Footmen vs Grunts Remake

[Blue_Jeans]

Footmen vs Grunts Remake [Ideas needed!]

I updated/added some ideas. Jump to it!

One of my favorite games to play is Footmen vs Grunts. With all the map chaos on battle.net and a bunch of noobish map-makers fueling the problem, it would be almost impossible to create a popular version because of pre-conceived ideas of what the map should be. On top of that, I have some major issues with the map layout and gameplay.

1. It takes FOREVER to play. Even if you manage to overpower all the other heros quickly, a game rarely ends under an hour, and I mean rarely.
2. It has a horrible layout. Think about it... if you were trying to protect something valuable, such as your heart, would you stick it out in the open, WAY in front of your armies? That's complete foolishness.
3. All versions I've played have major coding troubles... your game will get very, very laggy if it goes for very long... and it's going to go on for a long, long time.
4. Most units you have to choose from are not used. Some of them are really good units, too, but the gameplay has been brutally forced in the wrong direction for them to be of any use.

So I'd like to remake it. I have some ideas that I think could better the game, but it would be changed enough that it would be its own map.

I'd like any suggestions at all, but specifically I'd like help with ideas that will improve AND shorten gameplay without sacrificing depth.

I'm posting ideas I have for the game below, comments and suggestions are welcome.

Old Post

So... a while back (over a year ago) I took the map and extracted the map and unit object files and poured over them, properly reconstructing everything. I basically made the map from scratch, but made only changes to the abilities that had inconsistencies. I got very busy, and I didn't finish everything I had planned. I had a new spawn system and I eliminated hundreds of triggers... and I mean hundreds literally.

But I didn't finish. Thinking back on it, I never even addressed problems 1, 2, and 4. Problem 3 was possibly the smallest concern! I put a lot of time into a project that's not worth reviving. It needs a massive overhaul.

I'm not in the "Project Recruitment" stage. I'd LOVE to head this up, but right now I am engaged in something that is very special to me. I haven't even opened up Warcraft (or any game) in 13 months, and likely won't get to open one for another 11. I'm mainly posting to see if there would be enough people interested in making a project happen.

So what say you?

Ideas:

• Shift the map to lay out diagonally, and make it slightly bigger to accomadate the change. I was thinking something loosely similar to DotA's layout, only using the top-left and bottom-right for bases.
• Stick the Hearts behind the troops.
• Use non-city terrain, perhaps use forest?
• Use a far more realistic base layout.
• Stick to doodads that actually help the aesthetics.

• Limit heroes to 1 per player.
• I was thinking about implementing a Critical Strike system so that every hero would have the ability, based loosely off of agility. Heroes that currently have critical strike abilities would get an added chance for a critical strike.
• Give each hero a fifth ability that compliments the character instead of 4 plus Attribute Bonus. I have an idea for each hero, but I am very open to suggestions. I'll post more details when I can.
• Add NPC heros with troops to defend the heart. That could add some more story-telling plus create a more unique Footmen vs Grunts style map.
  • Use Arthas as paladin model for the Alliance, and for now use paladin abilities. Devotion aura would stack with other Paladins'.
  • Use Chaos Grom model for Horde, and for now use blademaster abilities.

• Paladin
  • Add a passive ability that has a % to block some incoming damage, making him more defensive.
• Bloodmage
  • Rework Banish to have a longer duration, but weaken the spell sensitivity.
  • Add a new target/aoe spell, Lightning Strike, that, well, strikes a unit/area with lightning. I was thinking that it would look similar to Zues' Lightning Bolt from DotA, but it would do damage to the target area; the closer you are to the strike zone, the more damage you get.

• Far Seer
  • New ability, spell evasion. It doesn't quite seem to fit. My thinking was that he is a seer, so he sees the spell coming and it misses? I don't know.
  • Rework Far Sight somehow so that it is more usable.
• Blademaster
  • Rework Mirror Image to make 1 image that gets progressively better. Images would have a reduced duration.
  • Add a new ability, Illusional Mastery, that gives an additional image for each level of Illusional Mastery.
  • Rework Critical Strike to work with the new system.
• Tauren Chieftain
  • Add a new spell, Warcry/Battleshout, that grants nearby friendly units movement and attack speed bonuses.
• Shadow Hunter
  • New ability that increases the number of Spirit Wards, and reduces mana cost of Hex. Unsure on this one.
  • Rework Serpent Wards to make them invulnerable if not cast on enemy territory.

• Lich
  • New ability that gives Frost Nova a chance to freeze the unit, immobilizing it. Also would apply damage over time.
  • Rework Dark Conversion to work on any friendly, non-hero unit, but if the unit is living, less mana is regained.
• Death Knight
  • New ability that gives the Death Knight a chance to gouge/maim the target, causing damage over time and reduced movement speed.
  • Rework Death Pact to work on any friendly, non-hero unit, but if the unit is living, less health is regained.

• Temporarily eliminate all non-ladder units, except dragons, to give more emphasis to existing units. You would, of course, balance the existing units' attributes.
• Eliminate all sea warfare.

