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How to make a retard map
Hi, welcome to how to make a retard map! In this thread you will learn the basics for planning your retard map.
Contents:
1. What is a retard map?
2. The Character(s)
3. The Levels
4. Oldschool ideas
What is a retard map?
A retard map is a map where you play as a single character in an environment where the odds are stacked heavily against you. For instance, there could be two paths, one with a sheep and one with a salamander. Heres the catch, the sheep explodes as you pass by, killing you, while the salamander is neutral passive. There could be one where there is an item labelled 'Key to door', but is infact a hostile unit that kills your character.
Got it? Good!
The Character(s)
In a retard map, your character normally has a 1-1 attack, low health and is normally a normal unit, as opposed to a hero. Your character needs to have a team colour (eg the footman, not a forest troll). Not much else to say. Throw a simple unit together. Just change the stats and model of a footman if you want.
I often see peasants or footmen with the ogre soundset. You don't need to stick with this idea though.
The Level Design
Levels progress in one of two ways, which I've nicknamed flowing and area.
Flowing - Once the character beats a level, a gate or waygate will open allowing the progression to the next level. This allows characters to backtrack through the levels, picking up items they may have skipped. The problem with a flowing map is that you need to have a gate or waygate, and levels take up more room.
Area - The character is placed in a new area surrounded by walls after every objective, normally picking up an item such as a level key or attacking the right unit. This allows you to conserve space but requires more triggering and stops the units from backtracking.
You will also want to think about revival - do you want your characters to revive after failure or stay dead and watch the others? You decide.
Now you have your level design, start making your fiendish puzzles.
Oldschool Ideas
These ideas have been in many a retard map. Use them if you have to, or add your unique twist to make them your own.
Crypt Lords - Kill any crypt lord to continue. One crypt lord isn't spikey, so won't return your damage. The player isn't told about this.
Crazy Critters - Hostile critters with loads of damage. A classic.
You shall not pass! - Gandalf the grey/white is standing at the end of a bridge and will attack upon sight. There is, however, an alternative way around, such as a secret path.
Fake walls - Hit the switch behind the walls - but the walls don't block you!
Bark worse than bite - Loads of units with massive damage that die once they get close to you.
Pick-ups - Pick-ups that definatly don't do what they say on the tin - including tome of power +10000 (kills you), knife (slows you), gold coin (screen shakes) and rock (taunts target, dosen't kill)
Don't click me!!! - A unit called don't click me. If you click it, you die. Always catches noobs out.
The clue is in the name - Don't touch a specified unit. One unit, however, shares the same model as the others, but is called something different.
Hi, welcome to how to make a retard map! In this thread you will learn the basics for planning your retard map.
Contents:
1. What is a retard map?
2. The Character(s)
3. The Levels
4. Oldschool ideas
What is a retard map?
A retard map is a map where you play as a single character in an environment where the odds are stacked heavily against you. For instance, there could be two paths, one with a sheep and one with a salamander. Heres the catch, the sheep explodes as you pass by, killing you, while the salamander is neutral passive. There could be one where there is an item labelled 'Key to door', but is infact a hostile unit that kills your character.
Got it? Good!
The Character(s)
In a retard map, your character normally has a 1-1 attack, low health and is normally a normal unit, as opposed to a hero. Your character needs to have a team colour (eg the footman, not a forest troll). Not much else to say. Throw a simple unit together. Just change the stats and model of a footman if you want.
I often see peasants or footmen with the ogre soundset. You don't need to stick with this idea though.
The Level Design
Levels progress in one of two ways, which I've nicknamed flowing and area.
Flowing - Once the character beats a level, a gate or waygate will open allowing the progression to the next level. This allows characters to backtrack through the levels, picking up items they may have skipped. The problem with a flowing map is that you need to have a gate or waygate, and levels take up more room.
Area - The character is placed in a new area surrounded by walls after every objective, normally picking up an item such as a level key or attacking the right unit. This allows you to conserve space but requires more triggering and stops the units from backtracking.
You will also want to think about revival - do you want your characters to revive after failure or stay dead and watch the others? You decide.
Now you have your level design, start making your fiendish puzzles.
Oldschool Ideas
These ideas have been in many a retard map. Use them if you have to, or add your unique twist to make them your own.
Crypt Lords - Kill any crypt lord to continue. One crypt lord isn't spikey, so won't return your damage. The player isn't told about this.
Crazy Critters - Hostile critters with loads of damage. A classic.
You shall not pass! - Gandalf the grey/white is standing at the end of a bridge and will attack upon sight. There is, however, an alternative way around, such as a secret path.
Fake walls - Hit the switch behind the walls - but the walls don't block you!
Bark worse than bite - Loads of units with massive damage that die once they get close to you.
Pick-ups - Pick-ups that definatly don't do what they say on the tin - including tome of power +10000 (kills you), knife (slows you), gold coin (screen shakes) and rock (taunts target, dosen't kill)
Don't click me!!! - A unit called don't click me. If you click it, you die. Always catches noobs out.
The clue is in the name - Don't touch a specified unit. One unit, however, shares the same model as the others, but is called something different.
