New Gladiator (Guardian): Predator, the Hungering Lurker!
Predator is the latest addition to the Smashcraft guardian lineup. Predator is a melee grappler who specializes in breaking zones and shutting down a target. His hunger mechanic is what drives his grappling properties.
Hunger is a new mechanic which shifts the focus of battle. Each time Predator attacks a target, he stacks this hunger effect on the target and himself.
Enemies: Each stack of hunger causes the target to do 5% less damage to all targets EXCEPT Predator.
Predator: Predator takes 5% less damage per stack from all enemies except the person he is focusing. Predator does 5% bonus damage per stack against his focus target. This directly increases all damage done by all abilities to that target.
Allies: Allies of Predator will take 5% less damage per stack from the enemy he is focusing.
Hero Specific Changes
Ace
-Increased the radius of activation on Operation Alpha to 1.5 cells (up from 1.25)
Aegis
-Aegis' time distortion effects are now escapable.
Alseir
-The radius of Alseir's frost lance wave search reduced to 1 cell (down from 1.5)
-Removed the stun from Arctic Blast
-Arctic Blast is now instant cast
-Reduced the duration of Glacial Strike and Arctic Blast's chill movement speed slowing effect to 6 (down from 8).
-Glacial Strike radius increased to 5 (up from 4)
-Arctic Blast radius decreased to 5 (down from 6)
-Reduced the proximity range of each tier for Alseir's Absolute Zero. The 3rd tier (lowest damage) range has been increased.
-Lowered the maximum radius of Absolute Zero to 8 cells (down from 10).
-Changed the text notification for Alseir's slowing effects to "Chilled".
-Base damage of Arctic Blast increased to 288 (up from 226).
-EX Burst and EX Abilities should now properly cancel Frost Tomb
-Duration of Cryobastion reduced to 8 seconds.
Dex
-SABRE's hp reduced to 300 (down from 500)
-Changed the graphics on Magdrone's slow pulse to something less obnoxious
Hawk
-Hallucinate now cloaks Hawk and her clones briefly upon activation.
Onyx
-The radius of Lava Surge reduced to 1.5 cells (down from 2)
-Duration of polymorph reduced to 5 seconds (down from 6)
Bug Fixes
-Swarmlings and Banelings should no longer be selectable
-Omni's Capital Ship should no longer be selectable
-Fixed the tooltip on Cryobastion to its most up to date status.
General
-Increased the speed at which gladiators move when charging
-Increased the collision radius of charge abilities slightly
-All buffs and debuffs should now have descriptive tooltips if you hover over them.
-Added new hints to each gladiator's character description sheet during character selection.
Arid's had a good, long stay, and will make its re-appearance in a legacy map pack soon enough. Until then, it has been replaced with a new map, "Twilight Station". Featuring a new map mechanic, Twilight Station is a fairly open map in center. The middle ramps lead from one end to the other, and are quite wide, forcing aggressive play if you choose to take this middle route. The edge ramps and lanes are a bit tighter and can be used as chokes for zoning playstyles.
Most importantly is the train which appears at random intervals during a match. A brief warning alarm goes off and is followed by a speeding train which will kill anyone on the tracks while it's travelling by. Additionally, the train will block wave and line attacks for the 6 seconds it remains on the track for its time. Try not to get hit, the train is strong enough to plow through Pyro's invulnerability, Alseir's Ice Block, and is even immune to Aegis' time freeze (thanks quartz-insulated chronoflux barrier! ...no really who writes this stuff?)
This map will prove to increase the dynamics of team play, and even introduce new strategies and positional advantages using a dynamic element making its first appearance in a Smashcraft map. Stay tuned for more new arenas on the horizon, next up: "Hades' Crater" (and for those of you old enough to remember Hades 1.0, no, it will not suck!)
