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| Thread: ICTC3 - The Portal |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 · «PREV |
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted March 21, 2008 06:54 PM |
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Wow this city is SO cool. It is very original and should be in heroes 6!!
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Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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GenieLord
Honorable
Legendary Hero
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posted March 26, 2008 03:58 PM |
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I'm going to be the first who marks the Portal. That's exciting...
Cohesiveness: 10 / 10 points
Imagination/creativity/originality/wow factor: 13 / 15 points
Back story: 10 / 10 points - The history is just perfect. Feels like the official.
Battle facets: 6 / 10 points - I really expected to see much more interesting creature abilities. I added a couple of points for a good racial skill.
Discretionary: 5 / 5 points - For your back story, which definitely deserves more than 10 points.
Overall Score: 44
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Momo
Promising
Famous Hero
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posted March 27, 2008 01:37 AM |
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Curse you GenieLord, I was supposed to review the Portal first! I unleash an grandmaster elemental chain of gnomes to gwillions to spriggans to kelpies to, huhm Magmadragons to, let's see, Water Elementals, ALL OVER YOUR FACE (the, huhm, Gnome is the one directly attacking - that should be humiliating enough)!
...ahem. That said.
Cohesiveness: 10 / 10 points no brainer. Baklavas made them, so they stick well together. Duh.
Imagination: 15 / 15 points I like this especially because it takes some elements mentioned but not expanded in Heroes V (the faceless, etc.) and expands them so well that they seem part of the game. I values re-imagining highly. I also like the idea of darkness interpreted as beautiful and not as frightening.
Back story: 10 / 10 points do I really need to explain why? Feels good, entangles well with the Ashan storyline (perhaps Elrath looks too idiot) and, most importantly -something rarely seen in this contest- IT'S TO THE POINT. There's not much written in the story (and actually in the whole work) that felt unneeded and overdone.
Battle facets: 8 / 10 points here's where most factions fall, and here's where the mighty Baklava falls too. While the creatures are mostly charaterized by good offense and speed but low survivability, they mostly design an "ambush" style of fight (you can even retire from a siege...), but it's not, nearly, developed like it could have been. The racial is also good, but not that linked to the overall feel of the gameplay. You get a couple of points, however, for the attention in making each upgrade truly a choice.
Discretionary: 5 / 5 points don't think I skipped your tweaks on taxes and the blacksmith... overall, a good work with a lot of interesting material. I like the theme, too (beautiful darkness), I see a lot of effort, and -allow me to say it again- for the absolute lack of any material that wasn't worth reading.
Overall Score: 48/50 you tie with GenieLord for my favorite faction with his Refuge, whose theme I REALLY dislike but whose amazing gameplay curently crushes everything on sight.
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Snatch
Promising
Known Hero
Proud Kappa
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posted March 27, 2008 03:01 AM |
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Quote:
you tie with GenieLord for my favorite faction with his Refuge, whose theme I REALLY dislike but whose amazing gameplay curently crushes everything on sight.
Maybe I'm a bit blind but where do you see the amazing gameplay in GenieLords faction? He uses no other game mechanics as we have in Heroes 5 already. I agree that he has many good ideas but the innovation is nevertheless restricted. Or is it amazing for you to stay with the old than honour a change or further development (if it is well-conceived)?
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Momo
Promising
Famous Hero
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posted March 27, 2008 09:48 AM |
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Edited by Momo at 09:53, 27 Mar 2008.
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Quote:
Quote:
you tie with GenieLord for my favorite faction with his Refuge, whose theme I REALLY dislike but whose amazing gameplay curently crushes everything on sight.
Maybe I'm a bit blind but where do you see the amazing gameplay in GenieLords faction? He uses no other game mechanics as we have in Heroes 5 already. I agree that he has many good ideas but the innovation is nevertheless restricted. Or is it amazing for you to stay with the old than honour a change or further development (if it is well-conceived)?
The amazing part is having a racial skill that forces tactical choices, is intrinsecally balanced (as it can be used against you) and automatically designs a distinct playstyle for that faction (along with various abilities). Something on the level of "necromancy", to give you a comparison. It is also amazing that GenieLord entangles gameplay with storytelling, as you decide which part of story you know and change your perspective, depending which hero you chose - entwining these aspects is indeed the trademark of most next-gen games.
Most entries didn't bothered a lot with gameplay, which is by far the least cared aspect in this competition. Yet it should be the most important one.
A lot of of factions introduced by far more innovations than Baklava or GenieLord did. The problem is asking yourself if A) these innovations refresh the spirit of the series or betray it (see Heroes 4); B) these innovations end up mattering in gameplay making it feel different, because if they don't, you just ended up overcomplicating life for the players for no real gain.
