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Author |
File Description |
Nysyarc |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 01:04 PM
File Details |
Ruleset: |
TS Standard Rules |
Map Size: |
Large |
Playable Races: |
All |
Surface Levels: |
3 |
Difficulty: |
Hard |
This is a map that I have made and remade 4 times in total now, this one being the latest and best. It's essentially a technically perfect map, completely symmetrical and even no matter how you look at it... in most areas. And each map level shares the same layout as the others. The only difference between map levels? Everything gets stronger and harder the higher in the "Metropolis" you go!
I know the city names aren't creative but hey, it's all supposed to be one BIG city, I mean we didn't exactly get fancy with street names in some large cities (75th Street, 100th Street, etc...). There are exactly 73 cities on each map level, making for a whopping 219 total cities on the map, though it may not seem too clustered, and it's not even an extra large map!
The level four cities in the center of each map level make for a bit of a challenge, as the theme here is Humans owning a massive metropolis and twelve different insignificant and poor races (including some Humans) rebelling against the overlords. These races all live in the desolate lower region of the city, and each wants total control over it all! Therefore they must destroy each other and the Human Master, Headmaster and Overseer.
The surface level could be considered a "tourism" level since it is kind of easy to end the game without even ever seing the caverns level. When playing the game, (it is intended for multiplayer), I suggest no Leaders, but if you must have Leaders on, keep the spheres I assigned them, so that it can be as fair as possible.
I have included four versions of the map, not different terrain, but one version for 12 players with Leaders, one for 12 players without Leaders, one for 4 players (only neutral races) with Leaders, and one for 4 players without Leaders. Hope you enjoy!
P.S. I didn't want to get too creative with a story for this map since it really doesn't have one.. just, a bunch of people cooped up in a big, dark city that are tired of being pushed around by the mighty humans, but are also tired of each other's company. And yes, this map took an ungodly amount of time to make... |
Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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CrazySlyHawk |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 04:18 PM
I'm just embarrassed at what I said now.[Edited on 08/11/08 @ 03:02 PM]
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Nysyarc
File Author |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 04:45 PM
I'm too modest.. lol, I honestly thought Talus would do better than this map, but I definitaly put a lot more effort into this one... the terrain detailing was actually physically painful :P
So yah, thanks so much for playing and feedback! |
sKout77 |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 05:27 PM
Well only a certain group of players likes this type of maps. I've played it a bit but im not gonna rate it since i dont really like symetrical maps. |
CrazySlyHawk |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 05:31 PM
Its a little bout the symmetry, a little about the balance and a little about the freshness of a new mapmaker![Edited on 08/11/08 @ 03:03 PM]
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Nysyarc
File Author |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 05:45 PM
You know, on the playability, I actually thought about having every map level EXACTLY the same, and having each race start in their own corner of each map level (since in total there are 12 quarters if you include all 3 map levels). But I kind of scratched the idea, thought the levels getting progressively better was more fun... though the other way would have had even better balance. |
sKout77 |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 07:35 PM
Yess well you would get 5 for balance either way, no doubt about that. However when judging playability, the AI is just too dumb to win. It has no chance. Maybe playing one of the weaker races would help but i dont think so. Yeah, a bonus for creativity as well since i havent seen any aow maps in this style. I have seen many maps like this in games like starcraft, warcraft and even heroes. So it is original and not original at the same time. As for map design, the whole symetric aspect isnt bad, looks good if you look on the minimap, however, the game can be won without even bothering to go to the upper lvls so what's the point. As for the story well there isnt really a good explination for this symetry. One that would fit aow prospects. But like i said, its just my opinion. (a guy that hates symetrical maps). |
Nysyarc
File Author |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 07:49 PM
Heh, yah this map would never do as a SP submission. I actually like the 4 race no leaders version the best, more equal since each race gets sort of a whole quarter to themselves and only clash in the center of the map, it'd be better for multiplayer I think.
In other news (...lol), I've got a sequel to Talus in production now, but I'm gonna take my time on it and work on balance as well as solidify a great backstory :) |
CrazySlyHawk |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 09:48 PM
I played 4 race leaders on and had some very good fun the first time - thts wat im basing much my review on... |
Arctic Wolf |
Posted on 08/30/07 @ 03:12 PM
This is a very fine map. I reccommend the four player version as it is superior to the twelve player version. Less random elements could make this map shine.
Playability: 4
The map really is quite fun. The only problem I encountered was a small monotony factor which was a result of the symmenty. The map is intended to be symmetrical so I did not want to mark it down too terribly much on this point.
Balance: 4
Although one would expect a symmetrical map to be balanced, it actually doesn't work out that way. The dwarves have a huge advantage on this map for two reasons. Cave crawling and mountaineering. In the lower levels the Goblins are the equal to the dwarves but hese two races have a much easier time than the others with the increased distance they can travel. On the surface the dwarves really shine with their ability to both climb and fly over the mountains with all of their units, Dwarven Air ballons can carry the sige units and the giants just rock climbing over mountains and besieging cities on their own.
The four player version eliminates these flaws in balnace so my balance score is kinda a combination 3 out of 5 for the one version and a 4.5 out of 5 for the four player version. Not quite perfect balance even in the four player version as the number of random features causies balance inequities as well.
Creativity: 3
This was really hard to score. In some ways the idea of the map is extremely creative but on the other hand making a perfectly symetrical map entails little creativity just copying. The terrain was not creative in the least but then again the intent of the map maker kinda precluded the whole idea of detailed terrain. In the end I scored this a three because the idea of the map has a lot of merit and the mapmaker carried out the intent very well. But lack of terrain details and base copying of a symetrical design cannot be considered creative. A look at Ericsson's map "Arctic Clash' demontrtates how creative terrain can be coupled with symmetrical design.
Map Design: 4
Solid map design where the map makers concept was realized very well. I would have liked less random cities and less random events in the crypts/lairs et cetera.
Story/Instructions: 3
Story is fine. Tells the player what to expect, but unfortunately doesn't grab the player.
Additional Comments:
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Nysyarc
File Author |
Posted on 10/16/07 @ 03:21 PM
Wow, thanks for the insight man, you're like my idol on this site. I agree with the creativity completely, it didn't take the most effort to come up with the idea. And yah, I made the four player version at the last minute to compensate for the lack of balance in 12 player.
As far as I'm concerned, getting a 3.6 from Arctic Wolf is as a good as a 5 from just about any other map maker. I love your maps and I'm honored to receive a review from you!
And yes, my first post in 3 months does imply that I'll be active again for awhile, I've had other things to worry about since school started. |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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3.6 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 4.0 | Balance | 4.0 | Creativity | 3.0 | Map Design | 4.0 | Story/Instructions | 3.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 782 |
Favorites: [] | 0 |
Size: | 338.87 KB |
Added: | 07/06/07 |
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