Exodus: The Violet Gate 2.05.1

[witcherthetester]

hi guys i played the original exodus also and that was am epic on its way. and now just fninshed the violet gate, and i can say i cant wait to see jilunn ^^ this is one of the best for me from all what i played so far.

 

[abbsomes]

This is really interesting and amazing RTS. Love you.

 

[HuanJuan]

So, after my second walkthrough:

• Elemental spawning is still possible on the last mission, nearby on Lonley Ridge. (If the player find an "elemental hoard" item). + I have to mention that the rocks on the latest mission can cause pathfinding problems - on the last map - finale - I wanted to discover the map a bit before I head to the boss. I almost find myself - my units - on the most upper point of the map, without the option to go back where I suppose to.

"Chapter Three:
- Gave mana points to Blackclad Captain so he can use his skill"
You mean they had some ability to use, but they can't because lack of Mana ? Gosh. Hope they can't kill soldiers with that instant.

Chapter 1:
There is no hints for the Power Generators. Power Generators are Regenerating Mana faster, like Fountain of Mana.

Non-Chapter specific bug:

Sometimes random arrows are flying up to the camera. Don't know why, and it happens in all chapters of the Campaign. I never seen this in any other campaign.

 

[Macielos]

So, after my second walkthrough:

• Elemental spawning is still possible on the last mission, nearby on Lonley Ridge. (If the player find an "elemental hoard" item).

What's wrong with it? It's not a bug, it's a feature .

"Chapter Three:
- Gave mana points to Blackclad Captain so he can use his skill"
You mean they had some ability to use, but they can't because lack of Mana ? Gosh. Hope they can't kill soldiers with that instant.

Yup. Easy, just the creepy version of Death Coil.

Chapter 1:
There is no hints for the Power Generators. Power Generators are regenating Mana faster, like Fountain of Mana.

Whaaat? I had no goddamn idea. I have to check it.

Sometimes random arrows are flying up to the camera. Don't know why, and it happens in all chapters of the Campaign. I never seen this in any other campaign.

Yeah, it was mentioned earlier, it's a bug in Archer's model. I think Nyc tried to fix it, but to no avail.

• Chapter 10: Drop ship has no portrait whatso ever.

I think it shows up sometimes, dependently on the camera or unit rotation or something. No idea why, some issue with the model.

• The whole chapter 10 is laggy a bit for me - probably because weak PC

Well, a huge map with plenty of AIs. Maybe a huge number of path blockers also makes a difference as we had to fill in all the unwalkable areas, not only edges, because of damn dropships. Also, two Forsaken AIs started sending attacks in 2.01, so that also added to the pile.

 

[HuanJuan]

What's wrong with it? It's not a bug, it's a feature .


Yup. Easy, just the creepy version of Death Coil.


Whaaat? I had no goddamn idea. I have to check it.


Yeah, it was mentioned earlier, it's a bug in Archer's model. I think Nyc tried to fix it, but to no avail.


I think it shows up sometimes, dependently on the camera or unit rotation or something. No idea why, some issue with the model.


Well, a huge map with plenty of AIs. Maybe a huge number of path blockers also makes a difference as we had to fill in all the unwalkable areas, not only edges, because of damn dropships. Also, two Forsaken AIs started sending attacks in 2.01, so that also added to the pile.

For the model Issue, I found these models on Hive:
(These I think fit for the description of the in-game archer)

Generic Human Units (Ranger version)

Ranger (<-- This seems to be the updated model of the Human Archer)

Breeland Militia (Lord of the Rings Online)

"You're heading into Chetwood? Well if you see Covell Woodwright, let us know. He's wanted for banditry." - Constable Thistlewool Includes - Breeland Militia - Breeland Bowman Keywords: Lotr, War, Ring, Rings, Of, The, Militia, Guard, Town, Watch, Thief, Taker, Police, Guardsman, City, Bree...

www.hiveworkshop.com

I didn't thinked that pathblocking can make computers slower. It's good to know , thanks

Also, why Spearman has Thorns Aura?

I forgot to mention in my previous posts, that chapter 3 "expansion" Cragenwood is amazing.

 

[Macielos]

For the model Issue, I found these models on Hive:
(These I think fit for the description of the in-game archer)

Hmm, I may indeed replace the archer with one of these, I haven't done it before because all the alternatives I had back then were too heavily armoured or lacked a face or icon distinctive from footman, bandit etc.

I didn't thinked that pathblocking can make computers slower. It's good to know , thanks

Well, every pathfinding mechanism needs to build a graph from the map's terrain and obstables and then search this graph using some algorithm (e.g. A*) when a unit seeks a path. I don't know the source code for pathfinding for WC3, it could be handling a large number of pathblockers a bit less efficiently because on classic blizz maps cliffs do most of the job. Another reason for the lags (more likely as I think of it now) could be that many AIs start separated from their enemies, so they may regularly try to seek a path that is never found, although it had to search a large portion of the map every time. At least I had to deal with this problem with pathfinding in the game I'm working on. That's also how AI uses dropships as far as I saw in this mission - AI sends a ground attack and only when it is stuck somewhere, a dropship is sent to lift them and take to their original destination. The whole dropship mechanics should probably be script or trigger-based to avoid it.

