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Author |
File Description |
QueenAngelique |
Posted on 06/21/07 @ 02:40 PM
File Details |
Map Size: |
400x400 (Large) |
Minimap:
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This is my first map ever, please critique and give advice, but please be kind. Enjoy! |
Author | Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Sulis |
Posted on 10/10/07 @ 07:55 AM
Playability: 3.5
The Falls is a good old-fashioned economic scenario where you have to accumulate a fairly substantial amount of raw materials and maintain a large population. Bandits are your main threat to your progress, arriving in sporadic attacks from two areas of the map. There are a few other events scattered throughout the scenario and these are certainly more potent during your early years. The scenario was enjoyable enough as it is, and for a first time effort it’s extremely pleasing. The scenario does seem to drag on a little bit after such a promising start though and once your economy is up and running, you can more or less leave things to run their course. Wolf attacks are a pleasant nuisance that cannot be ignored! A good effort by QueenAngelique though, but it has to be said that the scenario would have come alive if a time limit was placed on the collection of the raw materials
Balance: 3
If you can survive your first few years and establish a few defensive towers laced with archers (or better still, crossbowmen… you’ll need to build the relevant weapons manufacturers yourself), keep a close eye on both the bandit attacks and the wolf invasions, the scenario isn’t overly difficult. In fact, The Falls plays out more like an eco-freebuild, if ever a scenario exists. Managing a relatively large economy proved to be a bit of a handful as employing your peasants and therefore raising your population (one of the win criteria is a population limit) is a bit of a challenge, especially as the trees spawn and the forest marches towards you swallowing large tracts of land as it goes. Again, this is a good effort for a first time submission to the site. The scenario could quite easily be played on any difficulty level you wish, with normal or hard a much better option for the more experienced. Ultimately, the map wasn’t too difficult to beat and no real threat was posed by either the bandits or the wolves.
Creativity: 3
It has to be said that the premise of the map is a very simple one and has a similar theme to some of the earliest user-created submissions when the game was launched all those years ago. However, trying to conjure up something creative is more difficult than it ever has been for designers. That said, I do like this map for what it is; a completely unpretentious, back-to-basics scenario that leans heavily on enjoying yourself. The more I play this map, the more I like the economic-meets-freebuild scenario that unfolds before you. Creativity is bolstered by a good story (see separate review comments) and there is nothing intrinsically wrong with The Falls. Remembering at all times, as you should, that this is a first-time map means that this is surely a good, solid effort by someone who has an excellent grasp on the game.
Map Design: 3
There are some currently active members of the site that swear by ‘place-your-own-keep’ scenarios, and I can see why. Your choice of keep isn’t limited, nor is the location for your settlement. Common sense tells you to place this up near both the stone and iron outcrops (both are needed in large quantities to fulfil some of the win criteria) but this does affect the effectiveness of the bandit attacks who tended to shy away after brief forages. In terms of landscaping and terrain modelling, the general appearance is okay but it is a little crude in places. Smaller brush sizes would help to recreate a more realistic looking landscape. Large areas of the map are rather blank and don't serve any real purpose in the scenario that you play. However, we all need to start our map designing somewhere and more often than not this is through trial and error and a good deal of patience. It's comforting to think that QueenAngelique can only improve on a good forst attempt.
Story/Instructions: 3.5
The story is relatively straight forward and sets the scene, with the content appearing as a separate post underneath the download page. It's reasonably well written and clear and supports the map you will play quite well. In terms of improvement, I would recommend increasing the length of the story and certainly try to involve the player much more by setting the scene.
Additional Comments:
A straightforward, relatievly basic but perfectly playable economic scenario by a newer member of the custom scenario community. Will appeal to those who prefer a steadier pace and enjoy establishing large settlements. Commendable. |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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3.2 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 3.5 | Balance | 3.0 | Creativity | 3.0 | Map Design | 3.0 | Story/Instructions | 3.5 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 1,704 |
Favorites: [] | 0 |
Size: | 616.73 KB |
Added: | 06/21/07 |
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