Dragon Fortress v1.1

[Moderator]

22:12, 5th Feb 2016
StoPCampinGn00b: The map works as an unorthodox, asymmetrical melee map. It isn't recommended for competitive play, but it does meet all the standards.

Map approved with no rating!

17:17, 20th Oct 2014
Orcnet: await update: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/2603126-post4.html

 

[Arrr]

I really like the idea, but this kind of map is really hard to balance in w3
The main flaw in the map is the fact that the 3 players can just wait to get 300/300 supply, and outnumber the opponents.
Maybe you could try balancing things like gold, wood, xp, item drops, creeps, neutral buildings, height..
I think that the 3 players on the outside are really advantaged, because they got 100 more max supply, same number of goldmines per player, almost same wood.
The addition of creeps could benefit the map a lot, this way you could balance xp and item drops to favor the 2 players aswell (the big items dropped by the hard camp will hardly be taken early on).
Also, i find leaving the mines unguarded is bit of a mistake (especially the 3 players ones).
More mercenary camp in the fortress could help the 2 players even more, allowing them to get instaunits in case of need

(Maybe you could rework the fortress part of the map to make it some kind of "map into the map"? just an idea)

I rly like the map, looking forward for new versions of it

and sry for bad eng

 

[cesclame]

I have tried your map and i can say that the field is very beautifull and that it is nice to play on this map but as AYE said, the only problem and a big problem is that their is no creep on gold mines, having creeps on the way would be good but on gold mines, it is necessary because it is too easy to go on and because of this, few places have advantages about gold.

 

[StoPCampinGn00b]

This following review is outdated and cites outdated rules

Open

Map Review (complete)

	Dragon Fortress by Naze RATINGS Gameplay & Entertainment: 10/25 Terrain & Layout: 8/10 Doodads & Scenery: 8/10 Bugs & Consistency: -/5 (Melee map's don't get bugs. I think.) Total Score: 26/45 CRITIQUE Gameplay & Entertainment: Hmm, using standard blizzard melee gameplay in a lopsided map is interesting. It's unique how you designed the map to play an imbalanced scenario, some people are just scared of making a non-symmetric melee map. There are a few minor issues, please keep in mind I cannot rate a melee maps gameplay extremely high due to how it uses blizzards gameplay. It depends on how it is implemented via creep camps, drops, passive buildings, and many more factors. The creep camps in this map... wait there are 2 and a half including the towers guarding a shop. There are only three creeps that drop items, located in the top right. Okay, the problem with this, is that heroes will take an extra amount of time to gain EXP. I understand you want the fortress heroes to get the most EXP/items, but the fortress players should be the pro ones anyway. There is no need to over compensate the imbalance, as crazy as that sounds. If you spread them across the map, you can make it competitive to fight over creep camps as "regular" melee maps make it. You have the same problem with the passive buildings, you are overcompensating to make the ones who play fortress to get extra advantages they do not deserve. Blizzard emphasizes fair opportunity in their map, and it has been proven that that system works. I don't think you need to give dragons (most overpowered units in the game) only available to the players meant to fight of more enemies. The AI heroes remains level one for a while, the towers they kill don't give exp and they don't bother with it after killing one. The AI also do not intentionally cut trees to get to an enemy and kill gates. So I believe I have a valid argument in what is 'wrong' with the map's gameplay. This melee map is very different, so it was difficult to compare my ratings to other melee maps, I would gladly have a discussion about melee map criteria if this is way off than you think you deserve, so I can get better at reviewing these (of course, I won't swing to easily). I noticed AYF weeks ago is pushing to make the fortress stronger. AYF's way, in my opinion was the wrong way to go for a melee map unless it is altered melee. I don't think you can balance a game with it's purpose to be imbalanced. 10/25 ​ Terrain & Layout: The tile use in this map is not beautiful, but it was very consistent and the tiles compliment each other for the most part. Height leveling is better used than in a blizzard map. Lastly, the way the map is laid out isn't really special, but not bad at all. The few chokepoints, especially in the fortress were great ideas. The terrain also allows large spread out battles in the shallow water. 8/10 ​ Doodads & Scenery: This isn't the best looking scenery in a melee map, but it's pretty damn good in some areas. Not over the top, but great for in-game models and standard techniques. Anything related to farming in the map is decorated nicely. Like terrain tile use, your doodad placement across the map is very consistent. The back side/right side of the fortress is just odd in many ways, it's not necessarily bad quality. Ramps leading into tree walls and gates leading into tree walls. Err what? I get the gate part, cut down trees. It just looks weird, but I'm not taking off any points because of it. 8/10 ​ Bugs & Consistency: -/- SUGGESTIONS These suggestions are optional and some of these may be repeats from the above section. - Add more creep camps, gold mine creep camps recommended - Give fortress players an advantage, but do not over compensate - Spread out passive buildings more evenly - Add a version number to your map - Get some AI scripts so they can destroy gates/destroy trees, this is an over the top suggestions :S ​ VERDICT The only way a map can be approved is if it follows the map submission rules, two rules are not met, therefor I vote to leave the map to await update. I shall vote for approval when these are followed. These are taken straight out of the official rules. - "Protected/Open Source? Let the community know in the Hive description." - "The Quest Log should contain the essential information about the map's gameplay." ​ NOTES Overall the map is unique but not necessarily good. Please, if you have anything to say about my debatable gameplay rating I've given, post it here. Feel free to contact me about this review, or to say hi! (+2) Reputation points for taking your time to upload this map to Hive. [TD]

 

[Naze]

Even though its been more than a year, I decided to update it as you guys suggested. I hope you can enjoy it better now!

Updates made, version 1.1 uploaded.

*Creep camps with regular item drops are now present;
*Neutral buildings are now distributed more evenly;
*Added version number for map.

 

[r.ace613]

I hope that you can continue update it! It's nice!

 

[deepstrasz]

This would suit better for a campaign map as the balance is pretty shaky.

 

[Houston]

I have played it several times and have fun! Nice to play 1 vs 4 AI.
Good idea, need more such maps.