Balance
-Onyx' Volcanic Infusion damage reduction reduced to 25% (down from 50%)
-The duration of SABRE's stun effect has been reduced to 0.5s (down from 1s)
Smashcraft was a 1st page staple when it was released, even after the map popularity system was changed. It's stuck on the third page now. It doesn't have the player base that it used to, maybe because it's no longer a new commodity that everyone wants to try out, but I still think the main reason for that is the map changed a lot for the worse when it's popularity was at its peak.
I'm glad it's recovering now though as I really loved the map, but I stopped playing because I didn't like the direction it was going. I hope it continues to get better :)
It dropped after they changed how pop was calculated, it never really got back up to page 1 after that, the community has and always will be niche. There's been a lot of reforms and additions like Practice/Tutorial modes, EX Abils, and honestly while the ranking system is there you aren't forced to play Ranked since the main "pub" map is the unranked version. Ranked games tend to only be in-house at this point.
Anyway just clarifying, this is the TOFU thread. If you want to continue discussing it feel free to bump the Smash topic :)
I agree with everyone else here, in that I felt a bit let down when seeing that first video after reading the hype machine in the news here. It just seems like a glorified hero arena, which is fine. However, as a player of maps who understands the mapmaking side of things, I like where the gameplay aspect is headed and I think it will be something new and refreshing.
The heroes in the videos released look really well thought-out and designed, and everything looks nice. And that's important. As a player of maps and a mapmaker at the same time, I want good maps to succeed, and while you may say that this map and Smashcraft are totally different, I disagree with that. If I'm going to play a hero arena, I don't care about the little intricacies that separate two maps in the same genre from one another. You're making a hero arena. Smashcraft is a hero arena. Nothing else needs to be said, because like I said, if I want to play a hero arena, I'm going to pick one over the other. I'm not going to play a game of this and then feel like doing something else and go play Smashcraft, no matter what the differences in gameplay are; essentially, the maps are built around the same principles with different ways of achieving them. I will get my Arena fix from one of the two maps, whichever one entertains me more.
That being said, you guys have an opportunity to succeed where Mephs (in my opinion) failed. I don't want to sound like I'm bashing Smashcraft because Mephs is a good editor, but that's just the way it is going to be. Mephs had a great map when he first released it. It was simple enough that newcomers could grasp the idea of it after a few games, and the gameplay was fun. Then shortly after he started listening to the wrong people and making stupid decisions. Adding a rating system and having two game modes, Ranked vs. Unranked, which split the map popularity and it never recovered. Listening to elitist WoW Arena morons and adding more elements to the gameplay that were unnecessary and confusing to newcomers. The list goes on, but those were the main issues.
A map can't succeed without a good community to support it, and Smashcraft failed in that department and it's not going to recover. This map has an opportunity to go where Smashcraft did not and I hope it does, because there's a lot of room for a Hero Arena that's well-done on the custom games list and in the desires of gamers.
Couple things:
Unranked is the "main" pub mode. You don't have to play ranked (you haven't for a while).
2.0 fixed a lot of "noob unfriendliness".
Not sure when the last time you played was but the game has evolved quite a bit.
Also the community is far from "dead" ;P, it's picked up significantly since 2.0. Cheers
Welcome the newest addition to the Smashcraft assault roster, Snake. Equipped with a long range rifle a la Hawk, Snake has the longest range of the assault gladiators. His playstyle revolves around anti-zoning and also some soft zoning techniques. His traps can both create and break zones to some extent, and his range is unmatched for his class.
Using his traps and range, the key component to playing Snake is utilizing his Viper Bite sniping attack, which gains bonus effects when used on a target that's trapped. Most of his abilities reduce the cooldown of this snipe, so keep your mobility high and your attacks consistent, to get the most out of the new gladiator.
Hero Specific Changes
Planar
-Planar's Impulse Shock stun duration reduced to 1.5s (down from 2s)
-Reduced the damage done by Impulse Shock, Planar Pulse, and Stabilize
Bug Fixes
-Fixed a bug causing hit-scan lines to not draw for attacks which can "pierce" multiple targets.
