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Round Table of Arkain

Shar Dundred

Hosted Project: LoA
Level 76
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Version 0.31 released


General:
- Damage of Splitting increased, Stun decreased
- Reduced mana cost of Frost Ghost's Frost Nova from 125 to 90
- Reduced mana cost of Frost Ghost's Frost Armor from 50 to 40

Chapter Four:
- Grammar fixes
- Minor fixes
- Gyrocopters no longer have the Flak Cannons upgrade
- Gargoyles no longer need Black Citadel
- Saphira will slowly build up her forces
 
Level 21
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After this, i dont mean to spoil your plans but, Are you gonna make Legends of arkain first demon book?

He said that the chance that he will make a Demon book are really small.
He will proceed with the second Human book after this one is done
 

Chaosy

Tutorial Reviewer
Level 41
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Messages
13,239
yay, review time.


Map Name: Legend of Arkain: Undead Book 1
Version: 0.4
Author: Shar Dundred


Terrain[r]
Overall I think you've improved a little on the terrain part. But it still feels empty. And some chapters are still somewhat bad even if other show improvement.

Basically the terrain is not 'stable' in my opinion.
3/5


Gameplay[r]
As I state every time, you got the kill everything that moves mission every time. The only unique mission so far was the second one in the dream, and even that one could have been much better. Since we're dealing with someones mind, I expected traps, puzzles, riddles, that kind of stuff.
3/5


Story[r]
The only big downside this time around is that you got too many main characters. All of the characters not even included in most of the chapters. It's kind of confusing. Otherwise, good use of language and grammar, you keep things interesting. I kinda feel like the story is very random though, like we're just running pointless errands waiting for the real missions to come.
4/5


Uniqueness[r]
Not unique at all, default wc3 gameplay.
1/5


Overall[r]
Entertaining, but for f*cks sake put more effort into the terrain. Chapter 2 is literary completely empty..

On the bright side, I loved the idea for mission 2.
3/5


Bugs[r]
Found none.


Reviewed by[r]
19bd05.gif

Chaosy
Contact: Visitor Message, PM
 

Deleted member 238589

D

Deleted member 238589

@Chaosy:
I disagree, the missions are of much greater level then those of Blizzard. The first chapter for example, in the quest where you have to free the other undead bases, the one on the hill, holding crypt fiends is quite challenging to get to (with demolishers and towers sh*tting all over you). I like the usage of terrain in that chapter (mostly for gameplay purposes, noth aesthetical ones), though it's not of outstanding quality, it surely meets the average standards. Though, I also felt like chapter two could use more decorations. I also enjoyed chapter four a lot. It was quite challenging and it's hard to catch the target in a good position to attack (mostly just because I was too impatient lol)
But, if you really use cheats, then you can't really notice all these things. Also, if you think his terrain is bad, you should tell him exactly what to improve. Simply saying "It sucks", is not gonna cut it.

Chaosy: Story said:
I kinda feel like the story is very random though, like we're just running pointless errands waiting for the real missions to come.

Reading this statement, my logical assumption is that you haven't played the other two books, because you would otherwise know it all comes together.
Didn't mean to offend you in any way, I just disagree with what you said.
 
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Hope i am not late...
Mini-Review

Terrain:+3/5As someone who reviewed your previously maps i know you aren't a much of fan of terrain but chapter 2 needs some more work...
Custom unites/heros:+3/5Well the icy spellcasters were a new eddition that i liked a good mixture of offensive/deffensive spells but whats with the Heros...You could have used at least some skins on Sapphire and Baron Veignar (or whatever was his name) as well as on skeletons,ghouls necormancers and other unites (sinc humans do have necromancer unites as well) here are some skins i found

-Dark Ranger skin
-Ghoul
-Skeleton warrior
-Death Knight
-Skeleton Mage
Plot:-/5To early to talk about it but i have a feeling i won't be disappointed
Gameplay:+3/5Well i got a "Shar" welcome sinc the first chapter the game is challenging as hell...Second mission was really cool but it could have used some puzzels.The Fourth mission was also good,and thanks god you balanced Fleashtearer first spell...

