Norman Invasion

Introduction

Over two hundred years have passed since the Viking Age of Britain portrayed in Viking Invasion II, and the Dark Ages are coming to an end. Norman Invasion starts in the year AD 1066. William, Duke of Normandy, has landed his troops at Pevensey bay and King Harold II of England has just arrived at Hastings, fresh from victory at Stamford Bridge, to hurl the Normans back into the English Channel.

Description

As the player you can choose to take up the Fighting Man banner of Harold and defend your shores against the Norman dogs, or you can – if you really feel the need! – take up the Papal Banner of William “le Batard” and put the English firmly under the Norman yoke. You can also play as one of the three minor factions - the Welsh, Norse or Scots.

For those who have played Viking Invasion II, you will see that Ireland no longer features in Norman Invasion as that land was not invaded until after the period covered in this modification. Western Scandinavia has also disappeared from the map (it was no longer of significance to England’s immediate history after Harold’s victory against Harald Hardrada), but the Continent has been added and includes Normandy, Flanders and the Cotentin Peninsula. The map has also been significantly enlarged and the number of counties increased.

Historically, of course, William’s invasion of England was successful, though not without setbacks and rebellions. The English people were brought under a dreadful feudal burden in their own homeland, though some escaped to other lands such as Scotland, Scandinavia and places even further abroad. Even Wales and Scotland eventually succumbed to the Norman’s military machine.

But it doesn’t have to work out that way…In Norman Invasion “history” is now in your hands!

Features

Campaign Map View

• A map of Britain 20% larger than Viking Invasion II bringing the new total to 81 regions
• Earldoms and principalities together with a whole new system of titles
• In order for the English or Norman ruler to claim the crown of England he must not only conquer the capital but must also gather his respective assembly (Witenagemot or Curia Regis) to approve the coronation
• Political Systems now replace religion and represent the unease between the customary laws of Britain and the feudal law of the Normans, with a third hybrid political system called Marcher Law
• Normans can build one of three “lordships” (or systems of rule) - Local Lordships, Feudal Lordships or Marcher Lordships
• Unit balance and unit file generated by Aradan's new EDUmatic tool.
• Some settlements, built upon natural outcrops of rocks, are designated natural fortresses and are a lot harder for an enemy to breach
• Roma Surrectum's stunning new battlemap environments have been kindly granted and implemented to create better grass, more variety of trees and superior ground textures
• Churches now have the option to provide yearly, monthly or even daily almsgiving to the poor and needy to help boost happiness in a province
• Provincial Information, accessed via the open-book icon, has been expanded to include more history, geography and other interesting and useful details about each region
• Historic Royal Seats, when captured, create a public order boost across all the regions owned by the conqueror
• Over a dozen new music tracks have been added, including some culture-specific pieces, to further immerse the player in eleventh-century Britain
• The Norman culture has been added which includes a whole new French-accent voice bank for the Normans

The Team

Conceived, created, researched, mapped, built, written and managed by MasterOfNone with support in the following areas from the following people:

• Aradan - Traits, Ancillaries, Unit & Campaign Balance
• Halie Satanus - Model Tweaks, Loading Screens, Banners & Symbols
• Uranos - Map Tweaks & Unit Cards
• Keyser Soze - Research Assistance & Beta Testing

With elements kindly offered by:

• Chivalry: Total War
• 1066
• Roma Surrectum
• Arthurian Total War

History

The core team behind Viking Invasion II was toying with the idea of a submod or continuation of it since Dominion of Britannia (VI2's official submod) was released, and in early June 2009 MasterOfNone conceived the idea of a mod based around the Norman Invasion. The mod was based heavily on the VI2 resources, so five months from the moment of conception NI was released (one day before the battle of Hastings anniversary, Oct 13th). There have been 4 patches for it since, the last one significantly altering campaign balance to make the campaign proceed at a faster pace. No more patches are planned.

Pictures

Harold's "Fighting Man" banner

Welsh looking down a valley

William's papal banner

External Links

The Norman Invasion Mod forum on TWC

The Norman Invasion PDF User Guide