[Role Playing Game] Acheron

[Deleted member 212788]

Warcraft III is dying because they finished explored everything and no more new custom maps, even though there is, most of them are outdated and no longer update and incomplete. I think it's worth to spend a week just for a map.

I completely agree, playing a unique and well-made map is better than half of the games available nowadays. The age of warcraft is completely irrelevant, if you ask me.

 

[Heinvers]

Same here

 

[APproject]

Thanks, Naiden.

I don't think it is the fault of lack of new custom maps. I'd say nowdays maps are MUCH better quality than years ago in all aspects, people improved a lot and it is always quality > quantity. Age does effect the popularity, many may dump it (because bored) or don't even try it out (for new folks) just because it is old and there are plenty of newer games around the world that gets more attention, that might be the case why not many new players joins warcraft 3, it is not fresh. Imagine a new expansion for warcraft 3 by Blizzard, it would reborn.

I took an advantage of a weekend and made an UI for the project, it looks simple, but okay.

UI (3)

1.

2.

3.

 

[Binsu]

Great UI I must say, APproject. It fits the game's dark theme and not just looking at the UI but I like those icons for the heroes' abilities (if my guess were right that those are for the hero, Athanas) but may I ask, why 1-1 damage?

Anyway, you're doing great with this. What more to expect seeing that you always finish projects that you started.

 

[APproject]

Thanks, Hell_Master. When leveled up, you get to choose one of three attributes to rise, those are attributes instead of spells. Spells will be found around the world just like in Iceborn, not hidden as items this time, hehe. I got burnt because many missed some spells in Iceborn, will not miss it in this project.

Athanas will be the main hero, Eudoxia will be your companion, she will be completely coded and may follow and help you in the battle. Damn, I really need to find a female voice actor for this.

It is 1-1 -1 because I want Athanas to be able to attack and deal no damage if wielding no weapon. Weapon will increase the damage as a bonus to his attacks. Eudoxia doesn't need a weapon, because she will be a caster.

I also decided not to allow hero to grow in stats much, there is no point. Hero may get stronger just by a slight change, it will grow to certain limit, but small one. It will not be like Level 10 is 5 times weaker than level 30 in terms of stats, it will be slightly weaker. I decided doing this because it makes no sense. If hero grows in health, mana and damage points, enemy grows as well, so it all gets multiplied unnecessarily.

Nah, I didn't finish all of my projects that I started, of course those were little in progress done.

 

[Heinvers]

Thanks, Hell_Master. When leveled up, you get to choose one of three attributes to rise, those are attributes instead of spells. Spells will be found around the world just like in Iceborn, not hidden as items this time, hehe. I got burnt because many missed some spells in Iceborn, will not miss it in this project.

That's cool. Also lovely UI you got there

 

[laserdemon]

I don't think it is the fault of lack of new custom maps. I'd say nowdays maps are MUCH better quality than years ago in all aspects, people improved a lot and it is always quality > quantity.

I don't think so, please give me some examples of the new well-made maps in year 2014 other than Iceborn, I managed to finish it in a week, so the rest of the time I'm just waiting for miracle to happen, waiting for new well-made map and the old maps to update, so even though quality > quantity, I won't repeat the same game for more than 2 times.

Age does effect the popularity, many may dump it (because bored) or don't even try it out (for new folks) just because it is old and there are plenty of newer games around the world that gets more attention, that might be the case why not many new players joins warcraft 3, it is not fresh.

