Please use a normal name like Reign or something and just leave those other game/material names to the credits or something.
Also, don't use all tags... use the ones that actually fit.

Awaiting Update.

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

 

Neat idea and just what deepstrasz said. Just use the name Reign. I'll check it out and give my review later.

 

Well, you have proven decent points and alright, I will try out the entire map and see if it still is fun after an hour, as last time I had played around 45 tops 50 minutes of it.

One additional thing however, do take note, Reign has used magic plenty of times before, while, not exactly...normal magic, more so pagan magic through witches and rituals it can still be done. Besides, it would be neat to at least see some units have their own unique passives, but that is just up to you in all honesty. Also, I DID pick to marry the Spanish King, which honestly proved to be decently useful, but, at the time I did marry him and figured out how to actually do that, Nobels were already trying to kill me, so I just quickly evacuated to Scotland through avoiding the Nobels and smashing through England's defenses and reached Scotland. And well, I didn't want to go through a large damned army just to activate some events.

 

Review: I just finished this map after 3 hours of playing. I have mixed feeling about this as it both fast-paced and at times, slow-paced.
Good points: Marriage system
Instant army
Events
Reconstruction of territory
Bad points: GAMEPLAY(summed up in "smash the invading army apart with your army")
Navy is not spawnable
The army could only spawn in one place. At later stages, England(and other enemies) usually invades both Scotland and France at the same time
Canons are not spawnable
France troops suck at late game
Ottoman and America(?!) is OP, nerf pls
Player and Allies have no dedicated Assassin unit and yet is offered assassination mission by the church
When Mary is not in range, the Ninjas just stand there like a bunch of idiots
Boss is too OP, nerf pls
Zombie respawn system is broken
....................................................................................................................................................

 

1. Reaching the blue troops with Mary, the quest log flashes but nothing is there...
2. You might want to name the players something other than player [number].
3. It's tax day, the quest log flashes again with nothing there...
4. Why do the towers have the original game upgrades if you don't have any lumber to upgrade?
5. Events happen one after another like it's random, troops spawning from thin air...
6. The invaders from the north are way too many. My armies didn't stand a chance.
7. They are all appearing but you don't get any troops.
8. Maybe you'd want to make an introduction of what every NPC does in this map because it took me a bit to realize I had to go to the commander for troops...
9. Husbands don't have any abilities. You could be creative and vary them.
10. I got the canons right while running away from the nobles...
11. They are spawning ships but you can't build more?
12. Mary is pretty useless. What's there reason for even gaining XP if there's no ability to use, some aura for troops, some healing, something.
13. Mary pregnant in the middle of the battle/run away. Not only tat but the camera shows Mary in places the character isn't (if in a boat).
14. The Ghost Ship is practically unbeatable...
15. Not enough gold. What about telling the player how much everything costs like the Scottish army...
16. Because there are many troops on the map, units will not move normally anymore and stagger. You need to have less than 100 units moving at once for one player.
    
17. Most of the time you don't have enough money to do much. Not to mention they're attacking you even when trying to rebuild (20 minutes? Really....).
    
18. How to close the Scotland gates?

Overall, poor game design, monotonous and random.

Awaiting Update.

Please delve into the Strategy/Risk zone of our Maps and learn from them.

 

Listen, if you want to take the feedback OK, if you don't please just don't reply at all.
The blue troops are your troops right outside Mary's quarters... The Quest Log flashes as if a quest requirement has been either completed or discovered when text on the screen appears. The Quest Log however, remains empty.

What does this even have to do with the point I wrote? I wrote, instead of having player names be like Player 1 etc., have them like France or Britain or whatever.

Great, the Quest Log shouldn't flash and it would really be helpful to have a timer to know when that day comes.

Wow, work on your attitude mate. Your the map maker, of course you know how to play. Have a diploma too.

Santa vs. Evil 1.3
also: Santa vs. Evil 1.3

 

This map was.. meh
Though the main quest - to kill the queen - is simple, to reach it was something impossible for me, enemy units were just generally stronger, my units weaker, I had them limited, didn't know what to do, I tried running around but there were just dead ends everywhere...