Also, why Spearman has Thorns Aura?

Could be his "dummy" skill used for Piercing Spearheads passive skill. I'll check.

I forgot to mention in my previous posts, that chapter 3 "expansion" Cragenwood is amazing.

And it's all a result of a totally spontaneous idea I had when fixing some minor things in that chapter .

 

[HuanJuan]

Hmm, I may indeed replace the archer with one of these, I haven't done it before because all the alternatives I had back then were too heavily armoured or lacked a face or icon distinctive from footman, bandit etc.

Militia and Derivatives

My second version of Militia icons for Ujimasa's Militia and Derivatives, which is based on the Reforged's Militia icon. You can find my first version alongside the Peasants here Give credits when used

www.hiveworkshop.com

Peasants and Derivatives

Peasant/Militia icons made for Ujimasa Hojo's Peasant/Militia and Derivatives. Pretty sure this one belongs in the substandard section, please move it there Update: 23/8/21 - Added Stromgarde Militia variant

www.hiveworkshop.com

 

[Macielos]

Ah yeah, pissed off peasants in all colors and shapes.

 

[HuanJuan]

Ah yeah, pissed off peasants in all colors and shapes.

I see you are not very amused with what you see... Atleast "Generic Human Units" has icons too.
Here is mine. It's nothing much, .png, and you need someone who converts it to a proper WC3 icon.

In one chapter you can acquire a Demonic Figure to spawn Doom Guard, and the Doom Guard's abilities has been not hotkeyed (QWER). No problem, I just said. It was a suprise in middle of the battle when the QWER system was failed.

Spoiler: Chapter 4

Northren Hold Syndicate Base gold mine is owned by unkown enemy player - it has red circle around -
Undead is literally come and go between Alteraci Syndicate Soldiers and towers, without any harm, just to attack player hero or base.
Every time a cinematic cutscene happens, some of the peasants stop working.

Spoiler: Chapter 7

So Rangers scouted the area of Lonely Ridge, and they are discovered shades, which ones are halted their recon.
If the Rangers had this ability to see Shades, then why they don't have this ability in-game? Not just in intro cutscenes...

I forgot to mention in my previous comments: Sometimes the dungeon gate is breaking the units pathfinding, making them harder to go through. You can't set a rally point after this gate, because units simply go back from it, or they just stop front of it. Only one way is to solve this annoyance is to build a Barracks and Cleanser Academy after the dungeons.

 

[Macielos]

I see you are not very amused with what you see... Atleast "Generic Human Units" has icons too.
Here is mine. It's nothing much, .png, and you need someone who converts it to a proper WC3 icon.

I'll see once I grow up to the next iteration of bugfixes . The generic archer is cool, but I may also take the Ranger and leave the icon as it is.

Spoiler: Chapter 4

Undead is literally come and go between Alteraci Syndicate Soldiers and towers, without any harm, just to attack player hero or base.

Well, I had no simple solution to this. It was either this, or the Undead would clear the whole eastern part the map of the Syndicate forces and that I wanted to leave to the player. I could also remove undead attacks entirely and just have them defend their base - also not satisfying option. I guess only scripted AI would allow me to strictly tell them which targets to attack.

So Rangers scouted the area of Lonely Ridge, and they are discovered shades, which ones are halted their recon.

If the Rangers had this ability to see Shades, then why they don't have this ability in-game? Not just in intro cutscenes...

They can't see shades, they simply realized the shades were there when they were discovered and attacked by other undead units .

I forgot to mention in my previous comments: Sometimes the dungeon gate is breaking the units pathfinding, making them harder to go through. You can't set a rally point after this gate, because units simply go back from it, or they just stop front of it. Only one way is to solve this annoyance is to build a Barracks and Cleanser Academy after the dungeons.

Yup, that's a bug with air pathblocker which I put at the dungeon entrance so that enemy flyers can't follow us to the underground. It doesn't always happen, I saw it mostly when a unit's path was very long and led through the air pathblocker. I didn't try this, but it could work if you just set several waypoints, one just in front of the entrance and the next one inside.

 

[abbsomes]

There popping up weird message in chapter 10.. keep poping up.. about resources of enemy players and so on..

 

[HuanJuan]

I'll see once I grow up to the next iteration of bugfixes . The generic archer is cool, but I may also take the Ranger and leave the icon as it is.


Well, I had no simple solution to this. It was either this, or the Undead would clear the whole eastern part the map of the Syndicate forces and that I wanted to leave to the player. I could also remove undead attacks entirely and just have them defend their base - also not satisfying option. I guess only scripted AI would allow me to strictly tell them which targets to attack.


They can't see shades, they simply realized the shades were there when they were discovered and attacked by other undead units .


Yup, that's a bug with air pathblocker which I put at the dungeon entrance so that enemy flyers can't follow us to the underground. It doesn't always happen, I saw it mostly when a unit's path was very long and led through the air pathblocker. I didn't try this, but it could work if you just set several waypoints, one just in front of the entrance and the next one inside.

Spoiler: Chapter 8

After the start of the chapter - after intro cinematic - the map goes very well and smooth, there is no lag. After the first wave of Ogres the lag beginned.

