Empire War v3.1
The first major update of Empire War (v3) has come! After months of working on this, we’re glad to be delivering the Eriador Update, which focuses on bringing new maps and class abilities in relation to the Eriador region in Middle-Earth. As a bonus, we've also introduced new features & changes into areas which aren't necessarily Eriador related.
In contrast with what many of you know as “Empire War v2” (the server we had before September the 1st 2023), we’ve introduced a versioning system for v3. The Beta release on September the 1st 2023 was Empire War 3.0.4. Every major update such as the Eriador Update will be of the form “3.x”. So here we are, in Empire War 3.1! Without further ado, let’s take a look at the full changelog:
New features:
> Added new map: Weathertop [Siege gamemode]
> Added new map: Setton [Domination gamemode]
> Added Domination gamemode
> Added Grond to Minas Tirith
> Added Banner placement ability
> Added Cake Healing ability
> Added Pressureplate Trap ability
> Added Lifesteal ability
> Added Effect upon Kill ability
> Added /nextmap
> Added current map’s name hologram above the portal
> Added EpicQuestz server portal to the main lobby (left hand side)
> Improved the main lobby by adding more space and slightly changing the main square to make more sense.
> Added /startvote, soon to be a donator perk
> Added /votefor or /vf, /voteagainst or /va
> Added many new textures to the Resource-Pack
Added Spear variants:
- Easterling Spear
- Elven Spear (Elven spearman)
- Mordor Spear (Orc Commander)
- Uruk Spear (Uruk spearman)
- Haradrim Spear (Haradrim Spearman)
Added Arrow variants:
- Netherite Arrow (Uruk Crossbow and Uruk Archer)
- Elven Arrow (Elven Archer)
- Haradrim Tipped Arrow Base (Haradrim Archer). The tip of the tipped arrow can be changed to any vanilla Minecraft color while the custom arrow base is kept.
Added Food:
- Haradrim Kebab (Harad spearman and archer)
- Cooked Venison (Dunlending huntsman)
- Lembas Bread (Elven spearman and archer)
- Easterling Noodle Soup (Easterling torcher)
- Man-Flesh
- Filled Mug. It is compatible with any vanilla Minecraft color of potion!
- Filled Waterskin. It is compatible with any vanilla Minecraft color of potion! (Uruk Berserker)
Other stuff:
- Added Morgul Blade (Ringwraith, Khamul, and the Witch-King of Angmar)
- Added another iron battleaxe variant (Dunlending Barbarian)
- Added Orc Shield (Orc Shieldman)
- Added throwing Axe (Dunlending huntsman)
- Added another rohirric sword variant (Royal Guard)
- Added Buckler shield (unused)
- Added Dunedain shield (Dunedain shieldman)
- Added another iron dagger variant (Dunedain archer)
- Added another iron dagger variant (Angmar archer)
- Added Haradrim Bow (Haradrim Archer)
- Added throwing torch with animated flames (Easterling Torcher and Dunlending Peasant)
- Added Uruk crossbow (Uruk Crossbow)
- Added Lossarnarch Greataxe (Lossarnarch Axeman)
- Added another Elven Sword variant (Elven Soldier)
- Added Empty Mug
- Added Empty Waterskin
Fixes:
- All weapons models now have proper vanilla sizes and positions in first person and in F5 mode (with the exception of pike and all bows. Only their third person mode position stayed the same)
- Extended grip of the Elven Sword so it does not look like the guard is being gripped. There is a recoloring of the blade to fit with the vanilla theme
- Extended grip of the iron longsword to make it look more longsword-like
- Extended grip of the Netherite berserker cleaver to show more of the two-handed look
- Redesigned Mithril Sword to be more different than vanilla swords counterpart to fit the rest of the Mithril weapons. It is also recolored to better fit with the vanilla shading style
- Enlarged Easterling Bardiche axe blade for Easterling Shieldman
- Redesign vanilla bow grip for better aesthetic and to fit the rest of the existing bows
- Resource Pack has Empire War logo
- Resource Pack Format is at 22 (latest version)
- Changed the wooden handle of the Haradrim scimitar to align with the wood colors of the Haradrim spear to give a cultural identity.
