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- Sep 18, 2007
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Hello all. Last night I had discussion long time with azlier about WCIII Beta stuff, we discussed about official pre-release WCIII version which contains of some buildings/units/abilities which were different from final one we have now.
So, I got idea to see for your precious opinions about those stuff, to discuss which units/buildings/abilities and such was better in Beta, which one of them should stay in official Wc3 and Frozen Throne rather than got removed or replaced.
So, here are some of those known beta stuff which got different from final version, replaced or removed in total:
First, everyone could train only one hero from Town Hall and revive it from Altar! heroes could get ultimate ability from level 5
Orcs
In Beta, Orcs had both Lumber Mill and Forge for upgrading stuff, rather than all sticked in Lumber Mill.
This was Lumber Mill. It could upgrade ranged weapons and Spiked barricades. And used for lumbering storage.
This was Forge. It upgraded Melle Weapon and shields.
Orcs used Pig Farms instead Burrows for food production buildings. Each farm produces 10 units of food.
Burrows were used only as bunkers, it is said
,,Any unit can be placed in the burrows for them to attack, with each new unit increasing the firing rate of the Orc Burrow. Peons tend to work best as they are the cheapest units. "
Tauren Totem had
,,Research Warstomp - Research Warstomp ability of the Tauren to give him a chance to do double damage when attacking."
And Tauren Totem served as prerequisite for Taurens, because Taurens were trained from barracks
Troll Headhunter had this ability instead of berserk
,,Tracking - Increases Troll Headhunter sight radius at night."
Troll Witch Doctor had this ability instead of Healing Ward
,,Ancestrial Guardian - Summons an ancient hydra for a short amount of time. The Hydra is immobile, but attacks enemy units with a fire attack."
Well this is kinda like Shadow Hunter Hero's wards.
Icon and model of this Ancestrial Guards are hidden in World Editor.
Kodo beast had this icon instead of War Drums we have
Humans
Human's farm could produced 10 food and costed more instead of 6, which is for me much better choice rather than often building farms around base.
Mage Tower
Remember High Elf barracks in campaign? This was designed to be Mage Tower for humans at first place. It trained Priests and Sorceress.
Arcane Sanctum - it is used for upgrades for Priests and Sorceress.
Gryphon Aviary had this upgrade
,,Research Animal Husbandry - Increases the Max HP of Gryphon Riders and Knights by +150"
Night Elf
Tree of Ages has this upgrade
,,Research Wisp Healing - Researching healing spell for Wisps."
So, as friendly Spirits, Wisps could be used as Healing units. This was good thing.
Bear Deen
You remember Barrow Deen from Nigh Elf missions? Well this was supposed to be buildable for player as Beer Den and served to upgrade Druid of Claw, Talon and Dryad upgrades.
Chimaera Roost served only to upgrade some upgrades and as prerequisite for Chimaeras, because Chimaeras were trained from Ancient of Wind
Druid of the Claw, had those abilities
,,Barkskin - Increases a unit's armor by 2. [autocast]"
Barskin icon is hidden in World Editor
,,Battle Roar - Randomly occurs during attack. Decreases the target's armor by -2. "
Basically Roar served to scare enemies, decreasing their arrmor rather than increasing your damage!
Undead
Death Knight Hero has Death pact little different ability
,,Death Pact - Kills a friendly unit to convert it's HP into a shield for the Death Knight.
(Level 1) - Shield has 50% of targeted unit's HP.
(Level 2) - Shield has 100% of targeted unit's HP.
(Level 3) - Shield has 150% of targeted unit's HP. "
So basically, it did not restore hit points like now, it created additional shield for him which means, that only first shield must be broken, before Hero started to take damage. That shield had also its own visual effect around Hero.
Dread Lord Hero had his Infernal Ultimate ability replaced with Dark Summoning
,,Dark Summoning - The Dread Lord is able to teleport units across the battlefield. 12 units may be summoned to the Dread Lord's side when the spell is used. Must be at level 5 to learn."
That ability still exists in World Editor I think. I prefer more Infernal rather than this one.
Necropolis/Halls of dead/Black Citadel had different and much better for me apperiance.
You see, there was green pool is past, where that green water was falling in.
In our versions, it got removed, so necropolis had green water falling down and in air suddenly dissapears! That is stupid.
Graveyard had different appearance too
Gargoyle Spire
,,Once created, the Gargoyle Spire attracts the vicious Gargoyles of Northrend to roost here. These vicious creatures revel in slaughter and mayhem, and gladly join your army once this Spire is summoned. The Gargoyles take refuge inside the Crypt, awating their need in battle. "
Gargoyle Spire's model is hidden in World Editor, but there is no icon for it.