For example, Baklava's idea about taxes (developed in a grand total of one sentece) would bring to the gameplay far more innovation than various pages of new abilities in other entries.
Back to GenieLord, such a coherence between the faction theme and gameplay, that succeeds to give a distinct feeling to both, is to be rewarded.
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Snatch
Promising
Known Hero
Proud Kappa
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posted March 27, 2008 05:05 PM |
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Edited by Snatch at 17:06, 27 Mar 2008.
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Cohesiveness: 9/10 (seems to fit almost perfectly)
Imagination: 12/15 (some very nice ideas, but there are still possibilities to improve further left)
Back story: 9/10 (good outwork of a well-known theme)
Battle facets: 8/10 (nice combat strategies possible, good variety of alternative upgrades, solid racial)
Discretionary: 2/5 (I can't give you many points here because it is not my favourite theme, but this points are for your ideas and effort)
40/50
@ Momo: Thanks. Now I understand your point of view better. 
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Golemcrafter
Promising
Famous Hero
Unlimited Fantasy Master
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posted March 27, 2008 06:37 PM |
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My Rate about The Portal
Cohesiveness: 10/10 points
Imagination/creativity/originality/wow factor: 14/15 points (I think this town is quite similar to Dungeon.)
Back Stroy: 9/10 points (If reading would be the goal for me...but it isn't. The story is really good, but it is too long. None of the town has so much history.)
Battle Facets: 8/10 points (Almost nothing new ability, but which are new, are nice. Personally, I don't like your racial skill. It's too simple.)
Discreationary: 4/5 points (For the heroes and for the amazing campaign!)
Overall: 45/50 points
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baklava
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Mostly harmless
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posted March 28, 2008 12:45 AM |
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I scored 40/0 with Snatch  Dude, that's got to be your highest mark yet 
Quote:
I really expected to see much more interesting creature abilities.
Well, I tried to fit it in the rest of the universe. I mean, neither Stronghold nor Fortress had too innovative creature abilities (or creatures at all, while we're at it) when they came out and they're still quite solid towns IMO. Besides, there was always the risk of making it overcomplicated etc. I just tried to find a solid, safe mid-solution.
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Imagination: 12/15 (some very nice ideas, but there are still possibilities to improve further left)
I'm open for suggestions of course. I may update the town further after the contest. Feel free to enlighten me with additional ideas.
Quote:
None of the town has so much history
That's sort of the point  I never thought of that as a bad thing, really.
Thanks to everyone nevertheless I appreciate all the feedback.
____________
"Let me tell you what the blues
is. When you ain't got no
money,
you got the blues."
Howlin Wolf
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Snatch
Promising
Known Hero
Proud Kappa
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posted March 28, 2008 06:53 AM |
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No, I fear it is not. It's about 5th highest I think. The Palace scored 46, The Burrows and Colony scored 44. And I think there was one with 41. But can't remember which at the moment.
Enlighten with ideas... hm... I think especially in terms of creatures and abilities the shadow and faceless theme has some potential left. The other judges seem to think similar.
About the history. Doesn't have the Clockwork much history and background too?
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baklava
Honorable
Legendary Hero
Mostly harmless
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posted March 28, 2008 11:03 AM |
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Edited by baklava at 12:50, 28 Mar 2008.
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No, I fear it is not. It's about 5th highest I think. The Palace scored 46, The Burrows and Colony scored 44. And I think there was one with 41. But can't remember which at the moment.
It's Vlaad's high elf town, I think. Anyways, I was just kidding, referring to your rather harsher marking system for most factions than most judges have
Quote:
Enlighten with ideas... hm... I think especially in terms of creatures and abilities the shadow and faceless theme has some potential left. The other judges seem to think similar.
I know. I just asked if you have some advice on the matter. You know. An idea or two to make the town better.
Quote:
About the history. Doesn't have the Clockwork much history and background too?
Possibly. I never really compared I took Golemcrafter's word for it
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Snatch
Promising
Known Hero
Proud Kappa
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posted March 28, 2008 04:05 PM |
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Yes, that's true. To get a score about 40 from me can be called a success. I rather prefer to have some space left to all sides than going close to the limits. So I'm a bit lower on average.
And ideas. At the moment I have many and none. So many towns, creatures and abilities are swarming in my head because of power-judging. Maybe I can specify some ideas after the contest when I have a clear mind again.