I can't deny Warcraft 3 players populations decreased due to the age, but, players bored of it because it has no update, and the LAN has a 8mb size limit (even though the limit can be removed but many map creators still try to get their maps in range because many players still don't know about it), and new games released such as DotA 2, which is a lot more better than the original DotA, where DotA is players' favourite because it's about battle between players, they love battles (because they always want to be a winner, no battle, no winner) meanwhile DotA update is slow, many features and improvement that can be done are never be done such as mana bar on top of heroes, channeling bar, terrain, special effects of skills and so on. These reasons caused the big difference between DotA and DotA 2 and eventually those players who are rich (quite a number of them) and have fast computers attracted to DotA 2 due to many new features which some of them can even be done in DotA.
Garena is one of the reason too, many players dislike Garena and think Garena always causes connection disruption to their games, around 50% of Warcraft 3 players use Garena, therefore they tend to find a new server - DotA 2 so that they could have smoother gameplay. DotA is the most famous custom map in Warcraft 3, even for now, so eventually most of the players dump Warcraft 3 and went to DotA 2. In a result, Warcraft 3 players decreased. The statements above illustrate about old players.

About the why new players (I assume you refer to new generation) don't play Warcraft 3, few reasons:
1. They prefer those games in smart phone, I-pad, tablets and so on, they spend more time on those games.
2. Everybody plays DotA 2, his brother plays DotA 2, his seniors play DotA 2, even his teacher plays DotA 2, do you think he'll play the original DotA?

Of course it's no longer fresh because many new HD games out there, but they don't have ALL-IN-ONE feature like Warcraft 3 do.

Imagine a new expansion for warcraft 3 by Blizzard, it would reborn.

But this will not going to happen because Blizzard is currently working on Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft, even though Blizzard finished them, Blizzard would starts a new project, maybe Warcraft 4, or something unexpected by us, maybe Blizzard make a first person shooting game, who knows? So we should just keep playing Warcraft 3 until it's truely died.

So in conclusion, if the production of high quality Warcraft 3 custom maps continues, Warcraft 3 would not die so early.

I'm sorry if I misspeak, please correct me if I did.

 

[APproject]

I am not talking about specific maps that are better. I started modding in Hive since 2008 and back then the majority of maps were much simplier and made in shorter period of time, people accepted it as it were. Right now I need more than a year to make something that would satisfy me, back then I could make a map in 10 days and get 4/5. Right now demands for quality peaked, because people want something better, they are not satisfied with simplicity anymore, terrain must be great, idea must be great, it must be charming in a way or no one will ever spot your work. I witnessed the shape of these requirements change within years, that is why I say that right now we have better resources than back then. Let the current majority be not great, but in comparison to the mojority of 5 or 8 years ago, right now we are at a better state in terms of quality. That is a natural consequence of people getting bored of what they already have, boredom is cool as long as modder strives for improvement and not dumping the entire modding, because warcraft 3 offers endless possibilities to improve.

I guess there are two types of active people here, hundreds who mods and thousands who plays. I rarely download any map to play, almost never, unless I followed its development so I check it out and dump it after 10 minutes, unless I try to give a detailed review, but I honestly never did it for my own enjoyment. I guess I am still here because of modding, not the products that modding presents. But if great maps is the only hope for warcraft 3 to survive longer, it won't last long.

 

[Chaosy]

looks cool, but there's only space for 3 rows

 

[Heinvers]

I rarely download any map to play, almost never, unless I followed its development

Same here. I look for quality most of the time

 

[APproject]

No worries, Chaosy, it can be easily tightened up. I used units for those icons, so I can make 4 rows, it can be put any way I like it and it won't change a thing. When unit is selected, I made a floating text at the bottom with description and when the same unit is clicked again when already selected, it rise a point to it, never checked other systems, so that is just my attempt to make a talent tree. As for alpha I am fine with 3 rows, for next big releases the pool will increase.

 

[laserdemon]

I agree with the statement "hundreds who mods and thousands who plays", that's why when the demand is high and the production is low, this caused the players waited for too long just for a map, so they turned out to another game. Many modders quitted Warcraft 3 and go for another game too, for example, Starcraft 2. I can't deny the fact that Warcraft 3 is dying, but I hope you won't give up, just like we don't give up.

 

[APproject]

I'm not giving up yet, not today.

