The
Black
Marshes
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/top23.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6LP3yLKzo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Gp1YJ0h-0
NB:There's much more than the vids suggest. We just don't want to reveal everything too soon! Spoilers are not in our interests...
This is our official announcement thread. It contains all relevant information about the Black Marsh mod since its rebirth this year. Please note that this project has a very long history that reaches back to the beginning of Oblivion modding and it shares its forums with the ‘Silgrad Tower’ and ‘Elsweyr’ teams. This year I took over the project and there have been some major developments but we are still looking for extra members to help support the project.
Here are some of the more up to date posts: http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=982779&view=findpost&p=15511276 & http://www.gamesas.com/bgsforums/index.php?s=&showtopic=982779&view=findpost&p=15657801 .
PLEASE NOTE: Many of the links below are now outdated. Please refer to the more updated screenshots.
Content
I: What is the Black Marsh Mod?
II: Who is behind the Black Marsh Mod?
III: What has already been created (inc. screenshots)?
IV: What has yet to be created?
V: How can I take part?
I: What is the Black Marsh Mod?
Making full use of SI, the Black Marsh mod adds the mysterious lands of Black Marsh, otherwise known as Argonia, one of the darkest and most dangerous regions of the fictional universe of Tamriel. Other lands from this fantasy world have been explored in detail, such as Morrowind and Cyrodiil, but the lands of the reptilian Argonians have remained shrouded in mystery...until now.
Our aim is to recreate a region which no player has explored in the Elder Scrolls series since Arena. The finished mod will include many new cities, new architecture, detailed new quests, and most importantly a large new marsh and jungle landscape, filled with deadly new enemies and dungeons.
This map was originally used on our old website at: http://theblackmarshproject.weebly.com/ but, as far as current development goes, it is best to look at these maps: Beta Region Map - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BlackMarshGeographicMap2-1.jpg & Beta Settlement Map - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BlackMarshSettlementMap.jpg which is much more relevant to the aims of the current project as we push towards a fully playable beta release. What you see on this map is a rough approximation of the landmass that we intend to focus on during the beta phase. The area that has been circled will be the area that will be playable in the beta release.
This is where my own involvement comes in as I have decided to lead the project through this period. My decision to do so is based on a passion to see the Black Marshes come about and a practicality from having been involved in a lot of modding projects from all sorts of different games. In short, I know that most ambitious mods die out very quickly when it soon becomes apparent that the work required is just going to be too much. That is why the strategy for the beta release is simple: create five regions of fully-playable material that best exploits the skills of the team and meets with the standards that we all aspire to. I believe that this plan is both realistic and achievable. The question then for this project, is when and not if…?
II: Who is behind the Black Marsh Mod?
The Black Marsh mod was originally launched on the ‘Beyond Cyrodiil’ forums, a sub-section of the very long-standing ‘Silgrad Tower’ forums, a project which can be said to be our 'father project' in some ways. Its original founder was KuKulza who outlined many of the directives that we (mainly) still adhere to. Later team leaders included SwedishFish and Tlo1048 until I, Ibsen’s Ghost, took over the project just this year. Since then, we have modded two full new regions, added several major new settlements and added a vast amount of new items, to mention just a few things.
Full bios of the team members will appear on the new website when it is launched but, for the time being, the team is as follows:
Core Team
Leader - Ibsen's Ghost
Co-Leader (of the Russian Argonia team) – DoZeNt (Denius)
Core Members – Back2Murder, Llamaranger, Senten & Deeza
General Modding
Ibsen’s Ghost, Back2Murder, Llamaranger, Senten, Deeza & DoZeNt.
Modelling
Llamaranger, Senten, SoK, Koniption, Sachiel & sHAdowgAme.
Texturing
Koniption, Ibsen’s Ghost, SoK & n00biepl0x & InsanitySorrow.
Scripting
Koniption & InsanitySorrow.
