This is a well balanced 3 vs 3 map for Crusader. Supports 6 players, but best played 3v3. Includes lions, a river, cliffs, fords. Large portions of fertile land by the river. Cliffs offer tactical choices. Plenty of stone, little iron per player (2 mines).
My first map, ever. It's possible I messed something up. Made with 1.3 HD version.
Please comment and enjoy.
(Uploaded new file due to small cliff glitch in the first version)
Playability: 5
On my playthrough, there were no playability issues at all; the keeps were well-positioned, the problem where the landscape gets too close to the keep so that the AI end up with massive gaps in their castles was absent. Furthermore, the outlay of the map offers for great opportunities for strategic planning of one's attack.
Balance: 4.5
The map is well-balanced, especially if one plays 3v3 with the opposing teams being separated by the river. Nevertheless, the map is not of the dull type where everyone has exactly the same resources and pre-conditions, without for that sake tilting the odds extremely in one particular starting position's favor.
Creativity: 4
The map designer has given us a map that is not only playable, but also realistic, and all at the same time as it is beautiful to look at.
Map Design: 4.5
The map is beautifully designed, one can easily see that a great deal of effort has been put in by its creator, and the results are stunning. While it is beautiful, it is not exactly eye candy, nor is it intended to be. It is a realistic map that looks great, and whose geography allows for a great and fun fight.
Story/Instructions: 3
It being a skirmish map, there is of course very little to comment upon in regards to the story. So there isn't really much to comment upon, and since I didn't want this to drag the average rating down too much I set the rating to 3.5. However, the map does lack an in-game description, which it could perhaps use. Had there been a good in-game description, it would have merited a 5/5 rating in regards to Story/Instructions.