 

[Macielos]

There popping up weird message in chapter 10.. keep poping up.. about resources of enemy players and so on..

Sorry, I forgot to remove debug. I uploaded version without it just a few hours later, but it seems you were faster .

 

[HuanJuan]

Sorry, I forgot to remove debug. I uploaded version without it just a few hours later, but it seems you were faster .

Chapter 8
Murloc creeps can attack you from the beach, nearby the Mugthol.

 

[Macielos]

Chapter 8
Murloc creeps can attack you from the beach, nearby the Mugthol.

I always thought of it as a feature, not a bug . I can move them a little further and maybe put some visibility blockers on the wall, but it's still difficult not to be able to shot them standing right at the bridge .

 

[HuanJuan]

I always thought of it as a feature, not a bug . I can move them a little further and maybe put some visibility blockers on the wall, but it's still difficult not to be able to shot them standing right at the bridge .

Allrighty then. Here is a summary from me about chapter 8.

Spoiler: Chapter 8

So, after the convoy bugfix & other things, here is what I discovered.

• Forsaken Raiders - as they named - are based on the western part of the map, in an island. It has a gold mine, a shipyard, towers, etc. Nothing too much to concern, but I was discovered, that they are no longer attack the player's base. In 2.00 version, I experienced some air attacks from there, but after the release of 2.01, these attack waves are no more. I also missed some naval fighting, because the Undead does not reproduce any lost ships from the sea/lake. I ain't saying that its a huge loss from me, but it's less challenging and stressful right now. I played normal all the time with this campaign, so probably I should play the campaign on some sado-maso hard level.
• Mughtol the leader of the Ogres are basically basecamping the whole time, after the player liberate it from the mind shackles of Sylvanas. Ogres do attack, but the mighty - o - Mughtol doing nothing, just staring the arena in the northern part of the fortress. Only fighting when the Forsaken come to the house.
• I also discovered that there is an Alternative Melee Sylvanas on the map. It's a good addition, and definetly not an enemy to underestimate. Yes, I know she is probably there on 2.00 too, but I forget to mention it.

In the Future, Valengar's Brilliance aura is going to be replaced with something, or she is going to stay what it is now? She is powerful, and working against me, and she is a (cursing, swearing about her, censored), and I'm definetly not like her.

 

[Macielos]

Allrighty then. Here is a summary from me about chapter 8.

Spoiler: Chapter 8

So, after the convoy bugfix & other things, here is what I discovered.

• Forsaken Raiders - as they named - are based on the western part of the map, in an island. It has a gold mine, a shipyard, towers, etc. Nothing too much to concern, but I was discovered, that they are no longer attack the player's base. In 2.00 version, I experienced some air attacks from there, but after the release of 2.01, these attack waves are no more. I also missed some naval fighting, because the Undead does not reproduce any lost ships from the sea/lake. I ain't saying that its a huge loss from me, but it's less challenging and stressful right now. I played normal all the time with this campaign, so probably I should play the campaign on some sado-maso hard level.

Spoiler: Chapter 8

That's strange, they've definitely never sent any attacks or rebuilt their ships, neither in 2.01 or 2.00, although it's definitely an interesting idea which I might add some day. But for now the only units attacking from that direction are the ones spawned when Eldin is freeing Mugthol from mind control.

• Mughtol the leader of the Ogres are basically basecamping the whole time, after the player liberate it from the mind shackles of Sylvanas. Ogres do attack, but the mighty - o - Mughtol doing nothing, just staring the arena in the northern part of the fortress. Only fighting when the Forsaken come to the house.

Yeah, I didn't add him to an attack - I admit - a bit out of laziness, because I was expecting AI to have problems with his revival like it had with Garithos in 02 after he changed ownership.

• I also discovered that there is an Alternative Melee Sylvanas on the map. It's a good addition, and definetly not an enemy to underestimate. Yes, I know she is probably there on 2.00 too, but I forget to mention it.

Yup, she's always been a tough bitch, with Inaylia-style abilities and also reincarnation.

In the Future, Valengar's Brilliance aura is going to be replaced with something, or she is going to stay what it is now? She is powerful, and working against me, and she is a (cursing, swearing about her, censored), and I'm definetly not like her.

You mean Valena's? It's staying there, it's right where it should be .

 

[HuanJuan]

You mean Valena's? It's staying there, it's right where it should be

Yeah, It's her. It's okay, I expected to have some fancy aura or something, but sometimes simple things do great satisfaction.

Spoiler: Chapter 8 again

- Nathanos Blightcaller can spawn/revive without altar.
-Mug'thol still "Possessed" after the spell lifted

-You can buy transport and frigate from the Undead shipyard, if you don't destroy it

- Units inside the fortress can walk through buildings and walls.

• I somehow breaked Eldin. He did not say a single thing when I clicked on him, or I send him to attack something, etc. He was completly mute for a while.
• You can activate all the three pass, one each time and another, but you can't see all the three activated pass data, like Send - Left - Killed on the right upper corner of the screen. Only one pass data is visible, the latest one you activated.

Can these things can be stackable: Mask of Death (Item) & Sangulnary Vein (Inaylia Ability)? There is no info about that. ( I only find this site, regarding the question. Be aware: external site.)

