• Listen to a special audio message from Bill Roper to the Hive Workshop community (Bill is a former Vice President of Blizzard Entertainment, Producer, Designer, Musician, Voice Actor) 🔗Click here to hear his message!
  • Read Evilhog's interview with Gregory Alper, the original composer of the music for WarCraft: Orcs & Humans 🔗Click here to read the full interview.

Scarlet Crusade - The Finest Hour (Definitive Edition)

SCARLET CRUSADE - THE FINEST HOUR
Created by Homor
Special Thanks to Everyone who made this map possible with their support! You guys rock!
OVERTIME MODE IS HERE! Check the description learn all about the new endgame challenge!

AI and additional changes by Walichrage. Thanks man!

Notice: This map is 100% open source. The mechanics, unit data and even the setting and storyline are free for use by any other Warcraft 3 modder. If you so wish, you can make your own map using this Scarlet Crusade race as a template. Be sure to check the comment section for patch notes!


Introduction:
Decades ago, the northern kingdoms were ravaged by the eldritch and undead armies of the dark god known as Desopath. Although the human alliance was able to seal the demon away from the mortal realm, his horrible minions still infest the world of the living. Balnazzar, a renegade demon in the service of Despoath, controls an evil army of undead minions that have ravaged the northern kingdoms. Every city, even the capital, fell to his legions. But now, twenty years later, an organization known as the Scarlet Crusade has pushed the undead hordes back, and now they're preparing to retake the capital. Only you, commanding an army of the Crusade's finest warriors, can restore this city to it's former glory!

Description:
You control an army of Scarlet Crusaders, and your ultimate goal is to retake the city of Stratholme from the armies of the undead. This is an exploration-based map, where instead of fighting off attackers, you will assault a city full of powerful undead creatures and swarming hordes of weak ones, working your to powerful bosses until you eventually find yourself face-to-face with Balnazzar. Will you be able to survive the onslaught?

Features:
New Race, The Scarlet Crusade: The vanilla human race has been completely altered, becoming the zealous and brutal Scarlet Crusade! While many units are completely the same, some have been heavily altered or replaced entirely! Play with fantastic new units such as the Chaplain, the Inquisitor and the Plague Doctor.
Command the Scarlet Heroes: Entirely new hero units! Play as the Templar, the Grand Crusader, The Witchhunter, the Arcanist and the Berserker!
Dynamic New Units: The standard soldiers of the Alliance have been given a major overhaul! Footmen can now wield bows, knights have powerful auras that increase damage, and all new units such as Marksmen, Chaplins, Inquisitors and Plague Doctors drastically alter the core strategies you'll use to survive the undead onslaught!
Food Limit Increased: Your food limit has been upgraded to 200, allowing you to amass a gigantic army to battle the undead hordes!
Adjustable Difficulty: Choose from one of six difficulty levels. Make the map easy enough your granny could beat it, or hard enough to blow your head off!
Explore the city: Travel through the dusty back alleys and abandoned streets of the ruined city of Stratholme, uncovering secrets and slaying monsters the whole way through.
Destroy the Undead leaders: Test your might against four powerful undead leaders, and even some lesser undead heroes!
Combine and Create Items: The Horadric cube in your base can be used to combine items and craft special recipes. This crafting system will give you some of the best items in the map.
Cheat Codes: If you're clever enough to find out what they are and how to activate them, you can use cheat codes to blaze through the match.
The Secret Cow Level???: What? It's not there! Don't be ridiculous! And don't go around looking for wooden legs or ghost children.
Introduced in 1.31 Edition
Dynamic Enemy AI: The armies of the living dead are now backed up by powerful attack forces! You cannot reach their new bases directly and must kill certain bosses around the map to end the attacks!
Reworked Heroes and Units: Now the heroes of the Crusade have all new abilities and the techtree has been edited. Now the map plays smoother than ever!
QWER Abilities: All heroes abilities have now been mapped to the traditional QWER format for convenience.


The Whole Story



An eternity before the birth of the planets of the cosmos, a group of powerful beings known as the Titans waged a war against The Light and the forces of heaven. Aided by an army of their own renegade angels and led by the brutal Titan known as Balanor. On the verge of victory, Balanor's second-in-command, Desopath, led a revolt against Balanor that destroyed half of their armies. Because of this, the remaining Titans came before The Light and unconditionally surrendered. In an event known as "The Great Fall" The Titans were banished to a realm known as "The Netherverse." A gilded cage where the newly declared "Nether Princes" could have unlimited control of their own realms. All but Desopath and Balanor, whose realms were intended to torment and punish them, although they gained limited control over them.
The foolish angels who followed the Titans to their own damnation became known as "The Nathrezim" (also called "The Nazraphim") horrific demons that served Balanor. Balnazzar, a Nathrezim disgusted by his own master and his failure, would escape the realm of Inferno and travel to the world of Ry'Leh. There, he swore allegiance to Desopath, an act which enraged both Balanor and Mephistous, Lord of The Nathrezim.

Balnazzar possessed necromantic abilities unmatched by any of the other Nathrezim, most likely because of his previous friendship with Aztarous, the Nether Prince of Death, before the Great Fall. He could single-handledly raise entire undead armies and send them to do his evil bidding. Desopath was especially interested in this power.



