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| Thread: FdgK's first map (HotA) |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted November 28, 2021 02:23 PM |
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Edited by FdgK at 11:18, 04 Dec 2021.
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FdgK's first map (HotA)
Hi all,
For quite some time I have been creating maps every now and then doing it mainly for my own pleasure of creating something but now I have put together a map that I would like to share with the community because I think it is my best, yet. Nothing in comparison with the works from other members for sure but a nice little single player map that maybe some of you might want to try out.
It is a size S HoTA map without underground and without AI enemies where your objective is to find the pieces of the Ironfist of the Ogre by completing different quests in 6 weeks time (I am sure that some of you don't like time limits but for a map without enemies it is a good way to add a challenge, I think). When I tested the map on Expert difficulty this time limit seemed to be a reasonable one but I am aware that I am casual player — so for others in this community it might be too little of a challenge. So please, if you try the map out, let me know if I have to tweak the difficulty or something else in your opinion. Thank you very much in advance.
Here are a screenshot of the minimap as well as one of the map itself taken in the editor. If you want to have the challenge of not knowing what quests await you, don't take a too close look at the map in the editor before playing it.
You can download the map here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dm2wre9ugmcy820/%5BHotA%5D%20Clutching%20at%20Straws.h3m?dl=1
Once I have got some feedback, I might upload it also to maps4heroes.
Have a great day,
FdgK
Edit: Updated the images.
Edit 2: Updated the download link.
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AlexSpl
Responsible
Supreme Hero
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posted November 28, 2021 09:41 PM |
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Previews are unavailable.
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted November 28, 2021 10:20 PM |
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Edited by FdgK at 22:23, 28 Nov 2021.
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Thanks for letting me know. I will try to fix it.
Can you see them now?
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted November 28, 2021 11:44 PM |
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yup. 
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted November 28, 2021 11:46 PM |
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fred79
Disgraceful
Undefeatable Hero
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posted November 28, 2021 11:47 PM |
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted November 29, 2021 06:39 PM |
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I have noticed that there was a chance that the wagon in the original version of the map would give an artifact that the player is not supposed to obtain so I replaced the wagon with a pile of resources. I have updated the screenshot of the map and the download link in my original post.
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gnollking
Supreme Hero
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posted November 30, 2021 12:20 AM |
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You can disable specific artifacts in the map specifications so they should not be able to appear in wagons or anywhere else, other than manually placed locations.
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted November 30, 2021 07:47 AM |
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Edited by FdgK at 07:48, 30 Nov 2021.
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Thanks for the tip. I wasn't sure if that also applied to wagons, treasure chests etc. and not only to artifact placeholders. Very good to know!
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted March 01, 2024 12:02 AM |
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Edited by FdgK at 19:49, 02 Mar 2024.
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For the first time after quite a while I had a look at this map and after having studied gnollking’s maps in the last couple of days, it just felt too empty, especially since its setting is supposed to be in the wilderness. Therefore, I reworked it and am now much more pleased with the result (not as detailed as GK’s maps but that’s okay - he’s in a league of his own).
Here is what I changed:
- added a lot of decorations
- added some event messages to have some more storytelling in the map
- added custom messages to every monster encounter and artifact on the map to add to the flavour
- increased the strength of some of the guards
- reduced the initial bonus for the player a little bit
- changed a couple of artifacts
Here are updated images of the minimap and the adventure map:
You can download the map at maps4heroes here.
(I am also adding the link to the first post in this thread.)
Edit: Changed the screenshots to the fixed version (without the roadblock)
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gnollking
Supreme Hero
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posted March 01, 2024 12:49 PM |
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Ooh I do like the improvements in the screenshots!
Will try to play through it this weekend and report back.
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted March 01, 2024 02:52 PM |
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Thank you very much! I am curious about what you have to say.
Have a great start into the weekend.
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gnollking
Supreme Hero
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posted March 02, 2024 03:48 PM |
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I was really enjoying all the encounter messages for the fights, but had to stop at the start of week 2. There's no path up around this Learning Stone:
So my only tip so far is that when making decorations, make heavy use of the "Passability" tool in the editor to make sure that all areas are reachable. (Also if you care about spelling mistakes, the wolf rider fight guarding the ore pit says "you hear a wolves".)
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted March 02, 2024 07:19 PM |
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Edited by FdgK at 22:48, 02 Mar 2024.
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Thank you very much for your feedback. I’m glad that you liked the text messages.
Man, that’s a shame. Sorry for that. The Learning Stone was one of the few things I moved after my last complete test run and I was sure that you could exit it also in direction top-left and top-right but now I know better. I have moved it and sent the fixed version to maps4heroes again.
About the spelling mistake: Thank you very much. I also found it (plus another one) right after sending the map away. Arrrghh! Now both are fixed.
I’m going to give an update once the updated version is online.
Edit: The fixed version can now be downloaded at maps4heroes.