@Macielos
"Sorry, I forgot to remove debug. I uploaded version without it just a few hours later, but it seems you were faster ."

Chapter 10 debug is not solved. The text is reappearing everytime (don't know what it does, but it appears after 2-3 seconds, of course with changed numbers)

+ I wanted to mention it, but I forgot: Alteraci custom race is going to be possible to play in the future? I wanted to try it out the Alteraci faction - I mean I searched for a custom faction / altered melee map, and I found only this about Alteraci people on Hive.

 

[ZiRBy231]

Damn that was good! Overall imression is on par with Tomoraider's and LoA's campaigns, somewhere even better! Old Exodus was good, but now the plot is longer and more complicated, the scenes and landscapes are simply astounding and battles are more nerv-wrecking! Got that Gandalf vibe in last chapter, never was I more glad to see him! All heroes are well planned, hard to use in beginning, but with right artifacts you turn them into literal one-man-armie's))

I am a fan of Exodus and will now patiently wait how this reworked story will continue (Really hope it will).
The Violet Gate now is forever in my memory and i won't delete for a long time if ever))
Cheers, Macielos and Nyctaeus!

 

[Macielos]

Spoiler: Chapter 8 again

- Nathanos Blightcaller can spawn/revive without altar.

What do you mean? Where does he spawn?

-You can buy transport and frigate from the Undead shipyard, if you don't destroy it

View attachment 431345

Well, that's... unexpected.

• You can activate all the three pass, one each time and another, but you can't see all the three activated pass data, like Send - Left - Killed on the right upper corner of the screen. Only one pass data is visible, the latest one you activated.

Yeah, I should have used a multiboard like for caravans in 04, not leaderboard. I recalled very lately that multiboards exist and used one only to 04.

Can these things can be stackable: Mask of Death (Item) & Sangulnary Vein (Inaylia Ability)? There is no info about that. ( I only find this site, regarding the question. Be aware: external site.)

Sanguinary Vein is based on Vampiric Aura, so it's just like it. But the source is undecided, so you'd probably have to test it.

Chapter 10 debug is not solved. The text is reappearing everytime (don't know what it does, but it appears after 2-3 seconds, of course with changed numbers)

Hmm, strange, I double-checked it on a re-downloaded version and it's definitely switched off and it's not displaying. You must have downloaded 2.02 before an update. But anyway, it's just food usage and food maximum for AIs.

+ I wanted to mention it, but I forgot: Alteraci custom race is going to be possible
to play in the future? I wanted to try it out the Alteraci faction - I mean I searched for a custom faction / altered melee map, and I found only this about Alteraci people on Hive.

In the nearest future no. Alteraci are not a fully fledged melee faction, e.g. they don't have air units, the only one I could find is
FlyingSpearThrower. I also didn't import their building icons because, well, laziness. Similar story with ogres.

I definitely thought about "Exodus melee", but I don't have a concept for it yet. I'd rather not maintain a separate modpack for it. I may approach this after/with the sequel, when we have much more cool stuff to play with/against.

 

[HuanJuan]

What do you mean? Where does he spawn?

In the most northren base of the forsaken (Blue, dark Blue). I destroyed all the altars, and he was spawn in front of the Forsaken Castle (I don't know exactly the name of the building).

Yeah, I should have used a multiboard like for caravans in 04, not leaderboard. I recalled very lately that multiboards exist and used one only to 04.

Sanguinary Vein is based on Vampiric Aura, so it's just like it. But the source is undecided, so you'd probably have to test it.

Thank you for the infos, than I probably going to test it. Inayla with his Vampiric Aura (Which does not extend around her, only she has it, nobody else) + mask of death combo is very good! The board is not important I think, it's working, and that's good.

Hmm, strange, I double-checked it on a re-downloaded version and it's definitely switched off and it's not displaying. You must have downloaded 2.02 before an update. But anyway, it's just food usage and food maximum for AIs.

Sorry, it's my bad. I forgot to download the hotfixed version of the campaign.

In the nearest future no. Alteraci are not a fully fledged melee faction, e.g. they don't have air units, the only one I could find is
FlyingSpearThrower. I also didn't import their building icons because, well, laziness. Similar story with ogres.

Other of that model that you linked, here it's an other alternative: Gryphon Rider and Derivatives + Aviary too Aviary (Gryphon) and Derivatives
Look for the bandit model, which can be found too on the only alteraci custom race featuring map. I noticed too that the Alteraci is not a full, completed race/faction, but it's still a very good race. Fighting side by side with them, or going against them is still challenging sometimes, since the Towers there has upgradeable attack damage (I discovered two types of Alteraci towers, both has upgradeable damage - a very useful feature.)

I also liked the idea of hiring Alteraci people as mercs on "Old Wounds" chapter - there was 2 or 3 Mercenary Camp where you can hire these thugs -. I miss this option on the Chapter 8 with the Crushridge Ogres: they has interesting units to try too.

I definitely thought about "Exodus melee", but I don't have a concept for it yet. I'd rather not maintain a separate modpack for it. I may approach this after/with the sequel, when we have much more cool stuff to play with/against.

