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300 Spartans (Version 1.3)
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Author |
File Description |
AZ ViTrAzhAs |
Posted on 07/02/07 @ 05:59 AM (updated 09/30/07)
File Details |
Map Size: |
400x400 (Large) |
Difficulty: |
Hard |
300 Spartans
Title: 300 Spartans
Version: 1.1
Map size: 400x400
Map type: Stronghold Crusader invasion
Level: Depends on the player’s skills (Normal – Hard)
Playing type: defense
Win condition: no enemy and invasions left.
Lose condition: lord killed.
Starting date: 1484 June
Extra features: Sounds and files.
Preface:
Battle of Thermopylae is, in my opinion, one of the greatest examples of strength, courage and loyalty in history. A small contingent of brave men fought against an enormous army with only one purpose: to defend their freedom and fatherland. They died being betrayed but devoted to their laws. This battle soon became an example of heroism and bravery for everyone throughout the world. After the battle an epithet was curved in a stone:
Translation:
Go tell the Spartans, passerby,
That here, by Spartan law, we lie
The modern monuments for Spartans and Thespians at Thermopylae:
A lesson of history:
In 480 BC a small alliance of Greek city - states fought against invaders from Persia holding the narrow pass at Thermopylae. A small force of Spartans (The whole Spartan army didn’t march due to the religious festival), led by king Leonidas, and other allies held the massive army of Xerxes I for three days. Leonidas used the terrain and with his well trained contingent blocked the narrow pass. Xerxes men outnumbered the Greeks vastly, but the Persians couldn’t get trough the mountains. Later a native resident named Ephialtes betrayed Leonidas and his allies by revealing a small goat path which went through the mountains. When the Greeks found out about the path, Leonidas dismissed the main force and left with only 300 Spartans and 700 Thespians. Xerxes’ army finally broke the Greek defense lines, but suffered huge losses. Leonidas and his brave 300 gave time for all of Greece to prepare for war and later Persians were crushed at Salamis, then at Platea, where Spartans resembled their full strength leading a pan- Greek army. This was the end of the Greco–Persian War and with it the expansion of the Persian Empire in Europe.
The Numbers : This topic was hotly debated because of the various facts and offered numbers but finally historians concluded that approximately 150.000 – 200.000 troops compounded the army of Xerxes’.
The Greeks marched to Thermopylae with approximately 7000 soldiers.
The movies:
There are two screenings of the Battle at Thermopylae: 300 Spartans (1962) and 300 (2006).
300 Spartans (a.k.a. The Lion of Sparta): I think very little of you could have seen this movie but still this is the first screening of the brave Leonidas and his 300 soldiers. The film was very colorful, the actors were brilliant. This movie revealed feelings and empathy of Greeks, the ingenuity and courage of Leonidas. The brutal force and stunning battle scenes weren’t showed here but still, in my opinion, the screening is great, especially of the fact, that it was filmed in early 70s.
Director – Rudolph Mate
Leonidas - Richard Egan
300:The new screening showed numerous great and stunning battle scenes, new technologies helped to add realistic effects, etc. Spartan physical strength was revealed amazingly, many of us remember great phrases which were used in this movie. Although without these great battle scenes the film was almost empty: it had very little explanation, facts etc. Still this screening has to be seen by everyone, who knows about battle of Thermopylae.
Director - Zack Snyder
Leonidas - Gerard Butler
P.S. This is just my opinion about the screenings.
Author‘s notes:
About the mission:
I have used details from both screenings and added my own ideas. I know that some of you may not like it, as the mission has a quite unusual playability. I also didn’t set the real number of Thespians (700), as huge invasions wouldn’t show up then. Here are a few more facts:
• A lot of work and play testing had to be done to achieve more realistic enemy actions. Now, when Ephialtes clears the goat path for Persians, Xerxes sends a huge swarm with Immortals in front. Persians will try to surround our heroes, sooner or later they will die (Just like history tells us).
• The mission’s script is quite tricky: Spartan army couldn’t help the small force of Leonidas due to the religious festival and nor shall it in the mission. Only a part of Sparta was designed, and that part had no gatehouses. If you try to make a path by deleting your walls and try to help your 300 warriors, in 1495 the scenario will test whether the keep is enclosed. If not, you will be attacked by Persians until Sparta will fall.
