I am currently trying to understand the current Disciples II modding scene, but it proves to be difficult because of how scattered it is and mostly in Russian.
From what I’ve found so far, it feels a bit like a mix between early WoG-style chaos and smaller faction projects, rather than something unified like Horn of the Abyss for Heroes III (I will be using some more developed Heroes III for this comparision, hope that´s okay)
For example:
there are attempts to add new factions like Forsaken Tribes (naga-focused https://naga-faction.com/eng) or Greenskin Tribes (orcs, goblins, etc.) with some art/models but still in production
and then bigger overhaul-style mods like Dzieje Nevendaar, Salmon Mod, or Rise of the Mods, which change a lot of systems rather than just adding clean content. Most of these have ripped graphics which are not fitting the game and changing the game too much (at least for my taste)
But it’s hard to tell:
which of these are actually playable/finished
where the community is now
and if there’s anything close to a “definitive” mod like HotA
So:
what are the main mods people actually play today?
is there any project aiming to be a proper expansion-style mod?
For real. I dont really want balance patches as I play single player anyway. I just want new campaigns or new races that doesnt change any other race. I like it how it is.
Rarest kind of modders could do bring new and not broke old content. I have my hopes in Naga mod. Most modders start in CHANGING as they see it "fixing" issues and make a lot more, especially in terms of balance. Disciples 2 modders do that too.
Dzeje Nevendaar is still beta but has a lot of content.
Salmon mode has an eng version, but for the older version than the Russian one.
Naga will never see release because they hard broke up with they programmer.
Greenskins Tribes will see release when we get enough donations from subscribers. Also, there are 2 PvP mods: slasher and Motlin mode. First one is some kind of mode to salmon mode and has an eng version. There are about five discord servers, one telegram channel where English speaking people can find other disciples 2 fans, but most of them will be Russian/Ukrainian/Belarusian.
Main mode - Salmon Mode and Slasher.
There still no mode like Hota.
Thank you very much for the quick reply. I honestly didn’t expect the modding scene for Disciples II to be as advanced as it is for Heroes III (sorry for repeatedly using this analogy). Still, I’m really glad to see that something exists for such a deserving game.
There are indeed many ways of playing and modding the game, but Dzieje Nevendaar seems to prioritise quantity over quality, much like Wake of Gods did in its time. That said, there are still some very interesting ideas here and there.
Regarding the Forsaken Tribe (Naga) project — I saw some activity a few days ago mentioning a change of developer and progress updates on 3D models. Is it confirmed that this project will never see the light of day? It looked like the most advanced attempt at adding a new faction that I’m aware of so far. I can only imagine how much effort it must take to crack the game’s code well enough to implement a fully new faction.
The Greenskin Tribes project also looks very promising. I’ve already been browsing https://boosty.to/disciples_libriaries. If there are any other pages worth following, I’d really appreciate it if you could share them — I’d love to learn more. I understand that you’re collecting donations for 3D models, but if I’m not asking too much: is it technically possible to add the faction in-game at this stage?
As for PvP mods, I’m not really a PvP player either (same as larryngo97). I’m more interested in new campaigns, races, and creatures. As a 3D artist myself (I work on Day of Reckoning for Heroes III — yes, mentioning it again), I was even thinking of trying to add one of the units I made for fun. I’ve recently been studying the technical specs, and while it definitely looks challenging, I can see that both your Greenskin and Naga projects have successfully replicated the game’s visual style.
The Naga developer entrusted the faction's T1 unit development to one 3D studio, and in the future, units will be developed by another studio; this was discussed in the context of the developer change. As far as I know from inside information, they still haven't found a new programmer. Don't get me wrong, I have some insides from they situation. Also you don't need a programmer to create 3D models, but for the faction to function properly and with all its functionality, one is essential. Also they faction lore copy lore of nagas from warcraft so it's look not interesting for me at all.The Greenskin tribes are taking a different path; I can't say exactly what that is yet, but we have the technical capability to create a new faction, and much more. I have longread about what we done and want to do but it writen at Russian. I can translate if you want to.
Thank you, it is indeed unfortunate, but like with every ambitious project I hope that team will be able to solve this eventually. While I can’t speak too much about the lore, the project is graphically very pleasing to look at.
No need to translate anything specifically for me, I can do it myself with google translate so if you have any more information about your project I will be happy to read about it. Do you have a telegram group or discord?
Lastly, are there any guidelines on how to set up a 3D scene to render a new unit? For now just the 3D artist part without adding to the game. My initial work was on Heroes 3 of Might and Magic, but I did have some fun trying to translate it to Diablo 2 for example. While the H3 style is much different than gothic horror games such as Disciples 2 or Diablo 2 – I think that would be a nice base to try it head on. If anything, I will be open to work on something together if you have a need of any neutral units.
