So since I got massive amount testers (11) at yesterdays mapnight I would appriciate if you would help me brainstorm and give some feedback. As the map is now I feel like its not unique enough. I have some ideas that I will most likely try but making big changes always have a good chance of backfiring hard.
My current ideas that Im not sure if im goint to do or not
Larger map, more players
combat system change: based on energy/power. Spells could have very low cooldown and damage would be based on energy/power. You could cast jump as long as you want to as long as you have enough mana. Perhaps even a skill to re-charge your energy while out of combat...I just really feel like I want to try to make something different from what it is currently.
Things that will be done:
more heroes
more items
teamcolor/beacon or something (havent quite figured out what would be the best)
Another test with team colors and 2 new heroes at 9pm +2gmt (53 minutes from this post) Test on EU! join sc2mapster channel or add burne.478 if you want to join in!
Don't forget about not widescreen folks.
Also, I'm not sure if I like teamcolors. Maybe a better choice would be splats(or whatever it is) bellow heroes (like smashcraft)
I know I hate the teamcolors too, but I havent got better sollution for now. There would be 2 other alternative sollutions, but im kinda lazy to do them.
1.add attachemnts with colors to units
2.another idea would be to swap textures but I dont know how to do it, and lazy to learn...I feel like im geting impatient and lazy.
3. add beacons below units, and I dont like this option one bit....
Thx for posting the screenie though. I seriosly should take a break from mapping, but I kinda want to get the map to the stage where Im happy with it.
I highly suggest learning the Texture Select By ID method of swapping textures. It's easy as all get up, especially if you're able to make those abil. I seen showed off in the firebat goku series. Once you understand what and why, it's just a matter of switching a few things. It aint like it's an hour long process or anything along those lines. Again highly suggested.
On a side note, I really like how "flashy" your firebat goku abilities were. You should definetly expand on that. I like the idea of having these freaking amazing looking spells in a high paced pvp or something. Although make sure the spells are week so they aren't as stronge as they look.
We played this again on mapnight. Some of the new changes not quite working out so Ill just go back to normals style.
I will probly go to normal UI and pan camera further to decrease the not seeing bottom problem...
The stamina system not working too well. I could go back to normal system without stamina, but Ill have to think about this one...
abilities need to be reworked a bit, some spells one shot you, some spells are useless in pvp and thats really not a good thing in my map.
as for removing the jump...thats not gona happen. without it I feel like it would be another AoS among others....and I want this to be something different and it remains to be seen if it will work out or not.
So I guess now ill try to polish the combat a bit and maybe we can test it again next week.
Testing again today at 20.00/8pm +2 GMT, which is 1h 12mins from this post. add burne.478 or pm to join in on EU.
removed stamina system, added some balance (I will make a couple more tweaks before test). The UI also changed half transparent style and inventory back to "normal" place. Tweaked some spells to be more useful
"added balance" <- that's the funniest and most enjoyable thing I've ever read xD.
Maybe you could also remove supplies and gas icons? or at least make heroes cost 0 supply.
I wish i could test but I probably won't be able to make it today.
Hehe, truth be told, on mapnight, I was roach and I got destroyed by reaper(It was back then that I said he had 2 attacks, but I guess you were in another game.. or I in my wisdom typed in ally chat -.-'), so I'd prefer if you only buffed roach ^_^. Oh and Preserver, he's my original hero so buff him too. I probably should try zealot, he seemed quite strong last time I played against one.
Among other things, do you think you really need to create those "control(resource) points"? If you implement them you might reduce overall freedom. I like the game for feeling of power and freedom. Fight everywhere with anyone. Don't bind us any more than you already have.
Heroes are already forced to constantly search/stay near mob fight. If hero does not hang around warring units he won't get exp. and will be hopelessly overpowered by those who did stay near exp. pools. For same reason fighting against each other early on is foolish - you'll miss essential experience from mob kills, and for that you'll be in disadvantage for the rest of the game.
Perhaps you could replace classic exp. system with the one where you get exp .for landed hits? You know, the more you attack, the more powerful you grow. This change would encourage fight between players since first seconds of the game, and lazy players who just hang around mob battles wouldn't get crazy amount of experience.
I do want other mechanices for the game though. Where you think it restricts freedom I see it gives more posibilities. But im not locked on anything, like the stamina system and experiments on UI, Ill just have to see how it goes...and by the resource control I kinda want force people to engage each other more. Now you can quite easilly just creep away as much as you want...
It doesnt have to be resource control, it could extra spawns too...Im just not sure yet what do I want to add. It could also be something like minor extra heal if you stay in the middle, that would keep the game fast paced since you wouldnt have to return to base (not super fast heal though).
The exp idea could work too I guess, but then again I feel like that might be more forcing people to engage each other than my suggested methods.
edit*
and more than trying to make people engage each other. I want to add "alternative ways" to play the game. Dota has neutral creeps, which my map doesnt have and I dont want to have, so I want to add something different to add replayability, fun factor and tactical factor.
Fair enough, after all it's still in development, a time for all sorts of experiments.
Also, another thing I remembered. In battle I unintentionally zoomed in a little and then realized that I can't zoom back to the way it was before. (I mean your camera is further from battlefield than default one. Perhaps add extra zoom-out level for default camera aswell?)
Talkinb about this map:
So since I got massive amount testers (11) at yesterdays mapnight I would appriciate if you would help me brainstorm and give some feedback. As the map is now I feel like its not unique enough. I have some ideas that I will most likely try but making big changes always have a good chance of backfiring hard.