Quests
Ibsen’s Ghost, ThePriest909, Deeza & DrMcCoy.
Music
Xaeaix & DoZeNt.
Voices
Ibsen’s Ghost (and all of my contacts )
Concept Art
Kukulza (now left), _LPS & reaper
Special thanks go to the Silgrad Tower team for their continued support, especially sandor who endures the arduous task of generating our regions.
As things stand, we are still in need of help with general modding, quests and dungeons.
III: What has already been created (inc. screenshots)?
Black Marsh uses a fairly wide mix of out-of-house and in-house resources, some of which are already released as modders resources. For example, one of our main contributors is Koniption who has been instrumental in designing the landscape and in fashioning some of our most notable items such as the more hazardous flora. What follows is just a quick glance at what has been created so far:
Regions & Worldspaces: The BM Blackwood Region: contains new landscape items such as the monstera plant, Baobab tree and Sylvan mushrooms, besides others.
Region - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Blackwood07.jpg
Flora - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Blackwood06.jpg
Settlement - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BlackwoodSettlement.jpg
The Naga-Cradle Jungle Region: contains palm trees, jungle trees, new roots models and a very wide selection of new flora from the beautiful Stargazer lily to the stinking Rafflesia plant.
Region - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/JungleRegion.jpg
Flora - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/JungleFlora.jpg
Waterfall - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/JungleWaterfall02.jpg
The Rottmere Everglades Region (WiP): (currently in development – screenshots are only basic versions) contains swamp rocks, swamp trees, the swamp rose, the mysterious ‘glowshrooms’ and many more unusual items of flora. Other environmental effects and custom grasses will be added.
Region - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/EvergladesRegion.jpg
Flora - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/EvergladesFlora.jpg
The Hist Dimension (WiP): (also currently in development – no screenshots for this because I don’t want to give too much away about this crucial location).
Settlements: Gideon City (WiP): currently needing a revamp, Gideon City is one of the areas where many of the darker storylines will take place. We now have some more suitable buildings for this city than those shown.
Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/GideonEntrance.jpg
Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/GideonCentre.jpg
Above - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/GideonAbove.jpg
Stormhold City (WiP): approaching completion, Stormhold is a jungle city and an area where missionaries once attempted to convert the local populace to the Nine whilst under threat from the mountains bordering Morrowind in the North.
Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StormholdEntrance.jpg
Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StormholdCentre.jpg
Stormhold Ruins - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StormholdRuins.jpg
Rockguard Village: a Blackwood farming settlement and Imperial bastion.
01 - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Rockguard01.jpg
02 - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Rockguard02.jpg
Stonewastes Town: an Argonian fishing village.
Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StonewastesEntrance.jpg
Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StonewastesCentre.jpg
Harbour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StonewastesHarbour.jpg
Interior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StonewastesInterior.jpg
Sloughpoint Village: a resting place for travellers from Cyrodiil.
Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/SloughpointEntrance.jpg
Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/SloughpointCentre.jpg
Inn - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/SloughpointAbove.jpg
Rockgrove Town: a large lake-town for the more affluent Argonians.
Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/RockgroveEntrance.jpg
Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/RockgroveCentre.jpg
Harbour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/RockgroveHarbour.jpg
Chasepoint Town: a seedier port at the southern end of the river network.
Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ChasepointEntrance.jpg
Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ChasepointCentre.jpg
Harbour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ChasepointHarbour.jpg
Soulrest City: (in development) naval port for access to the Black Marsh from Cyrodiil and Elsweyr.
Kothringi Architecture #1 – http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Kothringi01.jpg
Kothringi Architecture #2 - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Kothringi02.jpg
Tenmar Wall Village: a lofty jungle retreat hides a darker secret as the town descends into caverns below (note that the snow on the exterior building will be changed to moss and that the caverns are Sachiel’s custom models).
