

2: Make a small naval doctrine tree and put it to the Naval technologies tab, as there's a lot of unused space. Naval Doctrine tab could be used for Civilization 5 like civics, i.e. technologies that represent the legal and social tradition of the nation. Some kind of doctrine tree, but for the domestic policies.

What do you think? What kind of naval doctrine tree would you like to see? What kind of domestic policy tree would be fun? Tell me your ideas!

Ministers

To avoid coming up with dozens of names and personalities, I think there will be just two minister slots for each nation: Head of State and Head of Government. There will be many different possiblities for each nation, and player can freely change his HoG.

Other ministers will be replaced by generic domestic policies. An example:

Subjects (feel free to propose better effects)
Freedom: +10 research speed
Serfdom: +10 manpower
Caste system: +10 resource production
Slavery: +10 IC, -25 manpower, -25 research speed
Survival of the Fittest: +5 organization, -10 manpower

 

[whatguts]

use Mumia's map

 

[pirro]

use Mumia's map

Why should he?
A Hyborian map or the vainilla, but mumia's?

 

[whatguts]

what does the hyborian map look like>?

 

[pirro]

what does the hyborian map look like>?

Not even close to mumia's one.

 

[whatguts]

Not even close to mumia's one.

oh... right

 

[Miihkali]

I think unit stats and tech trees are now more or less finished, though the first will need some tweaking and the latter lack Naval Doctrines and Unique Units/Techs. Here are some screenies, anyway:

 

[Marshall18]

Looks good

 

[Miihkali]

Hi!

I have finished the map now, though I will have to work on terrain, resources, IC, and manpower for a while. But here's some screenies about the current progress! (When I have finished everything else, I'll draw a new map. )

PS. I have played some test games and it seems that the tech tree should be extended. Currently the tech tree covers years 1000-1015. It will cover at least 1000-1020. I think I'll add 1 or 2 new unit models to every lines. Currently they are called:

Early
Regular
Improved
Advanced
Imperial
Elite

How should be the new models called? I think one possibility could be 'High Imperial'. Besides that, I have no ideas.