You must use this one.
Sacrificial Pit sacrificed Shades in past, but also used to upgrade upgrades for Banshees and Necromancers.
Crypt Fiend
Remember when Crypt Fiend attacks, it throws some web at enemy, and that web is coming back to him before he can attack again?
I wondered why is that. here is why, because he had this ability
,,Attack (Spiderlings) - Sends out a wave of small spider hatchlings which drain life from the target and return it to the Crypt Fiend. "
I think that was cool ability, they should not remove it.
Necromancer had Cripple ability replaced for this one
,,Corpse Explosion - Detonates a corpse causing a large amount of splash damage on surrounding units."
That was cool ability too
Gargoyle had 200 mana, and his Stone Form costed 200 mana which means if he deploys into stone form, he need to take some time until gain full mana to get able to deploy into storm form again. This means that this ability was less used, so I am glad that they removed mana cost from it.
Neutrals
Marketplace
,,Random Item - Sells the hero a random item."
Well this model Marketplace has we know as Fruit Stand from World Editor.
Marketplace was supposed to sell random item for random money to you.
Know as ,,Item luck" ability.
Thieves Guild
Function: Reveals information on other players
Spies - Reveals all enemy buildings on the map. The player will be able to see anything other players can see, at a price of 200 gold per building on the map. This ability has a limited duration.
Rumors - Reveal the "scores" of each player."
Well, that building got completely removed from game, I used this screenshot from our model in model section.
Goblin Merchant also contained different items for selling.
Goblin Laboratory did not have Goblin Shredder, he was supposed to be as Neutral Hostile unit fighter.
Mercenary Camp could train only Forest Troll Berserker, Forest Troll Shadow Priest and Ogre Mauler, perhaps not matter of map place you are playing.
FROZEN THRONE
We see from this screenshot that Blood Mage had Mana Drain ability replaced for this called ,,Blood Elf mana Shield"
Icon for this spell is hidden in World Editor.
We see from this screenshot that Avatar of Vengeance had different model, which is bad in my opinion, and also had different stats than this one we have now.
Here is even another variation of Blood Mage third ability.
Here, Panderan Hero had different look
Troll Hero Shadow Hunter for Orcs had different look with Mask
So, I got idea to see for your precious opinions about those stuff, to discuss which units/buildings/abilities and such was better in Beta, which one of them should stay in official Wc3 and Frozen Throne rather than got removed or replaced.
So, here are some of those known beta stuff which got different from final version, replaced or removed in total:
First, everyone could train only one hero from Town Hall and revive it from Altar! heroes could get ultimate ability from level 5
Orcs
In Beta, Orcs had both Lumber Mill and Forge for upgrading stuff, rather than all sticked in Lumber Mill.
This was Lumber Mill. It could upgrade ranged weapons and Spiked barricades. And used for lumbering storage.
This was Forge. It upgraded Melle Weapon and shields.
Orcs used Pig Farms instead Burrows for food production buildings. Each farm produces 10 units of food.
Burrows were used only as bunkers, it is said
,,Any unit can be placed in the burrows for them to attack, with each new unit increasing the firing rate of the Orc Burrow. Peons tend to work best as they are the cheapest units. "
Tauren Totem had
,,Research Warstomp - Research Warstomp ability of the Tauren to give him a chance to do double damage when attacking."
And Tauren Totem served as prerequisite for Taurens, because Taurens were trained from barracks
Troll Headhunter had this ability instead of berserk
,,Tracking - Increases Troll Headhunter sight radius at night."
Troll Witch Doctor had this ability instead of Healing Ward
,,Ancestrial Guardian - Summons an ancient hydra for a short amount of time. The Hydra is immobile, but attacks enemy units with a fire attack."
Well this is kinda like Shadow Hunter Hero's wards.
Icon and model of this Ancestrial Guards are hidden in World Editor.
Kodo beast had this icon instead of War Drums we have
Humans
Human's farm could produced 10 food and costed more instead of 6, which is for me much better choice rather than often building farms around base.
Mage Tower
Remember High Elf barracks in campaign? This was designed to be Mage Tower for humans at first place. It trained Priests and Sorceress.
Arcane Sanctum - it is used for upgrades for Priests and Sorceress.
Gryphon Aviary had this upgrade
,,Research Animal Husbandry - Increases the Max HP of Gryphon Riders and Knights by +150"
Night Elf
Tree of Ages has this upgrade
,,Research Wisp Healing - Researching healing spell for Wisps."
