Master of Myrror & Arcanus - Master of Magic mods for Civilization 3

This is a moddb page for Drift's brilliant Master of Myrror & Arcanus - Master of Magic total conversion mods for Civilization 3. Page created with Drift's permission.

Project Websites/Forums:
Master of Myrror I Project Forum - At CivFinatics
Master of Myrror I Expansion: The Sorcerors Project Forum - At CivFinatics (3RD PARTY NOT MADE BY DRIFT)
Master of Myrror II & Master of Arcanus Project Forum - At CivFinatics

Features:
- New terrain & special resources based on MoM
- New units based on MoM
- New factions & leaders (including animating portraits) based on MoM
- New magic school research trees based on MoM
- New buildings & wonders based on MoM
- New special abilities based on MoM
- New governments based on MoM

The Team:
Project Creator & Lead:
- Drift

Mod Contributors:
- Units: Kinboat, embryodead, aaglo, Kindred72, utahjazz7, BeBro, smoking mirror, Aluminium, tpasmall, Dark Sheer and screenstorm for either original units or conversions from other sources. List is ordered roughly by the number of contributions. Many of the color conversion are made by Drift and aren’t artist’s original works. Drift also used sounds and unit fixes from at least embryodead and Vuldacon.
- Leaderheads: embryodead, Kinboat, Gael, Unexisted and embryodead’s sister.
- Terrain: Snoopy for majority of the graphics used, mrtn for pollution graphics, smoking mirror for swamps and embryodead whose version of Snoopy’s graphics Drift used as a base. Lots of editing on Drift's part so.
- Buildings & Wonders: Embryodead, Ukas, Lusikka755, mrtn, Rufus T. Firefly, Drift.
- Miscellaneous graphics (city graphics, popheads, resources…): mrtn, LBPB, Balrog, embryodead.
- Title screen: Visualparadox.com
- Awesome volunteer beta-testers: Klyden, Psyringe, The Last Conformist, mrtn, azzacanth, Phant, Cabbit, embryodead, Zurai, coolake, Gladi, Nibble, Pfeffersack, dreiche2, mindlar, michellembrodeu, grumbler, Jaime Lannister.

Repackaged and Redistributed (with permission):
- Blake00

About (Written by Drift):
Master of Myrror I:
Master of Myrror is based loosely on a classic computer game Master of Magic by SimTex. It’s by no means a remake or even a Master of Magic mod. They share a lot, but have even more differences. Don’t expect to relive Master of Magic. Expect an excellent fantasy mod for Civilizaton 3.

The mod isn’t in competition with Warhammer Fantasy Mod. The two of them both deal with fantasy but they are so different that you shouldn’t really consider making a choice between the two - get both of them!

Master of Myrror revolves around wars over resources that include the four types of magic and eight different race resources that each give you access to new unit lines. Each of these unit lines has its own strength. For example, you may want to step carefully around the mage with trolls. Or you probably shouldn’t start a naval war against the mage with men and their longships. The race resource system makes each game a new experience as you can never know what you are going to get as the resources are very rare - usually just one of each on the map.

The twelve mages are divided into four factions - chaos, death, life and nature. Each has their own units, strengths and weaknesses. You will have to adapt your playing style for different mages and you will find them to be very different opponents as well.

Mod uses ~130 custom units and I’ve maintained high requirements for their quality. 10 of the 12 leaderheads are fan made and just like with the units, I’ve accepted only the best graphics for them. Terrain graphics are done originally by Snoopy, but I’ve given them a new, twilight look that fits the magical dimension of Myrror spot on. Mod’s texts have been edited for large part, but there is always room for improvement in this matter. Rest assured, civilopedia contains all the information you need and some more, science advisor talks about the techs of the mod and so on.

The response the mod has caused during beta testing has been practically 100% positive. I’ve yet to receive any negative criticism about the mod in whole apart from not everyone liking the fantasy setting. I encourage you to step aboard. Even if you are already familiar with the mod from some of its early beta versions and wasn’t hooked back then, I strongly suggest you to try again. A lot has changed since then and I feel the mod has really grown to maturity during our beta testing.

Note from Blake: There is a 3rd party expansion for Master of Myrror I that adds the missing Sorcerer faction. Because it was not made by Drift I do not have permission to include this. Clearbeard's Master of Myrror I Expansion - The Sorcerors can be found HERE. Also note that Drift adds Sorcerer factions himself in his sequel mods below.

Master of Myrror II & Master of Arcanus:
The new revamped Master of Myrror public beta that has been available for over a year now will be wrapped up into Master of Myrror II. It will resemble closely the latest public beta with the exception of race units being built normally - not automatically via small wonders.

In addition to Master of Myrror II, I have something completely new that I'm very excited of. I will also release a new sister mod for Master of Myrror II - the Master of Arcanus!

Master of Arcanus takes its backbone from Master of Myrror, but adds lots of new twists to the recipe. The first thing you're likely to notice is that the world of Arcanus isn't the gloomy, blue tinted world that Myrror is - Arcanus is much like our own Earth in appearance. The often requested addition of Sorcery mages is finally reality. Also, the unit system has been completely redesigned. Each mage has his own race that he commands. The races are: Men, Elves, Lizardmen, Ratmen, Orcs and Beastmen. Units from these races can be built in normal fashion. The mages can strengthen their armies by acquiring one or more of the four races spread across the map. These are: Dwarves, Trolls, Dark Elves and Ogres.

But what about the units of the mages themselves? The liches, archdemons, centaurs, seraphs and the rest? They cannot be built normally, but they can be summoned. Summoned units are built automatically after the summoning has been started. The summoned units are in every way superior to the regular units and they are often the turners of the tide in war.

You may wonder, how finished it is? Well, as it is just entering beta, it naturally isn't finished. However, I've tried to do my best to make sure that there are no major bugs and that the game mechanics are as complete as I can make them right now. Nothing essential should be missing.

I've played a couple of test games into second era and they have gone smoothly and they have been loads of fun. I can assure you, that if you liked the original Master of Myrror, Master of Arcanus shouldn't dissapoint. To the veterans of MoM, Master of Arcanus should be a mix of familiar features with exciting new additions. To those who have never played the original MoM, Master of Arcanus should be just as gripping as its acclaimed predecessor.

I welcome you to continue your journey with Master of Myrror (or begin it in case you haven't played original MoM yet).

Mages of Myrror:

Blake's Personal Comments:
Like so many great fan projects I've tributed on my Master of Magic Legacy Games website and Civilization Series Website the Master of Myrror Civ 3 TC mod is an incredible project that I just had to offer my help to! This great project and its sequels had been lost for many years but I posted in every forum and social media page related to MoM & Civ until finally I had tracked down people (maybe the last on the planet!) with the mod files. And here those files are today tested and repackaged for everyone to enjoy forever! :) Drift has sadly retired from Civ modding and doesn't appear much these days but I was able to hunt him down and ask for permission to make this moddb page which I thank him for. But not as much as I massively thank him for creating these amazing mods!!!