The Shadow Blade

[tulee]

Just to remind you all: The author of this campaign is Kel'Thuzak. The campaign is posted on hiveworkshop on his behalf with his express permission.
The campaign was originally posted here:

自定义战役“暗影之刃”发布！

Permission From Author

This is a campaign from the Chinese warcraft 3 community. Hopefully we can "give back" in the sense that by sharing many campaigns from their community, it will inspire Hiveworkshop creators to make more campaigns, and then the chinese language community can play those campaigns when the Chinese translators bring Hive campaigns to their community (so in this way, they can benefit also).

 

[deepstrasz]

Please provide proper permission from the author, not a simple picture of Chinese characters.

 

[克尔苏加克]

I am Kel'Thuzak，the author of this campaign from China. Many thanks to Tulee for translating it into English and posting it on Hive. Hope players here enjoy it!

 

[Pandora_X]

-The cinematics are unskippable,
I don't know if it's just me, but somehow, every time I load a saved game, some units disappear, and their sizes change.
-some parts during dialogue are empty
-and for the quest invaders conflict on ch6, I don't understand what I'm supposed to do? I tried kiting, doesn't work, poking, doesn't work, do I have to wait or something?
-Chapter 7, you can practically solo fights with heroes throughout the level as the units are getting overwhelmed easily



BTW
-love the models and skin
-I wish the units in the first map, like the sorceress and priestess, are available
-I love the campaign is in the perspective of Shandris

 

[cleavinghammer]

General:

Trauma Medicine (and other healing items) still says Non-Combat Consumable.

If Shandris' ability is called Crossbow, her model should have a crossbow.

... Moon Goddess Railgun? Really?

Swiftness Aura icon isn't passive.

Dryads and Flower Fairies have the same icon.

Flower Fairies shouldn't use the Poison Arrows projectile since they don't have poison attacks.


Secondary inventory: ... eh, useful but kinda clunky.


Color code on level selection screen is messed up.


Prologue:

• Loading screen: quiet Ashenvale -> quiet Ashenvale forest
• I am an ordinary -> I was once an ordinary
• My hometown is -> My hometown was

First level

Intro: certainly will -> will certainly

Quest message & log: Arrive at -> Go to

The force wall blocking off Jarod leaves a gap between the statues.

Tyrande cutscene: as you become -> as you have become

Jarod cutscene:

• As you know, the mountains [...] some Mur'guls. I have recently received [...] -> the mountains [...] some Mur'guls, but I have recently received [...]
• Mur'guls -> Murlocs

Jarod's guards belong to " 1".

Fairy dragon quest:

• When rescued, the fairy dragon goes to the north edge of the map and dies instead of going to the questgiver.
• Not sure if "cubs" is the best term for lizard-looking creatures. Hatchlings maybe? Also, why is the one that's lost called "ancient" if it's one of their young?

Mylune's quest:

• Log: Prep -> Preparations
• Update messages should be greyed out, and have "return to Mylune" when all the parts have been found.

The Forest Spirits have a tendency to move around without attacking even when under attack.

Fluorescent Grass shouldn't use the same icon as Trauma Medicine.

Troll quest:

• "the rich wealth" -> "the riches" or "the wealth"
• Mysterious Scroll -> Arcane Scroll

Fountain of Mana in the center should be a Fountain of Health as there are no healers for most of the level.

Since this is pre-Legion coming back, there should be a reason for killing furbolgs.

Large Terror Wolf: I think you can go with just Terror Wolf, since "Dire Wolf" already means "scary wolf".

Bosses should not have Critical Strike, one did 400+ damage on a hero with 800 HP.

Similarly, towers shouldn't have Finger of Death on a level where you can't replace units. Or at least give the player a ballista.

Jarod cutscene: "performing a summoning ritual to summon other" -> "performing a ritual to summon other" (redundant)

No comment on the corrupted Guardians?

I actually found the place where the second runestone was long before I ran into the runestone questgiver, there should be a hint that there's something there.

End cutscene: maybe "Mistress" instead of "Miss".

 

[Urim03]

Not bad, but quite too many things to improve to leave a 5/5.

I'll just stay simple :
-The balance between heroes and non-heroes is very bad, I don't see real points in having units when each hero is stronger than an army.
-Too many crashes, I know that part is due to reforged which can crash if you sneeze too loudly, but I couldn't even finish the last mission without getting a crash. I even tried not playing but it still crashed in like 12 minutes. Anyone could finish it it ? I'm curious, I tried 10 times with different settings or strategy, even cheats, always crashed.
-I really like the 2 items set, it also allows to partly counter the attack speed bug in campaigns (that never got fixed since release) and it feels good to be able to have one set with consumables and one with permanent items.