 

The following is not official and just my opinion on the subject. Both parties are free to ignore it if they feel so.

@deepstrasz
I am not sure you should be rejecting it due to poor map design and bugs. Reviewing it with a low rating yes but "awaiting update" seems excessive and I do agree that much of your feedback is opinion based.

Practically every map, no matter how good or bad, has tons of bugs. Some obvious, others might only be found out in years to come. Hence unless a bug is absolutely game breaking (unlikely to get to the end of the map) then it should not hold back a map being approved. Of course leaving them in feedback so the author can fix is still recommended.

If something feels fair, is balanced or makes sense are largely opinions. Now of course as a player you do matter, after all you are the end consumer of the map, however if the author wants to listen to your suggestions or not is entirely up to them. Sure if they do not listen to any negative feedback chances are their map is not very good and will be rated low and get few downloads, however such changes might cause the map to deviate from their original vision of the map or upset other players of the map who share a different opinion. As such one really should not use such opinions to hold back a map being approved. Of course you are entirely free to rate the map badly if you do not like it and recommend players avoid wasting their time with, after all ratings are opinion based.

Comments like this are not really profession. It would be better worded some what like this...

"As the developer you have a lot of experience with the map as well as inside mechanical knowledge that most players do not. Where as a solution to a fight may seem easy to you, it might not be so for the average player. If most players cannot beat the map then chances are they will not post good reviews."

@bobadoo2
I do recommend listening to some of his suggestions. The guy has played a lot of maps and knows his stuff. If he finds a lot of negative points about it then chances are most players will find similar points and review based on those.

Many of his suggestions are also "polish" for a map. These can be small changes, eg changing the player slot names, that make the difference between a map looking like a rushed job and a really high quality map.

 

It doesn't look unique or that it brings something new to the table.
However, it doesn't only have to be me to have the verdict and I've specified this in the first review. If you want to be a map reviewer, go ahead, I don't mind at all but I'd really feel bad if I'd let this map be in Approved instead of Substandard. That's why I set it to Awaiting Update for improvements.

 

Pretty boring and lame map that just feels hollow. No descriptions or anything, what does it matter to defend Scotland? Does it gives me more money? What defines how many taxes I get? Can I rebuild destroyed farms? Why do nobles decide to kill me? what does marrying really bring me? Does it has any downsides? Does it has any bonuses if I dont marry at all? (I know the kings on the left tell you what it brings but nothing else)

Wish you would explain your map in F9 because you just get thrown in and dont know what to do or why anything is happening or whats possible.

Also the descriptions of your events make the map feel really stupid. "England decided that england is weak" "and scotland too" ..couldn't get more basic and makes the map feel like a joke..

Good idea though!

 

These are the only things worth mentioning. We're referring to gameplay not that you named a character Queen Uninteresting. And those three points are present in other maps alongside a much better gameplay.
I am not satisfied with this reply. Instead I would expect actual improvements to the map.

 

Oh? New updates. I'll check this out again. Expect my new review in a few hours or tomorrow morning. (It's 22:00)

 

Well. One hour in and I finished the map, heres my new review back from the old one. As I see most of the things I have said in the old one, so many of my points will be repeated here, but, feel free to respond or not.

The map as a concept, can be seemed nice, but, it is not executed well, I will start off from that and will explain everything as you read further.

Gameplay

• The map is just, simple, boring and just RUSHES you in if you don't know Reign or have watched it, personally I watch that series religiously, it's one of my favourites. There are really no other tactics besides: Send your army to X point to defeat England or Pirates, all you gotta do at first is just, send the army in and watch everyone get slaughtered, specially if you have a hero, really all the micro you'd have to do is set the Swordsmen on Defend, thats it and perhaps microing your cannons if THANK JESUS LORD YOU'D EVER GET ANY to get them to move if they get focused.
• Heroes are literally the same as units, just more powerful, all having chaos damage and really no spells, just more microing is required for them.
• When to talk to an NPC, specifically those that tell you what to do to spawn an army, or close a gate or something, just make it have a message pop up from the screen from that said NPC to tell you what to do, instead of waiting idk how much in cinematic mode for one single message.
• Ships, which are CRUCIAL, do not exist, pretty much anywhere, unless you get the Spanish King. In the era, and a map thats set in Reign, requires naval combat, that does not exist, at all, instead, you get some transports to move around if if you don't pick Spain as your husband) to travel between the British Isles and France, which makes no sense without getting NO intervention when you are literally moving in the English Channel.

