Skeletal Rage 2 (Beta)

Skeletal Rage (v0.7)
Game Modes: Skeletal Rage (sr) & Air Assault (AA.. unfinished mode)

DOWNLOAD Skeletal Rage (0.7) (last updated version)

History
Featured on PC Gamer and Future Gamer, Skeletal Rage (not SR2) mainly focused on 'improving' the basic Footmen Wars mode by giving the player some extra options that unlike the usual FW clones gave the player more of a freestyle gameplay where they weren't exactly limited to just attacking each other at the center of the map. Gameplay additions included a detailed "Arena", vehicles (including the infamous Juggernaut from the map) and random environment (weather, sounds.. etc.) special effects. Plus the game was and still is playable against computer AI (which is actually more fun that playing it online for some obvious reasons)

Now the thing with SR is, even though it is fun and has it's moments (like actually defeating the AI when it's gone wild) the game gets boring after all upgrades are done (in MP against human players) and all that is left is to attack and attack with gold piling up and players buying uber items here and there. Plus it's not really balanced properly in many areas (like heroes). Page for the more detailed page on game modes for this version is over here. OK, read on..


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Skeletal Rage 2 (v0.2b)
Game Modes: Skeletal Rage (sr) & CTF (ctf)

** UPDATED ** (19/12/06)
DOWNLOAD Skeletal Rage 2 (v0.2b)

Change Log (v0.2b)
- Reduced the map size to 3.2 MB (from 3.4)
- Enabled few effects and souds during battle (blood splashes and sounds)
- Reduced lag and slowdown in the game by removing the film grain effect (used in Underworld). Tooltips now open fast and continuos due to this.
- Few tweaks to the AI (recommended difficulty is Normal)



DOWNLOAD Skeletal Rage (v0.2b)




What's New?

Capture the Flag
First of all, SR2 includes a complete replacement for the previous (unfinished) 'Air Assault' mode, it's called 'Capture the Flag' and needs no introduction. The SR2 version pretty much follows UT or Quake 3 type CTF mode with 12 players divided into 2 teams (6v6) playing as Red (6) vs Blue (6). The way it's played is simple:

- The only unit you can build is your hero

- There are 2 flags both located at the opposite ends of the Arena named R and B (Red and Blue) respectively.

- In this mode the hero inventories are automatically limited to only 1 item capacity. So when you buy some expensive item and are near a flag, you better make sure your ally can carry your item or the flag for you, cause when a hero picks up the flag, the flag CANNOT be dropped. When the flag carrier dies, the flag is dropped.

- All that the opposing team (let's say RED) has to do to return the dropped flag by the blue team (the Red Flag) is to walk near the flag and it is transported back to the base.

- This game mode changes the level design intensively and there are many diversions and blockades which aren't present in the SR mode. Also, this mode adds a bunch of new creep spawn (random creeps, different level every-time the game is played) 2 new hidden shops (in addition to the 3 in SR mode) and even some side quests which must be completed within a given time limit.

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Skeletal Rage
This mode returns to SR2 but with a completely revamped gameplay. Skeletal Rage was a Footmen Wars inspired map (yet it was way different), and the new changes are aimed at increasing the pace of the action, giving player more variety during combat without making him create each unit one by one (though you can still do that) and upgrading every different unit with unit specific upgrades..

In other words, the new changes are aimed at making the battles more intense/chaotic compared to Footmen Wars itself. Plus, I will be updating the environment and gameplay to 'liven' up the battlefield with more 'realism' than it was present before (I tried a bit).



Extra Info.
- Even though the map size has increase to around 3.4 MB compared to the 1.10 MB for Skeletal Rage (1), the changes and additions are actually worth it this time.

- Except for the 'Retributer' model, I edited (minor changes) most of the other models (like Archers, Emus Mages, Juggernaut Lord.. etc.) for some more 'personal touch' for SR world. All custom models are default Wc3 models, Retributor is a user model as far as I can remember. If anyone knows the author of the model, please let me know (I will be searching for him on Wc3sear though) for credits.

- Many custom skins, all done by me (though I had to reduce the quality in the end.. most skins were done at 512x512 for rescaled units).

- Lot's of sound effects were added in SR2 (had to browse all free sounds Cd's and sites to modify them), and pay attention to your environments if you are one of those who actually like to notice something different.

- New level design (except for the Arena layout) with new base locations, allies locations with improved portal locations, etc. Both game modes are 6v6.




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The first Skeletal Rage map is there just for the comparison (with the new version) if you haven't played this map before and are interested in suggesting some gameplay improvements over the last version. If you don't like anything (including the whole map), then let me know what exactly you didn't like and how can I improve it further. The fate of the new version is sort of "in the Wc3 community's hand" now. I just want to finish this with Underworld campaign and then quit Wc3 modding (I will continue updating the maps though).

To be honest I am expecting more page views than suggestions at the moment.. let's see...

3.4mb is a bit heavy, although a decent AI may ameliorate this to some degree. Just a heads up though, especially since i imagine a lot will be sounds which are never that important.

I remember hearing of this project before and how good it was, never got a good chance to try it out however.

People here should if they haven't already.

Right now I am trying to keep it under 3.4 MB (which is actually 3.7 MB without using the map optimizer). After the gameplay is final, I will work on reducing the size even further, removing all junk files I am not really in need of. Right now Textures and Sounds are the only 2 resources that are eating up the space (some sound files can be smaller though).


@FinalTyrant
I actually get majority of hits on my site for Skeletal Rage only, and I have noticed most of non-english Wc3 clans (or forums) sites talking about it here and there. But I think the biggest problem keeping everyone from trying the first version was that it did require some learning and most B.Net players don't really enjoy that part (so I am making SR2 more noob friendly this time around).

You should optimize all sound and texture files, it can really save you alot of kb. Anyways this seems really awesome, can't wait to try the map out :)

+rep for awesome setup :P

Forgot to mention, the CTF mode is right now playable in SP only as a Red player (to test flags and stuff.. AI doesn't work for this mode right now) and using the 'Grave Digger' hero. I have updated CTF a lot in the next version, just working on some quests now.

The Retributor model is by Jigrael. I did the animated grass and shrubs. I saw that animated tree before, but I don't know for sure who's the author.

Thanks, and I already have you in the credits readme (not in the beta zip).

EDIT: I actually forgot the tree models (skins are from my campaign). I remember taking them from some campaign file (never downloaded them seperately), there were no credits as far as I can remember in the campaign, so anyone who knows.. please let me know :)

New version of Skeletal Rage 2 mainly fixes some problems (lag and slow downs) in the SR mode. CTF mode is almost ready, but will be playable in next version only.

** UPDATED ** (19/12/06)
DOWNLOAD Skeletal Rage 2 (v0.2b)

Change Log (v0.2b)
- Reduced the map size to 3.2 MB (from 3.4)
- Enabled few effects and souds during battle (blood splashes and sounds)
- Reduced lag and slowdown in the game by removing the film grain effect (used in Underworld). Tooltips now open fast and continuos due to this.
- Few tweaks to the AI (recommended difficulty is Normal)


*first post updated with download version as well*