-Bugs
I only found a small "bug"
On Aridion first spell it says he can rais "0" skeleton (I would give a screenshot but I can't upload it... :thumbs_down: ) other than that nothing.
-Things that impressed me
The Kakuzu secret.If i may ask you what you intend to do with him on the Orc Book he was listed as an Savage Orc while here he is listed as a Icespear clan member

-Things that need work
Well something really "weird" caught my attation.Baron Veignar or what ever his name is...He isen't even listed as an main character...Yet he takes part on two maps...Collects an IMPORTANT artifact for Aridon and makes a decision about the tunnel...While Largoth is still MIA.You need to sort this out...
-Hero spells Dark Ranger mostly sinc you did some work on the others.I am really confused with Baron Veignar part on this book he needs some work on his kit to...If you are going to keep him ofc...Otherwise he should be happy you gave him a new ulty to play with :wink:
-Add some chit-chat when facing enemy heros or even unites.

This is not the final review and it might change as the book progresses
 

Chaosy

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@Chaosy:
I disagree, the missions are of much greater level then those of Blizzard. The first chapter for example, in the quest where you have to free the other undead bases, the one on the hill, holding crypt fiends is quite challenging to get to (with demolishers and towers sh*tting all over you). I like the usage of terrain in that chapter (mostly for gameplay purposes, noth aesthetical ones), though it's not of outstanding quality, it surely meets the average standards. Though, I also felt like chapter two could use more decorations. I also enjoyed chapter four a lot. It was quite challenging and it's hard to catch the target in a good position to attack (mostly just because I was too impatient lol)
But, if you really use cheats, then you can't really notice all these things. Also, if you think his terrain is bad, you should tell him exactly what to improve. Simply saying "It sucks", is not gonna cut it.



Reading this statement, my logical assumption is that you haven't played the other two books, because you would otherwise know it all comes together.
Didn't mean to offend you in any way, I just disagree with what you said.

Don't worry, you got your opinion and I got mine, why should I be mad?

OT:
Capturing the 4 nexus(es?) is technically different different gameplay because the words are different. But in reality you just run to a location and kill everything, how is this different from attacking a base in a melee map or a chapter in the default campaigns?
The thing is, I have played all the books, and I keep saying the same thing each time I play it, in terms of terraining and gameplay that is. That's why I didn't go into detail because I am pretty sure Shar knows what I like/dislike at this point. I can point out a lot of stuff in each missions that I think could've been good, but in the end I would just be whining about tons of minor stuff which I don't feel like doing.

I wont notice a lot of minor tweaks by running with cheats indeed. However I am able to get the big picture (according to me). The only campaigns I play without cheats are those that aren't full gun 'n' run. A wonderful example would be the last guardian, that one is truly unique and entertaining (no advertisement intended).

@story
I have played the other books as stated above. But I still feel like the chapters are random. The first two chapters are totally fine, and then the third one was kinda 'meh', after bothering to take control over them, you kill them. I can think of many ways to work around this.
The fourth chapter felt odd too, fighting demons was no surprise, but demon slaves? o_O
And then the 'last' chapter went back to killing humans. Whom you already have control over (kinda)
 

Shar Dundred

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Alright, I didn't want to further discuss this, but if you want it that way:

Capturing the 4 nexus(es?) is technically different different gameplay because the words are different. But in reality you just run to a location and kill everything, how is this different from attacking a base in a melee map or a chapter in the default campaigns?

Really now? You compare capturing stuff to melee? Alright then, let me enlighten you:
Every mission that includes fighting has this "Kill that, destroy that" part. As I mentioned before, the differences can't be noticed if you cheat.

I wont notice a lot of minor tweaks by running with cheats indeed. However I am able to get the big picture (according to me). The only campaigns I play without cheats are those that aren't full gun 'n' run. A wonderful example would be the last guardian, that one is truly unique and entertaining (no advertisement intended).

You can't compare this campaign with TLG, it's a completely different style, but yeah, that's not the point. I won't tolerate discussions about another campaign here.
I still disagree. If you cheat, you just run through everything. You don't really feel the gameplay, you just feel like "I kill that and that and that" because you don't face the actual difficulty and gameplay.

@story
I have played the other books as stated above. But I still feel like the chapters are random. The first two chapters are totally fine, and then the third one was kinda 'meh', after bothering to take control over them, you kill them. I can think of many ways to work around this.

Largoth took control over Selior, not the Imperials. The Undead didn't get control over them, they just manipulated their leader. Even in his manipulated state, he wouldn't have left the Dead Mountain unguarded. Everyone who has been sent there, has never returned. They wouldn't let this mountain unguarded. The only reason why Selior didn't reinforce it, was, because he blamed the Demons (the Undead didn't leave anything that would have proven their interferance) and therefore his men, although they didn't like it, arrived on the front lines. Selior's men were also responsible for fighting at the front, not for defending the Empire from within - others like Lerrig or Merlon were responsible for that.