During the third great war between the Arthurian Alliance and the Crimson Horde, secret agents of the Alliance discovered scrolls and tomes that indicated that warlocks within the Crimson Horde were attempting to summon Desopath himself to the world of mortals. The Alliance ordered it's greatest mages to summon Desopath to the mortal realm before them, in the hope that the dark titan would aide them and destroy their enemies. The result was the greatest failure in mortal history.

Desopath attacked both sides, Alliance and Horde, destroying cities and decimating populations like no one had ever seen before or since. Desopath's greatest lieutenants all oversaw the assault of different regions, countries and continents. Balnazzar himself was tasked with the assault on the Northern Kingdoms. His attack was incredibly successful, and soon his undead armies overthrew the human cities, leaving the population to hide in small villages and forest shanty towns. The only city that remained in human hands was Andorhal.

Various mercenary and militia groups did their best to hold off the undead forces, but their success was limited. Even after Desopath was banished back to the Netherverse, Balnazzar and his undead army still hounded the remaining humans in the Northern Kingdoms.

The tide of war changed when Luther Lightwell, a powerful Templar Knight, united the various factions of human survivors into one great army - The Scarlet Crusade. Named after their fallen brothers, the newly formed Crusade managed to push the undead back, recovering several cities and chasing off the ghouls and zombies of Balnazzar's army. Although Luther would not live to see his kingdom recovered, he died knowing Balnazzar would be defeated. His son, Martin Lightwell, became the leader of the Templar Knights, but refused the position of Grand Crusader.

The Crusade was brutal, radical and zealous. Qualities that made them extremely effective against the undead. For years, they were violently opposed to all magic users, blaming them for the horror that had befallen their country. Eventually, the Crusade reluctantly brought some of the surviving magic users under their wing, but under strict supervision. Wizards and mages were very much second-class citizens in the Crusade.

Although two more Grand Crusaders would die before Sadian Delgado took over, the Scarlet Crusade successfully recovered most of the empire's old settlements. Only one massive undead outpost was left - the capital city of Stratholme. The Scarlet Crusade gathered all of it's forces together, followed by a slew of refuges who set up camps and occupied nearby abandoned buildings on the outskirts of the city to watch as the Crusade fight the ultimate final battle against Balnazzar and his minions.



Balnazzar had fallen, but he had yet to die. When a Nathrezim dies, their essence is collected into an infernal soulstone. After a decade of regenerating, they come back to life. Sadian Delgado became almost hypnotized by the strange crystal that had fallen from Balnazzar's body, and took it home with him after promising to destroy it.

A strange, tempting sensation seemed to pulse from the gem, almost like a quiet voice whispering to Sadian. Eventually the voice began to grow louder and louder, and harder to resist. The Grand Crusader didn't know it, but this was Balnazzar using what was left of his power to manipulate him, and it worked. Before the final night was over, the Grand Crusader shoved the infernal gem into his own forehead, and Balnazzar took complete control of his body and mind.

The weeks of celebration in the streets of every human settlement in the Northern Kingdoms came to an end, and it was clear work had to be done to rebuild what was lost. Balnazzar took this chance to mold the new kingdom in his own warped image. His first act was to forbid the study of any "dark" magic - seemingly a noble-minded religious act, the reality was Balnazzar was making sure no one could ever find out the truth about him. His second act was to impose incredibly strict laws on the people to keep them complacent. His third act was to cut the Northern Kingdoms off from all other factions, including the Peacekeepers.

Under Balnazzar's rule there were mass executions, imprisonment and beatings. The dystopian nature of Balnazzar's leadership became so bad that riots happened in the streets of Stratholme. The king, Adrian Lionheart, though he viewed the Crusade as his family, was forced to order the Crusade to move their biggest outpost out of his city and into an abandoned fortress near the small village of Dunwatch.

What Balnazzar didn't know was at that very same time, Amandus Cambria, a vengeful Necromancer, had gathered together a cult of other dark mages and was preparing to launch a full-on war against the Crusade. [To find out what happened after this, play my other War3 map, 'The Necromancer.']



The death of the Grand Crusader and his most loyal men came as a horrific shock to most of the Northern Kingdoms, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise for both the Kingdom and the Crusade.

When King Lionheart and a group of Crusaders went to investigate Dunwatch, they found the entire town desolated and abandoned. The fortress the Scarlet Crusade had so fervently protected was in ruins, and the only sign that any life had lingered there were the discarded metal scraps that were once weapon and armor.

In the Grand Crusader's personal quarters, sealed by a massive iron door that had been destroyed, the group made a horrifying discovery: the corpses of several strange eldritch creatures surrounding a mysterious crystal. At that moment, King Lionheart heard Balnazzar's voice calling out to him, screaming in desperation, begging him to lunge the crystal into his forehead.

In a rage, King Lionheart stomped on the soulstone with all his might, shattering it to pieces and slaying the Dreadlord once and for all. The young king was the only one who had remembered the beast's fall, and how the Grand Crusader took the soulstone with him. He realized the Grand Crusader had been corrupted, and that the radical and menacing changes he had brought to the Crusade that Lionheart once viewed as a necessary evil were a ploy by a vengeful demon to enslave humanity.

Lionheart held a secret summit of the remaining Crusade leaders, including the Archbishop, the head Arcanist, The Berseker Commander and the head of the Templar. It was agreed that the shameful downfall of the Crusade could never become public, and the secret must die with them.

