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Gampie

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[CENTER][size=6][b]House Stark[/b][/size]
[/CENTER]


[i]The blood of the first men runs fiercely through the Veins of these folk of the North. Direct Descendants of the Original Kings of Winter. Descended from Brandon the Builder, the architect of not only Winterfell, but the Wall as well, the Starks have a long and storied history. They remained the Kings in the North until Torrhen Stark bent the knee to Aegon the Conqueror. Since this time, the Starks have been the Wardens of the North and the Lords of Winterfell. Their house motto is "Winter is coming." Nothing could be closer to the truth.

Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Hand of the King has been executed for treason on the steps of the Great Sept. The Kingdom is engulfed in struggle. In the North, Robb, now Lord of Winterfell rallies the great houses to his banner. Not only do all of the great houses of the North call their banners and sally forth to aid the Young Wolf, but the Riverlords, led by Robb's uncle Edmure Tully also call their banners.
What will the future hold for House Stark? With his father murdered and his sisters lost to him will the Young Wolf be able to defy all odds and defeat the Lannisters? Or will the Iron Throne and the Lannisters crush the uprising before it begins?[/i]


[b][size=4]The Stark family[/size][/b]

The late Eddard Stark leaves his widow, Catelyn Tully, and three sons behind. Robb Stark, the new lord of Winterfell, carries the heavy burden to avenge his father while keeping his subjects and the lands of his bannermen safe. Brandon Stark, Robb's younger brother, resides in Winterfell under the kind tutelage of maester Luwin. Rickon Stark, merely a child, is still too young to understand the struggles his eldest brother must face.

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/robbinfo.jpg"]Robb Stark[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsbrandon.jpg"]Brandon Stark[/url]
[i][note: Brandon's attributes will change][/i]

[b]Rickon Stark[/b], a four year old boy.


[b][size=4]Lord Robb's bannermen[/size]
[/b]
Among the most powerful bannermen of the Starks is the sinister Roose Bolton, lord of the Dreadfort. He is an able commander and a sly ruler. Jon Umber, lord of Last Hearth, is every inch a northman while the fierce Rickard Karstark is not a man to be mocked. In Winterfell the loyal castellan, Rodrik Cassel, is in charge.

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/rooseinfo.jpg"]Roose Bolton[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsjon.jpg"]Jon Umber[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsrickard.jpg"]Rickard Karstark[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsrodrik.jpg"]Rodrik Cassel[/url]


[b][size=4]The territories of the Starks[/size][/b]

House Stark's supremacy in the North is not contested by any other great houses. It is however the more destitute part of the continent, suffering from the harsher climate and less fertile lands compared to the South. Winterfell is the mightiest fortress, closely followed by the Dreadfort. White Harbor is the richest settlement the Starks have and it is their only starting port. On the other hand you have the Deepwood Motte, a minor stronghold and isolated in the Wolfswood. The Starks also start with Last Hearth and Torrhen's Square, two decent castles. Their southern border is guarded by Moat Cailin, which has been the gateway to the North for centuries.

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpsmap.jpg"]Map[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpswinterfell.jpg"]Winterfell[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpstorrhens_square.jpg"]Torrhen's Square[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpslast_hearth.jpg"]Last Hearth[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpswhite_harbor.jpg"]White Harbor[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpsdeepwood_motte.jpg"]Deepwood Motte[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpsmoat_cailin.jpg"]Moat Cailin[/url]


[b][size=4]Neighbouring regions[/size][/b]

To the south of Last Hearth you have the infamous Dreadfort, under the command of the cruel Ramsay Bolton. In Karhold castellan Arnolf Karstark administers the the day-to-day affairs. A secondary port in the North can be found in Widow's Watch. To the south of Torrhen's Square one finds Barrowtown, a small town compared to White Harbor. And then you also have Flint's Finger, which is located remotely from the rest of the North.


[b][size=4]The initial set-up[/size][/b]

Lord Robb and his most important bannermen (Jon Umber, Roose Bolton and Rickard Karstark) start near Moat Cailin. They are poised to go south and seek the confrontation with the Lannisters. However the player can choose to leave the Tully's to their fate and instead ship their forces to Blackwater Bay where they can mount a daring assault against the walls of King's Landing. Everything is up to his decisions...

