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| Thread: Husham's Maps and Campaigns |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 · «PREV / NEXT» |
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Biobob
Famous Hero
the Bobler
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posted May 02, 2015 11:44 AM |
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Ok, I've got about 5 minutes to give you some tips:
-Try not to create empty spaces bigger than a radius of 3 squares around objects, as it makes the map look uninteresting (it can although be done in some areas using artistic freedom and higher meaning).
-If you are creating Single Player Maps (which you seem to do), reduce randomness to as close as zero as possible, so that the map becomes more of a "guided riddle".
-Avoid making the map too easy. For a beginner like you, try to make the map challenging enough, that you have a hard time completing it. Most players these days are really good at the game.
-Again for single player, ADD TEXT AND STORY (with as little grammatical errors as possible), otherwise it becomes boring.
-Begin with making a small map and refine it until you can think of nothing more to make it better. Always test the map after adding complex structures or hard battles, so that one may not be stuck at some point.
-Don't use the brush tool, place scenery by hand.
-Don't place things randomly, especially in single player maps everything should have a use or artistic meaning.
-Place events in this way.
OXO
OEO
OXO
O=Empty space
X=Unpassable
E= Event
This is so the player is forced to activate it and won't activate the same object twice.
-For making invisible object, use the swampland shrub obstacle and put layers of grassland craters over it.
That should do for now. And this is one the very basics, now you need to work on your creativity and skills in general! Good luck!
Greets
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 02, 2015 01:07 PM |
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Thanks, BioBob, but though, I really work on the map from one month ago, and completing it. It isn't something new, peoples giving me tips, are great for me, and that means that this whole topic is 'flooded' by great tips.
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 04:17 PM |
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Thank you! It's an amazing help.
reduce randomness to as close as zero as possible, so that the map becomes more of a "guided riddle". - Biobob
On the other hand, this is the main reason why I usually lose the interest when playing "guided" maps. They are too directive for my taste. I like to be allowed to exploit several different possibilities, not just find out wich specific loophole should I use to win a particular battle or where is the hidden pile of resources I need to pick to move in the desired direction.
And this is why I feel Salamandre's BAI concept is outstanding.
P.S. Dear moderators, I want to recommend BioBob for a QP for this awesome and so needed post.
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted May 02, 2015 06:25 PM |
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Well, having open or step guided map is a delicate issue. Once I had a passionate discussion with Jim Vogan, as he disliked all my maps force the player to same path. So I was arguing that game progression must be carefully controlled by mapmaker, and if you let your hero going everywhere (no stops, no map closed zones) then he might feel lost, some battles will be too hard, others too easy.
So he told me he will do such map, where you are free to go everywhere. When he released it (King in Yellow, is in HC) I played it and indeed I could go everywhere. So I took right side, traveled for 7 days between bushes and trees and after 7 days I finally reached a town. The garrison was 50 times too strong for my hero so I had to travel back, lost 14 days. Then went north, same thing after a few days.
So after I lost one month to test the different directions, it turned out that the only town my hero could get was at left side.
So open map, my ass. 
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Era II mods and utilities
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 02, 2015 07:02 PM |
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bloodsucker said:
This post deserve a QP
First of all, biobob did sayd the same thing as LW and Maurice sayd. I understood correctly, so if you would give someone a QP in this thread, you may have to pay exactly the same attention to the other posts.
On the other hand, I realised the same things, but as I sayd (I think is the 6th time when I do), I am already working on my maps. I don't have to release them, because I take time to make even new maps. More exactly, I understood. Letting the road free...
I sort of done this, but not on many places. Think that I let it just to pass though there, but sure, there will (from place to place) be placed some creatures, blocking the way. Also, I am working on editing some objects over my map, but it could only be done by ERA Editor. This would be really awsome suggestion to name only the building.
And, so, as I sayd, there is a time for everything. Don't say it is such easy to make some nice maps. The first maps I made, I made hard (at that time I was a really Noob, indeed, I didn't even know those points), and it tooks likely 2 weeks, but after I learnt (with a visual example, I mean I gave my map I wanted the example on to Lizard Warrior, and he edited it to be such a nice place, and I learnt visual), it turns out to be nice. Did you see the screenshots on the first page ? They were specially to proof my evolution on some places. Exactly as Sala does, I do place, replace each object, but you will say I am lyeing just because I didn't update it, but the difference is that Sala makes map for ERA, and instead, I do for HotA.