- Relocate troll eyes for better replication of the movie vision
- Easterling Spear
- Elven Spear (Elven spearman)
- Mordor Spear (Orc Commander)
- Uruk Spear (Uruk spearman)
- Haradrim Spear (Haradrim Spearman)
Added Arrow variants:
- Netherite Arrow (Uruk Crossbow and Uruk Archer)
- Elven Arrow (Elven Archer)
- Haradrim Tipped Arrow Base (Haradrim Archer). The tip of the tipped arrow can be changed to any vanilla Minecraft color while the custom arrow base is kept.
Added Food:
- Haradrim Kebab (Harad spearman and archer)
- Cooked Venison (Dunlending huntsman)
- Lembas Bread (Elven spearman and archer)
- Easterling Noodle Soup (Easterling torcher)
- Man-Flesh
- Filled Mug. It is compatible with any vanilla Minecraft color of potion!
- Filled Waterskin. It is compatible with any vanilla Minecraft color of potion! (Uruk Berserker)
Other stuff:
- Added Morgul Blade (Ringwraith, Khamul, and the Witch-King of Angmar)
- Added another iron battleaxe variant (Dunlending Barbarian)
- Added Orc Shield (Orc Shieldman)
- Added throwing Axe (Dunlending huntsman)
- Added another rohirric sword variant (Royal Guard)
- Added Buckler shield (unused)
- Added Dunedain shield (Dunedain shieldman)
- Added another iron dagger variant (Dunedain archer)
- Added another iron dagger variant (Angmar archer)
- Added Haradrim Bow (Haradrim Archer)
- Added throwing torch with animated flames (Easterling Torcher and Dunlending Peasant)
- Added Uruk crossbow (Uruk Crossbow)
- Added Lossarnarch Greataxe (Lossarnarch Axeman)
- Added another Elven Sword variant (Elven Soldier)
- Added Empty Mug
- Added Empty Waterskin
Fixes:
- All weapons models now have proper vanilla sizes and positions in first person and in F5 mode (with the exception of pike and all bows. Only their third person mode position stayed the same)
- Extended grip of the Elven Sword so it does not look like the guard is being gripped. There is a recoloring of the blade to fit with the vanilla theme
- Extended grip of the iron longsword to make it look more longsword-like
- Extended grip of the Netherite berserker cleaver to show more of the two-handed look
- Redesigned Mithril Sword to be more different than vanilla swords counterpart to fit the rest of the Mithril weapons. It is also recolored to better fit with the vanilla shading style
- Enlarged Easterling Bardiche axe blade for Easterling Shieldman
- Redesign vanilla bow grip for better aesthetic and to fit the rest of the existing bows
- Resource Pack has Empire War logo
- Resource Pack Format is at 22 (latest version)
- Changed the wooden handle of the Haradrim scimitar to align with the wood colors of the Haradrim spear to give a cultural identity.
- Relocate troll eyes for better replication of the movie vision
Bug Fixes & Balancing:
> Improved team sorting
> Fixed gold streak resetting
> Improved cobweb placement for throw ability
> Scale gate health depending on average player count
> Made it so that leap ability can’t be activated if the vertical velocity is too high
> Added player range to /map info
> Fixed gate damaged blocks particles persisting after game ends
> Improved men left for lower player numbers
> Explain gold earning in /vote
> The third level on Minas Tirith now has spawn forwarding closer to the flag, for Mordor
> Completely overhauled the boulder troll class, renamed to Half-Troll
> Slightly enhanced last flag on Eoford
> Fixed donors not being counted in /players nor /online
> Disguised classes can now wear the class's armour as long as vanilla Minecraft allows it for the mob
> Spawns that don't depend on flags now display their names on the woolmap/minimap in team lobbies
> Heavy Troll ability makes sure the classes that have it no longer receive a ladder
> Optimised entity destroy packets (might help people with poor internet connections)
> Soldier: +2 hp (1 heart) (30->32 hp)
> Elven Archer: decrease dash cooldown (15 > 10 seconds)
> Royal Guard: decrease melee damage (6.5 > 6 dmg), increase armor (13 > 14 armor), decrease parry strength (absorbtion 3 > 2), decrease parry cooldown (7 > 5.5 seconds)
> Dunlending Peasant: Change trident to pitchfork. +1 torch, made torches throwable, add stew with effects
> Harad Spearman: Buff Armor (10 > 12 armor)
> Easterling Torcher: Replaced Cooked Mutton with Steak for better Saturation. Added 2 Easterling Noodle Soup
> Updated server to 1.20.4. Users should update their clients to avoid issues. We expect the next major Minecraft version to be the new minimum required version to play Empire War
> Class "silhouettes" now function correctly and have been converted to NPCs (class displays in team lobbies)
> Item preferences have been redesigned such that they are only saved when a kit is applied, this includes restocking. This should fix duplication and missing item bugs. Shift-clicking items is now possible again
> Fixed being able to bypass mutes with commands
New maps
Weathertop | Amon-Sûl:
Weathertop | Amon-Sûl:
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The first map introduced in our Eriador Update is Amon Sûl; more commonly referred to as Weathertop. The ancient garrison of the Dúnedain stands prominent and proud above the smooth fields of Eriador, making it a prime strategic position for its panoramic views. Burned by the Witch-King and abandoned midway through the Third Age, the Rangers of the Dúnedain now fight to reclaim their ancestral watchtower from an army of orcs. Remnants from the forces of Angmar have fortified the top of the hill, and are settled in for their last stand against the rangers of the north.