Overall, considering it seems to be the first campaign made by Kel-Thuzak, it is honestly not bad at all. Thank you for translating this map and all the others.

 

[tulee]

-Too many crashes, I know that part is due to reforged which can crash if you sneeze too loudly, but I couldn't even finish the last mission without getting a crash. I even tried not playing but it still crashed in like 12 minutes. Anyone could finish it it ? I'm curious, I tried 10 times with different settings or strategy, even cheats, always crashed.

Are you playing on the latest version of wc3? There should be no associated crashes with the translated version of Kel'Thuzak's campaign. Obviously, I played through it all before translating it. The only issue I remember with the final mission is for those multiple riddle questions, there are some riddle questions which if you answer incorrectly, the game does not continue, with all units just waiting there paused.

 

[cleavinghammer]

^ I'm getting crashes when using Shandris' ultimate, but it seems to only happen after loading multiple times.


When loading a game, music from the previous save keeps playing.

Glaive Throwers should be replaced with Ballistas.

Satyr ancients don't turn to attack.


Interlude: the forces -> his forces / the loyalist forces / Tyrande's forces


Second level:

Main quest: Arrive at -> Get to / Reach

Hint: a rune stone -> one rune stone

Reunion cutscene:

• in pursuit of -> to help
• Who do you work under -> Who is your commander

Riddle Rock: domestic -> Chinese

 

[pedeng]

hi guys im just astonished on this work very well done keltuzad. i also like the quests as well ^^

 

[Urim03]

Are you playing on the latest version of wc3? There should be no associated crashes with the translated version of Kel'Thuzak's campaign. Obviously, I played through it all before translating it. The only issue I remember with the final mission is for those multiple riddle questions, there are some riddle questions which if you answer incorrectly, the game does not continue, with all units just waiting there paused.

I also did get some pause depending on which wrong answer I press.
Regarding the version, I am playing on the latest reforged version, which is currently the 2.0.1.22498. However I do seem to crash more than the average person on reforged, when I play some random map with friends, but never so excessively.
And like cleavinghammer mentionned, I also got crashes while using Shandris' ultimate few times. Almost 100% of all crashes are either from Shandris ult or from last mission campaign.

 

[cleavinghammer]

Tyrande's BotM spell tooltip doesn't give its level.

Third level:

This took a while, would you believe in the second part I was getting attack waves consisting of one (1) visible unit and all the others invisible (admittedly a good demonstration of the importance of focus-fire)?
In fact I suspect my base was getting the waves intended for Furion, since red attacked them but never green, while green attack waves come in so often they're able to use the corpses of the previous attack wave to raise skeletons.



You can reach Furion's base via the red base but nothing happens if you go there.

Intro cutscene: Miss -> Mistress

Main quests:

• Arrive at -> Reach
• catch up with -> catch up to
• Tyrande and Shandris decided -> Tyrande and Shandris have decided

Reunion cutscene: Shandris, but you -> Shandris, you

 

[Icy-Boy]

was funny and challenging to play thanks for translate
only problem about was that riddles mentioned Chinese campaigns that I know nothing about them

 

[creepkillerxx]

last mission is unplayable for me, keeps crashing, not sure why, tried in both classic and reforged graphics. the first run through, both the doom guard and dreadlord attack the paladin base at roughly the 24-25min mark, game keeps crashing at roughly that point. 2nd run through, smooth sailing to roughly 20min mark when archi attacks the paladin base. game keeps crashing again at that point.

Otherwise, quite enjoyed this campaign. the last piece of the kelthuzak runestone gave me anxiety issues when i couldnt find it in the first 3/4 of the map haha.

 

[cleavinghammer]

Fourth level:

Intro: One of Furion's lines is untranslated.

Treant hint calls the Ancient Force of Nature ability Force of Ancient Nature.

Quests: [Hero] must not die -> [Hero] must survive

The satyrs guarding the Fountain of Health west of the purple base belong to Wild Creatures.

AI heroes need a "get back to base" trigger, if you send Treants to attack and it happens to coincide with Xavius' attack wave, Xavius will just sit there once the treants are dead without being replaced. Meanwhile allied heroes will happily get kited and wait to be killed far outside their base.

Xavius needs a nerf, he's able to outlast his own attack wave with all that self-healing and summoning Infernals and Hellcallers who summon corpses.

Claw druids get their Mark, Talons don't?