Several campaigns has unique factions, which ones are not available for download. There is nothing wrong with that, E:TVG & Arkain series of campaigns
too has unique factions, and I think they are very unique in this way - Shar & Team does not released any faction pack from any Arkain, hope my memory serves well - because it's only found in campaigns. Not everything must need to be released from a campaign, and made into a custom faction/altered melee map.

 

[Macielos]

Several campaigns has unique factions, which ones are not available for download. There is nothing wrong with that, E:TVG & Arkain series of campaigns
too has unique factions, and I think they are very unique in this way - Shar & Team does not released any faction pack from any Arkain, hope my memory serves well - because it's only found in campaigns. Not everything must need to be released from a campaign, and made into a custom faction/altered melee map.

I agree, that's why "Exodus melee" isn't the highest of my priorities. But I may take up this idea someday.

One idea that I have in mind is "melee with campaign vibe", e.g. there's a large map, you select your faction, select enemy factions and expand like in normal melee, but the enemies are different - there can be several of them, they're (in most cases) allied, they build bases quite quickly and have strong defense, but they don't attack with their entire armies like melee AIs, but rather have campaign-style attacks with specific unit types. Sometimes only AIs closest to you may begin sending attacks at once, the others will be activated while you progress towards their part of the map (I did this trick with Vael's AI in 04), the ones furthest from you may be the strongest one so the action pace remains moreless similar throughout the map. So the map is basically a large sandbox where you expand slowly, wall and turtle a lot and methodically gain more ground control, breaking through enemy bases one by one like in campaign maps. A bit like Starcraft 2's coop mode, but with a bit more "alive" AIs and without time constraints forcing the player to constant expansion. Of course, it could be played in coop.

 

[HuanJuan]

I agree, that's why "Exodus melee" isn't the highest of my priorities. But I may take up this idea someday.

One idea that I have in mind is "melee with campaign vibe", e.g. there's a large map, you select your faction, select enemy factions and expand like in normal melee, but the enemies are different - there can be several of them, they're (in most cases) allied, they build bases quite quickly and have strong defense, but they don't attack with their entire armies like melee AIs, but rather have campaign-style attacks with specific unit types. Sometimes only AIs closest to you may begin sending attacks at once, the others will be activated while you progress towards their part of the map (I did this trick with Vael's AI in 04), the ones furthest from you may be the strongest one so the action pace remains moreless similar throughout the map. So the map is basically a large sandbox where you expand slowly, wall and turtle a lot and methodically gain more ground control, breaking through enemy bases one by one like in campaign maps. A bit like Starcraft 2's coop mode, but with a bit more "alive" AIs and without time constraints forcing the player to constant expansion. Of course, it could be played in coop.

Sounds like a dynamic Arkain map , where the player had 2-3 faction against 2-3 faction, and if the player proceeds, than mean other factions and other type of enemies are going to attack the player in waves. Sounds challenging and fun!

...and your hotfixed version of the E:TVG 2.02 is incompatible with the saves I have... I'm already at chapter 10...

Also: If you load troops to a drop ship, then there is no external indicator (Like in Zeppelin) which one helps to see, if the ship is full or not. Bit of annoyance, nothing more.

 

[Macielos]

...and your hotfixed version of the E:TVG 2.02 is incompatible with the saves I have... I'm already at chapter 10...

I think saves are always incompatible, so they'll never load if they were made for other version of the map or campaign. But you can simply open the campaign and enable a button with a mission you were in. Your heroes will be kept as they come from game cache.

 

[HuanJuan]

I think saves are always incompatible, so they'll never load if they were made for other version of the map or campaign. But you can simply open the campaign and enable a button with a mission you were in. Your heroes will be kept as they come from game cache.

Thanks, but I'm done for a bit with WC3 campaigns at the time, and I was walktroughed your campaign 3 times: 2.00-2.01-2.02 with once, and the latest hotfix of 2.02 is not game changing.

 

[Macielos]

Thanks, but I'm done for a bit with WC3 campaigns at the time, and I was walktroughed your campaign 3 times: 2.00-2.01-2.02 with once, and the latest hotfix of 2.02 is not game changing.

As you wish. Almost three playthroughs are still a lot, so congratulations .

We talked about the Human Archer model from the campaign.
Here Icons for that:

BTNHuman_Archer

Human Archer Icon for HappyTauren's Human Archer model.

www.hiveworkshop.com

Looks great. Actually I've already replaced the archer with ranger you linked earlier which has a little different helmet, but the difference is probably acceptable.

 

[HuanJuan]

As you wish. Almost three playthroughs are still a lot, so congratulations .

I completed all the three playtrhoughs, thank you

 

[BaiyuGalan]

I really like the plot based on the World of Warcraft worldview.

 

[XenoMorphing]

Literally one of the best Custom Campaigns i have ever played, looking forward for other ones

 

[Nyctaeus]

I really like the plot based on the World of Warcraft worldview.

We kinda loosely mix WoW stuff with canon WC3 and our own ideas. Policy we assumed in Exodus is pretty much: We take what we want :] . We don't necessarily want to have to contradict WoW, and events portrayed in Exodus are written as "possible to happen behind the scenes somewhere else" to WoW.

