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Return of Shadow Beta 0.2

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Rivendell is now finally available for play without having to use a game mode code.
The mod now has 7 factions available.
Rivendell plays differently from the other factions it uses a good variety of strong units culminating in some powerful elite units with exclusive upgrades.
As well as the support unit the Lightbearer that can be upgraded to use either Healing, Defensive of Offensive spells.






Notes

Beta 0.2 is the first full version release since Beta 0.15 and has a new file structure and updated launcher.
The file size has been reduced as well by trimming as much fat as possible bringing the current size down to 2.5gb from somewhere around 4gb.

A new optional addon is coming soon that will change the look of the game slightly to give a more cinematic look.
The UI has an updated look to match the Return of Shadow theme, even the launcher has been tweaked to match it.

Check out roschangelist.txt for a full list of changes.
Beta 0.2 also includes a small hotfix 0.21 that fixes a few issues I noticed while I was slowly uploading the Beta (it took me about a week to do so).

An installer and old version uninstaller is planned to be released later today.

You can also read the updated manual from the download section.

Beta 0.2 News and the next Faction

After giving it some thought I've decided to skip Beta 0.18 and jump right to Beta 0.2 which is more or less ready and is being uploaded.
Due to my circumstances it will take a few days to get the Beta up and running since I have to upload it piece meal.

I've done pretty much everything I had set out to do with Beta 0.2 and the faction is mostly complete in about the same stage as Dunland was with 1.55 with only minor fixes to go.



So the next faction will be The Strongholds.
Not exactly shocking I know, but currently it is the evil faction most complete and I want to try and keep to the good-evil-good-evil pattern of faction releases.

So as I mentioned in the announcement news for Strongholds the faction is the combination of the Deep and Dol Guldur factions.
I showed a couple preview images a couple days ago to whet your whistles.
Now I guess I'll reveal the tech tree.

Strongholds

Units

Moria Goblin Warriors
Moria Goblin Archers
Moria Goblin Spearmen

Dol Guldur Soldiers - Strong Infantry units
Dol Guldur Strongbows - Strong Ranged units

Warg Riders -

Cave Troll - 
Stone Troll - Ranged Troll/Artillery unit
Olog Hai - Powerful elite unit.

Great Spider - Fast moving unit that can auto heal and weakens enemy when attacking.

 

Buildings

Deep work Pit - Primary resource building.
Dol Guldur Forge - Resource building that provides upgrades at level 2.
Moria Deep - The main building for the Moria units trains Goblin Warriors, Archers and Spears/
Dol Guldur Barracks - Trains the Dol Guldur Soldiers and Strongbows.
Wolf Meet - Trains the Warg Riders.
Troll Cave - Trains the Cave Troll, Stone Troll and Olog Hai
Spider Nest - Buildable from the Economy plot after the Brood Faction Upgrade has been purchased.
Towers - 
War Works - Battering Ram,Ladders

 

Heroes

Lug - Early game hero
Mashduk - The spontaneous one
Mashgur - Archer hero
Gurguk - My favourite Orc and sometimes Forum lurker. 
Gimbul - Goblin Leader
Bolguk - Goblin Leader 
Blackmaw - Great Warg
Brood Mother - Queen of the Mirkwood Spiders available with the Brood Faction Upgrade.
 

Spells

Call of the Deep - Targeted Work pit gains double experience for a short time.
Befoul - Similar to Taint - -50% armour and removes fear resistance

Azog Lives - Summons Azog
Bounty - Upgrades the Work Pit and Forge to provide upgrades
Rally

Swarm - Permanently increases the movement speed for Moria and Mountain Goblins
Darkness
Drums in the Deep - (Call the Horde)

TBA
Dark Influence
Nazgul Summon

Balrog


Upgrades

Basic Training - 
Tainted Arrows - (additional damage to units)
Heavy Armour - 
Deadly Blades - 
Troll Training - Ranks up Ettens and Olog Hai

Faction Upgrades

GKU
Murder Holes
Tower Tainted Arrows - Tower arrows slightly slow and weaken armour
Strength Training - Improves the firing rate and range of Stone Trolls
Broods - Unlocks Brood Mother and spider units

Patch 0.175

Download Patch 0.175

Because of a stupid oversight on my part I have to reupload 0.17 as 0.175.

