Blood of Arkain (23.05.2023 My attempts at a JASS AI keep on crashing update)

[Rennathrim]

I don't have much to say, you should look into the following things though;

Campaign*

You should give heroes some custom spells, as the Chosen's skillset in particular feels pretty bad imo as the only thing I used was Wind Walk and Critical Strike. Both the Bronze people and the lizard races are practically vanilla races on steroids so they don't really feel interesting, even the sound sets are the same and the upgrades are practically the same. Spirit Walkers are neat, although OP. Shamans have regular shaman description, despite not having the typical shaman skillset. The meme mission is titled only Defense of Jaybrad in the campaign mission selection screen, on the map's loading screen its Defense of Strahnbrad, so i'd suggest editing that so its more obvious its a meme mission. I didn't really pay attention to the story as I mostly came for the gameplay, terrain's nice tbh, although in the river section i think you should remove some of the brushes near the end of the river as its rather difficult to tell apart terrain you can actually traverse, at least for someone like me who is a little vision impaired. Didn't encounter any bugs. Also, if this is gonna be a standalone mission campaign, I think getting full access to the techtree would be nice. Also the Bronze Warriors feel stupidly weak. Oh and you should grant heroes custom titles, instead of just having their name also be their title, it feels cheap imo, but that's a nitpick. I.E give the hero with windwalk the title of 'Chosen' instead of just having his name repeated. (When I say title I mean the name that appears next to the experience bar).

 

[SAM_PorL]

I don't have much to say, you should look into the following things though;

Campaign*

You should give heroes some custom spells, as the Chosen's skillset in particular feels pretty bad imo as the only thing I used was Wind Walk and Critical Strike. Both the Bronze people and the lizard races are practically vanilla races on steroids so they don't really feel interesting, even the sound sets are the same and the upgrades are practically the same. Spirit Walkers are neat, although OP. Shamans have regular shaman description, despite not having the typical shaman skillset. The meme mission is titled only Defense of Strahnbrad in the campaign mission selection screen, on the map's loading screen its Defense of Strahnbrad, so i'd suggest editing that so its more obvious its a meme mission. I didn't really pay attention to the story as I mostly came for the gameplay, terrain's nice tbh, although in the river section i think you should remove some of the brushes near the end of the river as its rather difficult to tell apart terrain you can actually traverse, at least for someone like me who is a little vision impaired. Didn't encounter any bugs. Also, if this is gonna be a standalone mission campaign, I think getting full access to the techtree would be nice. Also the Bronze Warriors feel stupidly weak. Oh and you should grant heroes custom titles, instead of just having their name also be their title, it feels cheap imo, but that's a nitpick. I.E give the hero with windwalk the title of 'Chosen' instead of just having his name repeated. (When I say title I mean the name that appears next to the experience bar).

Thanks for the Feedback!

Updated the Titles just now. Thanks for bringing this up, I totally missed that.
The Shaman still had the custom map data instead of the custom campain data (had to redo every unit 2 times cause I didnt know that ) also thanks for that, he wasnt intended to be on this map anymore.

I played a bit with the soundsets and gave Terrec my own cringey voicelines but with voice generation tools I hope to make more in the future, getting the missions out first however, will be a priority.

I got some idears to make the faction more interesting and building focused but havent moved beyond the base units jet.
Ill try to spice things up with other gameplay soon that will involve everything from "the floor is lava" to tower defence like missions.

Hero abilitys

The hero abilitys for Terrec are on the boring side for the first 2 missions but after that the player will hopefully be able to choose the abilitys for the missions he will re-appear in (if i manage to code that in that is). Either way he will get an upgrade but the windwalk is good at keeping him alive until then.

Thanks for playing and your feedback, it really helped.
--Updated now--

 

[Rennathrim]

It's still a demo, so my opinion on it will change depending on the changes you make. There aren't many lizard based campaigns(at least that I know of) so this has gotten my interest. Also, if you wish to make this as a standalone campaign, with your own lore and what not since this isn't cannon to the Arkain universe, I suggest you remove the title of it being a fan campaign and instead just mention that you've taken inspo from it (which TBH is mostly noticed in the easter eggs, I'm looking at you notorious doom guard).

 

[deepstrasz]

The credits list doesn't seem complete: Resources in use by Blood of Arkain
You can also upload your map here to generate a list: Asset scanner
Please include models, skins, icons, custom spells, systems. Also, sounds, music and everything outside this site.

Also, please write a description about the campaign. Right now it doesn't say too much about gameplay etc.

Awaiting Update.

---

If you want more reviews, you should participate in the The Grand Review Exchange!

R U L E S

Site Rules
Map Submission Rules


M A P - D E S C R I P T I O N

Details

BB CODES
BB Codes | HIVE

MELEE MAPS
Description Guide - Melee Maps
Describing Your Melee Map
Melee Map Description Generator v1.3

MAPS IN GENERAL
The importance of a Description
Description Guide - Maps
Map Thread Guide
Map Description Making: Good & Bad
Map Description - Templates
Map Description Generator [1.2]

How to Add a Screenshot to your Map Description

ADDITIONAL NECESSARY INFORMATION

• A credits list in the map thread description is required where the names of the resource (models, skins, icons, spells, sound etc.) authors are mentioned along with the specific resource. It would be a luxury to have links leading to the used resources. Credits in the Quest Log would be appreciated too.
• A detailed changelog in the first post would be helpful to reviewers and notify fans about the newest implementations to your map.
• Map thread tags are important. Please use those that fit and not more or none.