Major changes were made in the coming months. The Crusade began opening up talks with the Peacekeepers and other kingdoms. Although they would never rejoin the Arthurian Alliance, they became a close ally once again. They even allowed the Peacekeepers to establish several embassy buildings. Although magic was still forbidden outside of the Crusade's own Mages Guild, the penalty was no long execution. The torture chambers and sprawling dungeons that Balnazzar used to oppress the people were all destroyed.

Although the Crusade was still a zealous, radical group, they were much more humane. They had become a powerful tool to battle the undead once again, who are still a problem in the Northern Kingdoms to this day. Especially with the remnants of Cambria's cult lurking in the shadows.



Scarlet Crusade - The Finest Hour is a map set in Angora. A world similar to the main Warcraft universe, but different in many significant ways. In this universe, The Alliance (The Arthurian Alliance) and The Horde (The Crimson Horde) are shaky allies, working together only out of a mutual interest of survival as war and death has reduced the numbers of all sapient races down to a tenth of what they once were. Great beasts of untold power known as "Nether Princes" watch over the world of Angora from a horrific realm known as "The Netherverse." Causing chaos and bring woe whenever they're able to. But in this world, there is also a third faction - The Golden Union - that has united to challenge both. Founded by the Osman Empire, the kingdoms of the Golden Union wish to have no part in petty Alliance/Horde politics.

A grand alliance of creatures from every race known as "The Peacekeepers" was established after the second coming of Desopath. Currently led by a powerful wizard known as "Kelen the Seeker" The Peacekeepers act as a mediator organization between all the other races and kingdoms. Despite their efforts to maintain world peace, not everyone has a high opinion of them.

Allies of The Arthurian Empire: The Bronze Alliance (Dwarves), The Silver Covenant (High Elves), The Argus Empire (Draenei), The Empire of Elune (Night Elves), The Gulrgal Clan (Murlocs).

Allies of The Crimson Horde: The Sons of Ahmaji (Jungle Trolls), The Sons of Zul'Jin (Forest Trolls), The Brujahk Clan (Ogres), The Black Hand (Redeemed Undead), The Hooftar Tribe (Tauren).

Allies of the Golden Union: The Osman Empire (Human), The Vargulf Liberation Front (Worgen), The Remnants (Redeemed Undead), The Anubis Clan (Catmen), The Redscale Tribe (Lizardmen), The Riverpaw Tribe (Gnolls), The Gorlack Cartel (Goblins), The Jaoming Dynasty (Pandaren).

Neutral/Unaligned Empires: The Scarlet Crusade (Human), The Nasajhar Empire (Naga), The Blood Wake (Blood Elves), The Risen Dawn (Dark Elves), The Nomads (Gnomes), The Steamwheedle Cartel (Goblins), The Blaugal Clan (Murlocs), The Underwarth Tribes (Kobolds), The Stonefist Tribe (Ogres),

Evil Organizations: The Slavers, The Syndicate, The Elementals, The Darkhammer Clan (Dwarves), The Grimtotem Tribe (Tauren), The Twilight Hammer, The Order of Balanor, The Undead Scourge, The Cult of Aztarous, The Desopathic Union, The Burning Legion, The Eldritch.



Wirt's Leg + Wirt's Other Leg + Wirt's Third Leg = Wirt's Pride
Khalim's Eye + Khalim's Flail + Khalim's Heart + Khalim's Brain = Khalim's Will
Purification Orb + Black Runeblade = Purified Runeblade
Mask of Death + Orb of Heat + Savage Battle Axe = Mask of Fury
Revolver + Shotgun + Scrap Metal = Heavy Machine Gun
Necklace of Spell Immunity + Holy Tome of Light + Purification Orb = Templar Amulet
Staff of Ages + The Archmagi's Spellbook + Mana Stone = Archmage's Greatstaff
Enchanted Shield + Health Stone + Orb of Heat = Guardian Shield
Hood of Cunning + Kelen's Dagger of Escape + Sobi Mask = Bandit Lord's Hood
Purification Orb + Orb of Darkness = Radiant Holy Orb
Potion of Mana + Potion of Healing = Potion of Restoration
Common Sword + Orb of Heat = Searing Blade
Common Sword + Orb of Frost = Frostguard
Common Sword + Orb of Darkness = Black Runeblade
Scrap Metal + Circlet of Nobility + Purification Orb = Amulet of Spellshield
Amulet of Spellshield + Wand of Mana Stealing + Arcane Scroll = Necklace of Spell Immunity
Scrap Metal + Ironwood Branch = Sturdy War Axe
Common Shield + Arcane Scroll = Enchanted Shield
Common Shield + Orb of Darkness + Scrap Metal = Shield of the Deathlord
Ironwood Branch + Arcane Scroll = Mindstaff
Common Sword + Arcane Scroll = Mage's Blade



SV_Cheats 1: Activates cheat codes
-NoFatChicks: Removes all elite abominations.
-CreepyWeepy: Gives you control of all creeps.
-OccupyStrath: Makes the boss' minions hostile to them.
-Beefcake: Increases the health of all your units.
-ClarkKent: Sets the handicap to normal.
-FirePower: Gives you extra attack damage.
-FlowerPower: Gives you a wisp that can build a night elf army.
-NoAttackers: Disables enemy armies for a more mellow game, similar to the original map.
-Take: will give you control of any selected unit
-Kill: will kill any selected unit
-ZaWarudo: Freeze the game.
-KiraIsBetter: Unfreeze the game.
-Move: Send a unit to your main base.
-OrcPork: Give yourself a Peon in a box that summons an orc.
-NagaBaga: Summon Naga workers.
-Dran: Summon Lost One Dreanei workers.
-lvlup: Make all your heroes level 10.
-DeadByDawn: Summon Acolytes. Little counterproductive to the whole "fighting the undead" thing but sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire!
Xenomorphling: Special bonus cheat! No need to activate cheats for this one. This'll just give you some extra items at the start.