My current ideas that Im not sure if im goint to do or not
Things that will be done:
Suggested things:
Another test with team colors and 2 new heroes at 9pm +2gmt (53 minutes from this post) Test on EU! join sc2mapster channel or add burne.478 if you want to join in!
Looking for testers yet again. Lets do this! add burne.478 pm or pm irc burne-. lets get some tests going
You're not online. :D
@xSun: Go
In a min! Just uploding new version
Updates:
Wondering what to add next. I think I still want to add something new. Its not yet good enough since Im still lacking testers...
so if you want to help or play it just for fun add me or pm...Ill try to get 1 more game for today.
Don't forget about not widescreen folks.
Also, I'm not sure if I like teamcolors. Maybe a better choice would be splats(or whatever it is) bellow heroes (like smashcraft)
@DuckyTheDuck: Go
I know I hate the teamcolors too, but I havent got better sollution for now. There would be 2 other alternative sollutions, but im kinda lazy to do them.
1.add attachemnts with colors to units
2.another idea would be to swap textures but I dont know how to do it, and lazy to learn...I feel like im geting impatient and lazy.
3. add beacons below units, and I dont like this option one bit....
Thx for posting the screenie though. I seriosly should take a break from mapping, but I kinda want to get the map to the stage where Im happy with it.
I highly suggest learning the Texture Select By ID method of swapping textures. It's easy as all get up, especially if you're able to make those abil. I seen showed off in the firebat goku series. Once you understand what and why, it's just a matter of switching a few things. It aint like it's an hour long process or anything along those lines. Again highly suggested.
On a side note, I really like how "flashy" your firebat goku abilities were. You should definetly expand on that. I like the idea of having these freaking amazing looking spells in a high paced pvp or something. Although make sure the spells are week so they aren't as stronge as they look.
We played this again on mapnight. Some of the new changes not quite working out so Ill just go back to normals style.
as for removing the jump...thats not gona happen. without it I feel like it would be another AoS among others....and I want this to be something different and it remains to be seen if it will work out or not.
So I guess now ill try to polish the combat a bit and maybe we can test it again next week.
Testing again today at 20.00/8pm +2 GMT, which is 1h 12mins from this post. add burne.478 or pm to join in on EU.
"added balance" <- that's the funniest and most enjoyable thing I've ever read xD.
Maybe you could also remove supplies and gas icons? or at least make heroes cost 0 supply.
I wish i could test but I probably won't be able to make it today.
well "balanced" xD...atleast I try.
Testing in 4-10mins as soon as I get new version uploaded and find enough testers
Thx ducky you made me a fool again thinking it was balanced :D...well now we got BUFFED ROACH and BUFFED REAPER but I removed the 2nd attack -_-.
Now you cannot escape my reaper net and perhaps moip will destroy you with barroth...mmm I guess ill have to check raziel too if he is underpowered.
Big thanks to all testers yet again. I find it hard to balance without testing these things :)
Hehe, truth be told, on mapnight, I was roach and I got destroyed by reaper(It was back then that I said he had 2 attacks, but I guess you were in another game.. or I in my wisdom typed in ally chat -.-'), so I'd prefer if you only buffed roach ^_^. Oh and Preserver, he's my original hero so buff him too. I probably should try zealot, he seemed quite strong last time I played against one.
Among other things, do you think you really need to create those "control(resource) points"? If you implement them you might reduce overall freedom. I like the game for feeling of power and freedom. Fight everywhere with anyone. Don't bind us any more than you already have.
Heroes are already forced to constantly search/stay near mob fight. If hero does not hang around warring units he won't get exp. and will be hopelessly overpowered by those who did stay near exp. pools. For same reason fighting against each other early on is foolish - you'll miss essential experience from mob kills, and for that you'll be in disadvantage for the rest of the game.
Perhaps you could replace classic exp. system with the one where you get exp .for landed hits? You know, the more you attack, the more powerful you grow. This change would encourage fight between players since first seconds of the game, and lazy players who just hang around mob battles wouldn't get crazy amount of experience.
I do want other mechanices for the game though. Where you think it restricts freedom I see it gives more posibilities. But im not locked on anything, like the stamina system and experiments on UI, Ill just have to see how it goes...and by the resource control I kinda want force people to engage each other more. Now you can quite easilly just creep away as much as you want...
It doesnt have to be resource control, it could extra spawns too...Im just not sure yet what do I want to add. It could also be something like minor extra heal if you stay in the middle, that would keep the game fast paced since you wouldnt have to return to base (not super fast heal though).
The exp idea could work too I guess, but then again I feel like that might be more forcing people to engage each other than my suggested methods.
Fair enough, after all it's still in development, a time for all sorts of experiments.
Also, another thing I remembered. In battle I unintentionally zoomed in a little and then realized that I can't zoom back to the way it was before. (I mean your camera is further from battlefield than default one. Perhaps add extra zoom-out level for default camera aswell?)
More tests coming today if I can finish the stuff...not quite sure of the time but just add me and message when/if im on bnet.
Testing time might be around 8pm +2gmt. But it always depends on when and how many people I can get.
Todays testing will incldue one secret addition that we talked with ducky!!!! and yet again I hope the game would be more balanced.
Testin in 1h from this post. The map is already ready and uploaded, just need enough testers (prefered atleast 3 testers)
Running more tests today. After mapnights tests fixed a few things.