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Dalriada: Apostle of the Picts
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Author |
File Description |
Llungki pey (id: younghappy) |
Posted on 05/21/10 @ 09:44 PM
File Details |
Map Size: |
400x400 (Large) |
Difficulty: |
Impossible |
Made with version: |
1.2 |
Minimap:
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Other uploaded scenarios in the Dalriada series:
1. Dalriada: Monarch of the Glen
2. Dalriada: Rathlin Island
Apostle of the Picts
Map No.3 in the Dalriada Series.
Mission Briefing
In this mission, you play as Columba. He is your sole combat unit, a slow weak warrior-monk but he has a few tricks up his robes. You must reach the king and kill (convert) him with your monk. The only problem is there are two gatehouses in your way, dozens of enemy troops, traps and an army of archers on your tail, God Speed Strongholders and remember to say your prayers, it might just help you in this mission
Background Information
This is Burghead Fort, often credited as the largest Iron Age fort in Britain and was three and half time larger than any other Scottish forts at the time and is also the oldest Pictish fort in Europe, with earliest build dates of 300 AD.
Burghead is in the north east of Scotland near Inverness and this fortress was probably the mighty seat of the northern Pictish kings. The Picts were the native habitants of Scotland and they controlled most of the land north of present day Glasgow and Edinburgh.
This scenario is set around 560 AD. At this time, most of Britain was once again Pagan after the collapse of the Roman Empire, however Christianity had reached Ireland over 100 years earlier through St. Patrick and had been growing strong ever since. From 500 AD, a small Irish tribe known as the Scotti and whose Kingdom was called Dalriada had been crossing the sea to establish itself in what we now call Scotland. Their main enemy in Scotland were the Pagan Picts.
563. Enter Columbcille, now beautified as Saint Columba. Columba was an Irish monk with family ties to royalty. After a copyright dispute with his teacher that results in a bloody battle, Columba exiles himself from Ireland to convert as many souls in Scotland than were lost in the battle.
The King of Dalriada grants him an Island to begin his missionary work. This Island would soon become a very powerful centre of learning, literacy, art, technology and monasticism with nobility coming from as far as mainland Europe to study under the monks.
When Columba and his companions have established their base, he sets his eyes on his first mission; The Pictish King. Columba travels to Burghead to vist the Pictish King named Brudei I.
General Notes
In the zip file there will be more detailed background information/ story and a very useful visual walkthrough for most of you who will need it.
I was looking for a decent well documented Pictish fortress that my Dalriads could attack. This was the best result that came up and I was really keen to recreate this impressive structure. I've tried to be as faithful to my sources as much as possible.
I didn't create this map for one tiny little mission, there will be a battle scenario in the future.
Instructions
Gather together the forces Ithélâ has given you. Launch an attack on his fortress. You will need to dig through the moat and reach the walls. Kill the enemy Lord and all enemy troops whilst keeping to the time limit.
Objectives
- Kill Enemy Lord
- Game Starts on January 565
- Game ends at May 566 (if you don't win first)
Hints for all players
>Try this a few times without the walkthrough. If you really get stuck, use it. I think it is sufficient enough the complete the scenario
>Plan ahead
>Be quick to execute your plan.
>Save before and after difficult parts
>Don't let your troops die.
>You will need to find a way to reach the keep
I don't want to give away too much, the best tips are in the walkthroug
Zip Contents
-PNG Mini Map
-Apostle of the Picts.MAP
-Burghead Info and Story
-Walkthrough (best viewed in WordPAd
Acknowledgements
Wl_D Arthus for playtesting this week and giving me some vital feedback.
Lord Michael I for playtesting around three years ago and he gave some good tips for improvement.
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Author | Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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WL_D Alexus |
Posted on 06/30/10 @ 11:54 AM
Truly stunning. Dalriada: Apostle of the Picts is a must download.
