Besieged [BETA]

Some of you already know about my Map-In-Progress, "Besieged" which can be found either at the official site HERE or at the Art Gallery in the Promotional Terrains section; (quick link to Gallery)
Here is a CnP from the official site, from the "Map Info" page:
BesiegedTM is a map that can hold, 10 real players. Each player gets one hero once they join the game. However, the player may not choose who his/her hero shall be, Unless you know which player slots have the hero that you desire. There are no creeps whatso ever and Leveling is based purely on P.v.P.

The main objective for each alliance, is to annihilate the opposing alliance, by killing the Lord, King, Prince of the enemy fortification(s). A successful attack upon a fortification, is only if you kill the guards who guard the Lord, and the Lord him self. Once the Lord is slain, the heroes that ressurect in that location will no longer ressurect; Meaning, that hero has basicly lost the next time he/she dies.

BesiegedTM has many new features and a whole new style of B.net gameplay. BesiegedTM will feature :

Features in the Map : [list][*]An advanced camera system, that allows the player to adjust his/her own camera view with the arrow keys.

• Many custom abilities.
  
• Custom ability system. Just like in the "WC3: WoW" Mod.
  
• Almost everything is a custom model/skin.
  
• Max. level is 30.
  
• Realistic gameplay.
  
• Custom sounds/music.
  
• Leveling is purely based on P.v.P.
  
• An advanced 'backpack' system.
  
• Different classes have different speed bonus'; (i.e. The warriors get the fastest speed movement bonus, but casters get the slowest movement speed.
  
• Requires strategy, excellent teamwork, and smart tactics, to overcome your enemies.
  
• 5 players per alliance.
  
• Every player has a different hero with different abilities and advantages.
  
• Gold is earned by killing an enemy player.
  
• There is a 5 gold income every 10 seconds.
  
• Kicking Player Vote system [Still pending]
  
• The only things considered to be counted to anything as close as a creep is the guards that protect your/the enemy's fortification(s).
  
• Some text commands.
  
• Beautiful terrain.
  
• Many hiding spots.
  
• And of course... the map IS protected.

Technically/Basicly, Besieged is not an RPG. It's more of a PvP map, that will not focus on NPC given quests. Therefore, this map is more of a... Battleground, a Hero Arena (not a bootleg crappy one..), an AoS or whatever you wish to call it. But this map focuses mainly on Gameplay and Terrain, for a better outcome and more exciting environment to play in.
I'm trying to get some custom sounds + custom music into the map, but the filesize might exceed Bnet's map size limit (4mb)
The current file size is already about 4mb's, but Freakazoid is helping me reduce the file size by about 350 kb-650kb. But it's going to be hard to get any custom SOUNDS in, but hey, atleast custom music. Blizzard's music is heard way too much in people's maps, and if they play this with newer music, it should increase their interest in the game and make it more enjoying to the players.
I am also trying to import many new models, as you can see from the screenshots, so I can call it a MOD and not just an ordinary project. A mod too me must be totally different. I want a minimum of WC3 skins/models and maybe a custom tileset or two. That's what shows effort and how much I put into it
I won't put any credits for the models in the map though, maybe some people however. But the least I can say now is that I thank all of the Modellers and Skinners at WC3sear.ch and here for their submitted resources and their encouraging comments/feedback. I am only sending out a BETA version when it's considered "finished" but after the BETA's are all out, and is ready for a real version, I shall put credits in to all of you. (Or so i hope)
I look foward too seeing what people think, whos interested in triggering/modelling/skinning for the map, and how many people are willing to BETA test this on LAN/Bnet...
-Craka_J

I could host and trigger for you. But not too much thought, I'm a busy teen.

4mb, I can't even be bothered. Make a version without the custom music and stuff, so those of us who don't want to wait 5 hours for people to join, dl, and then leave. A beta map shouldn't exceed 1mb.

Well. It is going to exceed 1mb. Infact, it will be atLEAST 3.5mb
The thing is, if DotA can be so big, and not let people DL. Then I'm sure that this will do :D
The only different things that will be different in the "REAL" version of the map, will be Terrain, Triggers, and New/Replacing Abilities. Nothing too much that will increase the map size more than 50kb

You see, DoTA wasn't 4 mb when it started. And if you are basing all your ideas on DoTA...

Custom Music is a huge nono. It will kill your map. Seriously.