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpssetup.jpg"]Set-up[/url]
[i][note that Moat Cailin will have the castle model of the previous picture][/i]


[b][size=4]The army of House Stark[/size][/b]

House Stark has a fairly versatile unit roster. Boasting decent infantry and hardy men of the North they are a match for any army that does not have overwhelming numbers. Their elite unit are the Winterfell Guards, battle-hardened veterans who can pack a punch.

Here are some units. From left to right: Levy Northmen - Pikemen - Town Militia - Spear Militia - Men-at-arms - Dismounted Knights - Winterfell Guards - Scouts - Hedge Knights - Knights - General's Bodyguard

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_woodsmen.jpg"]Levy Northmen[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_scots_pike_militia.jpg"]Pikemen[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_town_militia.jpg"]Town Militia[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_spear_militia.jpg"]Spear Militia[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_norse_swordsmen.jpg"]Men-at-arms[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_dismounted_feudal_knights.jpg"]Dismounted Knights[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_noble_swordsmen.jpg"]Winterfell Guards[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_border_horse.jpg"]Scouts[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_mailed_knights.jpg"]Hedge Knights[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_feudal_knights.jpg"]Knights[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/_ne_bodyguard.jpg"]General's Bodyguard[/url]

And some information screen pictures:

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/peasant_archers_info.jpg"]Archers[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/spear_militia_info.jpg"]Spear Militia[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/norse_swordsmen_info.jpg"]Men-at-arms[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/dismounted_feudal_knights_info.jpg"]Dismounted Knights[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/mailed_knights_info.jpg"]Hedge Knights[/url]
[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/ne_bodyguard_info.jpg"]General's Bodyguard[/url]



[b][size=4]Their army in action[/size][/b]


[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsgeneralsbodyguard.jpg"]Picture 1[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpswinterfellguards.jpg"]Picture 2[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsdismountedknights.jpg"]Picture 3[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsknights.jpg"]Picture 4[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsswordsmen.jpg"]Picture 5[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpsspearmilitia.jpg"]Picture 6[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fpstownmilitia.jpg"]Picture 7[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpsbattle1.jpg"]Picture 8[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpsbattle2.jpg"]Picture 9[/url]

[url="http://users.skynet.be/sky73172/fps/fpsbattle3.jpg"]Picture 10[/url]

[i]
[note that changes will occur here and there before the final release][/i]
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Wow, realy nice preview. Just love those banners (Karstark's sun, Umber's giant etc) on the shields were really cool.

Are Great Jon and Ricar Karstark going to have sons in their families? If not, Young John and/or elder Ricard's son could be Robb's ancillaries (like veteran warrior or known berseker).
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  • 2 weeks later...
@ Atreides: the Starks have received an additional archer unit. So, aside from those 'peasant archers' they now also have a more elite, trained missile unit, based on the Norse Archers from vanilla.

@ Aegon: I don't know yet when the other faction previews will come. The next faction that is being completed is the Tully faction. Tyrell is being worked on as well. It will take some weeks before they are done though. I don't plan to release a preview for each faction. I think it's best if I don't spoil the suprise too much. ;)

@ Jak: this is more or less the complete list. No gallogleaich (sp?) nor any highland nobles. We decided that the kilts would be too much of a reminiscence to Europe.

@ Inda: Rickard's sons are not in. Smalljon however is an ancillary of the Greatjon. Regarding the shields, you should recognise the following houses in picture 3:
- Karstark (white sun on black)
- Stark (duh)
- Bolton (red man on crimson)
- Umber (giant)
- Glover (white fist)
- Flint of Flint's Finger (white Y on black)
- Manderly (merman)
- Tallhart (green sentinels on brown)
Keep in mind that that picture was taken by my computer, with a crappy graphics card (GeForce 7600GS). LordSnow's screenshots (ie. picture 10) has a much better card and his results are a lot better. By playing the mod you can start rehearsing your heraldry, haha.
The heraldry for the shields was the hardest part. Especially the Umber giant and the Manderly merman were painstaking to make. There are several versions of them and after three of four tries he settled on the ones you see now.