Certain versions of the game might glitch key triggers out when you save/load. To accommodate this, I've added some workaround codes.
- If the end cinematic doesn't play after you give Sadian the Soulstone, type in -workaround while its in his inventory to activate the ending.
- If you lost or destroyed the soulstone, type -fixstone to respawn it at the place Balnazzar first appeared.



If you've beaten this map several times now and want a little something extra, Overtime Mode will refill the map with entirely new enemies and awaken a second, even tougher boss!

To activate it, you'll need three items: 1) Balnazzar's Soulstone, which drops after you kill him. 2) A Purification Orb, which you can buy from the Thrift Shop. 3) Phat Lewt, the legendary gag item, now dropped by killing the poor Brewmaster panda in the Nowrthwest sewers, right behind Nihlathak's base. Combine them all in the Horadric Cube to get the Overtime Token. Use it to activate Overtime Mode.

Without spoiling the surprise, a new boss will appear, one of your heroes will be replaced, and a new type of enemy faction will start to spawn at key points in the city. The new units come in large groups summoned by a demonic portal that opens up, spews them and dies out on its own. Your base will be attacked by a huge flurry of enemies that all deal chaos damage. Luckily, your new hero also does chaos damage, and has a neat new summoning spell.

The secret boss is spell immune and has better stats than Balnazzar, so get ready for a hell of a fight. If you manage to beat him, the map finally ends with a victory. But beware: he can portal in more enemies, and the path to his area will be guarded by even more new ones. Your game may also slow down a bit initially when processing all the new monsters. But it'll pass and you'll be back to normal soon. The fight is definitetly winnable, but will take some extra preperation and strategy.

There won't be any more attacks on your base after the first one. This is just an "icing on the cake" kind of thing, now a whole new game mode.

Go forth and conquer, mighty heroes!


Credits:
[Story and Game Design]
Homor
Walichrage

[AI, Programming and Addition Changes]
Walichrage

[Terrain]
Blizzard Entertainment

[Icons]
Sunchips
LiquidFox
-Toast
67chrome
Hellx-Magnus
Daelin
~Nightmare

[Models and Skins]
67Chrome
CloudWolf
-Grendel
Frankster
Callahan
Lord_T
Sin'dorei300
Tr!KzZ
Stefan.K
Hayate
donut3.5
Darkholme
SuPa-
sPy
Direfury
PaulH
Wandering Soul
takakenji
Tranquil
Mc !
Cavman
Eagle XI
wojia10502
HerrDave
Murcologist
PROXY
Rubellu Sidus
Kitabatake

[Spells]
Paladon
-BerserkeR-

[Special Thanks]
WereElf
Nichilus
The_Silent
Wietlol
IcemanBo
Saus
Teozamait
Blizzard Entertainment
The HiveWorkshop

Screencaps:
(Temporarily down! Apologies for the Inconvenience)

Keywords:
Warcraft, Scarlet Crusade, Undead, Zombies, Skeletons, Ghosts, Stratholme, Campaign, Storyline, City Battle, Exploration, Necromancer, Scourge, Plague
Contents

Scarlet Crusade - The Finest Hour (Map)

Scarlet Crusade - The Finest Hour (Map)

Reviews
13:18, 6th Apr 2016 Ardenian: Commented. Please fix at least the bug with black mask and fog of war. Black mask is applied if the player skips the cinematic, but the whole map is visible if he watches it. Please also add a changelog and a...

Moderator

M

Moderator


13:18, 6th Apr 2016
Ardenian: Commented.
Please fix at least the bug with black mask and fog of war.
Black mask is applied if the player skips the cinematic,
but the whole map is visible if he watches it.
Please also add a changelog and a version number to the map description.

An in-game note to enable subtitles is highly recommended.

You could also think about making the Undead player be more active,
like launching small attacks on your player base or with interactive events
( great summonings you have to prevent and such).

12:56, 9th Apr 2016
Ardenian: Required changes made.

Scarlet Crusade is a majorly hack'n'slash game in melee style through a
city filled with Undead creatures.

I decided to give it a rating of 2/5 Lacking, as you can improve a lot of points.
Instead of hacking yourself through hordes of Undead, you could add some more love to it.
The Undead should not just sit around and wait to be killed.
As said before, they could interactively call events and/or attack your base.
You could also add some more hints for the optional quest and maybe
mark the boss positions of the required bosses.
Additionally, there could be more variety when it comes to unit choice
and army build. There are already some interesting features, like the
soldiers being able to switch weapons, but what about different army builds ?
You could add more unit tiers and techs to allow to evolve your units in certain directions, for example.

Please re-name the map file to an appropriate and fitting name.
That is required for the approval. After you did that, I approve the map.

EDIT: map re-named, approved
 
Level 28
Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
601
Looks bad ass!

Tested, I think for the Marksman you should use this model: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/...n-227068/?prev=search=crossbowman&d=list&r=20

And yeah, the Workshop is totally useless, I don't think Workshop is needed since there's just Siege Engines(I wondered why there were upgrades for Flying Machines and Mortar Teams although they were not available.).