Historical explanation: If Xerxes finds out that Sparta has a weak spot he will order his enormous army to capture the city. Sooner or later Sparta will fall.
It also doesn’t matter whether you or Persians break Spartan walls. This fact enforces you to guard the Thermopylae path and prevent Persians from approaching the city. If the enemy marches inside before September 1495, you will have no chance to win.
• In summary your mission is to hold the narrow path as long as you can and later destroy the Persians using Sparta’s defense. You mustn’t allow the enemy to break a path in to the city before September 1495.
• It was very hard to find a map of Sparta so I had to improvise with the design.You can notice that no Christian churches or structures were used. The sculptures resemble Greek gods. A bottomless well, which was seen in the new 300, wasn’t forgotten either. I have also added a council auditorium in the king’s hall. Spartan army is training in the north corner of the city.
• A small cabin, which belongs to Ephialtes, is set in the mountains. He is the traitor, who will lead Persians to surround the 300 using the narrow goat path, which is full of old gin traps and pitfalls.
• The Thespians are waiting for your orders in the mountains. They can be a real help fighting against numerous slaves of Xerxes. You can also use Leonidas’ ingenuity and try to burn the enemy, but do it carefully: you troops burn as well.
Characters:
Leonidas –
Spartans –
Thespians –
Immortals-
Ephialtes –
Extra files:
To make the mission more realistic, I’ve added sounds from both movies and few other files. The sounds can be left aside if you want to play with the original speech but please, replace the three other files. (They are in this archive) Using these extra features is very easy:
Sounds:
Step 1: Find your Stronghold Crusader folder (Usually the directory is C:\ Program files\Firefly Studios)
Step 2: Find a folder, named fx, open it. Then open the folder, named Speech.
Step 3: Replace the files with 300 sounds.
Note: these sounds are a bit longer so if you trigger your troops too often, the sounds might mingle. I would offer changing the sound options: music – 35, fx – 35, speech – 100.
Other files:
Step 1: Find your Stronghold Crusader folder (Usually the directory is C:\ Program files\Firefly Studios)
Step 2: Find a folder, named gm, open it.
Step 3: Replace the files with 300 other three files.
One of the results: you will see that Leonidas is now in a saddle.
Note: Sparta won’t fall if Leonidas is killed, but the city will surrender if the second king is assassinated. Historical explanation: The main rule in Sparta was the National Council and two kings.
Important:
You can save the folders (Speech and gm) in a safe directory before replacing, and later, when done playing, you can simply replace the files with the saved ones. You can also download the original files here
If you will have any problems please contact me: vitrazhas@gmail.com
Version 1.1: Since the players might think of using the Spartans to circle the signpost, this trick of playability is now cleared. Historical explanation: Xerxes sets various pits and traps to avoid Spartan attacks.
Version 1.2: More final invasions, a bit harder Persian hordes and the number of Spartan army has been also reduced. The mission should become harder and more challenging now.
Version 1.3: Version 1.2 errors are now fixed, minor terrain changes.
Have fun playing…
Sincerely,
AZ ViTrAzhAs |
Pages: « First « 1 [2] 3 4 » Last » | Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Dougleass |
Posted on 07/06/07 @ 08:31 PM
I've made a laughable mistake... But I played it again, and found it alot easier than the first time. So it's not a full 5 from me.
So yeah, I have won the mission. I just love the sound files that you made, it makes it very much more alive. Really love that XD
Hah, already on the top of the Top Crusader Downloads.
But as The Joint said, you should actually remove the big pictures, or just resize them.[Edited on 07/09/07 @ 07:33 AM]
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AZ ViTrAzhAs
File Author |
Posted on 07/07/07 @ 05:32 AM
Morbid Angel, may thankx for playing and rating, I really worked hard with everything that people would enjoy the mission. Dougleass, I think you are a bit mislead: this is a Stronghold Crusader invasion, you can't choose the level. Again thankx for the warm words and ratings guys, I am very pleased.. |
AZ ViTrAzhAs
File Author |
Posted on 07/07/07 @ 05:40 AM
Morbid Angel, don't worry the original sounds should come up soon.(I think i didn't get a letter from you) I removed few pictures, now the page loads faster[Edited on 07/09/07 @ 07:02 AM]
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The Joint |
Posted on 07/09/07 @ 02:07 AM
Labas, AZ Vitrazhas!I've just finishedplaying your map.I had a lot of bugs in the past, but this time themap worked normally, because you have updated the map.Now to the review:
Playability: 4.5
The spartans are suposted to wait the approachiing enemy in the canyon.Unfortunately someone can just move 150 swordmen to the one signpost and 150 to the other, like I did in the first time :D This is diversion from the film and makes the map boring...No one wants to look how the swordsmen kill all enemies just in the begging of their assault.However if you don't do this, the map works fine, and it has enjoyable playability.