-Fungal Grasp should now properly disable Planar's Redirection ability.
-Enemies should no longer be visible when attacking in the "blindness" fog of war effect.
-Blind should now make the map darker to more obviously signify blindness. The visual radius of your gladiator should also be more obvious as a result.
-Fixed a bug causing Aegis' charge counter to be affected by abilities which modify energy.
Um basically for Rush you want to either peel enemies off your teammates and keep pressure on the main target, chain your pull with your stun to get someone into a bad position, etc. Once you have fury pop your ult and aoe stun people a lot.
It's been a long time coming, but check out the new addition to the Smashcraft roster. Planar is a hard zoner psion who uses a unique "network" mechanic to control an area of the map heavily. His abilities rely on "stabilizers" which can be created frequently and do some light AOE damage upon spawning.
Using his Ignite Current (A) ability, you can zap a node to cause a chain reaction through all other available nodes nearby the target, dealing burst damage and massively slowing foes stuck in the web of lightning.
He has a fairly high learning curve and is the first level 5 difficulty psion on the roster, but once mastered can be a formidable opponent and cause a lot of trouble for the enemy team.
Stay tuned for a special Gladiator Spotlight featuring our new character!
Hero Specific Changes
Aegis
-Removed the haste buff given to allies from Distortion Field
-Aegis' passive charge rate should now be unaffected by time scaling
-Aegis' absorption charge gain rate should no longer be affected by time scaling
-Enemies no longer take damage while frozen by chronolapse
Lamia
-Removed the lighting effect change from Nightmare
Bug Fixes
-Removed a small patch of unpathable terrain that was causing some abilities to be inappropriately blocked on Arid Enigma
-Fixed the radius of target dummies on the minimap
-Fixed a bug causing Aegis' Chronoflux to operate based on Aegis' time scale rather than the global scale. This was causing Chronoflux to last less time than intended.
-Fixed a timing error in Ace's Operation Alpha which would cause the lifted enemy to drop when slowed by Distortion Field.
-Fixed a bug causing Dex's Summon SABRE to cost an additional 500 fury after use.
-Fixed a bug causing Ace's Hardened Resolve damage scaling to cause some inconsistencies with his abilities. Gatling abilities were doing too much bonus damage and non-gatling based damage was not getting enough. This should now be corrected.
-Fixed a bug causing Pyro's Ignition to do 100 less damage than stated in the tooltip
-Revolver's Meteor Swap should now have a range indicator
-Stallion's Provoking Shell should now have a range indicator
-Fixed a bug causing Sunder to hit invulnerable units
0
2.48 Changes
New Gladiator (Guardian): Predator, the Hungering Lurker!
Predator is the latest addition to the Smashcraft guardian lineup. Predator is a melee grappler who specializes in breaking zones and shutting down a target. His hunger mechanic is what drives his grappling properties.
Hunger is a new mechanic which shifts the focus of battle. Each time Predator attacks a target, he stacks this hunger effect on the target and himself.
Enemies: Each stack of hunger causes the target to do 5% less damage to all targets EXCEPT Predator.
Predator: Predator takes 5% less damage per stack from all enemies except the person he is focusing. Predator does 5% bonus damage per stack against his focus target. This directly increases all damage done by all abilities to that target.
Allies: Allies of Predator will take 5% less damage per stack from the enemy he is focusing.
Hero Specific Changes
Ace
-Increased the radius of activation on Operation Alpha to 1.5 cells (up from 1.25)
Aegis
-Aegis' time distortion effects are now escapable.
Alseir
-The radius of Alseir's frost lance wave search reduced to 1 cell (down from 1.5)
-Removed the stun from Arctic Blast
-Arctic Blast is now instant cast
-Reduced the duration of Glacial Strike and Arctic Blast's chill movement speed slowing effect to 6 (down from 8).