@ Elayne Stark: Roose's loyalty is indeed low and Rickard's is not much better. However, in the game you'll be able to keep your generals loyal to you by giving them lordships. Basically it will allow you to bestow these nobility titles (ie. 'Lord of Maidenpool') on the generals who deserve it or need it. Most of them grant a loyalty boost (because they're happy with their title) and some other effect. You don't need these titles to play or win the game but I think it will add a nice touch for those who prefer to roleplay. It can also be interesting to see where certain generals have been. I remember playtesting with Renly's faction and I besieged Rosby. When I assaulted the castle Tyrion Lannister was the defending general and he had the title of 'Lord of Maidenpool'. Indeed, a bit further on the map I saw that Maidenpool was under control of Joffrey's faction. Apparantly Tyrion had been the general who conquered it.
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Yes, the comparison is fitting. Not every settlement/castle has a lordly title but there are 50 of them. One of them is the 'King on the Iron Throne' title, for the one who controls King's Landing.
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[quote name='Gampie' post='1398638' date='Jun 14 2008, 16.32']@ Atreides: the Starks have received an additional archer unit. So, aside from those 'peasant archers' they now also have a more elite, trained missile unit, based on the Norse Archers from vanilla.[/quote]
What about longbows? There is text in the novels to support northern longbows.

[quote name='Gampie' post='1398638' date='Jun 14 2008, 16.32']@ Jak: this is more or less the complete list. No gallogleaich (sp?) nor any highland nobles. We decided that the kilts would be too much of a reminiscence to Europe.[/quote]
Well I know the kilts would not work. It would require a reskin on the Gallogleich, even just a color change. The Highland Nobles would be easier. You could simply use the heavy mail version, and skip the lighter armored model. Its just a thought but the northern army had those two handed weapons in the books. It might require a little work, but there is already alot of re-skinning being done.

Not trying to push at all. But the North needs those heavy troops, if you are sticking to the Scotish theme, as they lack the heavy horse of the southern factions.
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[quote name='Gampie' post='1398645' date='Jun 14 2008, 14.40']Yes, the comparison is fitting. Not every settlement/castle has a lordly title but there are 50 of them. One of them is the 'King on the Iron Throne' title, for the one who controls King's Landing.[/quote]

Cool, that was one component of the original that I really missed in M2.
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Hmmmm. Every thing looks sweet. I just have a couple more questions. Wth the removal of the Scottish pike units (3 of the 4) are there going to be any other units to help replace them?

Armored Seargents and Seargent Spearmen would help replace the pike units as they are more representative of the Northern armies. As seen with the Karstark spears in AGOT, and other army descriptions.

If they were added there would be no need to reskin them if you used the Sicily units. Or you could use the other skins that have been done for the northern units.

For the Lannisters will there be Seargent Spearmen? With the removal of the Billmen their anti-cavalry units are reduced to very few.

Another thing on the Starks, I know you had tossed the idea around of using the Norman Knights in the North. They would need very little reskin work, and could be "Knights of the old gods" or " Northmen Heavy Horse" or something. It still seemed like the North lacked enough horse units, as in the novels heavy horse was the most utilized part of Rob's army.

Sorry about all the questions, but I've been mulling this stuff over in my head for a while.
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[quote name='Anatole Kuragin' post='1402610' date='Jun 17 2008, 14.02']The Battle of the Whispering Wind and the Game of Thrones board game both seem to imply that Robb kicks ass with cavalry.[/quote]

Yeah he was. He made Tywin look "special" :rofl:

Damn Edmure for messing everything up!!!!!

I hope the North gets some more good units. In my opinion the roster looks a bit weak for going head to head with the other factions, but Im not sure if thats just me. .....Common heavy (2 handed) infantry, and heavy horse!!!!!

Well sorry for bitching, everything still looks amazing. :drool:
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