Bugs I found is: I finished the optional quest which I was to rescue two Heroes, but when I completed the quest, the "Quest Complete" notification and the quest completed audio just keep on repeat.

I haven't finish the Game so far, duh.
 
Last edited:
Level 19
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
Looks bad ass!

Tested, I think for the Marksman you should use this model: http://www.hiveworkshop.com/forums/...n-227068/?prev=search=crossbowman&d=list&r=20

And yeah, the Workshop is totally useless, I don't think Workshop is needed since there's just Siege Engines(I wondered why there were upgrades for Flying Machines and Mortar Teams although they were not available.).

Bugs I found is: I finished the optional quest which I was to rescue two Heroes, but when I completed the quest, the "Quest Complete" notification and the quest completed audio just keep on repeat.

I haven't finish the Game so far, duh.

I'll get that glitch fixed post-haste! I know the exact problem that's causing it!

I'm not sure what to do with the workshop. Maybe I'll add catapults? This would be way easier if someone could make a "human mortar team" model. Maybe I'll request that and see what comes up.

Be sure to keep checking this map, because I'll be updating it constantly to improve various aspects of it until it's good and finished!
 
Level 28
Joined
Aug 7, 2015
Messages
601
I'll get that glitch fixed post-haste! I know the exact problem that's causing it!

I'm not sure what to do with the workshop. Maybe I'll add catapults? This would be way easier if someone could make a "human mortar team" model. Maybe I'll request that and see what comes up.

Be sure to keep checking this map, because I'll be updating it constantly to improve various aspects of it until it's good and finished!

Great! I greatly appreciate this map :)
 
Level 19
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
Aww, it sucks that in my friendzone(actual friends) I'm the only one who still play Warcraft 3 :vw_sad: they said this game is outdated :(

Too bad they don't know about the fantastic modding scene this game has!

I'm really excited about this latest update!

I've made it so the workshop isn't quite so useless anymore. Now you can build catapults and cannons to blow the undead to bits! Cannons serve as our replacement for the stand Mortar Team and fill it's basic function while catapults are a conversion of an orc unit edited for use by the Crusade. I really hope these new changes make the map even more fun to play!

I've got big plans for the next major update! The stash in your base has been changed into a Horadric Cube! In the coming update, you'll be able to combine some of the most powerful items in the map into some of the craziest, most powerful items you've ever seen!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Level 19
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
Update 01 - Version 0.3

The crafting system is now live!

There are about 9-10 different recipes you can craft. All of them extremely powerful items. I won't give you the exact recipes though - you'll have to experiment and find them out for yourself.

Hope you guys really enjoy it.

Update 02 - Version 0.4

This map is pretty much 100% completed. I still have one known issue: even though "Gryphon Aviary" is listed in the peasant's buildable structures, it doesn't show up in the list of structures he can build. The idea I have is to make a custom version of the peasant and see if that fixes the issue. As of now, it's not a game break issue, but this map designed specifically with the idea in mind that the player should be able to play with flying units (so many story-driven maps remove them due to storyline reasons and it's always a downer.)

Some time in the feature, I'd like to add extra upgrades, units or even new buildings to really spice the experience up. But that's not a pressing issues atm.

Update 03 - Version 0.5

- Footman have been buffed with extra armor and have also been given the ability to switch to bows to use a ranged attack! (Credit to Teozamait for the concept.)
- Removed WoW model because the filesize was ridiculous and I have plans to add more cool stuff later.

This was a pretty minor one, but I think it makes a world of difference.

I'd like to add a co-op version one day. It would be tricky as hell and I might even need some help for it, but I think I could make it work.

Update 03 - Version 0.6

This is the biggest update yet! Inspired by Teozamait's "Scourge of Lordaeron Enhanced", this map now contains Advanced units!

You may now train Architects from your castle, who can build top tier buildings (Fighters Guild, Mages Guild and Cathedral as of this writing) with incredible new power that will allow you to use different strategies and tactics. Bishops, Gallants, Cavilers, and more! To summon these fantastic new units, you'll have to purchase special upgrades from each building.

(̶P̶o̶s̶s̶i̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶ ̶f̶u̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶u̶p̶d̶a̶t̶e̶:̶ ̶a̶ ̶T̶h̶i̶e̶v̶e̶s̶ ̶G̶u̶i̶l̶d̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶s̶t̶e̶a̶l̶t̶h̶-̶b̶a̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶u̶n̶i̶t̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶o̶y̶a̶l̶ ̶l̶a̶b̶o̶r̶a̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶"̶R̶i̶g̶h̶t̶e̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶Z̶e̶a̶l̶"̶ ̶u̶p̶g̶r̶a̶d̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶s̶p̶r̶e̶a̶d̶s̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶i̶n̶t̶o̶ ̶d̶i̶f̶f̶e̶r̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶p̶a̶r̶t̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶u̶n̶i̶t̶ ̶t̶y̶p̶e̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶w̶o̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶e̶a̶c̶h̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶i̶n̶d̶i̶v̶i̶d̶u̶a̶l̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶d̶i̶n̶g̶s̶.̶)̶


Update 03 - Version 0.7

New features added! Test them out now and see for yourself!
 
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Ardenian

A

Ardenian

Interesting map, terrain is okay, could use some more small doodads.

