Why is it that you never see a map with custom skins...

Read the topic... The only maps i've seen with custom skins are projects that get cancelled... I think maps with skins OWN because they give you a new feel to playing Warcraft-3...

So why do people barely ever use skins (or models)...

I'm not sure I agree. A few nice touches here or there on the skins are appreciated, but eye candy aside, I'd like to be impressed with how fun the map is. If I'm going to be using the same character repeatedly, say in an RPG, I might comment on how ugly/inappropriate the model is, but if I'm still having a good time smiting the forces of evil with a bunch of novel skills, I won't be too upset that it's a generic Arthas model.

That said, little touches like weapon attachments are so trivially simple to do, there's no excuse not to, IMHO. I see your point to a degree; models and skins are a mark of how much pride the creator took in their creation, but I'd gladly use the WCIII models if the game was well done.

Hmmm... by the way you type you sound smart...

I agree a bit with you but what you said about the Arthas model... I hate maps that always have him in it... SCREW ARTHAS!!!!!!!!!

Sound smart? Me? Um... no... er... I... duh... dang, you've outed me with your superior smartinitude.

Don't get me wrong, SS, given the choice between playing Arthas and any other model with a sword strapped to his hand, I'd gladly play the other model (why aren't there any Murloc heroes? Or Gnolls?) just for the opportunity to do something novel. There are much more interesting models than his. Custom skins just aren't necessarily something I look for in a map; if they're there, great, if not, oh well.

(Part of this is my own bias at not being able to successfully skin worth beans; I even learned how to edit models to make weaponless units, since none of my efforts to black out models are acceptable to the editor).

hehe... there you go with your smartness again... I agree... I demand MURLOC HEROES...

BTW: is that condom in your avatar... 0_o

Gak! No, that's Purple Tentacle - he was the villain in an old LucasArts verb/noun based game called Maniac Mansion 2: Day of the Tentacle. It's an old game, I'm not surprised nobody recognizes him, and LucasArts doesn't even mention it on their site anymore (awww).

If you find a copy of DOTT in a used game store, it's worth it - $5 will get you a lot of laughs.

Skins doesn't make the game good...

Skins are definitely not what makes a good map. They can make a good map better, but the gameplay has always been IMO what makes a game fun. Tides of Blood is a good example, there are several custom skins in it - it makes the game a bit cooler/more original, but without the skins it is still the same game.


I own that game, I picked it up for 5$ like you said )I was a big fan of Maniac Mansion) =P Unfortunately I couldn't figure out what to do past the first room and I got frustrated. Typical of games like that to be needlessly annoying.

Our upcoming AOS has several custom skins, and I have just commisioned another one (if I ever get an answer), so it's not like there aren't any maps with custom skins. :)

<--- Got lots in mine :)

Will have even more :)

So...I don't agree :)

Skins can be pretty, and pretty big :)

Thats why you would have to compromise on flashy stuff for content.

Some skins can be really nice, although I don't recommend wasting the map size space to reskin standard units.

I reskinned a few of the heros in my Footman Wars map to make them fit in with the races, and just a few of those increased the map size to a barely tolerable level. However, the skins really make an appreciable difference to the feel of the unit, in-game.

And the map's good, too.

Believe it or not the vast majority of mapmakers don't even know how to put skins in maps. Take a look at all the maps on Warcraft III.net for proof. There're aren't too many maps there with skins.

Besides, skins aren't everything. They add a a nice uniqueness to maps but do they really make it more fun?

My map is already full of custom skins and models/ but it's already 1.5MB too; without triggers and custom units and spells and all. :(

Lower the quality of the skin.

A single skin should never use more than 80kb of space. Drop models too.

People don't want to download 2mb maps.

I think that skins can add a nice touch to the map, but they can also make a map bigger. A lot bigger. Skins are one of the things I least look forward to in a map, but I think it's always fun to have them around. I'm really concerned about what the map's about and its gameplay, but hey, a little skins don't hurt.

Just put a limit on it. Nobody wants to wait a day to download a map that has 50 skins in it just for the skins...