I think WoW provides idea pool, some cool characters and general source of inspiration, but we don't want to feel limited in our creative process by WoW canon. Exodus plot goes it's own direction especially in sequel and other potential installments, but nature of our setting does not enforce contradictions.

Jiluun is centerpiece of Exodus plot and it's our original idea, but it's still being written with cosmology of WoW in mind. Jiluun will come with it's own theme and lore, but we don't want to diverge much from "whatever feels Warcraft". I think the only part of WoW lore we straightforward retcon is Shadowlands, but Exodus does so by simply ignoring it's existence.

 

[Macielos]

We ignore the following parts of Blizz lore:

• Shadowlands
• Time travels
• Alternate Draenor
• Burning Legion's spaceships

The rest could have happened, although it's mostly not relevant to our storyline.

 

[Nyctaeus]

• Burning Legion's spaceships

Yeah, and this. Very this. We take interplanetary travel via portals as premier and fundamental feature of both Exodus and the Warcraft universe as a whole. Spaceships are not only unfitting to overall fantasy theme, but also breaks lore consistency, generates possible plotholes, and undermines it's key features. I consider it pretty school mistake of worldbuilding.

 

[Macielos]

Yeah, and this. Very this. We take interplanetary travel via portals as premier and fundamental feature of both Exodus and the Warcraft universe as a whole. Spaceships are not only unfitting to overall fantasy theme, but also breaks lore consistency, generates possible plotholes, and undermines it's key features. I consider it pretty school mistake of worldbuilding.

Yup, and the consequences of this lasted far beyond Legion. Let's just mention the Alliance laying costly medieval-like siege to the city of Lordaeron in BfA while they could just bomb the shit out of the defenders using Vindicaar.

 

[Nyctaeus]

3k downloads hit. Yooo, this looks goooood.

I'd like to thank everybody for the interest :]

 

[Macielos]

The first Exodus has 31k, so still a long way to go .

 

[Cristopher]

Damn, just damn man. It took me quite a long time but managed to finish it.
Some twist here and there which confused me in some parts( regarding the story ) but I quite got it and was good.
Gameplay - quite harsh for me, was overwhelmed a lot in some missions but after tries, I managed to finish it till the end. I'm quite sad that I didn't manage to explore all parts in some maps and I think I also missed some items; at the same time I was happy that made my heroes tanky for the last boss fight and managed to save my favorite units ( rangers ).

Nice work guys! waiting for " to be continued "

 

[w3maniac]

It seems that I am stuck in chapter 1. I have cleared the top part of the city, got to the barracks and talked to Thardis (I have skipped all of the cinematics whenever possible though). However, now I can't get to the lower part of the city as both gates are closed. Do I have to trigger them somehow to open, or is this a bug?

(Yes, I am using the newest version of the campaign and W3 v1.31)

 

[HuanJuan]

It seems that I am stuck in chapter 1. I have cleared the top part of the city, got to the barracks and talked to Thardis (I have skipped all of the cinematics whenever possible though). However, now I can't get to the lower part of the city as both gates are closed. Do I have to trigger them somehow to open, or is this a bug?

(Yes, I am using the newest version of the campaign and W3 v1.31)

If my memory serves me well: there is no double gate, you only need to reach one gate, which is located on the eastern part, after the bridge you crossed to reach the barracks. You need to go back on track a bit, but not too far from the Barracks.

 

[Macielos]

It seems that I am stuck in chapter 1. I have cleared the top part of the city, got to the barracks and talked to Thardis (I have skipped all of the cinematics whenever possible though). However, now I can't get to the lower part of the city as both gates are closed. Do I have to trigger them somehow to open, or is this a bug?

(Yes, I am using the newest version of the campaign and W3 v1.31)

Like my predecessor said - the gate in the east becomes destroyable after you talk to Thardis. There is even a ping to that location.

 

[UltimateGod79]

Great.

 

[Nyctaeus]

Upgrades for Gatekeepers units by @Jiok :]. Time for introduce Enclave emblem and start building their visual identification. Will be included in next patch.

 

[w3maniac]

Like my predecessor said - the gate in the east becomes destroyable after you talk to Thardis. There is even a ping to that location.

Damn, I somehow missed that. Thank you very much!

 

[Aggelos]

Loved the story, loved the maps (terrain, enemies, quests), actually liked the dialogue, I even liked all the main chars! I especially enjoyed the concept of the map where you had to unite the villagers against the bandits (havent played it in some time so dont remember details like names).

Only thing I wasnt a big fan of was the difficulty, Im not very good at the game but I didnt have problems beating every mission, but what can you do.
One of my favorite campaigns for sure, thank you for making it

 

[OhGee]

Really enjoyed this campaign. Fun playing that group of hero's till lvl 15 and enough RTS, plus got to kill lots of undead. Plus good missions, sieges etc

 

[deepstrasz]

