Round Table of Arkain

[Boriss]

Oh hell yeah the thread is re-open how close is the end of the second human books again ??? i haven't been keeping up with the progress lol

Progress is shown in the 1st comment. Chapter 9 currently in the making out of 14 chapters. So 5 more chapters + 1 interlude waiting to be released.

 

[Championfighter25]

Oh hell yeah the thread is re-open how close is the end of the second human books again ??? i haven't been keeping up with the progress lol

We are very far,there are still 6 playable maps and 1 interlude that need to be finished.

 

[KILLCIDE]

I'm sick of having to clean this thread of off-topic shit. The next person that goes off topic is going to get it.

 

[LISBOAH]

I'm sick of having to clean this thread of off-topic shit. The next person that goes off topic is going to get it.

Sorry.

Anyway, Shar, how is going the chapter nine? Any spoilers you could show?

 

[LickMyEyeBall]

I remember Shar once claimed that chapter nine stands for Hate. And when I try to integrate that word into Arkain universe, I unwillingly see "Aedale talking to her father" scene.

 

[LISBOAH]

I remember Shar once claimed that chapter nine stands for Hate. And when I try to integrate that word into Arkain universe, I unwillingly see "Aedale talking to her father" scene.

Yep. Shar showed a pretty great spoiler about that situation.

 

[Daffa]

Since we are aware all three factions are separately influenced in this story, I assume the ending would have the respective faction victorious?

Anyway, I also noticed in Undead Book that Aridon can get killed and somehow survived (last chapter). It might be relevant to the death state of Aridon in human storyline.

Also, what relation Gardon has with undead now?

 

[Championfighter25]

Since we are aware all three factions are separately influenced in this story, I assume the ending would have the respective faction victorious?

It is a possibility,but in my opinion it may be a united alliance like victory.

Also, what relation Gardon has with undead now?

It's the kind of type where ''you try to betray me,im going to destroy you'' relation.

 

[Boriss]

It is a possibility,but in my opinion it may be a united aliiance like victory.

Or other Gardon´s "allies" get conveniently killed in battle and Gardon will be the only survivor.

Maybe Gardon is gonna marry demonic Aedale?

Anyway, I do believe that each separate book will see its own faction the only victor. There are already differences in the 1st books (the hundred times mentioned Vanessa girl).

 

[Blake8]

I still can't believe that Larine got exiled again, thought she would be a major character in this book

 

[Boriss]

I still can't believe that Larine got exiled again, thought she would be a major character in this book

Salana is just testing Larine´s love for her. They will be reunited! Shar said there will be an interlude about love remember?
That Gardon threw away asset such as Larine surprises me too. I didnt take him for a man to throw away capable assets. I think he has other plans for her. Either he or Brian, that is.

 

[Championfighter25]

Salana is just testing Larine´s love for her. They will be reunited! Shar said there will be an interlude about love remember?
That Gardon threw away asset such as Larine surprises me too. I didnt take him for a man to throw away capable assets. I think he has other plans for her. Either he or Brian, that is.

To dissapoint you Shar said that after chapter 7 we won't see Larine again for a long,long time.That doesn't exclude a return for the much later chapters of the campaign though.Well Gardon throwing her away could have been avoided if he gave her an amulet or if Gardon just said in the ending cutscene of chapter 7 "you are the new queen Salana you decide what you do",that way Larine won't find out that Gardon brainwashed Salana or would have found out,but much,much later.So easy,yet so hard to think of!

 

[Boriss]

To dissapoint you Shar said that after chapter 7 we won't see Larine again for a long,long time.That doesn't exclude a return for the much later chapters of the campaign though.Well Gardon throwing her away could have been avoided if he gave her an amulet or if Gardon just said in the ending cutscene of chapter 7 "you are the new queen Salana you decide what you do",that way Larine won't find out that Gardon brainwashed Salana.So easy,yet so hard to think of!

Thats why I think he has plans for her. He practically chased her off, knowing that Thanok wont be able to get her. It may be that Gardon is playing both Larine and Saphira on this one.

