Armageddon's Wake - AoS Map

Greetings, I am Elementis90 from Clan VZ, home of AotZ and Spellbinder. (I had no part in their making, though I designed a few things for both) I come here requesting help on my project Armageddon's Wake. It is an AoS meant to revolutionize, or at least breath some fresh air into this genre that is currently plagued by DotA and other such soulless maps. This map has been started, the terrain is fine, although I think I want to tweak it some more to beautify it a bit. One hero is done out of 10 original heroes. (well one ability is having a bit of problems, but that will be dealt with later) Artillery and mortars are primarily done too. I triggered basic things and terrained the whole map. My clan mate D.Mentia was supposed to trigger, and did trigger the first hero as well as the artillery and morale, however he was extremely lazy and his rate of 1 skill per 2 weeks was not acceptable at all, and thus I'm recruiting a TRIGGERER now to help me.

I know it says to post the story here, but that is rather hard for me to do. I can post a basic idea of the story, however its details really haven't been fully decided upon by me. In fact when I get help I would love it if my partner would help me in crafting the story. A basic overview is this however. In the aftermath of the final battle between the Bane of Eternity and the Hallowed Order the planet was essentially shattered by the forces that pummeled it during the battle. In the battle's final moments the Bane managed to open a portal to attain reinforcements from the Shining Path. However even they were not prepared for the horrors that served the Shining Path. The daemonic forces of the Shining Path spewed out of the rift and annihilated everything in their path, in an attempt to cleanse the planet of life. Armageddon had begun. Bands across the lands which formerly enemies united to survive the Shining Path. One group in particular, the Yessanda Magi, were adept at fending off the Shining Path. Survivors flocked to their enchanted fortress under the common banner of the Unsworn Brotherhood in an attempt to survive the Shining Path. The city using its great arcane energies has moved from planet to planet, gathering more defenders along the way. It has at last found a planet relatively safe from the Shining Path and is attempting to settle there. All they must do is destroy the one link to the planet the Shining Path has.

So that is the overall idea of the story. Sorta corny I think so I'll probably change it around, but at least you have the main idea. You have those who are truly vile on one side, against those who no matter what they would have been considered normally have banded together to survive.

In any case I'm going to post a few things here that you will see in the map, but it is by no means a complete list.

-Artillery (Already Made)-- I'm sick of all this s**tty artillery in games. It is so unrealistic. In my map you will see REAL artillery. Mortars will fire off, arc, then pound into the ground with tremendous force blowing body parts away.

-Morale (Mostly already made)-- This is such an important factor to battle yet NO ONE uses it. I don't know exactly how I'm going to make this ,but this is one thing I'm hell-bent on making.

-War -- Think about it. No AoS has truly captured two ARMIES fighting each other. It is more like just a few squads of people fighting. Expect to see battalions clashing with realistic artillery and devastating magic.

-Quest Based Improvements -- One thing you never see in an AoS is rewards based on doing quests. Well in my map you will need to do quests for abilities, and for items. It wont just be who has the most money anymore.

-Epic Items -- I'm not talking about something that just gives the edge in combat, I want something epic. If something is called a legendary item, it should be legendary. I have yet to see something that truly is. Expect these things to require quests and a sh*tload of money and they will embody the next principle of

-Crazy Sh*t -- Nothing boring or simple and stereotypical will be allowed in the game. If you want to suggest a spell and all it does is damage or slow or stun in a basic manner, chances are it won't be used. I like uniqueness.

- Heroes -- All heroes will be original, previously unused ideas. They will also follow the "crazy shit" rule.


So what am I looking for? I only have one position to fill. I myself am the terrainer, designer, and basically go to man for everything that needs to be done. I've done basic triggering...but that is where I need help. I'm looking for an experienced TRIGGERER, who is fluent in JASS and will work prolifically. So with the map as far as it has gotten my primary, but not only, duty will be designing, while I need someone else triggering the map. Whoever triggers will be given credit for actually making the map, as I know how much work triggering is, while I will only be credited as the designer. Though I will also technically be project leader I view this as a partnership opportunity more than me ruling over someone.

In addition to myself Rising_Dusk has worked on the map. He has triggered a few things in it and has promised his help whenever he is needed. So he is the one half member of the team.

Things done: Terrain, Most of artillery and morale, most of spawns and such, Prisoner 52(hero).

I hope I didn't forget anything. The forums I'm storing ideas at are in www.valor-zeal.org The threads are currently hidden, but that will change soon. If anyone wants a sample you can contact me here and I will show you the map in game, or I will show you the outlines for heroes or screenshots/replays.