So to make up for that I've added a little something something to the launcher.

Type in Imladris to the newly updated launcher to access a new Game mode the Rivendell Preview.

Also because I'm not as rushed as I was yesterday I'm able to do this release properly complete with the standard promo stuff.

Test mode also includes Rivendell.

 
The Rivendell preview is as the name suggests a preview.
The faction isn't complete yet so I'm not adding it to the proper release, but you can have a play with it and get a general feel for it.

 
This patch mostly fixes issues with Dunland but also addresses other issues and updates some things like FX and audio.

Patch 0.16

Beta 0.16 is a balance and bug patch focusing on addressing some issues with Dunland and the other 5 factions.

Fixes most of the issues with 0.155

Download Links:

Beta 0.15

Patch 0.16

 

Dunland 2.0 Part 1

Dunland is naturally the main focus of this patch with quite a few changes and fixes in store.
Beta 0.155 is the first half of a update to the Dunland faction.
Dunlending Javeloteers will gain Fire tipped javelots allowing them to deal additional fire damage making them more useful.
The heroes have had their costs, healths and armour adjusted after some playtesting so there will a more balanced Dunland.
Hillmen will be buildable from the external Dunland Farms once the Dunland Raids Faction Upgrade has been purchased and the Farm is at level 3 they will also reap the benefits of the Gather the Clans spell allowing Dunland more flexibility and defence against Cavalry.
Dunland's buildings are also having more work done with more visual upgrades for the 5 levels and a few improvements to the overall look of the faction's buildings.

News on the second half of the Dunland update will coming soon so keep checking in.


 

Rohan Updated

 Rohan are also getting a bit of attention this time around with some changes to heroes, units and spells.
The Defenders of the Westfold and Eastfold spells have been replaced with Shroud and Helm.
Helm has been moved up to tier 2 and improved accordingly, replacing Helm's old spot is a new spell Horn of Edoras which grants +150% damage for targeted allies for a short time.
 
With the removal of the 2 spells also comes a few changes for the heroes and units they unlock.
The Westfold Hall can now be built from the start as can Elfhelm and Grimbold.
The Eastfold Yeomen are now unlocked from the Archery Range at level 2 and the Eastfold Lancers from the Stables at level 3.

Theoden's Valour of the Rohirrim channel spell has been replaced with Royal Guards of Edoras a summon skill for level 10 that summons 3 hordes of Royal Guards for a time.
The Rohan Hall also gets a new unit in the Edoras Spearmen giving Rohan a proper anti cavalry unit whereas the Westfold Shieldmen were more of a defensive unit.



 

Gondor Update

Gondor got a bit of an update at the last minute with a new unit the Gondor Royal Knight an anti-cavalry cavalry unit available at the Stables after purchasing the Warriors of the Citadel Faction Upgrade.
 

Balancing

I've also had a look at various units and heroes for balancing.
Tough heroes like Borgo and Boromir have had their defences toned down a bit, various Heroes now do the correct damage type and various heroes have had their damages reduced or adjusted.
Elite units like the Door Wardens and Amroth Vanguards now deal HERO type damage making them better against structures and heroes as well as other units so they truly are elites now.
 

Game modes

3 new Game Modes have been added to the launcher for Patch 0.155.
The first is the No heroes feature which removes all heroes except the summon ones.

The second is called Gollum Wars which removes all heroes except summons and gives each faction 5 Gollums to fight with.

Finally the weirdest one yet Gollzilla.
Replacing the final spell for all factions is a new giant version of Gollum called Gollzilla.
So now you can fight with massive Gollums as I'm sure you've always wanted to.



 

Launcher update

The launcher will be getting upgraded and simplified.
Most of the requirements to run this mod will now be handled automatically by the launcher.
You'll no longer have to set the OS mode and game directories the launcher will find them itself.
There is no only 1 options menu in the launcher with Game mode codes being able to run straight from the Options menu.

When you run the launcher it will automatically check for 1.03 and if it's not installed it will even automatically open the Game Updater for you.