Spoiler: lousy comments

1. There's a graphical issue with the arrow from the archers that it appears big high on the screen.
2. I'm disappointed. Seemingly, the gameplay mechanics are hardcore Warcraft III. On top of that, spells are simply renamed and retextured.
3. Deserting (mages) is one thing but having them killed instead of letting them be a small nuisance for the undead is bad strategy and antihuman in such dire times. For instance, Fallen Priests make sense since they are affiliated to the Scourge now.
4. Empowered Strike says it gives 0% speed reduction.
5. During the end scene with the two archmages, the time of day shifted to day from night.
6. Since the loading screens are so nice and custom made, it feels unfitting to have the campaign screen/menu be the human RoC one.
7. I think it wasn't necessary to replay a map/chapter/part of the story that we already have in the original game (Garithos level), even if it's from another perspective. Originality and side stuff like the first chapter's premise would have been best. Even the lost dwarves quest is here. I think you could have at least been more creative on the quests side.
8. Some units like the Ranger have an extended tooltip informing about their background lore. I think this should be a trend with all units for consistency. Also, the descriptions should be such that when you read them you should be able to pinpoint the abilities the units have, separated from the story text. So, some reorganization is required.
9. I would have expected a bit more techtree difference for this level considering the faction we're playing in chapter 2 but it's pretty much the same as the first map.
10. In the second level you pretty much find the same items as in the first map.
11. After the scene with Balnazzar and Garithos dying, the peasants from the newly ownership changed base are idle instead of continuing their work.
12. It's annoying and confusing that there are trees which can be used for lumber and some which can't mixed together.
13. You can finish A Humiliating Defeat without discovering it first, before the quest with Sylvanas's waves ends. Although it seems there are no more waves for some reason so I guess you have to do the undiscovered last quest on your own curiosity.
14. Inaylia carrying the Lordaeron Banner is stuck in her Stand Channel animation.
15. Not sure what's with the big Draenor mushrooms in chapter 3.
16. I wonder if so many Sentry Wards found in chap 3 are actually good at something.
17. Not sure if intended but you can clear most of the map while leaving the caravan in the beginning spot.
18. The Grown Zombie is a depressed entity that says its feelings loud and at the same time violently running and hitting.
19. Before reaching the farm where the zombie waves come from, in the south of a tower, two necromancers are spawned but they remain there if not attacked by the player's units.
20. Clicking the caravan ability lags the game shortly.
21. An Abomination briefly clipped through the camera during the Cragenwood scene.
22. The zombie complaints are spammy. Too much the same message.
23. Arthas and Jaina's discussion: "study it after we kill it."
24. Feels useless to move the caravan once all enemies have been destroyed just so the map can end.
25. Since these are one headed ogres, it should be magus or mage if you will, not the plural magi.
26. Skirmisher is named Stalker in the Merc Camp.
27. Vael doesn't have hero glow. You can simply add it: How to add Hero Glow without Modeling
28. Hydromancer and Elementalist have the same projectile.
29. After the meeting with the Lahnbrad mayor, some of the peasants stopped working. Same with Greenwood. Probably a very frequent nuisance due to cinematic mode and disabling and enabling user control, in general.
30. The base was already razed before first meeting the mayor so the message about destroying the towers before saving Leyana doesn't fit.
31. The Northern Hold gold mine is treated as enemy.
32. Ugh, wolf dominating aliens!? Really!?
33. Chapter 4 is all about Gauntlets of Strength +3 galore.
34. Not even one word about the ogres.
35. Two Janggos somewhat near each other in the same chapter, 5.
36. Why would anyone want to have their gate lever outside the defended zone?
37. After Alinthor reached Atravan, the units' orders weren't paused and the cinematic mode broke briefly before starting again to continue with the ranger hero's entrance.
38. One more Janggo in the north when playing with Inaylia.
39. Some of the peasants in the Atravan interlude stand idly.
40. The thieving Syndicate announces its presence with horns rather than strike from behind? I get it, it's a talk for intimidation.
41. Why would the ranger captain trust that the Syndicate would leave them alone after meeting their demands?
42. Well nice speech but too much assuming most if not all Syndicate troops will want to follow him to possibly their deaths rather than live a cowardly and easy life plundering.
43. Reynart talks to his troops like there's an army there when there's just maybe a battalion spread out.
44. Too bad level 11 is max and you can't play with all spells. I guess it's some sort of replayability technique. Oh, wait it was just a chapter max but you could do it by just limiting the gain of experience instead of setting the max as level 11 to avoid the confusion I had.
45. The rangers reporting int he beginning of chapter 7 are blue instead of green in the transmission.
46. Chapter 7 has some pathing issues. See images. I advise checking pathing lines in the editor while turning the doodads and destructibles to invisible.
47. Getting the feeling I'm either in the Mist, Half-Life or both. Still waiting for good ol' Gordon Freeman to appear.
48. When Eldin talks about the dwarves building the tunnel for Solymus, the transmissions is too fast to read properly.
49. The northern most tower of the gatekeepers remained allied rather than changing ownership to the player's control.
50. Inner Light's icon=Inner Fire's. Also, the spells cannot be both cast on the same unit as they replace one another. Once again pretty disappointed by the tech tree with recycled Warcraft III abilities and gameplay mechanics.
51. Crypt Guardians use hero models with glow and no decay animations, their bodies remaining on the ground for long periods of time.
52. Boss fights aren't that engaging. It's mostly units getting spawned to fight you while the boss regenerates or participates. Also, for fighting Valena, I guess, some healing and mana runes here and there could be an idea between waves, especially if you don't manage to break the sky barges in time.
53. In the Revelations interlude, the portal's stone walls have skulls on them. Why did the Kirin Tor make such necromantic inspired structures?
54. The game lags when the camera is closer to the ground when Alinthor talks and it's heavily snowing.
55. Chapter 8 lags now and then.
56. There's an islet north of the ogre base which cannot be reached with non-air units I guess because of pathing blockers.
57. Two mining peasants stopped working after the scene with saving the ogre lord.
58. Not sure if intended but you can start another refugee evacuation while one is in progress, overwriting the leaderboard. I suggest a multiboard instead with all three.
59. If you can clear all the bases except the farthest to the north, the refugees are not attacked by anything.
60. Not sure if intended but some of my recently found/rescued troops disappeared after meeting Nathanos.
61. Poltergeists have hero glow.
62. There was one risen priest in the Forsaken spawning point to the northern edge of the map that I had to kill before the pathing blockers to the southeast were removed.
63. Feels weird that Eldin didn't go to Lonely Ridge instead of the bandit hero. Who'd Reynart and the rest believe more the thug or the elf?
64. Why do you get to see the Vimthurn Garrison resources panel before meeting them?
65. Is Purity of Mind still needed in this mission?
66. There are some undead high up the fort in the beginning of the map. I guess they are only reachable by spells. OK, I guess you could later take a ship to them.
67. Disappointed Thamdan is just another Mountain King. But is he truly a king?
68. I guess the Forsaken could have more thematic artillery than the Meat Wagon since they apparently care for the bodies and their reanimated folk.
69. Is Spiritual Healing supposed to regenerate mechanical units as well? It's a bit weird.
70. If the 5 ships are already in the triggering zone before the gunship gets repaired, on the latter's full HP, the quest finish doesn't trigger. The ships have to be taken out of the village and brought back in.
71. Napalm Dumpers upgrade has a different icon than the ability. Not sure if intended since the shield upgrade's icon=that of the ability.
72. Dropship after burners' upgrade's icon=that of last level for ranged attack's.
73. I think you could have taken some inspiration from TfT's higher level neutral hostile units and add some on some maps as reusing the original games' not only gets repetitive but they become weak as your heroes progress throughout the campaign.
74. Some undead scourge units were dropped by a sky barge north of their purple base near some murlocs and got stuck there. A grey lich also got stuck there.
75. In the following interlude, one of the giffin riders just stopped and stood idly.
76. Fortitude's icon=Lordaeron Banner's.
77. Napalm Dump activates a Berserk spell/buff on the warship. It could be removed on casting or at least renamed if needed on the unit to expire.
78. The third Moloch's timer didn't show any numbers. And apparently, the construction isn't even being done. No sign of it anywhere. Maybe it can have something to do with some of the orange bases being destroyed before the third Moloch triggering? OK, it was in a base that was destroyed prior but the timer didn't show the construction progress. Same for all after the third too.
79. Theoretically, the undead could have attacked the convoy from the south where there's no protection until the villagers reach the towers.
80. I've put some items on both Vespira and Solymus. In the finale, Solymus doesn't have them.