Tenmar Wall Cliff Town - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/TenmarWallSettlement.jpg
Tenmar Wall Jungle Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/TenmarJungle.jpg
Tenmar Wall Cave Town - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/TenmarWallCave07.jpg
Pholmolo Village: a much more ‘ethnic’ Argonian jungle village populated by shamanic tribespeople.
Pholmolo Entrance - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/PholmoloGorge05.jpg
Pholmolo Centre - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Pholmolo13.jpg
Pholmolo Harbour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Pholmolo12.jpg
Dungeons: Mossy Ruins: claimed by the marshes and the Barsaebic Ayleids (or ‘Marsh Elves’), mossy ruins are much murkier than their Cyrodiil counterparts (the screenshots shown do not display many of the custom textures, closer environments and invasive roots).
Mossy Ruin Exterior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/MokumalataMossyRuin.jpg
Mossy Ruin Root Tunnel - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/MokumalataRuins03.jpg
Mossy Ruin Root Hall - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/MokumalataRuins05.jpg
Dead Rootworms: whilst live rootworms provide the only recourse to fast travel (inside their bellies) many of the rootworms are being murdered, leaving slow-rotting empty bellies open to invasion by parasitic critters (the flora includes festering boils and virulent polyps).
Rootworm Tunnel #1 - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/RootwormTunnels09.jpg
Rootworm Tunnel #2 - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/RootwormTunnels10.jpg
Rootworm Flora - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/RootwormTunnels13.jpg
Armour, Weapons & Clutter: making use of Argonian blades and weapons, voodoo items, new areas of Hist worship (with shrines still to come), full bamboo furniture set, rootware and resinware house clutter to mention but a few, the Black Marshes are now looking very much in tune with Argonian culture. Including out-of-house resources, there is far too much here to produce sufficient screenshots for so here is a small selection. Many items should are as yet unused or are too small to appear in previous screenshots.
Argonian Headsets - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ArgonianHeadsets.jpg
Argonian Real Swords - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ArgonianRealSwords.jpg
Croc Armour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/CrocHelm.jpg
Newtscale Armour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/NewtscaleArmour.jpg
Scale Armour - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ScaleArmour.jpg
Stained Glass Windows - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/StainedGlass.jpg
Backpack - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Backpack.jpg
Voodoo Painting - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/VoodooPainting01.jpg
Potion Skull - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/VoodooSkull.jpg
Potion Labels - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Label-Gurulsam.jpg
Voodoo Potion - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/VoodooPotion03.jpg
Bamboo Bed - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BambooBedLower1.jpg
Bark Canoe - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BarkCanoe.jpg
Boiling Kettle - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BoilingKettle.jpg
Bushel Gourd - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BushelGourd.jpg
Glass Jar - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/GlassJarPotion.jpg
Gutted Fish - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/HangedGuttedFish.jpg
House Clutter - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/HouseClutter.jpg
Resinware - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ResinWare.jpg
Waterskin - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Waterskin.jpg
Yet More Architecture: some of our modders have left us due to real life issues without making the most of some of the architectures that have been produced. Here is a selection of some of the architecture that is waiting for new modders to breathe life into them.
Chieftain Swamp Hut - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ChieftainSwampHut.jpg
Dres Scuttler - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/DresScuttlerInt.jpg
Naga Skin Hut Exterior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/NagaHutDuo1Vines.jpg
Naga Scale Hut Exterior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/NagaHutExt2Vines.jpg
Southlander Hut Exterior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Southlanderhut01.jpg
Southlander Hut Interior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Southlanderhut01interior.jpg
Swampland Huts + Village - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/SwamplandHuts.jpg
TurtleShell House Exterior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/TurtleHouse1IExt.jpg
TurtleShell House Interior - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/TurtleHouse1IntA.jpg
Watertop Huts - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/WaterTopHuts.jpg
Concept Art, Lore and Literature: far beyond the ‘Lusty Argonian Maid’, BM offers a highly-developed interpretation of Elder Scrolls lore on Argonia with a number of pieces of concept art still ready to be used by modellers.