Spoiler

Not to give her an amulet may have had something to do with that cursed book Larine carried, likely because Brian alerted him to some demonic presence near Larine that was later revealed as demon-written book.

Im not giving my Salana x Larine fanfic up yet!

 

[MouMou]

Chapter nine alr!!! Nice shar, if it hits chapter ten i will play it and gave you non nonsensical reviews ya!

 

[Shar Dundred]

Ladies and gentlemen,

today I have, once again, something special for you: A scene stripped from Chapter Nine,
the chapter that brings you the hate!
The question here is... who is going to be hated the most?

Take a look at the cinematic and find out yourself!
Or... will you REALLY find out? There is only one way to know!

 

[Tuwnew]

Spoiler

I see two things: First, we don't have heroes. It will be hard. Second, we must choose a side... That's terrible xD
You gave me hype

 

[MouMou]

stop giving me spoiler guys, from here on I wont visit this thread anymore.

 

[LISBOAH]

stop giving me spoiler guys, from here on I wont visit this thread anymore.

Good luck with that. Once you start playing Arkain, you can't stop playing it.

Spoiler

So Shar will we finnaly play Thanok on the next mission?

 

[LickMyEyeBall]

I hope at least 1/3 of chapter nine is ready. The cinematic looks promising.

 

[Championfighter25]

Spoiler

Most interesting!
I feel like this is going to be like chapter 6 of the undead book,in a sense where van Durce and Genethas will fight and you will attack them while they kill themselves.Also van Durce actually not being a coward?This deserves to be a plot twist in it's own.Still doesn't change the fact he's a asshole and deserves to die though.And finally i feel like something bad may happen to Thanok when this chapter is over!I hope not!

 

[Boriss]

Spoiler

This could be a tough one. Of there are Genethas´ traitors and Golden guard, orcs and demons... bet undead will show up too. Such a deathmatch. So the hate will be about choice. Who do we kill. Who do we let live. Genethas or van Douche(bag)?

Shar, man, you really know how to keep us on high voltage for the next chapter!

Spoiler

And finally i feel like something bad may happen to Thanok when this chapter is over!I hope not!

Spoiler

Like Larine putting arrow up his butt just for the feeling of retribution? Would leave him walking veeeeery funny right there

 

[Boriss]

View attachment 278187
Freakin shar

Dont like spoilers? Dont read them. Or in this case dont watch the cinematic. Easy business.

 

[LISBOAH]

Spoiler

Most interesting!
I feel like this is going to be like chapter 6 of the undead book,in a sense where van Durce and Genethas will fight and you will attack them while they kill themselves.Also van Durce actually not being a coward?This deserves to be a plot twist in it's own.Still doesn't change the fact he's a asshole and deserves to die though.And finally i feel like something bad may happen to Thanok when this chapter is over!I hope not!

Spoiler

Letting others do the dirty work for you is not cowardly, it is not wishing to do the dirty work yourself. I think Thanok will do something reckless. He is far too zealous in his loyalty to Gardon

 

[Deleted member 238589]

I've found a strange bug. After destroying the towers just outside my base, these catapults have decided that life isn't worth living anymore, and suicided against my towers. They just stand in their range and won't move or attack.

 

[Championfighter25]

Spoiler

Letting others do the dirty work for you is not cowardly, it is not wishing to do the dirty work yourself. I think Thanok will do something reckless. He is far too zealous in his loyalty to Gardon

Spoiler

As long as Thanok doesn't screw over Gardon's plans he will be allowed to do whatever he wants.Since Brian said that for Gardon "the end justifies the means" im sure Gardon won't have a problem Thanok doing something reckless.

 

[Boriss]

I've found a strange bug. After destroying the towers just outside my base, these catapults have decided that life isn't worth living anymore, and suicided against my towers. They just stand in their range and won't move or attack.