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 08:09 PM |
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Sorry but the difference is: Sal is a talented artist who found the will and patience to spend from 9 to 16 months on each one of his maps, while you released twice that number before you even knew the basics.
I keep my recommendation, synthesis and clearity matter.
@Salamandre - While I believe an open map where enemies are stucked in Castles with predesigned forces is necessarily broken I still think Your BAI concept is the way to go, at least in Era/WoG where you can give the AI bonus progressively. In that case right oponent would be weaker then north and north then left but for as much as I tried I never succeded in making them progressively harder so I may be fooling myself.
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 02, 2015 08:24 PM |
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Yes, I know, I used to play maps at randomness, and the maps like the first I made were nice for me at that time, but the one like Alexander The Great V.1.5 -Salamandre or The Rise Of The Sun King, are really the best I ever knew.
I know, I didn't even know the basics, that was the idea
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 08:38 PM |
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husham123 said:
the maps like the first I made were nice, but the one like Alexander The Great V.1.5 -Salamandre or The Rise Of The Sun King, are really the best I ever knew...
Dear Corribus, I personally consider someone comparing the maps in this thread to Alexander and Rise a break of the CoC; a deliberate provocation to all members of the community and everyone who has ever played this awesome game.
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 02, 2015 08:41 PM |
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ARE YOU CRAZY !?!?!?
I sayd for ME, it WAS a nice map, not that it actually IS.
And Alexander The Great is REALLY a NICE MAP made by a REALLY NICE MAP-MAKER. I NEVER compared my old s***y maps to what others did !
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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Salamandre
Admirable
Omnipresent Hero
Wog refugee
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posted May 02, 2015 08:42 PM |
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 09:00 PM |
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You edited your previous post to look more politically correct but in mine are your exact first words.
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 02, 2015 09:06 PM |
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Yes, I did. Got any problem with that ?
I did, because I didn't spell corectly. But that was the idea I meant. Homewer, I NEVER meant to say my maps were good, but that was what I though. In CoC, there is sayd that ANYTIME the user can edit the post to look less offendant, or to make it look how it really was supposed to.
Now, come on, focus on the thread 
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 09:11 PM |
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husham123 said:
Now, come on, focus on the thread
I was, I made a recommendation to a QP on your thread and you started saying things like "the difference is that Sala makes map for ERA, and instead, I do for HotA."
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 02, 2015 09:18 PM |
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That was before. Even you didn't concentrate.
Homewer, that QP must go to Maurice and LW too, or no QP.
This is because theyr words helped me the same. Only repeating something that someone says, or to have a coincidence has no sense, or just copying to get a QP.
Although if he speaks really right, yep he deserves one. But as I sayd, all deserve the same in this thread.
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 09:24 PM |
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husham123 said:
bloodsucker said:
This post deserve a QP
... but the difference is that Sala makes map for ERA, and instead, I do for HotA.
How was that before if you quoted me?
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted May 02, 2015 09:30 PM |
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Salamandre said:
Well, having open or step guided map is a delicate issue. Once I had a passionate discussion with Jim Vogan, as he disliked all my maps force the player to same path. So I was arguing that game progression must be carefully controlled by mapmaker, and if you let your hero going everywhere (no stops, no map closed zones) then he might feel lost, some battles will be too hard, others too easy.
So he told me he will do such map, where you are free to go everywhere. When he released it (King in Yellow, is in HC) I played it and indeed I could go everywhere. So I took right side, traveled for 7 days between bushes and trees and after 7 days I finally reached a town. The garrison was 50 times too strong for my hero so I had to travel back, lost 14 days. Then went north, same thing after a few days.
So after I lost one month to test the different directions, it turned out that the only town my hero could get was at left side.