The fourth chapter felt odd too, fighting demons was no surprise, but demon slaves? o_O

And what is the problem here? The Demons have not killed everyone in their wars, they also enslaved many - which has been stated several times before. With their Demon Slaves, they infiltrated the Empire and have additional cannon fodder. Nothing to add here.

And then the 'last' chapter went back to killing humans. Whom you already have control over (kinda)

As I mentioned before: They have control over Selior, not the Humans. Also, this was the Ironfist, Gardon's men. None of them served Selior.
 

Kasrkin

Hosted Project: LoA
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Old%20microphone.jpg

*Taps mike* Well, hello again ladies and gentlemen. I'm here again to bring you a special announcement on the Legends of Arkain.

As of right now the interlude leading into the next chapter is done and chapter six is half done as well, but I gotta tell ye it's going to be different this time around so be prepared for some...
restrictive building
heh.

One more thing that special surprise we've been talking about, and the one I got Shar to not release, will be coming soon as well.

This has been your local Imperial Vox Channel and remember to please report any suspicious activity to your local Arbite authority.
 
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Old%20microphone.jpg

*Taps mike* Well, hello again ladies and gentlemen. I'm here again to bring you a special announcement on the Legends of Arkain.

As of right now the interlude leading into the next chapter is done and chapter six is half done as well, but I gotta tell ye it's going to be different this time around so be prepared for some...
restrictive building
heh.

One more thing that special surprise we've been talking about, and the one I got Shar to not release, will be coming soon as well.

This has been your local Imperial Vox Channel and remember to please report any suspicious activity to your local Arbite authority.

Thank you!
Shar must be really proud for his boy :ogre_hurrhurr:
 

Shar Dundred

Hosted Project: LoA
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Announcement:
Since I got some PMs lately, I feel like I have to make this public. Some people sent me messages with several "suggestions" for the story of, well, the whole rest of the project. And most of those suggestions are just... strange. Today, in example, I read someone suggesting that every "wrong" choice should make that the Demons win. Yes, EVERY SINGLE CHOICE. I won't do that. It would EFFECTIVELY DESTROY the whole story. Also, many choices are not 100% right or 100% wrong.
I really enjoy seeing all of you discuss how the story might continue or just see people discussing anything from my work, but, even though I'm reading through every suggestion, think about it first, and don't expect me to take every suggestion to 100% or at all. I'm the one who writes the story and its development. No offense, but no one (Yes, not even Kasrkin) knows of all my current plans about the Legends of Arkain. I will first see if I like your suggestion and if that is the case, I will see if it fits and only then I *might* add it.
 
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Chaosy

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Oh but I think you should add this and that to your story.

I think the choice suggestion is wonderful. BUT, the effort you'd have to put into it.. not worth it, by any means. Changing each chapter depending on previous choices.. can you imagine how many extra chapters and alternate ending you could end up with? And that's assuming that the choices actually makes sense.

I am pretty surprised people suggest something like that and don't consider how easy/hard it is to implement.
 

Shar Dundred

Hosted Project: LoA
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[simpletable="Ladies and gentleman,
Humans and Elves,
Orcs and Dwarves,
Demons and Undead,
Recruits and veterans of Arkain,
Creatures of all kinds,"]You all have waited for the special surprise (or maybe not, doesn't matter) and here it is!
I'm proud to present you the very FIRST TEASER TRAILER of the SECOND BOOKS of Arkain!
I must warn you, though, that it contains major spoilers about both the First and the Second Books
- well, it's a teaser, would be lame without spoilers, wouldn't it?

Here is the link
Might be a good idea to turn your sounds on here. ;)

Enjoy, and be prepared for more in the future![/box]
 
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I am currently loving the campaigns.
The story is fascinating and the missions arefilled with options that might change the entire plot.
The characters are diverse in terms of personality, skills and beliefs.

If I might say though I found some mistakes along the campaigns:
-In the orc mission number eight, after destroying the imperial base, I could no longer move Zairmak until the cinematic finished.
-In the last orc mission, the paladin says that Aedale has been corrupted, but during my human campaign, which I played previosly, I rejected absorbing both artifacts therefore she was uncorrupted at the end of the campaign.
-In the new undead mission, the one where we destroy the fleets, the dreadlord only has 1 of armor (3% of defense).
 
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Watches the first trailer and my first comment (warning spoilers) :
WTF? Someone even more cunning than demons and Aridon!? Seriously!?

Anyway, I'm a bit confused with the arrest, there I see Aedale is arrested and later I see she's talking with Lisara.

Anyway, does this special comes as the opening of the second books?
 