M A P - C R E A T I O N - G U I D E S

Details

GENERAL MAPPING
A Beginner's Guide to Map Making
The Ultimate Beginners Terrain Tutorial
Advanced Terraining Tutorial
A Guideline to Terraining and the Hive's Terraining Section
Various Terraining Tips!
Basic Mapping Video Tutorial
WE Map Editor for Newbies!
The Path Of Proper Map Making - What to do and what should be avoided

MELEE MAPPING
How to create Melee Maps
General - Melee Maps like the Professionals
Competitive Melee Map
Melee mapping - The reasons behind common aspects of competitive 1v1 maps
Melee Do's and Dont's

PATHING
Pathing - Everything about it
[Terraining] Alternative Pathing Technique

LEAKS
Triggers - Memory Leaks and Custom Scripts

If you're not satisfied with the review and wish another opinion, contact the other reviewers or use the staff contact:
https://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/staff-contact.692/

 

[SAM_PorL]

Sorry about that.
I was in a rush to post it before the dead-line and the file included the jet unfinished version of map 2 with more assets.
The creators are now all listed with the exeption of 2 that are not present in the current version which will be uploaded later this month.
If I still missed something Im happy to add it.

 

[nchp1903]

You mentioned a deadline and so I can understand why it's not polished yet, so overall, you did a decent job. A 2/5 or 3/5 should do.

Although, the terrain is better than anything that I could possibly dish out, so I'll make it a 4/5 for encouragement purposes.

 

[SAM_PorL]

You mentioned a deadline and so I can understand why it's not polished yet, so overall, you did a decent job. A 2/5 or 3/5 should do.

Although, the terrain is better than anything that I could possibly dish out, so I'll make it a 4/5 for encouragement purposes.

Thanks man.
And sorry there should have been an update as well as one new chapter almost 3 weeks ago but the AI was really stupid. Broke the game cache too so Ill make an option for people like you who played it before the update. And thanks alot for the high rating. Doesnt deserve it right now but after mission 6 Ill go back and fix that mission up with a proper rts segment.

 

[raypack]

I can try to help you with the JASS AI scripts. Unless you know how to make them yourself.

 

[SAM_PorL]

I can try to help you with the JASS AI scripts. Unless you know how to make them yourself.

Thank you for the offer.
I may take you up on it but I already got an explanation on why my first attempts crashed the game. Will try some more in 1-2 weeks when I got time to put into w3 again, but if you help me I would love to repay you with some models or some other kind of work in return.

 

[raypack]

Thank you for the offer.
I may take you up on it but I already got an explanation on why my first attempts crashed the game. Will try some more in 1-2 weeks when I got time to put into w3 again, but if you help me I would love to repay you with some models or some other kind of work in return.

How intriguing!

 

[gaurdian of the flame]

i can t see the hero in the mission for some reason

also is the bronze empire supposed to be the Persian empire or the arab because you took the Persian warriors and arab names so that confusing

 

[SAM_PorL]

i can t see the hero in the mission for some reason

also is the bronze empire supposed to be the Persian empire or the arab because you took the Persian warriors and arab names so that confusing

This is defenetly the old Terrec.
I didnt think that that one would endure with my failsafe.
The game cache is borken since I didnt know about how to make them properly.
You have to play thro the first mission again to overwrite the data.
If you want to speed that up you can type "cinematic 2 test" to skip the first micro segment and if you want to skip this mission entirely you can type "cinematic 4 test". I highly recommend to play tho parts of this mission with god mode tho, since the hero needs to be leveled and theres some items that carry over.

Also the models are haradrim and the man of ruhn from lord of the rings if you are referring to them (most by herr dave but I dont know all at the top of my head). I am thankfull to have found all the models that were needed for this map but it ranges form different groups. Originally I wanted to have all the nomads and a elite guard to have a tent town inside an old Arkainian city but I am happyer with Empyra that way. (minus the narrow streets maybe)

The name are arab tho, yes (minus sharim).

 

[gaurdian of the flame]

This is defenetly the old Terrec.
I didnt think that that one would endure with my failsafe.
The game cache is borken since I didnt know about how to make them properly.
You have to play thro the first mission again to overwrite the data.
If you want to speed that up you can type "cinematic 2 test" to skip the first micro segment and if you want to skip this mission entirely you can type "cinematic 4 test". I highly recommend to play tho parts of this mission with god mode tho, since the hero needs to be leveled and theres some items that carry over.

i see well then i think i will just wait for the release of the third mission and then play them all

 

[SAM_PorL]

i see well then i think i will just wait for the release of the third mission and then play them all

I am currently also working on a better AI for all the enemys (the editor has its limits without scripting). So if you want to have the full experience then I would wait for the 4th mission that I will defenetly release with a JASS scripted AI.

The next update "Servants of the Dragon" will be there to smooth the waiting time, should the learning of JASS scripts and mission 4´s special mechanic not work.

 

[gaurdian of the flame]

I am currently also working on a better AI for all the enemys (the editor has its limits without scripting). So if you want to have the full experience then I would wait for the 4th mission that I will defenetly release with a JASS scripted AI.

The next update "Servants of the Dragon" will be there to smooth the waiting time, should the learning of JASS scripts and mission 4´s special mechanic not work.

ok bro i will wait for the 4 mission np