Well, I can see why they would do such a thing. Life in kingdoms cant be worth much with imperials and kingdom forces and demons and orcs and undead massacring each other and sometimes even their own. Or Rahandir needed a couple new servant boy skeletons xD
(catapult cant shoot at what it cant see, so probably tower was revealed to them when it shot but disappeared before they could get a shot at it)

 

[Deleted member 238589]

Well, I can see why they would do such a thing. Life in kingdoms cant be worth much with imperials and kingdom forces and demons and orcs and undead massacring each other and sometimes even their own. Or Rahandir needed a couple new servant boy skeletons xD
(catapult cant shoot at what it cant see, so probably tower was revealed to them when it shot but disappeared before they could get a shot at it)

But when that happens, they usually go up the ramp in search of targets, or they move away from enemy fire.

Also, I think I'll give up on chapter 4. I just can't beat it. And that's on normal.

Spoiler: My progress so far

When I destroyed the blue undead, I moved into the city by building a bunch of towers inside, just below the entrance. I use that place as a staging area for my men, which consist of 6 elites,about 10 crossbowmen, 2 necros, and a couple of priests, hydors and catapults. I can't attack teal undead without being attacked by the orange army, led by some ranger. I though I could avoid them by killing them and attacking immediately after. Problem is they rebuild that army too fast, maybe less then a minute and attack me while I fight overpowered undead units. Maybe I should attack the area beneath the other Ironfist base first, but I don't see the way of avoid the ranger army.

 

[Boriss]

But when that happens, they usually go up the ramp in search of targets, or they move away from enemy fire.

Also, I think I'll give up on chapter 4. I just can't beat it. And that's on normal.

Spoiler: My progress so far

When I destroyed the blue undead, I moved into the city by building a bunch of towers inside, just below the entrance. I use that place as a staging area for my men, which consist of 6 elites,about 10 crossbowmen, 2 necros, and a couple of priests, hydors and catapults. I can't attack teal undead without being attacked by the orange army, led by some ranger. I though I could avoid them by killing them and attacking immediately after. Problem is they rebuild that army too fast, maybe less then a minute and attack me while I fight overpowered undead units. Maybe I should attack the area beneath the other Ironfist base first, but I don't see the way of avoid the ranger army.

Spoiler

My strategy on normal: no crossbows, mixed elites+hydros+priests (8+2+2) with executors+hydros+priests+necros (6+2+2+2). First get the trebuchets. Blow up all you can with them. Then clean up orange buildings. Start near undead base on the left, work your way to right where orange castle is. Wipe out castle and workers, blow up structures. They will only rebuild buildings close to their castle. So by blowing buildings further away you wont get surprised by units coming in from further away. Avoid ranger´s army by using Thanok´s boyz as distraction (help them kill ranger with elites while executors escort catapults, focusing barracks). Can replace some casters with up to 2 catapults. Go for undead. Used executors as bait and moved elites to destroy necropolis and kill acolytes. Again wiped the rest afterwards. Repeat.

 

[LickMyEyeBall]

But when that happens, they usually go up the ramp in search of targets, or they move away from enemy fire.

Also, I think I'll give up on chapter 4. I just can't beat it. And that's on normal.

Spoiler: My progress so far

When I destroyed the blue undead, I moved into the city by building a bunch of towers inside, just below the entrance. I use that place as a staging area for my men, which consist of 6 elites,about 10 crossbowmen, 2 necros, and a couple of priests, hydors and catapults. I can't attack teal undead without being attacked by the orange army, led by some ranger. I though I could avoid them by killing them and attacking immediately after. Problem is they rebuild that army too fast, maybe less then a minute and attack me while I fight overpowered undead units. Maybe I should attack the area beneath the other Ironfist base first, but I don't see the way of avoid the ranger army.

I was stuck with that chapter as well. You actually should not avoid orange, you should start with her immediately after taking out blue and the trebuchets. Teal undead usually sends a bunch of skeleton battlemasters(or whatever they are called) and marksmen OR a bunch of banshee and abominations. I've run that mission like 4 times and teal never used meatwagons against me, which pretty much ensures that your towers are able to hold the strike force. Besides the AI never attacks your expansions which is kinda strange. I feel like the mission needs an overhaul.