Playability: 5
For a scenario that is rather short, Dalriada: Apostle of the Picts provides a rich and entertaining environment in which the style of game play is stretched to wondrous limits.To be honest scenarios in this particular style often leave me a bid undecided, leaving a sometimes empty feeling on completion due to the often brisk nature of the game play. However here I feel that the scenario is rather richer than others, offering up a feast of tactical pitfalls and cunning deceptions, ones that tested, tried and frustrated me in my attempts to seek out victory. All of these elements added up to a scenario that left me feeling a sense of great reward upon victory, something that I feel should be praised herein.
On my first attempt I failed because I hadn’t realized the quite brutal nature of the peasants in the small town, the defeat sign popping up as I moved through the gate. I then moved the engineers to a quieter area of the map. Now on my second attempt I moved through the stationed troops with some frustration, those pesky workers stopping Columba, and giving enemy troops the chance to pounce. Once I reached the area in which I had to build the stairs, I realized that I had to build them at the start of the scenario, as the streams of workers were too close for me to build.
Finally on my third attempt I had victory. The fact that there are quite a few ways you can try to ‘cheat’ your way though, only to fail I might add, the wolves in particular, and that you are tempted, tested and in the end rewarded, albeit (in my case) with the aid of a walkthrough, goes a long way to cementing a concrete 5 for playability. (Hmm…two construction puns, that’s never good). Well Done.
Balance: 5
For me in this scenario balance is as much about the game play as is the story and instructions, and here Younghappy has competently melded these elements in such a way that the scenario is all the more rich and vibrant. An example of which is the absence of the archers, one would often find it a strange occurrence as younghappy points out himself, however in the scenario it works wonders, bringing a greater sense of urgency as you focus in on the hardships down on foot. Your concentration is on the ground not above and you get pulled into this scenario in a way that is very enthralling. The combination of traps, troops and hostile workers really give the scenario a great edge, often hard, but with the aid of hints, a wonderful balance of risk and reward that is a marvelous treat.
Creativity: 5/ Map Design: 5
Again here so many elements tie in together for me so let’s take it a step at a time. Again I will come back to the problem archers would have proved in the scenario, obviously it would be very hard to doge the arrows, so what does Younghappy do, he uses what would otherwise be a pitfall to create a story feature. They’re out hunting, and are returning as the scenario goes on, again taking us into a great ground level struggle. The wonderfully poetic image of a gatehouse bursting open upon Columba making the sign of the cross, and the way it is incorporated into the scenario as well as a host of features that interlock to provide a wonderfully rich gaming experience.
Then there is the actual design. The Pictish fort is central to the creative pulse within the scenario, and it’s a masterstroke to say the least. The structure itself appears to grow out of the ground reinforcing the brutal and jagged landscape around it. The fortification Dominates and gives a great feeling of foreboding as you focus in on the almost insignificant stature of Columba. The construction of the ‘shark gill’ barriers gives a unique appearance to the forts entrance, highlighting the impending struggle you are about to face. Inside paved paths and unique building designs heighten the creative whole and go a long way towards the creative energy and beauty in the design. I just wonder what it might have looked like should you have lined the walls with shields, a time consuming thought, and process as I know. :)
The outside town is simple yet effective, sand paths make up the small streets and gives that wonderful ‘Younghappy feel’ to the map.
Story/Instructions: 5
Finally what you have offered us here is truly an integral part to the whole experience, as a designer I absolutely loved reading through your thought process and ambitions in designing this gem of a scenario. Your inclusion of a walkthrough, told from the perspective of Columba and the information on character himself all helped tie this scenario together, and painted a vividly rich picture, one which was in no way let down by the map itself. Insightful, useful and to the point, the included documentation is a truly wonderful read. Great work.
Additional Comments:
Dalriada: Apostle of the Picts is a masterful creation, one that leaves us in anticipation of what is to come. A rich and enjoyable experience worthy of rivaling the greatest designs to have graced the SHH community. Well done.
Alexus.
[Edited on 07/01/10 @ 01:51 AM]
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HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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5.0 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 5.0 | Balance | 5.0 | Creativity | 5.0 | Map Design | 5.0 | Story/Instructions | 5.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 3,018 |
Favorites: [] | 1 |
Size: | 6.70 MB |
Added: | 05/21/10 |
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