-Glacial Strike radius increased to 5 (up from 4)
-Arctic Blast radius decreased to 5 (down from 6)
-Reduced the proximity range of each tier for Alseir's Absolute Zero. The 3rd tier (lowest damage) range has been increased.
-Lowered the maximum radius of Absolute Zero to 8 cells (down from 10).
-Changed the text notification for Alseir's slowing effects to "Chilled".
-Base damage of Arctic Blast increased to 288 (up from 226).
-EX Burst and EX Abilities should now properly cancel Frost Tomb
-Duration of Cryobastion reduced to 8 seconds.
Dex
-SABRE's hp reduced to 300 (down from 500)
-Changed the graphics on Magdrone's slow pulse to something less obnoxious
Hawk
-Hallucinate now cloaks Hawk and her clones briefly upon activation.
Onyx
-The radius of Lava Surge reduced to 1.5 cells (down from 2)
-Duration of polymorph reduced to 5 seconds (down from 6)
Bug Fixes
-Swarmlings and Banelings should no longer be selectable
-Omni's Capital Ship should no longer be selectable
-Fixed the tooltip on Cryobastion to its most up to date status.
General
-Increased the speed at which gladiators move when charging
-Increased the collision radius of charge abilities slightly
-All buffs and debuffs should now have descriptive tooltips if you hover over them.
-Added new hints to each gladiator's character description sheet during character selection.
0
I'm more concerned about the texture limits.
0
How are you going to squeeze all those arenas in one map?
0
EU/SEA versions are now up to date.
0
Thats what its based off of =P
0
Posted the newest assault gladiator's spotlight, Snake.
0
2.38 Changes: New Arena, Twilight Station!
Twilight Station
Arid's had a good, long stay, and will make its re-appearance in a legacy map pack soon enough. Until then, it has been replaced with a new map, "Twilight Station". Featuring a new map mechanic, Twilight Station is a fairly open map in center. The middle ramps lead from one end to the other, and are quite wide, forcing aggressive play if you choose to take this middle route. The edge ramps and lanes are a bit tighter and can be used as chokes for zoning playstyles.
Most importantly is the train which appears at random intervals during a match. A brief warning alarm goes off and is followed by a speeding train which will kill anyone on the tracks while it's travelling by. Additionally, the train will block wave and line attacks for the 6 seconds it remains on the track for its time. Try not to get hit, the train is strong enough to plow through Pyro's invulnerability, Alseir's Ice Block, and is even immune to Aegis' time freeze (thanks quartz-insulated chronoflux barrier! ...no really who writes this stuff?)
This map will prove to increase the dynamics of team play, and even introduce new strategies and positional advantages using a dynamic element making its first appearance in a Smashcraft map. Stay tuned for more new arenas on the horizon, next up: "Hades' Crater" (and for those of you old enough to remember Hades 1.0, no, it will not suck!)
Balance
-Onyx' Volcanic Infusion damage reduction reduced to 25% (down from 50%)
-The duration of SABRE's stun effect has been reduced to 0.5s (down from 1s)
0
It dropped after they changed how pop was calculated, it never really got back up to page 1 after that, the community has and always will be niche. There's been a lot of reforms and additions like Practice/Tutorial modes, EX Abils, and honestly while the ranking system is there you aren't forced to play Ranked since the main "pub" map is the unranked version. Ranked games tend to only be in-house at this point.
Anyway just clarifying, this is the TOFU thread. If you want to continue discussing it feel free to bump the Smash topic :)
0
Couple things:
Unranked is the "main" pub mode. You don't have to play ranked (you haven't for a while).
2.0 fixed a lot of "noob unfriendliness".
Not sure when the last time you played was but the game has evolved quite a bit.
Also the community is far from "dead" ;P, it's picked up significantly since 2.0. Cheers
0
2.36 Updates: Snake, the Lethal Venom
New Gladiator - Snake, the Lethal Venom!