It takes a tremendous amount of effort and time to think of a good talent tree and balance all those slots, already completed 9 talents of 24 that will be presented in the first release. Here is the full version of the tree, it may change within time or may not, pool will be increased within other released of the game. Thanks to Chaosy for giving me this idea of making the tree, it will surely spice up the game and make it more replayable.

Full Alpha Talent Tree

 

[Vinz]

Those are really awesome!

 

[knight26]

I haven't yet finished Ice Born till the end, at here's you making another awesome project ^_^
Well good luck as always, you're top of the chain with devotion to a project.

 

[GhostThruster]

u using trackables for that talent tree?

 

[Vinz]

Are trackables the dests with textures? Didn't know they were the same.

 

[APproject]

Thank you, CakeMaster and knight26.

No, I don't use trackables. I did it rather simple. Took a flat square model, applied the skin of the icon and set it to a unit. When that icon is clicked, you click a neutral passive unit, then description appears at the bottom. When you click it again while it is already selected, you rise a point for it if you have enough of soulpoints. I may also do a talent tree reset system, but only when it will be completed.

 

[Vinz]

Perhaps ownership shifts to you when you click, then via certain commands you can level up/down such talent?

 

[APproject]

No, too much clicking. I was planning to do like this at start, but clicking when already selected is much easier, saves time and needless effort to click commands. As for leveling down, player will have to reset entire tree for that. It is really familiar to old WoW talent tree, it seems to be really simple and comfortable to use.

 

[Vinz]

I see. Have fun doing it.

 

[Honk]

Screenshots are crazy - i am really looking for this to fully release or at least play beta ^_^

 

[GhostThruster]

i hope ur not importing a separate flat icon model per ability. coz u can use destructables with modifiable textures, which means only 1 model is needed. then with the dummy units, you just alter the flying height to -1, put a dummy destructable on top and make sure the destructable isnt selectable.

 

[APproject]

Thanks.

I do import everything separately, but why would it matter if it is just 10 KBs per model and map is already at 30+ MBs. I simply find it more easily done and result is the same. And not many models are needed for talent tree only, I don't do some complex menus, just yet I guess.

 

[GhostThruster]

i understand, just might be an easier method for u because u dont have to edit like 30 different models & if u want to add new abilities simply import an icon & copy+modify a destructable. but as you say, this is pretty insignificant.

have u found a 'glow' model or whatever that indicates when an icon is selected or will u use normal selection circles? again an insignificant detail, but the former will look pretty and unique :3

 

[APproject]

I see, I may surely think about it if I happen to make more menus, thanks. Woah, never really thought of a glow effect, I don't use any selection right now, selection scale set to -1000, so it is invisible. I will make it glow, thanks again.

 

[Heinvers]

Pretty fine progress so far APproject

 

[animewidri2]

Very Awesome! I wish play this epic map!

 

[A Void]

What kind of a game setting will it be? And what will the genre be? Ex: Dark- Fantasy Action Role Playing Game.

 

[Heinvers]

Acheron's Affliction is a single player RPG

That^

 

[knight26]

Hey AP, is this going to be something like Iceborn -- a single map.
Or a campaign 'set' containing of more maps. I'd rather go with a campaign one, that's my preferred mode. But I wouldn't complain with something similar to Iceborn.

 

[Heinvers]

Map will be released as Alpha state when game will reach approximately 33% of its completion in gameplay,

that ^

 

[knight26]

Map will be released as Alpha state when game will reach approximately 33% of its completion in gameplay,
that ^

I don't think you understood my question, but thanks for going through the effort of trying to answer it

In case I wasn't clear enough, I'll be more precise:
Ap says this will be a 'single player campaign'. But Iceborn(and other AP's maps) was a MAP format(.w3x), I asked if he will make this one a map as well, OR a campaign format(.w3n)

The difference is, campaign contains a few maps inside, with progress transferring through them. While in a map you have to save and load, respectively.
So I'm not sure if he uses the term 'campaign' figuratively and explanatory to the mod, or the format he's using this time.