So open map, my ass.
there are two sides to the map(). seriously though, i always seperate my one-player maps by each respective side. i make it a chore for each other to cross over, so when they're on the other side, they should be able to do some damage to whatever opponents.
though, i don't think my maps would be satisfactory to the pro's here, difficulty-wise. and i still have to develop storylines for all my maps. they're mostly just eye candy, with some strategy thrown in, and a dash of events.
but i combine your idea of maps, with jim's, when making maps. if it's too streamlined, the player will feel led like a horse with a carrot. and if it's too open, there's no order, which can lead to a bad playthrough. so it's best to combine the two ideas on mapmaking.
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted May 03, 2015 04:01 AM |
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bloodsucker deleted his post. it looks like you're replying to me now.
so... you talkin' to me, boy? 
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Biobob
Famous Hero
the Bobler
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posted May 03, 2015 09:29 AM |
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I feel like I have to unveil two big truths to you (and don't take them as personal offence, I'm just saying what's the case):
-You don't have to defend yourself or anything for creating the maps you create. This is because nobody cares. This sounds harsh, but is the reality; in your perspective, you are the main protagonist of your life, while in ours, you are just some side character who we only see when we feel like writing about heroes!
-Nobody cares about QP, although I feel honored you named my map (~Rise of the Sun King~) alongside one of Sal's maps!
Now, for adding some lines on the topic:
Problem is, even in SoD, we can 85% control enemy creature growth, but what matters is controlling skills and spells. What I meant by "guided riddle" is giving the player the right skills at the right time (giving, for example, force field at the time of 5% map discovery would be a mistake). If you take a look at ~Metataxer's Revenge~ (shameless self-advertising~), you will notice, that after the first 2.5 weeks you have 3 paths to choose from. At the start, this can be done easily, because human creature growth is easily controllable to this point. Then, after you defeat 'Phantomas', you are presented with a Pandora box battle featuring an incredible amount of azure dragons. You can either wait until you get fire wall, or spend some time to get a group of scrpiocore to win this fight.
Even in the very end, you still always have two ways to choose from -> 90% of fights require Berri specific setup and it doesn't matter if author have the player seemingly overpowered skills before.
Greets
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 03, 2015 09:52 AM |
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For the fans of ,,The Escaping Of Husham II'', I've updated the map series. Especially, the last episode of TEOH, will be published soon. I mean really, let's say 75% of it is done, and for the other TEOH maps ?
I've simply fixed some problems, and filled the whole map. There would be only one 15 square-sized space (In episode one), but that was only for walking purposes. Also, the TEOH3 will feature WAY more updates. Including fixed problems, more objects, and specially easy ways to visit any little corner. Also, if you are smoothy, I have to tell you the biography:
The Escaping Of Husham II is a pack of episodes from my well-knowned maps. It is all the story of one young leader coming to the power, and after lots of adventures, here comes his end. Well, that was supposed to be on, because one corrupt member of the Senate of the five seas witch took over the power of the Senate, and started a coup d'etat, witch likely gave all the power to him. His name was Ptehoteph, and he wanted to make sure that Husham will NEVER get back on the throne, sending some of his huge army troops to kill him. Still, Husham isn't a bad man, or a bad king at all, but Ptehoteph is. It is all to you on defending him, and making sure you will take back the throne. And also, the episode one is all about escaping Ptehoteph, going underground, and taking the Fort where he trains his troops.
The Episode II, is all a short episode (S size) about some demons and heretics using some wizards to move a huge piece of land with a castle on it, rightly to Husham. Yes, you heard and saw good. A levitating island landed on the place where Husham took the Fort where Ptehoteph trains his troops. You have to defeat the Demons and Heretics, take the Castle, and then, directly go to take a boat and go away (The boat part isn't playable, is just part of the story).
The Episode III, it all stands in ONE BIG Map, where Husham II comes back by boat to Enroth-surrounding zones. He is helped by some Fortress creatures in the West, so that this will be the actual town.
You have to go and take Queen Of Home-Low's Troops (Liza's), and go attacking AGAIN Ptehoteph's troops. Actually, Ptehoteph choosed a new Capitol after he heard what Husham done, and that he is living, in the fear of getting killed by revenge. Also, did you ever know that Liza is a character reffering to my mother ? She is still young, and enjoying the computer games, and also, that portrait fits her perfect (Valeska). Liza is her name too.
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What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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Biobob
Famous Hero
the Bobler
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posted May 06, 2015 12:27 AM |
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