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Author |
File Description |
peter2008 |
Posted on 11/09/08 @ 08:37 PM (updated 11/10/08)
File Details |
Map Size: |
400x400 (Large) |
Difficulty: |
Normal |
Minimap:
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Hi, Strongholders out there. This time it's my turn to say "my first map".
Story
So you're new in the desert and just want to celebrate a birthday party today?
Then wake up 'n hurry cause you're late. Your neighbours, friends and foes, are all up and busy fighting. While you're still trying to enjoy a birthday morning. Looking around from the keep you think about what's left undone.
Ah, yes, food supply is a severe problem. When crossing the Mediterranean Sea one of the ships was driven away northward. Unfortunately it carried all the farmers, millers and bakers that accompanied your crusade. Perhaps they have a happy life at Tyre now?
This evening you cannot serve beer alone to your guests. Hm, bread will take too long and cheese isn't that productive. Then let's decide on apples. But where to get the fruits from? ... you may be forced to lend or steel?
Calling your cellarer you tell him: "My allies are coming tonight, good ol' Sultan and Caliph, and maybe some captive lords. Many guests will join, too. So get me lots of apples ;) no matter how!" As the man leaves you hear him mumble a complaint.
Outside you meet your true knights and soldiers to whom you give the order of the day: "Necessity is a hard weapon. Take that."
The troops keep on looking at you. Did this mean attack or defence?
The horses are neighing - the animals like apples, too.
Author's notes
With the original course of this map I partly failed during its realization. The idea was to get an invasion map with allies on it who can be asked for tributes. For that I changed the root map into a skrimish type and back into an invasion. Unfortunately any events and invasions don't work any more. The win condition - apples - has been left just for fun.
I still liked the opening scene and chose to nevertheless submit the map.
Quitting the mission or simple restart will end up in the skirmish section. Please do the custom maps starting procedure again.
(Spoiling hints and screens included in the zip file.)
Happy tactics. Have fun!
Comments are welcome!!
Edit: Screens now as smaller sized JPEGs.
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Pages: [1] 2 3 » Last » | Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Sir_Vet |
Posted on 11/10/08 @ 01:38 PM
Peter2008 you have given us your first Crusader map, well I'll be the first to make a comment.
It's like a breath of fresh air to have a first map submitted, and find that it is complete, well made and fully tested, the author has done his homework and has taken the time to learn the game before posting.
An invasion map that is really a skirmish with restrictions,(a nice twist)you have to rely on your neighbors for apples, you must rely on your wits to win the game. The map is not to hard but keeps you entertained, giving all players a chance to enjoy this creation.
A short story that would take away from a high rating, but it does give you an idea of what you are up against.
Over all well done Peter. Thanks for the map!
Sir_Vet
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Dumptrailer2 |
Posted on 11/10/08 @ 04:31 PM
A nice early birthday present from Peter. :D
Thank you!
Review coming soon.[Edited on 11/10/08 @ 05:36 PM]
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Dumptrailer2 |
Posted on 11/10/08 @ 05:51 PM
A wonderful birthday present this map was. Apple Wars, by Peter2008, proves to be a refreshing way of getting back into crusader, and offers a change of pace for those used to starting out with everything.
Playability: 4
I really don't know how to rate playability. However, I know this map has lots of REPLAYibility. I saw the spoilers after I had finished the map and saw that my strategy was much different than the authors. On my first try I didn't really know what was coming. I heard the rat's usual taunt towards me. I didn't pay any attention to it. That was a mistake. Great on the author's part to really ramp up the troop numbers of the AI, haven't had much challenge from them in a while. My second try I tried to rush make archers. That didn't work either. I still got mown over by the Rat. My third try I remembered about the outposts and said "Hey, I'll make some horse archers". There weren't any. But, it had my favourite unit in the whole game, the slinger. So my next try I created about 50 slingers and put them on the keep to keep the Rat at bay.
Balance: 4
A really nicely balanced map, however, after the first attacks from the rat, I didn't see much challenge. Unfortuantly, you couldn't control that because the events do not work so I'm not taking off many points.
Creativity: 4.5
Ok, this game is how many years old? I believe 7. Pretty much everything has been done. Not this. The 4.5 isn't just for the apples and allies idea, it is once again being able to actually have to face the AI.
Map Design: 4
Ah yes... map design. The category that so many new mapmakers ignore and so many experienced ones strive to receive a 5 in. So much so that they ignore the other aspects of gameplay. (Points to self) Compared to a lot of crusader map out there this was really good. Remember kids, you only need 4 tiles of iron for an iron mine. Good job on that part.