My suggestions:
- Replace the inital Barracks, so it is not placed on Noise and show their ... cellar thingy
- Hide map ( why do you reveal it ? I recommend to add at least Fog of War)
- Make Slow of Inquisitor initially activated
- (hot) Add PAS icon types to passive skills ( Use Button Manager if types are not available)
- I attacked the Southern entrance and a dialog was displayed in the portrait field, but no text or voices showed up.
- Add a small reward to the Gnoll group ( like a healing rune/pot or something)

I highly recommend to re-size the screenshots so they don't stretch the page.
 
Level 19
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
Interesting map, terrain is okay, could use some more small doodads.

My suggestions:
- Replace the inital Barracks, so it is not placed on Noise and show their ... cellar thingy
- Hide map ( why do you reveal it ? I recommend to add at least Fog of War)
- Make Slow of Inquisitor initially activated
- (hot) Add PAS icon types to passive skills ( Use Button Manager if types are not available)
- I attacked the Southern entrance and a dialog was displayed in the portrait field, but no text or voices showed up.
- Add a small reward to the Gnoll group ( like a healing rune/pot or something)

I highly recommend to re-size the screenshots so they don't stretch the page.

1. I'm pretty sure that's where it was in the original campaign, but okay. I can move it a bit.

2. The map should be completely hidden. Did you watch the intro cutscene or skip it? I've had some problems getting black mask working after the cinematic ends so any info on this particular problem is appreciated.

3. Good idea. Will fix that.

4. I'll fix up a couple of them and get them looking nice. Pointing out which specific skills need PAS icons to mewill be a big help to that end.

5. Turn on subtitles, I cannot stress this enough. I've seen this happen to so many people.

6. The gnolls really do need some kind of small reward.

I'll also see what I can do about the screenshots.
 

Ardenian

A

Ardenian

2. I completely watched it

5. Might want to add a notice then ( if you haven't already)

Yeah, I never understood why people don't take care of this point. None takes a look on
over-sized images, as they take an eternity to load, don't they.
 

Ardenaso

HD Model Reviewer
Level 34
Joined
Jun 22, 2013
Messages
1,896
OMG the Gideon author has just returned!

Edit: Tried it but the lumber is a bit scarce and the Leather Plating still has wrong description. There should be some sort of a dialogue as an intro to the side-quest. And there should be a ping every minute to show the location of the main targets.

And the map and the enemy bases is a bit too large. I rate it 4/5.
 
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Level 2
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Dec 31, 2012
Messages
22
i wiped out every undead on the map, yet i'm not winning, but i'm sure i'm missing something, especially Khalim's body parts, i got the brain, the heart and the eye, but what am i supposed to do with it? btw i haven't fought balnazzar yet
 
Level 19
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Messages
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i wiped out every undead on the map, yet i'm not winning, but i'm sure i'm missing something, especially Khalim's body parts, i got the brain, the heart and the eye, but what am i supposed to do with it? btw i haven't fought balnazzar yet

You have to kill the four undead leaders (The Archlich,, The Promethan Horror, The Archmagi and the Fallen King) to make Balnazzar appear. Then after a few seconds you should get a cinematic where Balnazzar shows up and summons some squiddies.

Are you absolutely sure you've cleared the whole map? You may have to use "ISeeDeadPeople" just to be sure.

BTW - Khalim's set makes a weapon. You need the brain, heart, eye and flail and you have to put them all in the Horadric cube.
 
Level 2
Joined
Dec 31, 2012
Messages
22
You have to kill the four undead leaders (The Archlich,, The Promethan Horror, The Archmagi and the Fallen King) to make Balnazzar appear. Then after a few seconds you should get a cinematic where Balnazzar shows up and summons some squiddies.

Are you absolutely sure you've cleared the whole map? You may have to use "ISeeDeadPeople" just to be sure.

BTW - Khalim's set makes a weapon. You need the brain, heart, eye and flail and you have to put them all in the Horadric cube.

Yes i had, i've killed everything, i even made sure there's no enemy units left by sending knights to scour the whole map, and i dont seem to have Khalim's Flail. and i think i just saw the Butcher's Cleaver dropped twice, but the first one was gone after i was about to pick it up
 
Level 19
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Messages
848
Yes i had, i've killed everything, i even made sure there's no enemy units left by sending knights to scour the whole map, and i dont seem to have Khalim's Flail. and i think i just saw the Butcher's Cleaver dropped twice, but the first one was gone after i was about to pick it up

I'll be keeping an eye out for this problem. Be careful, because you may be missing something. If you aren't and other people are having this problem too, I'm going to spring into action and fix it post haste.
 
Level 6
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
149
Great map but and i can`t find Khalim`s flail . Write a tips where is this item.
Wirt`s first, second and ``third`` legs is part of item or something ...? :clol:
 
Level 19
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Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
Great map but and i can`t find Khalim`s flail . Write a tips where is this item.
Wirt`s first, second and ``third`` legs is part of item or something ...? :clol:

A lot of the enemies and items are pretty well hidden. If you kill every enemy on the board and it still doesn't drop post here and I'll be sure to fix it.

And the three legs are used to create something bigger and better.
 
Level 19
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After a long period of silence, I just released a tiny patch for some basic bugfixes.

- Fixed an embarrassing error where the player could not train Assassins
This is like, super simple and I'm totally embarrassed I missed this. The Thieves' Guilds weren't training anything until now. This is the biggest and most important fix.