Welcome the newest addition to the Smashcraft assault roster, Snake. Equipped with a long range rifle a la Hawk, Snake has the longest range of the assault gladiators. His playstyle revolves around anti-zoning and also some soft zoning techniques. His traps can both create and break zones to some extent, and his range is unmatched for his class.
Using his traps and range, the key component to playing Snake is utilizing his Viper Bite sniping attack, which gains bonus effects when used on a target that's trapped. Most of his abilities reduce the cooldown of this snipe, so keep your mobility high and your attacks consistent, to get the most out of the new gladiator.
Hero Specific Changes
Planar
-Planar's Impulse Shock stun duration reduced to 1.5s (down from 2s)
-Reduced the damage done by Impulse Shock, Planar Pulse, and Stabilize
Bug Fixes
-Fixed a bug causing hit-scan lines to not draw for attacks which can "pierce" multiple targets.
-Fungal Grasp should now properly disable Planar's Redirection ability.
-Enemies should no longer be visible when attacking in the "blindness" fog of war effect.
-Blind should now make the map darker to more obviously signify blindness. The visual radius of your gladiator should also be more obvious as a result.
-Fixed a bug causing Aegis' charge counter to be affected by abilities which modify energy.
0
@wingednosering: Go
Vegas.
And yeah Sarina can potentially do that against really bad opponents.
0
@Mozared: Go
He's a ways off for a spotlight :P.
Um basically for Rush you want to either peel enemies off your teammates and keep pressure on the main target, chain your pull with your stun to get someone into a bad position, etc. Once you have fury pop your ult and aoe stun people a lot.
0
Added a spotlight for the newest addition to the game, Planar.
0
2.28 Updates: Planar, the Unstable Element
New Gladiator - Planar, the Unstable Element!
It's been a long time coming, but check out the new addition to the Smashcraft roster. Planar is a hard zoner psion who uses a unique "network" mechanic to control an area of the map heavily. His abilities rely on "stabilizers" which can be created frequently and do some light AOE damage upon spawning.
Using his Ignite Current (A) ability, you can zap a node to cause a chain reaction through all other available nodes nearby the target, dealing burst damage and massively slowing foes stuck in the web of lightning.
He has a fairly high learning curve and is the first level 5 difficulty psion on the roster, but once mastered can be a formidable opponent and cause a lot of trouble for the enemy team.
Stay tuned for a special Gladiator Spotlight featuring our new character!
Hero Specific Changes
Aegis
-Removed the haste buff given to allies from Distortion Field
-Aegis' passive charge rate should now be unaffected by time scaling
-Aegis' absorption charge gain rate should no longer be affected by time scaling
-Enemies no longer take damage while frozen by chronolapse
Lamia
-Removed the lighting effect change from Nightmare
Bug Fixes
-Removed a small patch of unpathable terrain that was causing some abilities to be inappropriately blocked on Arid Enigma
-Fixed the radius of target dummies on the minimap
-Fixed a bug causing Aegis' Chronoflux to operate based on Aegis' time scale rather than the global scale. This was causing Chronoflux to last less time than intended.
-Fixed a timing error in Ace's Operation Alpha which would cause the lifted enemy to drop when slowed by Distortion Field.
-Fixed a bug causing Dex's Summon SABRE to cost an additional 500 fury after use.
-Fixed a bug causing Ace's Hardened Resolve damage scaling to cause some inconsistencies with his abilities. Gatling abilities were doing too much bonus damage and non-gatling based damage was not getting enough. This should now be corrected.
-Fixed a bug causing Pyro's Ignition to do 100 less damage than stated in the tooltip
-Revolver's Meteor Swap should now have a range indicator
-Stallion's Provoking Shell should now have a range indicator
-Fixed a bug causing Sunder to hit invulnerable units
General
-Updated all damage effect obituaries
0
Ezzerat's spotlight added.