Story/Instructions: 3.5
I think I understood the story just a bit more than the next guy.
All in all, a nice birthday present. This map should be honored to have the title 'My First Map'.
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Lord Dredde (id: lord dredde) |
Posted on 11/10/08 @ 06:45 PM
Hi-i had the privilege of playtesting this in a very short time and would like to say that this is a great first map and highly entertaining to play.I won't say how i won the scenario,apart from this,.....just kidding!Experienced players should have no problem, the map is a converted save file and therefore is 'up and running' not many of those about!
Well done peter2008
LD[Edited on 11/30/08 @ 05:57 AM]
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Bartimaeus M |
Posted on 11/11/08 @ 03:30 AM
I like the idea, but i have a question. Can this be done with other AI's? because I know if you you change the file extention from .sav to .map then you have the original map file. Obviously the building setting should remmain and would leave the player in a hard position.
though I like the idea of this map and will play it soon, once i have some time to waste.. |
peter2008
File Author |
Posted on 11/11/08 @ 04:38 AM
Mates, thank you for your replies.
Sir_Vet, Lord Dredde, that you enjoyed playing makes me happy. Getting positive assessments of experienced mapmakers is really good feeling. I've learned from you, not least to just translate a concept into action.
Dumptrailer2, wow, your review is a big surprise in return. Am glad that the start impressed you, lol. And great the way you survived. Now I'm impressed of your excited feedback. Makes it worth doing further tests.
Liked those strengthend AIs, too. Provided them with extra buildings to make gold with. Placing the Rats second line behind better AIs might have lead to even bigger, colourful battles.
Bartimaeus M, yes, getting functioning AIs will work with any other character, and this can be done even more thrilling. You have seen "Against Fort Truffe" by Mimihitam with a Pig permanently spamming units or "The Return of the Wolf" by Lord De gravile where you play AS Abbott against the Wolf.
For "Apple War" I chose AIs the birthday boy liked most or who also place apple orchards.
Funnily you can add further or new buildings to the AIs. Gave them more farms and quarries and think this helped them to send our bigger armies. For the Snake I placed a chapel but he remained the old bastard.
You're right that the player is in disadvantage during the opening period of my scenario. But this must not be so. First decide on the outline of the scene you have in mind. Then save the skirmish right after the start. It will leave you free to later choose any level of the AIs' development you want.
Looking forward to hear of your experience with this scenario.[Edited on 11/12/08 @ 01:48 AM]
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Bartimaeus M |
Posted on 11/11/08 @ 05:41 AM
so you mean, start a skirmish, then save the game, then convert the save so you can edit it and create a mini-scenario and then play? |
TwoDie |
Posted on 11/11/08 @ 07:35 AM
hmm that thing with win with out 1000 apples is not interesting, when you kill all AI's... :/ but still it was not so bad idea of the map. I really want the AI's editor! :D[Edited on 12/24/09 @ 11:28 AM]
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peter2008
File Author |
Posted on 11/11/08 @ 07:36 AM
TwoDie, thank you for playing. Indeed the straight skirmish setting - kill'em all - makes any economic request look second-class. My basic idea was you could assess yourself only with the help of elder / richer desert inhabitants. And to make you act in a region full of factions moving all over the place (instead of a player-centred invasion setting).
Bartimaeus M, yeah, you know it in principle. With "first decide on the outline of the scene you have in mind" I meant you will find it best to start in the editor with a new Crusader (skirmish) map distributing the keeps. So their location will fit to the very course you want.
If you choose an invasion type as root map you can convert it into a skirmish map using Alt + comma on the "Edit scenario" level. Later you can make it an invasion ("Single") again.
Then act as you explained.
Modelling the map may follow. You can create the landscape interacting with the AIs. Offer them something to work on, grass or quarries, and make changes to the landscape. [Edited on 11/12/08 @ 01:44 AM]
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Fintrollx |
Posted on 11/11/08 @ 11:21 AM
Cool! Peter it looks great :D
Hope you have had some time to script our map also :) |
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HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.2 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 4.0 | Balance | 4.0 | Creativity | 4.5 | Map Design | 4.3 | Story/Instructions | 4.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 712 |
Favorites: [] | 0 |
Size: | 2.18 MB |
Added: | 11/09/08 |
Updated: | 11/10/08 |
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