- Increased chance for enemies to drop health and mana runes
Just a minor change to make the battles feel less exhausting and overwhelming. Lower-tier enemies used to have a 1% chance of dropping health and mana. Now, they'll give health runes 10% of the time and mana runes 5% of the time. It's just something that helps make the map less aggravating without turning it into a cakewalk.

- Increased player starting resources
Let's face it, there's a lot of stuff to build, a lot of units to train and way too many enemies to kill. The tiny amount of gold and lumber you got at the start just wasn't cutting it. The player would end up spending the first ten minutes of the game in camp just gathering stuff. Now, you have 1500 of each resource to start you off. Get your base functioning properly, train some new units, then go out and kill some undead jerks.

Anything else you don't like or want changed in the map? Found an obvious mistake or glitch? Feel free to post about it and I'll try to get it fixed ASAP.
 
Level 9
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Oct 1, 2015
Messages
355
Homor
I'm playing it now and it's really great but I found some bugs
when I train assassins, they are not visible or clickable
also, on the platform the one surrounded with necros and others units and give access to the upper left base
I killed every unit there but something invisible attacks my units and summons units, I cast Reveal on the area and still found nothing!
Edit: after I finished the objective Balnazzar was in the place I mentioned, now I know why someone is attacking me but he should spawn after I killed the bosses
 
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Level 19
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
Homor
I'm playing it now and it's really great but I found some bugs
when I train assassins, they are not visible or clickable
also, on the platform the one surrounded with necros and others units and give access to the upper left base
I killed every unit there but something invisible attacks my units and summons units, I cast Reveal on the area and still found nothing!
Edit: after I finished the objective Balnazzar was in the place I mentioned, now I know why someone is attacking me but he should spawn after I killed the bosses


The assassin problem you pointed out is very big and very serious. I'm working very hard to fix that right now. Oddly, the model simply refuses to work. It may be caused by a missing texture.
 
Level 19
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Messages
848
Alright, folks, the latest update is a doozy!

- Graveyards no longer spawn corpses, this is to prevent enemy spam. There are special enemies that can summon permanent undead monsters from corpses, which used to lead to a flood of enemies spawning everywhere causing performance and difficulty issues.
- The Berserker can now be found closer to the city entrance. The player will no longer have to defeat a boss to save him. Baron Ahabus now guards the Berserker. This also means the player can now rescue both missing heroes before fighting any bosses at all.
- Cooldown on Templar's Flash of Light decreased from 12 secs to 7.
- Cooldown on enemy's Dark Portal spell increased by 50%.
- The invisible serial killer who used to hide in the area Balnazzar spawns has been arrested. Actually, Balnazzar is now "paused" until he is revealed, meaning he will no longer cast damaging spells at the player's units while invisible.
- Assassin unit fixed. The model has been replaced.
 
Level 19
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Working on yet another cool patch right now to fix up some issues and add new stuff. While you wait, did you know there's a special secret hidden in this map? Here's how you can get it:

- Wirt's first leg is carried by the ghost named "Agatha Prenderghast" in the outer rim of the city. To get into it, you have to go to the North-Eastern entrance to the city west of your base and slip into the opening between the archway and the open boxes. You'll fight your way through some skeletons until you find a yellow witch ghost. Kill her and take the first leg for yourself.

- Wirt's second leg is held by a ghoul named "Corpsefire." You will find him in the southern part of the city, at the midway point between the bank and the goblin merchant, east of the bridge that leads to the purple base.

- The third leg is dropped by a Crypt Lord north of the central square of the city. He'll be protected by his spidery minions and surrounded by eggs. Kill him and get your last leg.

- Now, go to the opening of the canals. The area is south of the central square and west of the found of mana. There, you'll find Wirt's Ghost. One of your heroes must go near him while carrying all three legs.

- Your special easter egg awaits!

- Afterwards, you can combine the three legs in your horadric cube, creating a new weapon! WARNING: Doing this before your meet Wart will cause the easter egg to be lost.
 
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Level 9
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Oct 1, 2015
Messages
355
I found the legs and combined them
I have one question. Can you write in the description the items that can be combined?
 
Level 9
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Messages
355
I have just seen in your resources that you have other maps
Downloading them and trying them out
Oh, I noticed there was an update in the description but didn't know what it was
Did you add the items combination?
Because I just read it and didn't see it or maybe I missed it
 
Level 19
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Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
I have just seen in your resources that you have other maps
Downloading them and trying them out
Oh, I noticed there was an update in the description but didn't know what it was
Did you add the items combination?
Because I just read it and didn't see it or maybe I missed it

It's in the "features" section.
 
Level 19
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2.3 Patch Notes:
- Assassins now have mana. They can actually use their abilities.
- "Heavy Machine Gun" Recipe glitch fixed. When you combined the shotgun, revolver, and scrap metal, it used to
make a Mask of Fury. Now it creates the intended item.
- Two new upgrades added to the royal laboratory.
- Wirt's Other Leg has changed locations.
- Two more gold mines added. More gold added to creep mine.

EDIT: Hotfix. Removed "Holy Protection" ability and upgrade. It broke the game.

2.4 Patch Notes:
- Holy Protection has been replaced by Zealotry.
- Special secret added! Look for a wooden barrel.
- New cheat code added!