A splendid atmospheric visually exciting Warcraft fan campaign that could be so much more sexy with custom scripted tech trees and abilities.
I think the story was a bit stretched, some few chapters giving me the feeling of being filler. However, I am impressed by the depth of it all. Also, some maps look World of Warcraft design-like, a bit unfitting for RTS due to Warcraft III's sluggish pathing.

Approved.

---

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[Nyctaeus]

Thank you for review, man :]. This is greatly appreciated. More advanced things are coming in the sequel. We're in the process of learning a lot of new things. Macielos is advancing when it comes to triggers, scripting and all the egghead stuff while I'm getting more and more familiar with art side of things. The Sequel will be much more advanced when it comes to custom mechanics, skills variety and QoL.

A lot of things you've listed are already fixed in the upcoming 2.03. We will fetch up everything you listed and apply corrections.

 

[Raveriann]

one of the best campaings, didnt even finish it but still wanted to leave a comment and a good rating. really looking foward for more. Loved the writing

 

[BossJohnnyDay]

hey the skill cooldown is too slow for my taste i'm used to fast skill cooldown were i get to spam the shit out of it on my enemies why i always look for mana pots for each of my heroes for situations where spamming is needed since it can change the outcome of a battle

 

[Macielos]

hey the skill cooldown is too slow for my taste i'm used to fast skill cooldown were i get to spam the shit out of it on my enemies why i always look for mana pots for each of my heroes for situations where spamming is needed since it can change the outcome of a battle

Yeah, we nerfed the heroes that way on purpose to make late gate more challenging. Now you need more planning when best to use a skill and also rely a bit more heavily on units. Our heroes are nevertheless stronger than their WC3 counterparts due to having a higher level and more variety of books and items, including random drops (which can also be exploited by save-load to get lots of tomes of intelligence, but of course I don't encourage to do so ).

 

[nchp1903]

including random drops (which can also be exploited by save-load to get lots of tomes of intelligence, but of course I don't encourage to do so ).

Yeah. I wonder who would abuse that.

Been planning for another legitimate playthrough but I was kinda lazy. May get back to it, someday.