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Tobius
Adventuring Hero
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posted March 30, 2008 03:20 PM |
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The Portal
Cohesiveness(5+5)=10 Probably the Faceless should look like this
Imagination(5+2+4)=11 Honestly I expected a more inventive faction, but it's quiet conventional (lots of copying from Heroes 5)
Back Story(5+5)=10 Really good background, expands well on the universe, but I dislike the story's happy ending
Battle Facets(3+3)=6 Well, the weakest point. No really inventive features - just solid
Discretionary: +2 for campaign and heroes
Total Score=39
How I graded these:
Cohesiveness (Internal Coherence [1-5]+HoMM Compatibility [1-5])
Imagination (Creativity [1-5]+Innovations [1-5]+Originality[1-5])
Back Story (How well it expands on one of the HoMM universes [1-5]+How interesting it was to me [1-5])
Battle Facets (Variety [1-5]+Inventive Aspects [1-5])
Discretionary (Bonus for exceptional efforts[1-5])
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Lexxan
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Unimpressed by your logic
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posted March 30, 2008 07:37 PM |
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Cohesiveness: Almost perfect 9'5/10
Imagination: Exceptionally Original 13/15
Back Story: WOW! 10/10
Battle facets: A little bit more refinement, but that shouldn't be too diffcult  7/10
Discretionairy: nice 4'5/5
Total: 44/50 = 88%
Overall: IMHO The best of this year
____________
Coincidence? I think not!!!!
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Mytical
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
Chaos seeking Harmony
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posted March 31, 2008 06:54 AM |
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Absolutely one of the most complete, amazing, creative towns out there. Now I know I am known for high scores, but before I even put down my scores here, this so far is the only one that recieves a PERFECT score.
Cohesiveness: 10/10
Inventiveness:15/15
Backstory:10/10
Battle:10/10
Dis:5/5
Total 50/50 Absolutely amazing.
____________
Message received.
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friendofgunnar
Honorable
Legendary Hero
able to speed up time
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posted April 12, 2008 06:40 AM |
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The Portal:
FriendofGunnar
cohesiveness 9/10
originality 13/15
backstory 8/10 kind of a slog
battle facets 10/10 It's a perfect creature strategy set. The mana-exchange talent is good too.
discretionary 3/5
43
Kookastar
Cohesiveness: 9
Imagination/creativity/originality/wow factor: 13
Back story: 10 perrrfect!
Battle facets: 9 -BLACK DISCIPLE is kool 
Discretionary: 5 delicious words uhuh
Total: 47
TDL
Cohesiveness(max 10) : 9
Creativity (max 10): 10
Backstory (max 10): 9
Battle Facets (max 15): 12
additional (max 5): 4
little to comment on
had read and marked it in my mind a long time ago, with the sole evil part of it being posted a lot of time ago
Total (max 50):44
Guest Judge's Score : 44.29 (Judges grades are weighed differently depending on how many factions they graded)
Judges Score: (43 + 47 + 44) / 3 = 44.67
Final Score: 44.48
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Sethsryt
Tavern Dweller
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posted December 17, 2008 01:49 AM |
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*Grins*
Actually, Ra had a mother/father being.
Nun, also beautifully described as the big bang.
Yet Nun was named Nun after Ra was birthed. Before that, there was only the nameless Nun.
But it is questionable if Nun is actually a god/goddess or just a force.
But this all looks like a real great race Baklava.
Actually I was already like eager to wait for it's release.
Then I reminded myself that it is quite hard to create factions in the HomM 5.
School can be a bother, trust me, I know. xD
Good luck with it though!
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hmm, not bad at all Baklava, not bad, ok, i think i got it now
Mother of Urgash and Asha
^
Asha + Urgash
^
Elrath + Sylrath + Malassa + Sylanna + Arkath
is that everone?
nope, missed out the dragon of water, Shalassa
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Yes, I guess that's it, except the nameless Dragon of Earth... I could replace him with simply Sylanna but this way it leaves more options...
it is Sylvanna (sylvan means forest) and she is the dragon of earth, as i said, you missed out the dragon of water, Shalassa.
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Mother of Asha and Urgash... Interesting. Never thought of that... Might be implemented in the last campaign, somewhere in heroes VI or wherever...
did Gaia have a mother. did Ra have a mother, did Pan gu have a mother?
nope
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rayquest
Hired Hero
uuugggggghhhh....
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posted September 30, 2010 05:13 AM |
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Oh, this makes me soooooo excited!!! Seeing that in the countdown to heroes 6, there's a possibility for the faceless to finally be a faction! I just speculate, because it is just conceptual artwork that's been released. But still
My head would explode
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