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Author |
File Description |
Waitandsee |
Posted on 08/15/05 @ 06:45 AM
File Details |
Map Size: |
300x300 (Medium) |
Difficulty: |
Normal |
Minimap:
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A small stream cuts through the landscape near the site of Al-Sjadar.
The natural plateau allows the construction of a bridge over the stream.
Unfortunately, the army of Saladin has wisely destroyed the bridge, that allowed access to fertile plains on the other side.
This way, the produced food supply for the crusaders has been cut off.
You are Diederik van Zarren, a low ranked nobleman from Flanders, who is serving under the Sénéchal of the Knights Templar of Jerusalem.
Your mission is to repair the bridge over Al-Sjadar in order to re-establish the much needed food supply route.
You have to grow a small supply of food as well, which can be provided quickly to the Sénéchal's troops.
Concentrate on producing stone as soon as possible to repair the bridge.
The plains on the other side of the stream are the only food source available.
Once your food procuction is up and running, you will have to defend your ground against the troops of Saladin.
Good luck !
Regards,
Waitandsee
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Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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WarLord_Designs |
Posted on 08/15/05 @ 08:26 AM
sounds and looks very interesting, giving it a go now.
If i have time ill get a review up,
WL_D
Alexus. |
Stratego |
Posted on 08/15/05 @ 03:20 PM
Hi Waitandsee,
another great map, I suppose it's your best one so far!
A fantastic map design... very realistic and created with love for details; what a big fire that nearly devastated my entire settlement!
My review will follow!
;-)
Stratego[Edited on 08/15/05 @ 03:22 PM]
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lollard97367 |
Posted on 08/15/05 @ 05:50 PM
Playability: 4.5
Map and idea top notch! I liked the feel of the urgency to get the stone together and repair the bridge to get to the other side where the farmland is. What a original concept to repair a bridge! Only took off a half of a point because the troops types are limited but you can build the weapon type (macemen). But this is a tiny issue. Everything else ran right and no major playability snags.
Balance: 5
5 on balance because its a challenge but not impossible. I like the level of troops, and at one time there are two back to back attacks that keeps you on your toes. The amount of resources is perfect once you get the bridge fixed.
Creativity: 4
Good map with a honestly great idea with the bridge. I didnt give it over 4 because its a eco-vasion and there are alot of those going around with multiple (but reachable!) goals like this.
Map Design: 4.5
Landscape looks natural and well made. The bridge is a masterpiece, even if its wrecked in the first part of the game. You dont have to fix the whole bridge, just enough for farmers to walk over. I moved my granary on the other side to speed up food production.
Story/Instructions: 4
This is a possible 5 with a rewrite with more depth. Think of "to build a bridge..." mental picture. You have a winner idea here with the bridge, develop it.
Additional Comments:
I would play this map again. Its fun and you can visualize the stress of building a bridge and keeping it open. There are lions - but not too many. People have the tendency to over do it on the lions, but not this map.
Lollard
[Edited on 08/15/05 @ 05:51 PM]
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Waitandsee
File Author |
Posted on 08/16/05 @ 12:54 PM
Hi WarLord_Designs,
Hi Stratego,
Thank you for your positive comments from your first impressions.
I will look forward to reading your review(s).
Regards,
Waitandsee |
Waitandsee
File Author |
Posted on 08/16/05 @ 01:40 PM
Hi lollard97367,
Thanks for taking time to review one of my maps and for being the first reviewer again.
It is becoming a most welcome and appreciated habit of yours.
:-)
I have put quite some work in making the riverbed look as natural and realistic as possible.
Interesting idea of moving the granary to the other side, it has never crossed my mind to speed up food production this way.
I have only omitted the (rapid moving) macemen, because they would prove to be too great a challenge for the attackers in the beginning of the game.
I have not quite figured out how one can omit the production of maces, although I have crossed them out in all of the possible weapon factories and even at the market place during scenario-editing.
Nevertheless, the maces keep popping up at the blacksmith during playing. Is this a bug ? Can you or anyone else assist me on this ?
I am pleased you have enjoyed playing this one and thanks for the encouraging review.
Regards,
Waitandsee |
Stratego |
Posted on 08/18/05 @ 12:24 PM
Wow, have a look at another superb creation by Waitandsee!
Playability: 5
Here you're facing a classic eco-invasion where it's harder to organize or to stabilize your economy than to protect your expanding settlement by a continuous recruitment of military units. It's advisable at any case, to quickly repair the ruined bridge across the winding canyon which separates the northern meager part from the southern fertile regions.
Right at the beginning, it's up to you to decide where to place your granary, north or south of the bridge, with regard to the bread objective a decision of great import.
Throughout the entire game, you have to care for many, many things:
> Urgently cutting down trees to gain arable land,
> permanently heating up a varied food supply (if possible) and a smooth stone and iron production as well,
> recruiting defensive forces to repulse hostile Arabian invaders or to drive out those annoying bandits, and
> constantly keeping an eye on a temporary labile popularity that is swaying up and down several times caused by different bad events or the lack of food.
Balance: 4
There's always a lot to do, and all events like a big fire and the increasing invasions continuously kept me on my toes. However, at the end I wasn't worried about my enclosed position. Several squared towers manned by ballistae and about 46 crossbowmen and 30 archers were able to beat off every hostile assault of Arabian troops. Reducing food consumption down to half rations was quite helpful to achieve faster the demanded amount of bread. Of course, to compensate this daring action, you'll need different positive reactions on the other side, e.g. a higher religion bonus or lowered taxes.
Creativity: 4.5
I'm quite sure that this map was running through several test phases before its submission. The sequence of all events and the increasing invasions are finely tuned and cleverly mixed together. The author obviously knows how to realize his creative ideas and to design a very naturalistic landscape. Congratulations for an individual and convincing concept that really turned me on.
Map Design: 5
I have to point out this extremely detailed work of a good-looking desert. I also emphasize the good use of various editor tools and elements all over the whole map. Especially, I loved this shallow river masterly decorated with lots of little rocks and plants. The stone and iron deposits are perfectly fit in and the ruined bridge is another convincing artwork.
Story: 4
The story meets its basic points and gives us a fundamental preview of the forthcoming events.
BTW, I also placed my granary on the oasis' side and instead of macemen I concentrated on training pikemen, and finally, I registered 30 archers, 46 crossbowmen, 26 pikemen, 5 swordsmen, 8 engineers (4 ballistae).
Victory on December 1201.
[Edited on 08/19/05 @ 05:30 PM]
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Waitandsee
File Author |
Posted on 08/27/05 @ 07:51 AM
Hi Stratego,
Thank you for your detailed and accurate review.
Waitandsee |
dreamfly |
Posted on 09/20/05 @ 02:45 PM
good work.[Edited on 09/20/05 @ 02:47 PM]
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Waitandsee
File Author |
Posted on 09/22/05 @ 11:33 AM
dreamfly,
I would appreciate it if you could a clarify the breakdown of your rating.
Thanks,
Waitandsee |
riderwinz |
Posted on 10/02/13 @ 05:37 PM
A cleverly designed map. 5 for playability!
You can actually fit in 5 wheat & 5 hops farms, but be careful not to delete all your trees.
Before I started, I increased the invasion strengths by about 15% which made it more challenging. I do this before playing most games that are rated as 'normal'.
Jan 1193 VICTORY!!! |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.3 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 4.5 | Balance | 4.3 | Creativity | 4.2 | Map Design | 4.5 | Story/Instructions | 4.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 779 |
Favorites: [] | 0 |
Size: | 530.52 KB |
Added: | 08/15/05 |
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