[Miscellanous / Other] Observation Towers

[JCarrill0]

I was playing through the Human Expansion (Blood Elf) campaign in Warcraft III and noticed something interesting about the minimap icons. During certain missions, the icons change depending on context—for example, Arcane Observatories use the blue neutral building icon (UI\Minimap\Minimap-Tower), and later during the Dark Portal missions, they switch to an orange neutral building icon (UI\Minimap\Minimap-Special).

That got me thinking about interactive neutral structures. Would it be possible to implement something similar to the Xel'Naga Watch Towers from StarCraft II in a Warcraft III melee-style map?

The tower is a neutral structure which grants a greater viewing area to units that activate it; it can only be activated by ground units. Burrowed and flying units cannot activate a watch tower but cloaked units can.

My idea would be to use something like the Arcane Observatory (or another neutral building) and give it this kind of functionality—essentially a capturable vision tower that provides map control.

I’m curious:

• Has anyone already implemented something similar in a melee-style map?
• Are there any limitations (AI behavior, multiplayer sync, etc.) that would make this impractical?

I’d love to hear your thoughts or see examples if this has already been done.

 

[Fleck]

The Ward actually has that with The Obelisk neutral building in its map. I also seen an ancient map that has neutral bunker building that can be garrisioned by units. There Verdun's Shortlegs maps too which expand the uses of neutral buildings too.

 

[Gnuoy]

Has anyone already implemented something similar in a melee-style map?

Yes I have in this Kings and Knights map. I called the triggers Light House I think? It involves putting a unit on a beacon and granting vision in a square. A circle etc would be easily possible if you wanted it exactly like Xel'Naga from Starcraft 2.

 

[JCarrill0]

Yes I have in this Kings and Knights map. I called the triggers Light House I think? It involves putting a unit on a beacon and granting vision in a square. A circle etc would be easily possible if you wanted it exactly like Xel'Naga from Starcraft 2.

I see that once I go on the beacon it grants me vision but keeps the vision granted.
The idea I proposed would be lost if the unit moved away. The idea is proximity based not move unit to the circle of power and grant vision, but I do see and understand why it works for your map. It makes sense although I would prefer a circle for sure.

The Ward actually has that with The Obelisk neutral building in its map. I also seen an ancient map that has neutral bunker building that can be garrisioned by units. There Verdun's Shortlegs maps too which expand the uses of neutral buildings too.

This one works kinda like what I am looking for but It seems to only apply to the heroes? maybe I missed its understanding since i only play-tested it.

 

[Fleck]

This one works kinda like what I am looking for but It seems to only apply to the heroes? maybe I missed its understanding since i only play-tested it.

No? Been a while since I played this map but previewing the trigger, any unit is valid not just heroes.

 

[Gnuoy]

I see that once I go on the beacon it grants me vision but keeps the vision granted.
The idea I proposed would be lost if the unit moved away. The idea is proximity based not move unit to the circle of power and grant vision, but I do see and understand why it works for your map. It makes sense although I would prefer a circle for sure.

This one works kinda like what I am looking for but It seems to only apply to the heroes? maybe I missed its understanding since i only play-tested it.

Yes and good job finding the trigger in my mess of folders and understanding the trigger. I think it could still be used as a starting point to get it exactly like Xel'Naga towers from SC2. Make another trigger that removes vision. Sorry I can't help you more specifically right now.

 

[JCarrill0]

I still trying to get this idea to work, so far nothing seems to work like the idea I have:

The tower is a neutral structure which grants a greater viewing area to units that activate it; it can only be activated by ground units. Burrowed and flying units cannot activate a watch tower but cloaked units can.