 

[Championfighter25]

I was stuck with that chapter as well. You actually should not avoid orange, you should start with her immediately after taking out blue and the trebuchets. Teal undead usually sends a bunch of skeleton battlemasters(or whatever they are called) and marksmen OR a bunch of banshee and abominations. I've run that mission like 4 times and teal never used meatwagons against me, which pretty much ensures that your towers are able to hold the strike force. Besides the AI never attacks your expansions which is kinda strange. I feel like the mission needs an overhaul.

I think it will be tremendously easier if he makes the blue undead easier to destroy since you will need his resouces asap or you will lose fast.Remove the air units guarding the trebuchets and make your trebuchets be invulnerable since after you get them you won't be able to defend them for long since you already lost your army by that point.In my opinion these are the only changes the chapter needs.

 

[Deleted member 238589]

It's extremely difficult to hold trebuchets, and they don't have vision over anything worth destroying, just a few orange buildings of types I assume there are hundred copies of, so it's not like it impacts their production. Maybe it's the lack of hero unit that hurts this mission, I don't know.

 

[Championfighter25]

It's extremely difficult to hold trebuchets, and they don't have vision over anything worth destroying, just a few orange buildings of types I assume there are hundred copies of, so it's not like it impacts their production. Maybe it's the lack of hero unit that hurts this mission, I don't know.

I still think that making the trebuchets invulnerable will be the first step to make them more useful.The lack of a hero does indeed make this harder than it should,but Shar said that is a key thing in this chapter and before you get Brian you won't have a hero.Man i cannot imagine this chapter in Kasrkin mode,since i had problems on easy!

 

[LickMyEyeBall]

I think it will be tremendously easier if he makes the blue undead easier to destroy since you will need his resouces asap or you will lose fast.Remove the air units guarding the trebuchets and make your trebuchets be invulnerable since after you get them you won't be able to defend them for long since you already lost your army by that point.I think these are the only changes the chapter needs.

I have to disagree. It is important having air units guarding trebuchets, because if they are alive than you won't get your own trebuchets, which grants you ability to get them when you are able to defend them. Making your trebuchets invulnerable is kind of pointless, as I have said you are able to get them when you want. And to be fair, I would not say they were much use to me. Important targets are out of their reach and their only real advantage is vision. Suffice to say even vision is pretty much useless, since you are going deeper into the city. That side quest is kind of... I dont know, the reward you get doest change much, but accomplishing it is important. Have to replay this mission a few times to make a clear suggestion about that part.

 

[Deleted member 238589]

It would be useful to create a few allied units and maybe towers to defends the position, so you can focus you attention elsewhere. These defenses shouldn't be impenetrable, but I would be good if they could survive 2-3 attack waves without you having to reinforce them. Just a suggestion, but I think this option is more fair then making them straight up invulnerable. As to how can they be changed, well maybe increase their range, but leave their vision intact so you're forced to scout the position you want to attack.

 

[Shar Dundred]

Spoiler

So Shar will we finnaly play Thanok on the next mission?

All you need to know at this point has been in the cinematic.

 

[LISBOAH]

All you need to know at this point has been in the cinematic.

Sounds fair enough to me.

 

[Boriss]

It would be useful to create a few allied units and maybe towers to defends the position, so you can focus you attention elsewhere. These defenses shouldn't be impenetrable, but I would be good if they could survive 2-3 attack waves without you having to reinforce them. Just a suggestion, but I think this option is more fair then making them straight up invulnerable. As to how can they be changed, well maybe increase their range, but leave their vision intact so you're forced to scout the position you want to attack.