• Get rid of current items and add new items with recipes, but don't get too many; it will encourage more hero use.
• No Tomes!
• Change the item that the Flesh Golem drops from Bladebane Armor (which helps your attack more than anything) to something that adds, you know, armor. Or change the name to reflect what it drops.
• New items (Item Name: what it does; what is required if applicable):
  • Stout Shield: +3 armor
  • Amulet of Vitality: +50 HP, +3 HP/second regeneration
  • Enchanted Buckler: +100HP, +3HP/second regeneration, +5 armor; Requires Stout Shield and Amulet of Vitality
  • Circlet of Nobility: +3 to all stats
  • Crown of Kings: +10 to all stats, +3 armor; Requires Circlet of Nobility
  • Leather Shoes: +50 movement speed
  • PF Flyers: +70 movement speed, +4 agility; Requires Leather Shoes
  • Robe of the Magi: +3 intelligence
  • Mantle of Intelligence: +6 intelligence, +50% mana regeneration
  • Kael'thas' Cloak: +12 intelligence, +100% mana regeneration, +50 mana; Requires Robe of the Magi and Mantle of Intelligence
  • Broadsword: +8 attack
  • Mask of Death: 12% lifesteal
  • Sadist's Razor: +14 attack, 18% lifesteal; Requires Broadsword, Mask of Death
  • Holy Water: +3 strength, +3 intelligence
  • Pendant of Agility: +3 agility
  • Sword of Truth: +16 attack, +9 agility, +3 strength, + 3 intelligence; Requires Broadsword, Pendant of Agility, and Holy Water
  • Irowood Branch: +1 to all stats
  • Mithril Hammer: +12 attack
  • Lightbringer's Hammer: +14 attack, +6 strength, +6 intelligence, a chance to Purify (purge) on attack; Requires Ironwood Branch, Mithril Hammer, and Holy Water

• Rename the map.

 

[Solecompanysole]

Sounds nice even thought I dont play the map!

 

[Blue_Jeans]

No takers?

 

[Vosty]

I've played the map(s).
And most of them have the problems you say.
Even if you fix them, it's kind of a lost cause.
If I make my own Dota
I'm only gonna get hurt worse than I can take.
People see the name, and they just puke.
You HAVE to RENAME IT!
Or else your plan is dead.
Also add more game modes!
Millions of units fighting all the time, gets old face it.
The future of Footmen vrs. Grunts is in your hands! rise to the task!

 

[Blue_Jeans]

Added some ideas.

The plan was to rename it as well, I just didn't say so. I never have been good at coming up with storylines and names. Those things are second to a well-made game though. If it is fun, they'll play it despite the name. I never liked the name Footmen VS Grunts anyways. If your game goes on long enough, then no one ever uses either of those units.

Again, I won't have time to do any work besides brainstorming for 10-11 months. I can help with ideas though. I just want to know if there is anyone else who would like to see this done. So far I see myself and vosty. Anyone else?

 

[NoAmmoSrry]

Im finishing up my map right now, so I will have time, and I remeber footman vs grunts, everybody has played it but it gets sickening afterawhile, all the glicthes, cheats, lag... a good new game needs to be made. Count me in. I would defently love to work on this.

 

[Vosty]

I would like to see this done, but I cannot help. I'm busy (check my sig)

 

[Blue_Jeans]

I added/changed a few things.

I suppose I'll start posting more specific ideas that I had. Comments and suggestions are very welcome, especially from you, NoAmmoSrry!

 

[Blue_Jeans]

I have made tremendous changes, most notably in the items section. I have thought about it, and I don't think there needs to be a Sword of Truth and Lightbringer's Hammer. I think I'm going to merge them and create some new things. Some ideas include Staff of Teleportaion and Staff of Preservation, as well as something to see invisibles.

Any specific suggestions for items? I'm still taking ideas for each hero's fifth ability. (I'm thinking about creating a specific thread for each hero, one at a time. I'll give it some more thought first.)

 

[Vosty]

Creating that many threads would be spam, and cause confusion. Just put them together.
Staff of teleportation, is totally underated in many maps, and is probably the best item in teh world!
Staff of teleportation FTW!

 

[Blue_Jeans]

Creating that many threads would be spam, and cause confusion. Just put them together.

I mean, start and resolve them one at a time. Meaning I would only have one thread open at a time. Taking specific suggestions on 16 heros at one time? In my opinion, that thread would be confusing!

I think Staff of Teleportation would also be VERY useful in the kind of map I want this to be. Because it takes so long to move armies, the staff could help you a lot on that, plus you can be defending your own base, but take a portion of your units to another base if they are under heavier fire. Plus, there's the option as an ineffecient way to run away

What do you think about Staff of Preservation? I don't know how useful it would be to save one unit (heros aside, of course) in such a map, but it could add some depth to the game.

 

[Vosty]

Staff of Preservation?
What does that do again? Refresh me please.

 

[tree-3]

If you could add some interesting features for the units other then heroes it would make it a lot better. http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/maps-564/footmen-vs-grunts-s3-v1-01-a-80068/?prev=search%3DFootmen%2520vs%2520grunts%26d%3Dlist%26r%3D20]Footmen vs Grunts S3 is an interesting improvement on the map making you play more carefully in the aggression and management of your units, it isn't just focused on heroes.