Well heya Ele, nice to see you finally decided to post asking for help. :P

Just a sidenote, the project is something I've been helping out slightly, so I can stand by it and say it's definately quality and has lots of potential.
The current triggerer is a slacker and really isn't even trying, so the project is looking for a triggerer that can really put his/her best foot forward to help.

Ele covered most of the bases in his post.
So yeah, if anyone can help him out, let 'im know. :P

Let's see, why don't we have maps with huge armies...hmmm...

Oh, yea, now I remember. WC3 engine isn't designed to handle it. Normally if something hasn't been done, there is a reason.

Also, having a large number of unique abilities isn't really going to be possible. I cannot think of any AoS where the majority of abilities were 'unique' and didn't turn out disjointed and with worse gameplay.

Good luck though, if you can make it work, it could be very good.

Well I like the idea of unique abilities, I'm really good with JASS, so I would like to trigger for your project. If you can PM me with one or two abilities that you want made, and I'll make them for you and you can see if you like my work.

Well, when I say huge armies I don't mean 'huge' so much as larger than what the normal is. I already have it ready and it is working pretty well. As far as unique abilities I really think you are wrong. Sure, not EVERYTHING will be completely 100% unique, however you can still inject a bit of flavor that makes the spell at least uncommon or unique in some aspect. That is what I tried to do. If the hero designs were up I'd show you what I mean. The AW forum is done, but if you look at the AotZ forums for my posts you will be able to find 1 or 2 of my heroes. Drakel is a nice one. The unique part of that hero was the attack.

Cryptwizard, perhaps you can show me some of your past work and I can show you what is done with the map so far.

Arnt i supposed to be the one making these posts?

Anyway, captain griffen has allready daid what needed to be said.

Unique abilities are not about adding a bazillion odd effects and unnatural targeting stuff. Good unique abilities are abilities that you could work in wc3. They can be simple, and still have an effect completely unseen in warcraft. Best Example, and the example i always use, is the "smite" ability tob's inquisitor has. By far the BEST "unique" ability i have ever seen.

Style and cohesion will make even boring abilities seem cool. Look at ToB for perfect examples. Never before has shockwave, water elemental, self vamparic aura, and stampede been so damned cool.

Really cool skins and effects don't hurt either. :P

I agree more or less though.
However, I don't think a couple crazy abilities are a problem.
In this day and age, to get a new AoS noticed you need something seriously crazy attractive about it, be it new style features or skills on heros that make people go "whoa".

Don't get me wrong, I'm in no way supporting heros with ideas that make people go "Wtf, this is too complex."
I'm just saying a few crazy abilities on stable themes aren't a problem.

Oh and Ele, since when have you been using AotZ' storyline for AW?
I wasn't aware you were making this post-AotZ. >_>

I don't think I said the spells would have a million effects though. Uniqueness doesn't come with combining stormbolt and blizzard together. It comes from creating something new, or adding a really odd twist to an existing spell. Uniqueness when it mixes with simplicity is good. You just have to find things that people never really thought to do. For example, how do you immobilize someone without ever modifying their status at all? You make them afraid to move. (Lurkers on Prisoner, will post it later possibly) As far as unusual targetting I doubt I'd ever do that, it only ticks me off in games usually.

The spells already gain some uniqueness from affecting morale too.Also, and Dusk can vouch for this, the part that was a list of features in my map was posted a few months ago. Since then I have toned down spells anyway. :P

As to the story, yeah Dusk I told you about it months ago, but never had decided.

Good luck. Don't run away from reality TOO much.

Well, I'd love an aos with more enphasis on the army rather that on hero dueling. The morale is for sure a good idea on that regard, and I hope you'll keep moving on that way. :D

I could help out if you want, I have some spare time coming up now. Contact me on MSN; [email protected]

We already met.

Here are a few images. In other news the forum is back up at http://valorz.3.forumer.com/index.php?showforum=42 I warn you all that a few of the heroes have changes that I didn't want to post so have been kept as a surprise. Namely Eisenhorn and Roonkor. Anyway, hopefully this will provide a good idea to those of you who have been watching this what you could be getting into if you so choose to. Prisoner is the only hero here with actual icons and working spells currently. (although one needs work) Roonkor and Shard are both in the Unsworn Brotherhood. Scenery featured is the central lane, the Shining Path base, the defiled chapel on the southeast corner, and the evil quest area.

In other news Cryptwizard has been accepted as the JASSer, and now titled 'maker' of the map. He seems to be extremely adept at triggering after a brief test. I'm extremely happy he accepted the job. Close this forum or whatever needs to be done.