Spoiler

I have had 0 problems there on normal. It just took a bit of patience. A few attack waves to clear out scattered orange structures. The enemy will not attack your trebuchets unless they aggro a strike force. To avoid aggroing them order trebuchets to fire on an area thats not in the enemy path. With Thanok´s boyz as meatshield wiping out orange base in one fel swoop is easy business. Just focus enemy main structure + workers and its done. Trebuchets served me well in cleaning those outlying orange structures, then I just had them fire elsewhere and no need to defend anything. Tons of towers protected my base, then set up way bigger base in place of orange´s, build big recruitment centers and its done. You need but patience to attack with Thanok simultaneously. He will delay orange´s main defence force. Once orange is out focus those abominations led by that ugly... thing Aridon has stitched together. Then use Thanok and 1 of your small teams to lure out that last undead´s forces away from base and rush in your elites and catapults to blow up their necropolis and kill acolytes (he only has 5 of them, 1 elite can take care of them easy enough).

 

[Deleted member 238589]

Spoiler

I have had 0 problems there on normal. It just took a bit of patience. A few attack waves to clear out scattered orange structures. The enemy will not attack your trebuchets unless they aggro a strike force. To avoid aggroing them order trebuchets to fire on an area thats not in the enemy path. With Thanok´s boyz as meatshield wiping out orange base in one fel swoop is easy business. Just focus enemy main structure + workers and its done. Trebuchets served me well in cleaning those outlying orange structures, then I just had them fire elsewhere and no need to defend anything. Tons of towers protected my base, then set up way bigger base in place of orange´s, build big recruitment centers and its done. You need but patience to attack with Thanok simultaneously. He will delay orange´s main defence force. Once orange is out focus those abominations led by that ugly... thing Aridon has stitched together. Then use Thanok and 1 of your small teams to lure out that last undead´s forces away from base and rush in your elites and catapults to blow up their necropolis and kill acolytes (he only has 5 of them, 1 elite can take care of them easy enough).

Spoiler

My biggest problem are the heroes. I can't do anything to them. They always have anti-magic shell on, so I can't even use cripple on them. Again, they have Crypt Lord, Death Knight, and Ranger. Maybe I'm forgetting someone, but considering that, overpowered skeletons and constant flanking done by the ranger, I don't see a way to beat this. I restarted and tried again so I can relive the frustration of destroying blue base, but I'm still struggling.

 

[Kasrkin]

Spoiler

There are many shades in the first part of the city. If you're ever wondering why the AI makes a beeline for you even though there's nothing of theirs nearby there's probably a shade right in the middle of your forces. If you have the time then you can take the long road, Shadow Stalkers slowly killing towers with arcane sentry and production buildings but this will require buffs to them and a constant use of arcane tower reveal to get those pesky shades.
Once the trebs have been destroyed with the catapults you can just ignore the ramp unless you want supporting fire from your new trebuchets. Keep in mind the constant attacking of forces on the ramp will eventually attract the main Traitor AI including that pesky ranger hero.

Keep in mind that the undead's only form of detection is shades, using a few distractions you can lure teal's forces away for a moment while you kill those first few annoying ghosts in the front of his base. There are many more in the base but teal's forces will take time to move and attack your invisible terrors. Be mindful of the crypt lord's spiked armor and locust swarm, the swarm will activate if you get him to low enough health even though he can't see your Shadows.

 

[ArchDuke]

 

[Boriss]

Spoiler

My biggest problem are the heroes. I can't do anything to them. They always have anti-magic shell on, so I can't even use cripple on them. Again, they have Crypt Lord, Death Knight, and Ranger. Maybe I'm forgetting someone, but considering that, overpowered skeletons and constant flanking done by the ranger, I don't see a way to beat this. I restarted and tried again so I can relive the frustration of destroying blue base, but I'm still struggling.

Spoiler

Im telling you for the third time. First focus orange. Noone will come to his aid. As to heroes... well told you use Thanok as meatshield. With a bit of support he can take care of the heroes. Orange has no banshees so no bubble on ranger. With orange gone (and blue wiped even before that) youre free to finish the rest. Coordination with Thanok is the key. He uses his elites and cavalry, a mighty force to tank and delay enemy defenders. So while Thanok fights enemy army I used my 8 elites + 2 hydros(haste) +2 priests(inner fire) to support him, while 6 executors + 2 priests +2 necromancers were escorting 2 catapults, snuck past and blew up castle.