2.5 Patch Notes:
- New units added! The Crusade's forces have been emboldened by powerful new warriors!
- The Pegasus Knight is a human version of the Blood Elf Dragonhawk Rider and will slay foes from the sky.
- The Lasher is a righteous tormentor who brings pain and anguish to your enemies.
- The Scoundrel is an apprentice of the Witchhunter who can fight enemies with powerful anti-magic abilities.
- Footmen can now be upgraded to wield spears that deal siege damage. Yet another feature inspired by the Enhanced Human Campaign!
- After difficult negotiations with the Gnome Nomads (Gnomads) the Scarlet Crusade has been granted access to the versatile Gyrocopter! Now every Alliance unit is available to you.
- Bishops have new abilities and more initial mana
- Several small glitches/errors fixed.

For the next patch, I'll be looking to recruit someone who's good at enemy AI. I can't do AI at all, but it's something I've always wanted this map to have. Once we have it implemented, that'll be the final major patch for this map, and I'll be officially moving on to other projects, so stay tuned.
 
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Level 3
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Dec 14, 2014
Messages
29
Amazing map! Just played it entirely in one go, lol!

Found it to be quite easy, to be honest. Gave it a 5/5 rating for it's awesomeness and unit versatility BUT some things i think the map could have to improve quality of life:

1. The barrel easter egg was quite lackluster. Having infinite wood + access to the bank = infinite gold. Hooray! But the units were pretty much vanilla. In theory they should be THE best ranged units out there. But each and every one of them was severely outclassed by their Crusader counterpart. Quite sad, to be honest.

2. HUGE quality of life feature you could add: Map hotkeys for spell to QWER. micro'ing 5 heroes + several units + several casters in massive grindy battles is hard enough as is. I basically just used the AoE heal as a hero spell.

3. Dialogues... They're fast. And that's good. And bad. Do i read the dialogue or look @ whatever the hell is happening on screen? Sometimes I wasn't able to do both, so I'd add a couple seconds on each line for ppl who aren't native eng speakers (such as myself) to read AND look around at the scenery.

Still, incredible map, lots of promise and if you keep up producing content, i'll make sure to play them all! Great job!
 
Level 6
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May 21, 2013
Messages
149
I found a bug. When i put all items to craft ``Bandit Lord's Hood`` in the box, they disappeared from box :(
 
Level 1
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Oct 17, 2016
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2
I had trouble finding the Enchanted Shield and the Necklace of Spell Immunity. Are they monster drops, crate loot, or random from the Marketplace?

Apologies if this is pointed out somewhere else, I may have missed it.

Also, I'm not able to build any Battlemages or Conjurers due to not being able to build Arcane Towers. Did I do something wrong? I'd upgraded everything I can, and built every unit, too, I think, it still says I need to fulfill some requirements for those two units.
 
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Level 19
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Feb 19, 2009
Messages
848
I had trouble finding the Enchanted Shield and the Necklace of Spell Immunity. Are they monster drops, crate loot, or random from the Marketplace?

Apologies if this is pointed out somewhere else, I may have missed it.

Also, I'm not able to build any Battlemages or Conjurers due to not being able to build Arcane Towers. Did I do something wrong? I'd upgraded everything I can, and built every unit, too, I think, it still says I need to fulfill some requirements for those two units.

1. Those are monster drops, but it's possible the marketplace might sell them. Stay vigilant.

2. You can't upgrade your scout towers into arcane towers?
 
Level 1
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Oct 17, 2016
Messages
2
1. Those are monster drops, but it's possible the marketplace might sell them. Stay vigilant.

2. You can't upgrade your scout towers into arcane towers?

Ah ha, I'm dense. I had it in my head that Arcane Towers were to be very similar looking to Mage Guild buildings. Hahahaha! Thanks for the response!
 
Level 3
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Apr 5, 2015
Messages
47
Hey Homor! I been loving this melee map since like forever and i play the latest patch yesterday but it buzzle me. everything i restart and i just finding random loot and sometimes i didn't find all the require recipe for the items...so its hard for me to find the neckless of spell immunity. and sometimes i restart the enchanted shield dosent show up itself -_-.
 
Level 19
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Feb 19, 2009
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@KJmaster208

Both of those are set to drop randomly. But it would probably be for the best if I set them to drop every time from certain enemies. Next patch I'll do that.

Unfortunately, I don't know when the enemy AI will be implemented. Nobody responded to the thread I made recruiting AI creators. So I'll either have to look longer and harder or try to learn to do it myself.
 
Level 3
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Apr 5, 2015
Messages
47
Welp we still kinda waiting for that. and i just want the specific items for crafting to be appear from specific mini boss.

anyway keep up a good work.
 
Level 8
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Apr 26, 2016
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392
Come on man i know you played call of duty finest hour before you post this compaign on hive and called it finest hour.
 
Level 19
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848
Scarlet Crusade, huh?
Why not do an Argent Dawn one?

It's hard to find Argent Dawn models/skins, but I do have a handful of good ones. Sulahid could probably help out on that front too. I'm not 100% sure how the Argent Dawn would fit into this setting* but I have some ideas.

*For reference, my maps take place in a world called "Angora." Not Azeroth.
 
Level 5
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Sep 13, 2017
Messages
105
It's hard to find Argent Dawn models/skins, but I do have a handful of good ones. Sulahid could probably help out on that front too. I'm not 100% sure how the Argent Dawn would fit into this setting* but I have some ideas.

*For reference, my maps take place in a world called "Angora." Not Azeroth.
Interesting...
I see. :)
 
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