RPG - Four Paths v1.3 (major revisions), screenshots inside

RPG - Four Paths v1.3a
by Vraq

This is an RPG map, meant to be played cooperatively by 2-4 players (it requires Frozen Throne). However, it is possible to beat this map solo since you will be able to choose three Champions if you play alone. Two each if there are only two players, and one apiece when there are three or four players. Enjoy!

Feedback is much appreciated. :)

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What's new in this verion?
Below lists the major revisions introduced in v1.3.

1. Terrain overhaul. To put it in perspective, v1.2 takes my computer about 30 sec to calculate shadows - v1.3 takes about 20 min. ;)
2. Due to popular request, Uther has been removed (replaced by Admiral Proudmoore).
3. Enemy towns grow stronger as you progress (only enemy Heroes did before).
4. Creeps grow stronger as you do (gain HP, spells they don't normally have, hit harder, etc.).
5. Twice as many quests (5 new optional ones, 1 new required).
6. Two new secret areas (total of 7).
7. Pack Horses add to your carrying capacity.
8. 15+ new items (there are now nearly 50 custom items).
9. The end bosses are tougher.
10. Enemy town invasions occur much less frequently, but are now more devastating (they were really just an annoyance before).

Version 1.3a addresses two minor typos in the quest dialog, sorry for making you download it twice if you just got v1.3. =)

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Story:
The Lich King has lost control of Frostmourne (and therefore Arthas). It is unknown just exactly who Arthas is working for, but he has coerced some Humans, Orcs, Night Elves, and Undead into aiding him. Jaina and her father are under siege by Arthas and his new allies and they are falling fast... So they summon four Champions (the players) to their aid.

Champions:
There are 16 new Heros (called Champions) for the players to choose from. None of them have overlapping Hero spells, and most of them are custom spells. All 16 have custom Ultimates, and all 16 start off with a basic skill such as Defend or Pulverize that does not cost them a Hero Point to learn. The Champions may level up to level 15.

Map:
Custom designed by me from scratch. Lots of varying terrain. One enemy settlement in each corner, with the Proudmoores' Stronghold in the center. Several secret areas with varying bonuses in each for those that care to search for them.

Quests:
Three required quests and nine optional ones.

Items:
Nearly 50 custom items for the Champions to find and use. Five unique shops to do business with. There are no Tombs of Strength, Intelligence, or Agility, however.

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Screenshots:
Follow the links below...

1. One of the new quests.
2. Pack Horses. These are not Heroes, but can carry six items.
3. A pack of tougher Creeps. Go one way and the Creeps might not cast spells, but come back when you are higher level and they might surprise you.
4. New terrain by the Night Elves. Jungle theme.
5. New terrain by the Orcs. Desert theme.
6. New terrain by the Humans. Forest theme.
7. New terrain by the Undead. Haunted Forest theme.
8. Arthas' Island's new look. Volcanic/Evil theme.

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Overview of the Champions:
Below is a synopsis of the 16 Champions available to players to choose from.

Healers:
1. Sorceress of the Light - The most powerful healer of the living. She can also disempower the enemy and speed up mana regeneration of the party.
2. Dementor - The most powerful healer of the Undead. Her very presence saps the will to fight right out of the enemy.
3. Squad Leader - A versatile healer, he can heal both the living and the Undead. Specializes in spreading the incoming damage around.
4. Panderan Druid - The lesser of the healers, he can nonetheless get the job done. Dealing damage over time to the enemy is his forte.

Strength:
5. Field Commander - The boldest of the front lines units. Often rushes headlong into battle against overwhelming odds, only to immerge the victor.
6. Plaguebearer - A very powerful Undead front lines unit. Infects the enemy with a deadly disease and unleashes hordes of foul rats to do his bidding.
7. Bodyguard - A powerful front lines unit adept at keeping himself alive in the absence of a dedicated healer.
8. Elite Assault Trooper - All about dealing damage. If dealing damage is all that you love, this guy is for you!

Agility:
9. Mystic Warrior - An agile front lines unit adept at negating magic and avoiding blows. Also known for her love of extreme overkill.
10. Night Ranger - A ranged unit adept at lowering the defenses of the enemy, and seperating them from their comrads.
11. Sharpshooter - His range and accuracy are the stuff of legend. He can also repair siege weapons.
12. Pyro - "Burn, burn, burrrrn!" just about sums him up.