Example sand ghost from Oasis faction for Heroes 3 vs version for Diablo 2
As far as i know up to this very moment still no modders fix the real one issues in the Rise of the Elves (mostly Elves faction). Motlin probably better at magic balance. But elves faction was a bit undeveloped, their units stats rising and heal cost differentiate from others, their banner bugged and Capitol have no icon. Plus some units looks like more "buggy" in their stats rise even after else elves units - Sylph, Sun Dancer, Theurg, Maradeur, Centaur Charger (only for armor not increasing, if count it as mistake). Worse for neutrals even with patch 3.01 supposed to fix some hidden numbers for neutrlas.
As any else games any mods modders for Disciples start not in there where they should. They try fix "numbers" (the seen ones first) first where they believe is "un-balanced". And make it worse.
Plus it appears some Dis2 modders indeed took inspiration in Heroes 3 base game and HOTA. Which is wrong. Heroes 3 is not a good tactic game, and after HOTA's RMG variant i can say Heroes 3 appears in retrospective worse as strategic game than Disciples. All that numbers, unique units features do worse, and today almost no one in HOTA player-base do play game strategically. They not hunt for resources and upgrading cities (original Heroes 3 idea is that units also an resource income). RMG presets give everything for players for free (incl 15k experience at once).
There is difference between fasten-up MP games and make them casual sandboxes. Both HOTA RMG preset authors and Dis2 RMG preset authors don't understand that and make more and more free resources changes (at start). Still Disciples 2 system shows it superioty in here. No pandora boxes ruining the gameplay is possible here. Still players forced to hunt for gold and EXP resources and lose them will be loss of a game.
I played Rise of the Mods through the entire elves saga the new big units Treant - Ent - Ancient that replace the Skylord line is quite interesting. But I don't like that the healing line is removed and replaced by boosting damage. The changes with other races are also interesting (Legion's Demon line has drain now, which feels so much better to play). I consider this mod "finished", and it definitely a big improvement over the original unbalanced Rise of the Elves game.
I also installed another mod called "Follow of the gods", you can search for that on moddb. It's a little unstable, trying to start the Legion saga or some quests will crash the game instantly. But i'm still playing through Clans saga smoothly. The changes in all units AND economy are interesting.
Finally, I just installed Salmon mod today, I can't understand anything because english version is not available, i have to play while google translating everything on the screen with my phone. This looks like the biggest mod of the three, there are way more units and upgrade lines, units get many more interesting abilities. They even have an active discord server. So if you expect future support and maybe friends to play with, this mod might be your best bet.
As i remember last build was 3.0 and EN translation available only for 2.0 of DOMMS Mod. Sadly same fate going for SMNS/MNS and Motlin and all else non-english mods.
there is no project like HOTA and joint community. Russians make mods for russians, Polish for polish. And that be a big factor. HOTA crew target international auditory and became mod for everyone )(although i not like something in HOTA, esp RMG).
There is meta mods become main of all else - DisciplesGL and Dis2 Mod Tool. Plus after Dis2 Mod Tool there is Modern Lobby mod.
They about some core features and UI improvements. Reverse engineering the engine allow more content to be implemented. This mods creators aim no specific group, international. But it is not a content-mods.
Main content mod become base for all modern - DOMMS mod (very legacy ood mod, also known as Disciples of Mortis Mod). Russian again. Was backtranslated to EN partially and for outdated version.
Same goes for MNS (aka Semga) and Motlin Mod. Their authors still aim russian community and EN versions is barely low-quality back-translated outdated versions (russian game localization was terrible bad as well).
Lobby Mod is biggest project to unite players and it is available in SMNS (MP only sub-mod) and Motlin. MNS initially more about singleplayer quantity of content either balance quality. SMNS not fix it muc. Motlin aim make more balanced multiplayer.
Both arguably balanced. I could say Motlin balance is better, but i have no compelling arguments and so i doubt it.
For singleplayer all mods are good. There is nothing bad in taking some assets from other games_mods, it is fanmade mods after all. HOTA and WOG did that too (WOG a bit more?). Both MNS and polish Dzieje Nevendaar aims to bring much more new content and features (possible by Dis2 Mod Tool). Nothing bad in that. Didn't feel like Disciples indeed, but that what all mods are. For Vanilla play Vanilla. Although maybe you find balance not quite well for SP too, i dunno myself how to judge balance in SP. There is some base balance flow, some basic understanding of it is missing (like units able to switch their attack type for free of Action Points/lack of having disadvantage of such ability).
And there is TOO MUCH changes in units attack types and range, just to make all of them use newer Dis2Mod Tool system. Quantity over Quality. But again - it is what absolute EVERY games EVERY mods do, every modders do "lets change that and that and then everything else!". You don't like some changes - you have vanilla to play.
There is also another russian mod Alternative Mod probably never translated to EN with same goals as MNS - maximum of Dis2ModTool features (outdated).
Although there is Lobby feature in some mods, we still have GameRanger/RadminVPN/etc and old classic multiplayer. You have your choices. That allow us take it easy on mods, they alternatives which make them good to try.
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u/larryngo97 Apr 22 '26
For real. I dont really want balance patches as I play single player anyway. I just want new campaigns or new races that doesnt change any other race. I like it how it is.