Deleted member 238589

D

Deleted member 238589

Things are getting really interesting here. Keep up the good work, man.
 

Shar Dundred

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@all: Thanks, glad you liked it. ;)

-In the orc mission number eight, after destroying the imperial base, I could no longer move Zairmak until the cinematic finished.

You mean Chapter Seven? Are you sure you're playing the most recent version of the campaign? I remember that bug, but it has been fixed a while ago.

-In the last orc mission, the paladin says that Aedale has been corrupted, but during my human campaign, which I played previosly, I rejected absorbing both artifacts therefore she was uncorrupted at the end of the campaign.

The human campaign doesn't influence the orc campaign and visa versa. It's three different storylines in the same setting.

-In the new undead mission, the one where we destroy the fleets, the dreadlord only has 1 of armor (3% of defense).

I'll take a look at it.

WTF? Someone even more cunning than demons and Aridon!? Seriously!?

Hard to believe, isn't it? ;)

Anyway, I'm a bit confused with the arrest, there I see Aedale is arrested and later I see she's talking with Lisara.

Be patient. Everything will be revealed in due time. :)

Anyway, does this special comes as the opening of the second books?

There will be other things and I think that the Second Books won't have one and the same Prologue (as the First Books had) since the stories of the First Books, while having similarities, are different.

More information about the Second Books will come once the First Undead Book and another special, I'm currently working on, are finished.
 
@all: Thanks, glad you liked it. ;)



Hard to believe, isn't it? ;)



Be patient. Everything will be revealed in due time. :)



There will be other things and I think that the Second Books won't have one and the same Prologue (as the First Books had) since the stories of the First Books, while having similarities, are different.

More information about the Second Books will come once the First Undead Book and another special, I'm currently working on, are finished.

to be honest, initially yes. But this makes things very entertaining, I have some possible answer that Largoth and an unknown master he speaks at the Epilogue of the First Books are the master manipulators.

Surely I can't wait to make Aedale regrets her betrayal.
 
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You said that the human campaign doesn´t affect the orc campaign. Does this means that the choices we make in the first human book will only affect the next human books?
So in the undead campaign when Aridon speaks of the Forgotten and how they were defeated by the imperials, it doesn´t matter whether I had decided, in the first human campaign, to help Gardon or not?

But still I think it is a very good project this amazing campaign, though I would like to see more diversed spells. Sapphira has all the regular Dark Ranger's abilities, as well as Largoth and Veringar. Sapphira could have somesort of corrupted elven spells; Largoth could have some spells like temporary mid control or summoning dark thoughts (like the ones he summoned in the second mission) and to Veringar spells that could be a mixture of frost, necromancy and unholy (like the Death Knight class in World of Warcraft). This is just a suggestion though.
I actually like Aridon's, Rahandir's and Krom's spells. They are very creative and quite useful.
 

Shar Dundred

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You said that the human campaign doesn´t affect the orc campaign. Does this means that the choices we make in the first human book will only affect the next human books?
So in the undead campaign when Aridon speaks of the Forgotten and how they were defeated by the imperials, it doesn´t matter whether I had decided, in the first human campaign, to help Gardon or not?

Exactly.
Also, Gardon would've attacked and defeated the Forgotten anyway, whether with or without Blen's help. He'd just have lost more of his troops.

But still I think it is a very good project this amazing campaign, though I would like to see more diversed spells. Sapphira has all the regular Dark Ranger's abilities, as well as Largoth and Veringar. Sapphira could have somesort of corrupted elven spells; Largoth could have some spells like temporary mid control or summoning dark thoughts (like the ones he summoned in the second mission) and to Veringar spells that could be a mixture of frost, necromancy and unholy (like the Death Knight class in World of Warcraft). This is just a suggestion though.
I actually like Aridon's, Rahandir's and Krom's spells. They are very creative and quite useful.

I'll think about it.
 
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Watches the first trailer and my first comment (warning spoilers) :
WTF? Someone even more cunning than demons and Aridon!? Seriously!?

Anyway, I'm a bit confused with the arrest, there I see Aedale is arrested and later I see she's talking with Lisara.

Anyway, does this special comes as the opening of the second books?

Probably the event when she talked to Lisara was before she got arrested or Lisara helped her escape
 
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The human campaign doesn't influence the orc campaign and visa versa. It's three different storylines in the same setting.