Narrative

Unless you have an understanding of the story of Reign, when its set, who are the characters, etc unlike myself who watches the series religiously, as I've said, you won't understand what's going on.

• Heroes should have names instead of: "King of X, Prince of X", the only two who have names is Mary and Elizabeth, who are important characters, but everyone else is as well.
• Events should have more detail to them, instead of "Nobles are rebelling just cause they think their country is going bankrupt" or, "England feels threatened, so they attack! HUZZAH!", it just feels so rushed to the point its not even...enjoyable, in the least.

Questions/Suggestions

• What are farms used for? Hell, theres an entire hero that if you decide to marry him, he gives you 35 farms, although it isn't described anywhere what the farms do, for most it may not be obvious, but for me it was.
• Why so many units that are the exact same, just named differently?
• Improvement of terrain, its just....no comment. But, at least don't use the "noise" addition, that never makes terrain look good. Add more forests, like actual forests instead of cityscape trees, as France, England and Scotland have forests. Add more detail in general, terrain can do a lot.
• Actual custom units, each nation being better at X then the other nation at X, not having the same things over and over, make it that it is actually interesting when you're fighting and exploring your unit types.
• A son, instead of there always just being a girl that comes everytime Mary gives birth.

Conclusion

Honestly, I did not enjoy the map, mostly I was bored and just ended up steam-rolling the English after I received a set amount of money to help me beat them and spawn a bunch of Scottish Troops as they are the most OP and also moved to Scotland alongside the daughter. The map has potential, but for now, it doesn't provide anything new to the table and stands as another simple big map that turned out to be not so great. Really, I have never seen a map set in Reign and I was just, starstruck when I first saw this map but then...disappointment. My original rating changes, from 3/5 to 2/5, honestly, I wanted to be a little empathetic when I gave it, but I just changed my mind now after thinking at how this map turned out to be like. Sorry, but, that rating stays unless you improve. I hope you don't give up, as I said, it has potential.

 

Should England invade France because of Italy and France with a matter of seconds between the invasions?
Nobel and Nobel2?
What's with the Flying Machine... you can just use a visibility modifier via triggers.
I've already went with the iron dude north. I don't need the Scottish adviser now...
There's one Ironborn in the base and one near the shipyard.
Ninjas in Scotland?
Very annoying to move Mary when the ninjas come if all those princes start talking every time.
Not only that but they don't even help you.
The staggering of units is still present which is bad because it only affects movement but not attack. Archers still get to shoot without problems while the melee units have a hard time getting to them.
Everything happens too fast especially when reaching Scotland. It's almost impossible to defend the base and at the same time get the gold wagon and/or cardinal.
I got no cannons this time.

Anyways, it's still chaotic.
Set to Substandard.

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

(previous comments:
Mary Queen of Scots 1P/2P(co-op) v.198
Mary Queen of Scots 1P/2P(co-op) v.198)

 