 

[Vinz]

You mean w3x. And saving and loading is pretty much the same for campaigns and the map, the difference is it is manual in the latter.

Ap says this will be a 'single player campaign'.

But doesn't that answer your question already?

 

[Solu9]

Just let AP answer the question. Afterall he is the only one who knows exactly what he means by 'single player campaign'.

 

[knight26]

You see, in a manner of speaking Iceborn, Seth's Reign, etc. Were all campaigns, but in a map format.
But technically(Warcraft 3 technicality) they are custom maps.
It isn't a really big deal, I only find it better and easier to play if it's a campaign. Manual quicksave and save is not my favorite thing, especially since Iceborn had that minor issue in earlier versions, where your game could crash after a save.
As I said, this is only a technical question, I've never seen AP work with a campaign format, and maybe he won't even this time. But since he has used that term, it has my attention, therefore I asked. But thank you all for elaborating this with me. :3

 

[Heinvers]

You see, in a manner of speaking Iceborn, Seth's Reign, etc. Were all campaigns, but in a map format.

I'm fairly sure that's what he meant ^^

I don't think you understood my question

I did

 

[lokharke]

The skill set seems visually fantastic. I love maps that have good interfaces.

 

[Heinvers]

The skill set seems visually fantastic. I love maps that have good interfaces.

We have something in common ^^

 

[APproject]

Woah, lots of posts!

@Heinvers & animewidri & lokharke
Thanks.

@A Void
Well, first post should make it clear, but I can summarise even though everything is changing during development, because I never really get a firm grip to what I want to make and result is always different, yet better. So this is a single player role playing game fantasy greek mythology interpration action custom map, I hope I mentioned everything, hehe.

@knight26
I never said or wrote word campaign anywhere, you are the second person I know that holds my maps campagins that are technically maps, I personally do not understand this. Because a campaign is the set of few or more maps and a custom map is just one map, so since it is one map it can not be a campagin in no way. You actually have to save and load campagin as well, because you play maps there and it is single player as well, usually it is. My all maps and this map as well will be a custom map and not a campaign. I guess you refer to camapaign as a really big map with long story and gameplay, but it still doesn't make it a campaign, just a big custom map. This will be familiar to my latest maps. I do not wish to make a campagin, because it would be too vast and it would take me years to complete, because I would make every map at better quality than Iceborn, plus I'm messy with all campaign data transferring into other maps. However, I am thinking about checkpoints so player would not have to load game anymore, maybe sometimes.

 

[fr14nd1]

Something just pops in my mind - Does this map has a connection with Iceborn?

 

[Heinvers]

Storyline is under development. It will be a custom plot with a slight fragment of greek mythology interpretation.

Basically no afaik. Iceborn was nordic in essence, while this will be slightly influenced by the Greek one

btw APproject, you have a misspelling here:
Strotyline is under development. >>> Storyline is under development.

 

[fr14nd1]

Well, I was actually hoping for some kind of minor connection >.<

 

[Heinvers]

Well, I was actually hoping for some kind of minor connection >.<

Well, a bit of disappointment I see

 

[APproject]

No, no connection at all. This is completely new and different. The main theme will be dark and demonic, storyline however will be linked with greek mythology. I will not take some big myth everyone knows and base it on that. I just took some names and few concepts to make a storyline, because a custom plot takes more skill than just copying. Thanks for correcting, Heinvers, didn't notice it myself.

 

[fr14nd1]

A bit of disappointment actually But that's ok, since custom plot can push you to use your creativity

 

[APproject]

If someone else would be willing to make a sequel map for Iceborn, that would be cool.

 

[bhusta]

Do you know what time is it, APproject?
It's half past show us a second terrain screenshot, damn it!

 

[Deleted member 219079]

Reminds me of D3 for WC3, were you one of the creators?

 

[APproject]

@bhusta
No terrain screenshots yet, I am really limited with free time for the project this month and I am still mainly working on systems, items, talent tree, 2D art and gameplay itself.

@jondrean
Hehe, of course not.