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FirePaladin
Promising
Legendary Hero
DoR Modder
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posted March 03, 2024 04:55 PM |
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It is only now that I have noticed this thread and map. Map looks solid and cozy to be honest, I'll play it the next time I play HotA. 
One tip: the different areas are separated a bit too much, like you have great mountain ranges and forests between them. You could exercise with more "soft" separations. I made this "mistake" in my maps too (albeit none published, nor necessarily good enough to be heh). Though maybe that was the point of it in this map, to have such separations. Thus, I apologize if that's the case.
____________
Enshackling time itself, heralds of the Ancients among their heat-depleted land.... Who could they be, who could rally the beings of the East and the North and control the mortals' fate?
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted March 03, 2024 07:46 PM |
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Cozy might actually be the perfect word for what I was going for. A small, visually appealing, cozy, storydriven Sunday afternoon with a cup of coffee style of map. 
Interesting comment about the thickness of the separations. By ‘soft’ do you only mean that you prefer them thinner or even passable in more than only one point? Having them seperated except for one point was intended but you are absolutely right when you say that I could have made them thinner. I just didn’t need all that space and it also looked more like a rugged landscape to me, which fits the narrative of a wild and uninhabited place.
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted April 02, 2024 08:57 PM |
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Updated the map on maps4heroes:
- added a story event in front of the anti-magic garrison
- decorations (made the river in the bottom-right corner look swampier; some other minor changes)
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Begrezen
Tavern Dweller
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posted October 09, 2024 02:52 AM |
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quite a nice map, but at 200% rather unplayable with towns other than the necropolis with thant. very poor and with heavy guards. initially we only have access to wood and stone (small amounts), so it's hard to play with towns that need a lot of different resources. there is also very little gold (only one bank with gold - a random sized crypt). so you have to take care of the growth of gold in the town and buy heroes with finances. the author blocked the slow spell, so the advantage of the necropolis over other towns increases even more. an anti-magic garrison with 70 mages is not scary when you have vampires in your army. these artifacts behind the garrison are basically useless, if the game is practically over by this point. so why such a bag of gold at the end of the game?
I don't quite understand why the author put so much effort into banning slowdown in the city and for every hero, but didn't completely ban useless skills (navigation, eagle eye, etc.) and spells (protection from water/fire, etc.).
I finished the map at 200% on turn 32, with 30 vampires and 700 skeletons.
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FdgK
Known Hero
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posted October 09, 2024 03:58 PM |
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Hi Begrezen,
Thank you very much for playing the map and for taking your time to write your feedback. It is very much appreciated. And congratulations on your win!
First of all, thanks to your comment I fixed a couple of things, namely:
- adding three piles of gold close to the town
- fixing the crypt to a 2.500 gold + artifact (Legs of Legion) crypt
- adding an event close to the town which gives a small amount of special resources to help get the more resource-heavy towns going
- adding another hint to the Slow spell scroll (Yes, there is one and it’s the only way to get the spell) that is hidden well somewhere on the map (there already had been a rumour before which wasn’t clear on the location though)
- banned all non-useful spells (Protection from ..., Magic Mirror etc.) from the Mage Guild
- changed the starting spell of all heroes with these non-useful spells
- banned the non-useful skills (Eagle Eye, Ballistics, Resistance, Interference) in addition to Navigation which was already banned
I did not change the starting secondary skill of the heroes who start with those skills. There als have to be weaker heroes in my opinion.
I am considering changing Thant’s, Jeddite’s and Alamar’s starting spell though. On the one hand I banned Resurrection and Animate Dead from the Mage Guild because I didn’t want the usual ‘blind, resurrect, repeat’ meta. But on the other hand it can be a nice bonus if you happen to find them in your tavern or start with them if you want the game to be a bit easier. I am undecided, yet. What is your opinion on the matter? Should I keep them as they are or completely get rid of those two spells?
Regarding the difficulty: I beat the game with several different towns on 200% while testing, those being Castle, Rampart, Dungeon, Necropolis, Stronghold, Cove and Factory. I have to be honest, I was too lazy to try it out with the remaining ones. The difficulty is for sure different with different towns and often I was only able to beat the map on one of the last days before time ran out. My go to strategy was always to build up an early game powerstack (Marksmen, Centaurs and Elves, Harpy Hags etc.) on which I would rely for most of the game and which I protected very well. The Legs of Legion will add to that effect for all towns with a possible level 2 powerstack.
I’m going to update the map as soon as I have decided what to do with Thant, Jeddite and Alamar.
If you have other comments, please feel free to let me know. Thanks again!
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bloodsucker
Legendary Hero
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posted October 09, 2024 04:32 PM |
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Hi, FdgK.
I didn't try the map so take it with a grain of salt but...
I'm not sure if Ballistics is a useless skill. There are some tricks about keeping enemy forces inside town that make use of being able to guard with the catapult.
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