Map Reviewer: Daffa the Mage Map Name: Reign (Life of a Queen) 2P v182 Map Author: Bobadoo2 Map Uploader: bobadoo2 Originality It's a rarely brought out idea, and quite an interesting one to say. One would rarely see this kind of map, as it's sort of rare. So, yeah, it's quite original, except it takes multiple games as inspiration and doesn't execute it that well. Score: 80/100 Presentation Slightly below average of what I usually see. The choice of color is a big headache to the eyes. It's also mostly size manipulation of text in play. Score: 35/100 Design Could really use some custom Loading Screen here Units share similar designs despite being from different factions, though it's tolerable. Swordsman and Captain uses same model, please differentiate them. French Guard could use proper icon Score: 55/100 Terrain Terrain is average. I'd say the throne area doesn't really feels like one, and there's too much grass all over the place. Score: 45/100 Triggers I suggest to avoid pausing game mid cinematic, and use Pause All Unit instead. It's odd when I see you reduce player gold on easier difficulties shipon or off and the copy of that trigger are both empty. Delete them if not used. What's with spam1 trigger? I don't see the reason having multiple copies of it, except the last one. You really need to use variable controls for these kind of stuff. Found some more empty triggers in child folder. There's a lot more to scan out, though I must admit your leak handling is good enough. Doesn't spot anything major of an issue, though could use some efficiency. Score: 80/100 Object Data Many units are copy-pasta of each other. It doesn't make it feel any different from each other. Even name are similar. Units are mostly only an engagement of attack. No abilities involved, except Defend. Score: 30/100 Gameplay Unless you have an idea of Reign, you're gonna get thrown into disarray the first moment you're in the game. The invasion is swift fast hitting your door before you have a chance to properly adapt and even with reinforcement, it's difficult to make sense of what's going on early game. Apparently, a second run gives me a different initial event. However, the gist is still the same, with them appearing right off the bat without any early warning. Depending a country far away is a big challenge in single player. Could use proper transportation over english channel or additional way of attaining army. Those scout towers that suddenly pops out of nowhere, they are quite confusing for some. If it's for visibility, you can use the Visibility Modifier instead. In short, there are too many problems in regard to gameplay, as it's confusing to understand for a newcomer and player are lost in the middle of a big chaos they don't really understand at all (unless they have some understanding of the story). Major thing : it's quite unclear how to get more farm to increase payment. The gameplay is, sadly, the most troublematic part of the map. I would recommend to utilize Quest log to make newcomers have an easier time getting a grasp of the map. As with it has potential, I'd have this at awaiting update Score: 50/100 Critical Error -> Vote for Awaiting Update! Take a look at other maps with good descriptions, as your presentation could use a big improvements It's always a good idea to give some general sense of direction to players, especially newcomers Final Score: 53,571/100 2/5 Vote for Awaiting Update

 

Ok I've been working on it for about 6 more months trying to meet every single complaint. You should find it so cleaned up it's like a new map, very fun, I play it every day I would like to thank all the map reviewers for helping me address all of it's old flaws.

 

MAJOR

1. The problem from previous versions still exist: the player doesn't have much time to adapt to the game early on during their first test, which can deter the player (at least for lower difficulties, especially the one so-called 'easiest').
2. When a certain person offers something to the player (like the escape boat), please mark them with quest mark or something. With the chaos that spawns, it's easy to miss them. Even better if info pops, a mark shows who gave the most recent one.
3. Constructing a Farm has model issues. Use the Farm model in Build animation instead.

MINOR

1. The naming of the units. They are like Footman 1 Footman 2 Footman 3.
2. I suggest grab a custom loading screen. Would improve map value.
3. Please, use Visibility Modifier, they exist for a good reason.

SUGGESTION

1. Map description could use more love, to be honest. Color choice is hurting the eyes.

VERDICT
AWAITING UPDATE
For this particular map, the biggest issue would lie in how to get the player to adapt to the game WITHOUT knowing anything about Reign or similar games (a very new player). In particular, 'easiest' would be the thing that provides the answer to this need. But for this map, it doesn't seem to be the answer.
Minor and suggestion are optional but would be nice to see it implemented.

NOTE
This review is tested in 2 players. The comment from the other player would be 'unclear, not enough explanation of what's going on, and for 'easiest', it's VERY difficult, as if it's not meant to be a way to get introduced into the environment of this particular map.'

 

Which issues from my previous review is addressed in the current state?

 

Is it fine to use the name of Historical Persons for a map title? If this is ok, then it's good.
Mary, Queen of Scots - Wikipedia