So, as friendly Spirits, Wisps could be used as Healing units. This was good thing.
Bear Deen
You remember Barrow Deen from Nigh Elf missions? Well this was supposed to be buildable for player as Beer Den and served to upgrade Druid of Claw, Talon and Dryad upgrades.
Chimaera Roost served only to upgrade some upgrades and as prerequisite for Chimaeras, because Chimaeras were trained from Ancient of Wind
Druid of the Claw, had those abilities
,,Barkskin - Increases a unit's armor by 2. [autocast]"
Barskin icon is hidden in World Editor
,,Battle Roar - Randomly occurs during attack. Decreases the target's armor by -2. "
Basically Roar served to scare enemies, decreasing their arrmor rather than increasing your damage!
Undead
Death Knight Hero has Death pact little different ability
,,Death Pact - Kills a friendly unit to convert it's HP into a shield for the Death Knight.
(Level 1) - Shield has 50% of targeted unit's HP.
(Level 2) - Shield has 100% of targeted unit's HP.
(Level 3) - Shield has 150% of targeted unit's HP. "
So basically, it did not restore hit points like now, it created additional shield for him which means, that only first shield must be broken, before Hero started to take damage. That shield had also its own visual effect around Hero.
Dread Lord Hero had his Infernal Ultimate ability replaced with Dark Summoning
,,Dark Summoning - The Dread Lord is able to teleport units across the battlefield. 12 units may be summoned to the Dread Lord's side when the spell is used. Must be at level 5 to learn."
That ability still exists in World Editor I think. I prefer more Infernal rather than this one.
Necropolis/Halls of dead/Black Citadel had different and much better for me apperiance.
You see, there was green pool is past, where that green water was falling in.
In our versions, it got removed, so necropolis had green water falling down and in air suddenly dissapears! That is stupid.
Graveyard had different appearance too
Gargoyle Spire
,,Once created, the Gargoyle Spire attracts the vicious Gargoyles of Northrend to roost here. These vicious creatures revel in slaughter and mayhem, and gladly join your army once this Spire is summoned. The Gargoyles take refuge inside the Crypt, awating their need in battle. "
Gargoyle Spire's model is hidden in World Editor, but there is no icon for it.
You must use this one.
Sacrificial Pit sacrificed Shades in past, but also used to upgrade upgrades for Banshees and Necromancers.
Crypt Fiend
Remember when Crypt Fiend attacks, it throws some web at enemy, and that web is coming back to him before he can attack again?
I wondered why is that. here is why, because he had this ability
,,Attack (Spiderlings) - Sends out a wave of small spider hatchlings which drain life from the target and return it to the Crypt Fiend. "
I think that was cool ability, they should not remove it.
Necromancer had Cripple ability replaced for this one
,,Corpse Explosion - Detonates a corpse causing a large amount of splash damage on surrounding units."
That was cool ability too
Gargoyle had 200 mana, and his Stone Form costed 200 mana which means if he deploys into stone form, he need to take some time until gain full mana to get able to deploy into storm form again. This means that this ability was less used, so I am glad that they removed mana cost from it.
Neutrals
Marketplace
,,Random Item - Sells the hero a random item."
Well this model Marketplace has we know as Fruit Stand from World Editor.
Marketplace was supposed to sell random item for random money to you.
Know as ,,Item luck" ability.
Thieves Guild
Function: Reveals information on other players
Spies - Reveals all enemy buildings on the map. The player will be able to see anything other players can see, at a price of 200 gold per building on the map. This ability has a limited duration.
Rumors - Reveal the "scores" of each player."
Well, that building got completely removed from game, I used this screenshot from our model in model section.
Goblin Merchant also contained different items for selling.
Goblin Laboratory did not have Goblin Shredder, he was supposed to be as Neutral Hostile unit fighter.
Mercenary Camp could train only Forest Troll Berserker, Forest Troll Shadow Priest and Ogre Mauler, perhaps not matter of map place you are playing.
FROZEN THRONE
We see from this screenshot that Blood Mage had Mana Drain ability replaced for this called ,,Blood Elf mana Shield"
Icon for this spell is hidden in World Editor.
We see from this screenshot that Avatar of Vengeance had different model, which is bad in my opinion, and also had different stats than this one we have now.
Here is even another variation of Blood Mage third ability.
Here, Panderan Hero had different look
Troll Hero Shadow Hunter for Orcs had different look with Mask