Hippogryph Riders should be available for this one.

One of the satyr Death Knights is called Death Storm.

Quite a few locations with no trees, just flat terrain.

One of the fallen Keepers is named La Luode.

"rear area of the mountain" -> "other side of the mountain" maybe.

Shandris' line after exiting the cave is untranslated.

Cinematic:

• I thought you were dead a few months ago -> I thought you were killed a few months ago
• you did kill then -> you did kill me then
• unparalleled "Demon" power -> why the quotes?
• ok -> alright
• Two "my loves" in two sentences, one should be replaced.
• the Queen we betrayed -> the Queen who betrayed us

 

[LoveWarcraft3]

That's a beautiful campaign. I felt as if I bought a new game, made by Blizzard or somebody professional. I passed all the game on hard diffculty level, though I would make it 20-30% more difficult. And yes keeps crashing after I use Shandris' ultimate. Other than this great.

 

[cleavinghammer]

Interlude: Honestly pretty disappointed that the rest of the war is a cutscene.

his betrayal of -> his betrayal

caused by huge energy -> ?

to the Ashenvale -> to Ashenvale

will not last -> did not last



Fifth level:


Orc team names should be switched, the ones who stay still are called Patrols.

Completed parts of quest messages should be greyed out.

Furbolg quest:

• will give reward you -> will reward you
• There should be a counter for how many furbolgs are left to find/the messages should mention the number.
• If you rescue furbolgs before getting the quest, they might not count as rescued (since furbolgs go invisible on loading I don't know if I got all of them).
• Furbolg villagers should fight the orc patrols, they just sit there and watch you be attacked.

Had a level 5 runestone, the furbolg gave me a level 6 one, now I have a level 7 one. Is that supposed to be the case?

The level should give you units with siege damage, the last part is just a slog (especially since they keep rebuilding).

Why is the Blademaster already fel-tainted?

End cutscene: sentinels -> Sentinels

 

[Verb8im]

General:

Trauma Medicine (and other healing items) still says Non-Combat Consumable.

If Shandris' ability is called Crossbow, her model should have a crossbow.

... Moon Goddess Railgun? Really?

Swiftness Aura icon isn't passive.

Dryads and Flower Fairies have the same icon.

Flower Fairies shouldn't use the Poison Arrows projectile since they don't have poison attacks.


Secondary inventory: ... eh, useful but kinda clunky.


Color code on level selection screen is messed up.


Prologue:

• Loading screen: quiet Ashenvale -> quiet Ashenvale forest
• I am an ordinary -> I was once an ordinary
• My hometown is -> My hometown was

First level

Intro: certainly will -> will certainly

Quest message & log: Arrive at -> Go to

The force wall blocking off Jarod leaves a gap between the statues.

Tyrande cutscene: as you become -> as you have become

Jarod cutscene:

• As you know, the mountains [...] some Mur'guls. I have recently received [...] -> the mountains [...] some Mur'guls, but I have recently received [...]
• Mur'guls -> Murlocs

Jarod's guards belong to " 1".

Fairy dragon quest:

• When rescued, the fairy dragon goes to the north edge of the map and dies instead of going to the questgiver.
• Not sure if "cubs" is the best term for lizard-looking creatures. Hatchlings maybe? Also, why is the one that's lost called "ancient" if it's one of their young?

Mylune's quest:

• Log: Prep -> Preparations
• Update messages should be greyed out, and have "return to Mylune" when all the parts have been found.

The Forest Spirits have a tendency to move around without attacking even when under attack.

Fluorescent Grass shouldn't use the same icon as Trauma Medicine.

Troll quest:

• "the rich wealth" -> "the riches" or "the wealth"
• Mysterious Scroll -> Arcane Scroll

Fountain of Mana in the center should be a Fountain of Health as there are no healers for most of the level.

Since this is pre-Legion coming back, there should be a reason for killing furbolgs.

Large Terror Wolf: I think you can go with just Terror Wolf, since "Dire Wolf" already means "scary wolf".

Bosses should not have Critical Strike, one did 400+ damage on a hero with 800 HP.

Similarly, towers shouldn't have Finger of Death on a level where you can't replace units. Or at least give the player a ballista.

Jarod cutscene: "performing a summoning ritual to summon other" -> "performing a ritual to summon other" (redundant)

No comment on the corrupted Guardians?

I actually found the place where the second runestone was long before I ran into the runestone questgiver, there should be a hint that there's something there.

End cutscene: maybe "Mistress" instead of "Miss".