The rangers are led by Arathorn, son of Arador and father to future King Aragorn II, and joined by the sons of Elrond Half-Elf, Elladan and Elrohir. The elvish brothers worked closely with the Rangers of the North on several occasions, and were good friends of Arathorn, who became chieftain of the Dunedaín in TA 2930 after his father was captured by hill-trolls. Arathorn led the Rangers on several skirmishes and hunts, one of which was this attempt to reclaim Amon-Sûl in the year TA 2932 - a siege fabricated for the Empire War server.
The Rangers first make their way through abandoned farms and the surrounding plains. Following a classic Empire War siege format, they must capture the Old Farm and Ruined Watchtower in sector 1, before advancing through the Valley of sector 2. Now with their ancient fortress in sight, they focus their assault on the Orc Camp in the foothills below Amon Sûl for sector 3, before the orcs hold their final stand in sector 4: at the peak of Weathertop. Should they succeed, the blight of Angmar may finally be washed from the lands of Eriador. However should they fail, and the orcs prevail, evil may be allowed to grow once more in the ruins of Arnor, turning the Dunedaín fortress into a twisted parody of its former self.
Starting classes:
The class selection for both maps and teams will increase with time. We would like to start with a basic choice of classes, for now.
Dunedain
| Angmar
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Setton:
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The second map in our Eriador update is Setton. A village of Eriador, it stands south of Bree, between the South Downs and the Barrowdowns. Not created by Tolkien, this is a location fabricated by the build team at EpicQuestz. It features a quaint, tight-knit little community with a focus on agriculture, with fields and barns as its dominating features. It also offers plenty of back gardens and yards, with clutter and decoration offering exciting traversal and parkour options off of the main streets, in case you feel like sneaking to a flag right under the enemies’ noses.
Prior to the attack, Setton’s people were made aware of an advancing party of orc raiders. Fleeing north to Bree, they abandoned their village, seeking refuge in the well populated (and well protected) town. However, when the council of Bree refused to grant them shelter and safety, they came to a stark realisation: they were on their own. Returning to their village, the residents of Setton muster together what little weapons and able soldiers they have, and prepare to fight for their homeland. Having fled from their homes and leaving the village empty, the orcs have been allowed free passage to set up a perimeter around the edge of the village and scout it for the coming battle. They now have three key locations in mind if they want to seize control of Setton: the Town Centre, the Windmill, and the Lumber Camp. Should they hold these long enough, the villagers would eventually be forced into submission.
Not only is this map brand new to Empire War, it also introduces a brand new gamemode to the server! This will be the first in our history to feature the brand new mode of **Domination**. With three flags, each team must fight to control key locations within Setton; the Town Centre, the Windmill, and the Lumber Camp, as mentioned above. Each team starts with a set number of tickets, and will lose one every 1.5 seconds for each flag the enemy holds. For example, if the orcs hold the Windmill and the Lumber Camp, the Men of Breeland will lose two tickets every 1.5 seconds. Every death will also lose one ticket for your team. This turns the game into a war of attrition, to see who can hold out the longest, rather than the classic “Attackers vs Defenders” format.
Starting classes:
As mentioned previously, both maps and all teams will get new classes added to the class collection soon enough, but for now, here are the starting classes in this update:
Villagers of Setton
| Orcs
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