BBDino- Yeah true... I might not add custom music, same for the custom sounds. But most likely there will be some custom audio files somewhere in the map

Captain Griffin- I know DotA never started at 4mb. But that shows that we are doing more in this than they did... probably.

Well... I'm not going to let my excitement or any other member's excitement make this project's BETA version(s) get rushed into being released publicly. I and the rest of the team focus hard on making this map close to perfection. Something with almost perfect terrain, trigger-work, and a cool atomosphere; at the end, something that looks good and is great to play in-game.
Freakazoid is pretty much done. Just need him or someone else to do the AI work, custom abilities, and to finish all of the other features of this project.
Catar is working on a Loading Screen for the map as well, which is pretty much done, but it's ATM a W.I.P. and might get changed later on, so not to worry, we even focus on small things like the Loading Screen. Every thing must look atleast... Acceptional. Something that will make players interest, excited, and perhaps somewhat helpful.
The blog on the Homepage of the Besieged website hasnt been working, therefore, the entries will from now on, be posted on the homepage right under the welcome message, as usual
SeruK has been added into the team, same as Catar. But ATM, SeruK is workless, but I'll find something for him to do, there's always something to give someone to do

I will post a new message as soon as I possibly get good/bad word from Freakazoid or any other member about this project...
-Craka_J

woah.. that is pretty good.

So, because you have 3.6mb worth of custom skins and sounds and models, that shows that you're doing more in the map than they did?
DotA can get away, JUST, with not letting anyone DL, and forcing them to get it from the web, because it's a popular, established map with a huge fanbase.
If you try that, you're SCREWED. Seriously.

Oh, and... Praise from X-Death? Mister "I CAN DO GOOD ON THESE FORUMS!"? Whoa. You're not worthy. ^^

Exactly! lol

Well... This map should be more fun than DotA. So far only two people have BETA tested it: "SpedX", "Freakazoid" and myself =P
So far, they both love it; atleast, according to what they've told me

Today, I plan on moving the production pace of this project a tad faster and harder, if it moves too slowly, it will slowly die out and be a "dead-project". ATM, Catar has pretty much finished a BETA version of the Loading Screen; Also, I have came up with some ideas to put into the map, such as a castle that will be enterable (without porting to another zone) and will give your hero more advantages, such as increased Line of Sight.
Once things move on some more I'll also post it.

Freakazoid has told me that he has finished up alot of basic triggers, such as the cameras, Multiboard, Keyboard Movement, etc.
He should soon email it OR IM it to me on AIM. After that, I will begin to terrain the map some more and will most definately have some more screenshots! (Atleast 2)

Freakazoid wants to add a hero spell system that resembles the one used in his campaign project, "WC3: WoW" and that might take a while to get done because we need more ideas on custom spells, classes that should use each custom spell, and so on...

I'm updating the site now and just updating the News as usual. The forum of the project has been a tad dead... But the project itself is running quite well and has been moving faster somewhat. Once I recieve the map back, the progress on the map will be much faster and more focused on.
SeruK however, needs something to trigger, something Freakazoid might not know how to do. If anything, SeruK can help with the AI, BETA testing, and maybe correcting some bugs (if any)
Catar has pretty much finished up with his job (for now) on making a Loading Screen. It will not be used in the full version, but only in the BETA's if no other new created screens seem to look better. Therefore, Catar just needs to send me the Loading Screen to put into the map and then his job here is done. Or atleast until the first BETA comes out; Perhaps sooner.
Once again, I shall inform you all the next time I get good/bad word from the production.
-Craka_J

Alas! Freakazoid has sent me the map! And now I am terraining, customizing abilities, doing some triggers and shall post atleast 2 screenshots by the end of the week

The first screenshots will be hosted at the project's official site, and they won't be out for a few hours or perhaps days to any other site.
Enjoy!
BTW, post in my forum OR guestbook if you have any questions or w/e that you feel must be said/asked.
-Craka_J

Go Besieged :P, i'll pm or email you when i'm ready to continue.

Now what about me? =P

SeruK: Well I'll get to you next after I've done my share of triggers and terrain and w/e else I can handle myself. Try to stay in contact

Okay, to the rest of you all, I've gotten 3 screenshots up on the website already now. Go take a looksee!

I've also settled for making a couple mobs in the map as well. Pure PvP wouldnt be all that fun by itself all the way anyway...

Most of the triggers are done. Now It's time to get back into gameplay working and terrainage. (Terrain, more triggers, custom abilities, custom items, MORE IDEAS NEEDED!)
-Craka_J