Map Story:
Your King is worried as he has not heard from the island of Vanarn in two years. Vanarn is an island full of rich resources. Especially in the inland there are rich iron mines that King Verity urgently needs to secure his kingdom.
Rumours tell stories of your people being held slaves and that the small coastal outpost is partly or totally destroyed.
Your mission is to investigate the situation, establish a base by the coast, clear the area of any enemies and build up resources. You have been recommended to deal with enemy leaders as quickly as possible, as this may turn some troops over to your cause.
Sir LongArm has in confidence warned you that “this whole story smells like a barracks full of swordsmen after a three day battle”, and to expect anything upon arrival on the island.
He also tells you that the coast is not ideal for fortifications, since the landscape is so “hilly” with small brooks springing up from within the hills, so you must do the best of the situation. The lonely isolation of the island can give the troops the creeps he says, “don’t forget that a soldier without Ale to warm his belly, is like a sword without an edge”
Campaign Story:
King Verity and his kingdom Dalslan, has been under pressure from his southern borders for some time. Five years ago rich iron mines were discovered on the island of Vanarn, which has belonged to your country since the old days of Queen Ida and her famous campaign against the hordes of Warmiers.
When no word has been heard from Vanarn in over two years, King Verity now fears that Duke Warlov of Warmiers has moved in on the island to get hold of the mines.
Warmiers has held a grudge against Dalslan since the beginning of time. After several attempts to conquer Dalslan, Queen Ida dealt them a blow that has kept them calm for almost 350 years. Now they see their chance of strengthen them self if they can get hold of Vanarn.
When the coast has been secured, King Verity plans to move inland and fortify the iron mines before Warmiers beats him to it. If you prove yourself worthy of his confidence you will be given that task as well.
Map/Scenario information:
This map is of medium size 300x300 and shows the southeast coastal part of Vanarn.
This map is an invasion WITH economical goals !!!
MAYBE it should be rated "hard" , be warned ...
Balance: I consider myself an “average” player. I have balanced this map so that I barely beat it, even though I know when events occur. In this way I belive that many players can enjoy it at “normal” difficulty and that beginners and experts can adjust it to their levels without losing gameplay value!!!
It has lots of hills and brooks (small, small “rivers”). Lots of trees together with hills may make building difficult.
Trade option is turned OFF to force the player to manage himself on the remote island.
The player will not be able to build a beautiful, perfect stronghold. Only wood walls are available.
The scenario has a time limit. During this time you will need to collect gold, swords and bread and to withstand invasions and other events.
The scenario does contain events such as fires and plagues, but there are no “good” events to boost popularity, beware !!
Player will need to be focused on the goals AND on the invasions !!!!!
At least one follow-up scenario is planned, in which the player will fortify the mines inland and secure the island.
Further Hints Are found in zip-file.
I usually lock my maps, but I will not do that this time. Gameplay value is of course lost if looking at the scenario events prior to play!!!!!
Reviews and feedback are appreciated to enable me to improve future maps
This is a good fun map to play and I really enjoyed it although normal was too hard for me - taken out by the first invaison. Have replayed on easy and found the map more to my level - I am not a great invasion player! Well balanced in my opinion - I merely neglected my defences. Good fun battle at the begininng and you have some men ledt to capture the fort at the top of the map. I did really enjoy playing this - the eco goals were very good. Nice use of events as well. The map had a nice creative feel to it - really quite mystical which I liked so good work. I especially liked the trap idea at the beginning. The map design was a little ordinary and not quite flowing so only a 3 here as the countryside is quite flawed. I would look at the top designers to see how they make a flowing countryside look. I recommend Sulis because it is quite clear you can make a very playable and well balanced map with a good storyline. The storyline is very good - the description page one of the best I have seen for a while so a 5 here. No doubt about it. Really brings the overall score up - good work - it is clear you spent quite a long time doing it as well. Overall a fun, well balanced map only really lacking in a realistic countryside. Good work!
Lord Arthus
Posted on 02/12/04 @ 12:00 AM
Rating
3.8
Breakdown
Playability
3.0
Balance
5.0
Creativity
3.0
Map Design
3.0
Story/Instructions
5.0
NAT sumed it up nicely but i believe they gave it a little too much credit on creativity for what it's worth. Although the opening was very smart and different i wasn't happy with the terrain. Some cliffs would have made all the difference. As NAT gave you too higher compliment on that i believe your balance deserved a 5 to NATs 4. I myself played it on hard and i have to tell you it was almost 100% perfect. Out of all the maps i've played and reviewed, your balance on this stage when played on hard deserved a 5. A magnificent acheivement! good job overall keep up the great work
Lord Arthus