Kas, maybe make a replay video for the guy? Might be more instructive
What side did you choose there, kas? Golden boyz or the kingdom tin heads(killed or spared Lerrig?)?

 

[Deleted member 238589]

Spoiler

Im telling you for the third time. First focus orange. Noone will come to his aid. As to heroes... well told you use Thanok as meatshield. With a bit of support he can take care of the heroes. Orange has no banshees so no bubble on ranger. With orange gone (and blue wiped even before that) youre free to finish the rest. Coordination with Thanok is the key. He uses his elites and cavalry, a mighty force to tank and delay enemy defenders. So while Thanok fights enemy army I used my 8 elites + 2 hydros(haste) +2 priests(inner fire) to support him, while 6 executors + 2 priests +2 necromancers were escorting 2 catapults, snuck past and blew up castle.

Spoiler

I understood you the first time. My last comment was just me giving in to frustration a bit. Sorry about that.

 

[Boriss]

Spoiler

I understood you the first time. My last comment was just me giving in to frustration a bit. Sorry about that.

Those who give up too soon wont see chapter 4 completed
Sorry wanted it to sound like some old monk´s wisdom
I personally spent... what? 4 hours there? It never worked on the first go, for example the first undead base inside the city took me like 5 attempts before I could kill the acolytes and burn their necropolis. And then another 2 attack waves to finish him off.

 

[Deleted member 238589]

Another thing. That bug I reported about the catapults occurred again. This time it was footman, and he was inside my base, not beneath the ramp, just standing there frozen taking tower fire. There were other enemy units with him, and they behaved normally.

 

[The_Messenger]

I'm not sure if this is a known issue or not but I decided to report it anyway. I started up the Second Human Book after wraping up the First Human Book. My decisions were:

Spoiler: Spoiler

- Didn't kill the unknown mercs
- Didn't let Adele get either shard or whole demonic artifact
- Sided with Bloodclaw
- Helped Bloodclaw raid and recapture the outpost

After I started up the Prologue the cinematic played but after

Spoiler: Spoiler

Salomar gets killed and

the scene changes I suddenly got a black screen. The music kept playing but I couldn't do anything. Not even Task Manager was able to force close the game.

 

[Boriss]

I'm not sure if this is a known issue or not but I decided to report it anyway. I started up the Second Human Book after wraping up the First Human Book. My decisions were:

Spoiler: Spoiler

- Didn't kill the unknown mercs
- Didn't let Adele get either shard or whole demonic artifact
- Sided with Bloodclaw
- Helped Bloodclaw raid and recapture the outpost

After I started up the Prologue the cinematic played but after

Spoiler: Spoiler

Salomar gets killed and

the scene changes I suddenly got a black screen. The music kept playing but I couldn't do anything. Not even Task Manager was able to force close the game.

Spoiler part: should be as it is. The black screen part: I solved my black screen troubles with newest patch, though there is known case of cinematics not working with new patches. Check your patch and search google for "warcraft 3 cinematic black screen". One of this should help.

 

[Deleted member 238589]

Spoiler: Is Mayor Kent supposed to do this?

When I attacked Mayor Kent, I lost the fight and decided to send one surviving elite to check if those green barracks were producing anything. Then Kent showed up and killed him. Now he's just standing there, separated from his elite guard.

 

[Kasrkin]

If he gets pulled far enough it's possible, the elite guard doesn't have a real AI well... the ones before the gate into the mage district opens.

 

[Lord Siler]

Hello Shar, can you plz give Blake his posting privileges back, not sure what he did, but its cruel and unfair to keep a person from contributing his thoughts to his favorite thread.

 

[Daffa]

Can anyone link the newest cinematic scene? I missed it.