Where is the second runestone? I found the first one kel'thuzak gave me, but can't find the other one

EDIT: nevermind, I finally found it

 

[cleavinghammer]

Stuck on the seventh level as the game keeps crashing on loading, so here's what I have until now:


Furion's Treants have no death animation (and the ones based on them), they just pop out of existence once dead.

Passive abilities on Tyrande and Shandris don't use passive icons.



Sixth level

Main quest (several times): Arrive at -> Get to

When one of the enemy bases loses a hero, they train a new, level 1 hero then revert to the original high-leveled one when the new one dies.


Furbolg cutscene:

• brave Sentinel female warriors -> brave Sentinels
• Can you lead us to bring about our wish? -> Can you lead them to bring about our wish?

Huntress reunion

Portal quest:

• Huntress: we were struggling -> we struggled
• Hold out for a certain duration -> Hold out for [the time required/number of waves]
• No timer/wave counter in this part.

Seventh level

Part 1:

Dryads should start with Abolish Magic.

Part 2:

Enemies should not use Frozen Throne units (dragonhawks, obsidian statues, batriders, heroes etc.).

When the orcs attack, it gets the NH spiders north of the base to attack as well.

Are the humans and undead and orcs supposed to attack each other? As far as I can tell they called a truce to attack my base (there are human flyers crossing the undead base to get to mine).

Enemy HP appears to have been doubled even though I picked Normal.

Orc attacks stop happening after a while, and human attacks don't send gryphons after a while, only dragonhawks.

Weird thing with enemy heroes, they tend to run away and hide at low health.

Mutated Storm Lizard -> Ancient Storm Wyrm, to stay with the original phrasing.

The quiz intro should be reworded, "the original Warcraft" sounds like "Warcraft1" instead of a WoW question.

Getting a wrong answer on the quiz gets the message three times.

After the satyr cutscene, the aerial pathing blockers aren't removed from the path and island, so flyers have to take the long way around.

Satyr Rebels should be renamed, since they're an independent faction rather than rebels.

Fallen KotG still has a Chinese name.

Item warning message: to the collect -> to collect

Part 3:

When appearing in the cave, heroes should be turned to face the camera.

I know it's the World Editor's fault, but maybe hide the cliffs around the tunnel entrance with doodads so it doesn't look so out-of-place.

DotC quest: Arrive at -> Get to

Final runestone doesn't show its cooldown.

Bloodthirsty Venomous Spider's name is too long for the textbox.

• ... Why does it have Divine Shield?
• Aaaaand another boss with 100+ damage and Critical Strike.

Edit: Finally beat part 3, what with the disappearing superbosses and such. Even Illidan goes model-less.

Day cycle should be locked to night on entering the cave.

Reskinned-Furion hero has "Guard Beard" as a hero name. Admittedly druid beards are impressive...

 

[cleavinghammer]

OK, I wasn't able to finish the last mission (there's a game crash when Archimonde attacks, possibly a spell he's casting), but I'd completed most of the quests anyway.


Apart from the crash:

I'd change Fallen Night Elves to Satyrs, since that's what they are.

As portals causes units to behave strangely (run up to the portal then immediately turn around), maybe have zeppelins or more pathways to reach outside bases.

Allied heroes should be ordered to return to their base, otherwise they stay where they are and get killed by the next wave.

... Does the lich have Starfall?

It'd be better to have the enemy bases entirely killable (like the satyr base) instead of just the towers, and cause the level to end with Archimonde reaching the tree once all the bases are destroyed. Or at least, killing the towers should limit how many units the enemy sends.

Archimonde cutscene:

• There's no skybox.
• Cinematic should show the wisps converging on Archimonde and the explosion.

Post-credits:

Bilibili account is blank (presumably due to Chinese characters).




Overall:

The mechanics were interesting and generally worked. Squeezing three levels into one was a novel idea, though unfortunately it seems to cause crashes due to the level's sheer length.

It's true that heroes end up overpowered, but that's due to finding three or four tomes per mission. Personally I didn't mind (though it might be more logical to have a melee hero to truly benefit from all those Str tomes).

Balance-wise, the new units were interesting. However, giving ranged heroes defensive bonuses is pretty counterintuitive (and seems to take away thrie Shadowmeld).

One thing that's disappointing is that Shandris pretty much becomes an NPC as the levels return to the original Warcraft campaign. She should comment more, even if she has no voicelines.


Generally speaking, a very good and polished campaign.

 

[deepstrasz]

Approved mostly based on @cleavinghammer's invaluable feedback.
Rated lower due to bugs.

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