I am in a way both dissapointed and relieved that the campaigns doesn´t influence each other.
Dissapointed because I would like to see how my choices would change the entire story and the plans of three races. For example, how Aedale being or not being corrupted would change Aridon's plans for her.:ogre_icwydt:

Relieved because if the three books were connected, then I would have already killed almost all important characters, like in the mission number nine in the imperial campaign where I 'kill' Rath and Sasrogarn.:ogre_haosis:
 
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The human campaign doesn't influence the orc campaign and visa versa. It's three different storylines in the same setting.


I am in a way both dissapointed and relieved that the campaigns doesn´t influence each other.
Dissapointed because I would like to see how my choices would change the entire story and the plans of three races. For example, how Aedale being or not being corrupted would change Aridon's plans for her.:ogre_icwydt:
Well this requiers alot of work time and detication and Shar works on this project mainly alone.So i wolden't count on it.
 
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I like the campaign and I know how hard it is. I tried a few years ago creating a campaign but I gave up due to distractions. I will never ask Shar to change how he makes his campaigns. The campaign is truly great.
 

Shar Dundred

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Relieved because if the three books were connected, then I would have already killed almost all important characters, like in the mission number nine in the imperial campaign where I 'kill' Rath and Sasrogarn.:ogre_haosis:

Actually, both survived Chapter Nine of the Human Book - they escaped and will most likely be back. Defeating a character and his army doesn't automatically mean that he's dead.
As seen in the cinematic, Theoden survived as well, as you might remember.
Other characters, on the other hand, will die permanently once you defeated them.
Like Merlon in the Orc Book, you're not going to see him again in the other Orc Books.

Although it's not impossible to make each First Book influence the other First Books, it'd be waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much work and barely worth the effort. It would also force me to change the storylines dramatically and I'd have to create new characters to replace other characters and since there are 6 more campaigns to come... That'd be so much memorizing and saving that both you, as players, and I, as creator, wouldn't like it since you'd have to play several missions again to really change something.

Creating several storylines at the same time in the same universe has proven to be confusing for many who played without reading everything, but I won't change anything now. It's fine the way it is.
 
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Actually, both survived Chapter Nine of the Human Book - they escaped and will most likely be back. Defeating a character and his army doesn't automatically mean that he's dead.
As seen in the cinematic, Theoden survived as well, as you might remember.
Other characters, on the other hand, will die permanently once you defeated them.
Like Merlon in the Orc Book, you're not going to see him again in the other Orc Books.

Although it's not impossible to make each First Book influence the other First Books, it'd be waaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much work and barely worth the effort. It would also force me to change the storylines dramatically and I'd have to create new characters to replace other characters and since there are 6 more campaigns to come... That'd be so much memorizing and saving that both you, as players, and I, as creator, wouldn't like it since you'd have to play several missions again to really change something.

Creating several storylines at the same time in the same universe has proven to be confusing for many who played without reading everything, but I won't change anything now. It's fine the way it is.

I agree. I was just giving an opinion, nothing else.
Though I wonder this: do all optional quests change the story or just some? In the Undead Book, for example, slaying the rebel Nerubian Overlord would help later somehow? Or in the second mission releasing the Sin of Wrath? It is because I lost plenty of troops on such missions and the rewards weren´t very satisfactory.
 
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Version 0.51 released


Chapter Six:
- Changed Epilogue story


I highly advise everyone, who already played Chapter Six, to play it again, to avoid further confusions.

Good because the first epilogue wasn´t very good.
 
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Shar Dundred

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There was a bug that didn't make the effect appear that was supposed to make them unable to move. Also, Aridon couldn't use all of his forces to hunt Largoth - he needs them to fight the Demons. But anyway, I changed it now.
I also ask you to use spoiler tags in the future when talking about stuff like that. Not everyone who is reading here has already played every released chapter up to this point.
 
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There was a bug that didn't make the effect appear that was supposed to make them unable to move. Also, Aridon couldn't use all of his forces to hunt Largoth - he needs them to fight the Demons. But anyway, I changed it now.
I also ask you to use spoiler tags in the future when talking about stuff like that. Not everyone who is reading here has already played every released chapter up to this point.
Sorry, I will try not to do it again. But I love this epilogue more than the other by far. It is far more realistic and expanded.
I wonder though this. Could it be that Largoth serves the mysterious figure that appears in the trailer for the Second Books, or at least be aware of it? And will this 'hidden evil' decide to appear and take action just like Aridon, or stand neutral? And what about the Forgotten, are they aligned with this new figure or not? If the Demon Legions are some kind of Arkain's conterparts to the Burning Legion, could he or she be the Old Gods' conterpart?
This campaign is really making me question everything and I am enjoying it!
 
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