Intelligence:
13. Advisor - Drastically enhances the damage output of the party. He is all about enhancing the stength of others.
14. Summoner - Summons minions to do his bidding. Has a summoning spell for just about any occation.
15. Bone Collector - A powerful Undead spellcaster. He can command great armies of Undead minions.
16. Warlock - An Undead spellcaster specialized in dealing damage and teleportation.

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Just for referance, here is a link to the v1.2 thread.

Bout time :P ( j/k )

Can't wait to play the new version!

Downloading it now.

gonna try it out with a friend on LAN, tell you about it soon =).

desty

"You look like some save buisiness types" ????? Was that supposed to be Suave? Just curious and trying to be helpful.


PS. I noticed that in 1 player you still only get 3 heroes.. Weren't you gonna change that? or at least give the 4th hero to the town?

Awesome, finally an RPG that me and my friends will like :D

Warlock HERE I COME...

*downloading*

Great job on the presentation, BTW, very professional looking!

(I read the whole thing =\)

Hope it's good, the screenshots sure do make it look good ;)

Version 1.2 was great... and version 1.3 (this one) beats the pands off of version 1.2 :D

Love some of the changes!

Thank you all for your interrest in my map! I hope you like it!

AllPainful: Uuuuuhhhhhhhg, a typo! I can't believe I missed that. Yes, of course "save" was meant to be "suave". Bah. :)
Already fixed, along with another minor typo I noticed. Version 1.3a is hereby available for download (bottom of original post - I removed the old file), addressing the typos.

Undead-Swarm: The Warlock is actually my personal favorite. =)

Summoners my fav, he can walk into an enemy town with an ARMY of summoned creatures and then put a healing ward right in the middle of them....

I will give it a try and tell you what I think.

Yea, the Summoner is pretty awesome. One of my friends won't play as any other. ;)

Oh, and as far as the 4th Hero in single-player (and with 3 players) goes... I'm looking to implement the following for v1.4:
Player 1 will be able to choose the fourth Champion, but either Mercenaries or Human Stronghold will control it. I haven't decided which. If I can get it to work fairly decently with it following you around controlled by Mercenaries, I'll do that. If not, I'll let Human Stronghold have it and it will just help guard the base.
Playing with just three Champions does put you at a slight disadvantage...

I'm also looking forward to implementing your "wandering shop" idea. I'll stock it with uber expensive items so you have somewhere to dump your excess cash late in the game.

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Anything else anyone would like to see implemented/changed, please just let me know. :) I love feedback.

Enjoyed it alot. Sent you a PM with some changes/suggestions to the map. Keep up the good work. :ggani:

Good job,
Its a pretty good looking RPG, one of the best I've seen so far, the only thing I think it would need is a cooler storyline, and maybe a cinematic or two to put you a bit more in the "mood", like involved in it, a part from that, the Bodyguard is awsome =), but maybe you should explain at the begining that it is kinda a town wars, and that if they destroy your castle, you loose, i know its kinda obvious but not for an RPG.

cheers,

desty

XVoltaireX: I look forward to your feedback! Hope you enjoy the map.

AllPainful: Check your inbox. ;)

Desty: Thanks, glad you liked it!
You're right on the money with that comment about the Castle being destroyed. I need to make it more clear that part of your job is to protect the Stronghold.

I also definately agree with on cinematic bit, I should definately add some. I think a few good cinematic would help the storyline out immensely, also.

I'm thinking about an opening cinematic (that the players will be able to skip) that explains how and why the enemy towns are serving Arthas. I think it would also be neat to have a scene showing the Lich King's reaction when he realizes he's lost control of Frostmourne (and therefore Arthas).

And then I do believe that an ending cinematic (two different ones, seeing as there are two possible outcomes at the end of this map) is definately in order.

Maybe even a cinematic or two in the middle of the map.

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Thanks for the feedback, all! Please keep it coming. :)

the wanderin shop sounds interesting, will this be the case of a merchant that travels between towns or something of the like? will this be based on the tree of wonders unit or whatever its called from the NE?

Its a shop that wanders (wanders randomly, as per the "wander (neutral)" ability) around the map... can be anywhere...


Only 25 downloads? Thats disappointing...