Music & Sound: where I am most known is my work on voices for ‘Lost Spires’, ‘Gates to Aesgaard’ and ‘Origin of the Mages Guild’ so the normal service will be resumed here, possibly incorporating my complete new sound sets for several different races as originally performed for ‘Silgrad Tower’: http://www.youtube.com/user/IbsensGhostUK . Our soundtrack, meanwhile, is currently being developed and reflects the dark, swampy, savage and tribal nature of the Black Marshes. Here are some of the experiments so far: http://www.xaeaix.com/index2.php?key_v=bm .
Quests: many factions vie for power in Argonia, none more powerful than the almighty Hist but you can expect to see the emergence of the Shadowscales, the Sotha Tren criminal syndicate, the Royal Court and the horrific details of the ‘Khanaten flu’ (and other diseases) explored.
Creatures & Races: You will find some curious and deadly creations of the Black Marsh including the Naga, the Marsh Elves and the Sarpa besides the more inhuman varieties of swamp Golem, Skaven, tarantulas, giant mosquitoes, Durzogs, Werecrocs and Guars.
Black Panther - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/BlackPanther.jpg
Centipede - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Centipede.jpg
Sarpa MKII - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/DrakesDragonsEarlierSarpa.jpg
Sarpa MKIII - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ownr_K6uYNY
Naga Base Model - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Gnolls.jpg
Gorilla - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Gorilla.jpg
Marsh Elves - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/MarshElves.jpg
Marsh Leopard - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/MarshLeopard.jpg
Mosquito - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Mosquito.jpg
Saurian Argonians - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/SaurianArgonians.jpg
Swamp Golem - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/SwampGolem.jpg
Tarantula - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Tarantula.jpg
Lilmothlit - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/VexendLilmothlit.jpg
Argonian Zombies - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/ArgonianZombies.jpg
Durzogs - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Durzogs.jpg
Skaven - http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Ibsen3/Skaven.jpg
IV: What has yet to be created?
‘Claims’ are now being set up for various parts of the Black Marsh project which will make it easier for both newbie and experienced modders to fit in with our aims whilst also leaving them sufficient space to develop their own ideas and spread their wings creatively.
Although new modellers and texturers are very welcome, as there are still some very ambitious tasks that they might like to get to grips with, what will be of most value to us are interior, dungeons and quest modders. I would also appreciate some help with landscapes, remaining settlements and AIs.
Interiors – Many of the settlements are complete and someone who can bring life to them would be a real breath of fresh air. Many new models such as paintings and furniture are now available so there is plenty to play with besides plenty of strange, new interior models.
Dungeons – You have a very wide range to choose from in BM as we use a selection from both OB and SI including caves, a few Forts and SI ruins besides some of our own tilesets such as the Barsaebic Ayleid ‘mossy ruins’ and the bellies of dead rootworms!
Quests – With the settlements now reaching a fully functioning status, we’re in a good position to begin incidental city / settlement quests besides the more ambitious ideas such as the arrival of the flying Sarpa race, the secret of the rootworms, the truth behind the Khanaten flu, an introduction to ‘Bhuru Magic’ (Argonian ‘voodoo’) and the development of the sinister Shadowscales besides various others.
We’d love to see what you can bring to the mod and it would be great to have some fresh talents on the forums to speed things along!
V: How can I take part?
Either PM me or, better still, drop by the BM forums and check out the main thread entitled ‘The Sticky Guar’. The important threads at the top include a guide for newcomers called, unsurprisingly, ‘New Modders Start Here’. But make sure that you register first. Remember that the forums are now getting rather old (our ‘father site’ Silgrad Tower has been around a long time) and the structure can seem daunting at first but it actually makes a lot of sense once you’re there.
Here is a link to the forums: http://www.silgrad.com/wbb2/board.php?boardid=62
Thanks for reading!