The Star : Next generation nature and environment

This mod is an evolution and improvement of my previous projects, Epona for Rome II Total War and Samhain for Attila Total War, making those versions obsolete. Its goal is to push the graphical quality of the engine as far as possible, improving lighting, terrain textures, forests, leaves, grass, rocks, animals, puddles, and now, thanks to a better understanding of the engine, the skies as well—bringing epic skies with a huge variety of styles for both day and night.

Unlike the previous versions that paid tribute to Celtic gods, these new mods, which will be available for Rome II, Attila, Thrones of Britannia, and Shogun 2, are a tribute to the Tarot cards, specifically the Major Arcana. This particular release is inspired by Card XVII, The Star, associated with the skies, stars, water, and spiritual connection with the universe, but above all, with hope.

It was thanks to the first version of Epona that I found the strength to seek help and overcome the depression that weighed heavily on me during those years. The Star card spoke to me about hope, and because of that, with greater technical knowledge and a clearer mind, I now bring you the maximum level of visual improvement this engine can achieve.

• Unique and fully customized weather systems.
• Dynamic weather changes during battles, including rain, snowfall, and sandstorms. (Only enabled if you own The Tower card.)
• Falling flowers depending on the region, leaves falling from trees, pollen effects, and rainbows. (Only enabled if you own The Tower card.)
• New tree, flora, and trunk models.
• New grass, vegetation, and twig models with increased density.
• Higher tree density and improved tree LODs.
• New lighting, reflection, and shadow effects.
• New shaders that improve the way lighting behaves and enhance anti-aliasing without sacrificing performance.
• Nature effects such as butterflies, insects, dragonflies, and many other small environmental details.
• New terrain systems that adapt depending on camera height.
• Volumetric clouds.
• Eye adaptation effect.
• A vast collection of completely new and unique skies.
• More than 3,211 different weather variations.
• New wind animations and effects for grass and trees.
• New night skies featuring the Milky Way, nebulae, stars, and more.
• New beautiful wildlife has been added to the environment with increased density. You will now see large packs of wolves, deer, boars, and birds flying overhead, making battlefields feel alive.
• Unique weather and environmental designs created specifically for historical battles, making them feel even more special.
• A complete visual overhaul of every map in the game, transforming them from flat and uninspiring landscapes into beautiful and epic environments.

Is it compatible with other mods?

• Yes, with the vast majority of them. However, mods that modify terrain, lighting, grass, or use reshades are not compatible. It has been tested with DEI; if something looks unusual, it is likely caused by another factor unrelated to this mod.

Does it affect game performance?

• No. On the contrary, I took the opportunity to fix several old shaders that caused performance issues. You can now use anti-aliasing with little to no performance loss.

Is it available in all languages?

• Yes, it is available in all official game languages.

Does it change gameplay?

• Technically no, but dynamic weather changes such as rainstorms or sandstorms may have a small indirect impact.

What is the load order?

• The load order of my mods is simply the same order in which they are released, starting with XVII at the top.

What will happen to the Celtic mods?

• They have become obsolete, but if you still prefer them, they will remain available on my Workshop page. Sharing is caring.

My deepest thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout these years. I went through several difficult periods following the loss of my former partner. Having my identity used for scams, combined with the challenges of autism, led me through some very dark times, to the point where I even attempted to take my own life.

Today, however, I see the world through a different light. I am married, happy, living in China, and waiting for the arrival of my first daughter. Never lose hope, because no matter how dark the tunnel may seem, there is always a light at the end.

Magic is real.