Edit: You have updated the map.I liked the new playabilty, so you hae the maximum now.Overral great job...Again :D
Balance: 5
I think, the troops were balanced pretty good.Yes the enemies weren't so powerfull, because it's very hard to defeat swordsman with slave or spearman :D But they larga amount and a lot of invasions finally did something.
Creativity: 5
Well, the idea for 300 map isn't so new, but I still remember when you said before a month that you're making 300 map, too in other 300 map's page.And I think that everybody knows your hight level of creativity.It's seen from your other maps.
Map Design: 5
I think I haven't gave you rating below 5 for map design so far :D I think there's no need to explain, your design was always great.This map is invasion and it could be eyecandy, too :D
Story/Instructions: 5
Even a fool will understand why I give you 5.When I saw this whole page I though: "This will get a straigh 5".I would give 4.5 for the slow loading on the page, but I think that's odd.You've putted very much work into it and the final product is fantastic.Just see the downloads and you'll believe me :D
Additional Comments:What other to say...Maps like this are very rare these days and I'm happy that here are still people, which create masterpieces...And one advice - Make more superb maps :D
P.S. Don't get pained from my first comments, but I just said the truth.Thank you for updating it.
Long life,
The Joint, Marihuania
[Edited on 07/12/07 @ 02:43 PM]
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AZ ViTrAzhAs
File Author |
Posted on 07/10/07 @ 11:46 AM
Thanks for the review and for the nice words the Joint ;) I've updated the map to solve this minor thing.
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Hypernova90 |
Posted on 07/20/07 @ 02:05 PM
Playability: 5
The playability is great. I want to play it over and over again.
Balance: 5
You have to make your moves carfully balance is really good on this one.
Creativity: 5
The sounds and all things are really really creative, and the map design and the pass. I can't describe it. Creativity 6/5
Map Design: 5
This is Sparta. Much eyecandy, and everybody will like this.
Story/Instructions: 5
Absolutely great told story.
Additional Comments:
Everybody should download this map and play it right away!
Then i have two questions left.
-How do you place a story in the map, when you start up the map a story appears. I only know how to do it in original Stronghold. How do you do this in Crusader ?
-How do you place green allied units in your screen, that are monks. |
AZ ViTrAzhAs
File Author |
Posted on 07/24/07 @ 05:39 AM
Hypernova90, thank you very much for playing the map and, of course, for the review. About your questions: I had to play the mission at the beginning with a scenario, which contained 117 good bandits attacks at the same time. Later i saved the map and just changed the .sav file into .map. Then i just deleted the archers and the result: we have monks as allies. About the story: when you finished creating the map, go to the map options and pres ALT + , (Alt and comma) and change the map type into multi, then write the story and change the map back to the single. Now the story will appear whenever the map is played. |
sharp_sword |
Posted on 08/01/07 @ 03:15 PM
After playing the map several times i couldn't figure out how you could possibly defeat the last invasion.
Even on my best attempt at beating the level the secund to last invasion finished me off very easily. |
AZ ViTrAzhAs
File Author |
Posted on 08/02/07 @ 12:04 PM
Well, the whole idea of this map was to reveal the historical fight as best as possible. 300 Spartans died, and so they have to die in the mission, the last invasion has to be defeated using the Sparta's fortifications and units. [Edited on 08/04/07 @ 11:40 AM]
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AZ ViTrAzhAs
File Author |
Posted on 08/02/07 @ 12:12 PM
What is more, I mentioned the whole style of playability in the story, just take a few seconds, maybe that will help you :) |
Pages: « First « 1 [2] 3 4 » Last » |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.9 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 5.0 | Balance | 5.0 | Creativity | 5.0 | Map Design | 4.6 | Story/Instructions | 5.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 17,382 |
Favorites: [] | 1 |
Size: | 7.06 MB |
Added: | 07/02/07 |
Updated: | 09/30/07 |
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