Unique Item Ideas for AoS wanted...

Hey guys,

So I'm at the point where the terrain is done, and the heroes are in balancing and the polishing stage. So obviously, items are next on my list. Now looking at elements from other maps, I am drawing a blank. Dota seems to be the only one that can do recipes well, or that it has been played so much that people can tolerate memorizing them. AoM for example is just frustrating because I do not want to have to memorize 30 recipes just for that map even though they do play less of a role.

So...I would appreciate any unique ideas people have on items and if they have any revolutionary/semi- revolutionary item ideas that they don't have time to implement and would like to share.

I honestly don't want to go down the dota recipe path unless I can implement a unique aspect into it to make it at least an improvement on the recipe system.

I was thinking of just doing base items and then implementing many varied chargeables...but then it almost becomes a spam fest of your item abilities.

I would appreciate the input or ideas, thanks.

Interesting. Making items is a doozy... kind of.

It kind of depends. What's common in your map? What's uncommon?

It really depends on what you want to do with your items. The less you have of other stuff in your map (complicated hero spells or other hero systems such as skill purchasing, hireable mercenaries, control points, buildable spawn buildings and other things) the more cool stuff you can do with your items without the map becoming cluttered with features.

If you already have a lot fo other stuff going on in your map, then you better keep your items simple. Coming up with an idea that is both very simple and something new is tricky business, though, so you would have a much easier job designing original items if they were a bigger part of the gameplay. Of course, you can always make them simple and unoriginal, if you don't mind your map becoming another deja-vu, or new but complicated, if you don't mind scaring away new players.

That was a great response. My map design has been in progress for almost two years now. The map started out very basic and intuitive (a dota or ToB wanna be) and started adding new elements (ie control points) over the course of a year. After several revisions on the systems, we scrapped it all-together because it wasn't intuitive enough.
Now after revising map terrain, and basic game play, we have left the user with an almost auto pilot experience. Basically there game play includes attacking and defending key structures, pushing with allies, and hero use/killing.
With items I really want to take a more unique approach to the equation but like Ignitedstar said, its hard to come up with fun and exciting items. If you guys know of any ideas, and it dosen't matter how off the wall or crazy they might sound, I would enjoy hearing them or seeing them in action with a map that your working on or maybe a forgotten map in the grand vault of maps that went unplayed/dead.

As of right now I am leaning on unique situational charge ables and consumables that are used in team play and create dynamic elements in an already dynamic play environment but without spamming them and without needing them to win.

Once again I look forward to suggestions and off the wall/cool item ideas.

Rod-o of Blink-o (I'm adding funny names, since you said "Off the wall")
Swap places with an allied hero. Perfect for ganking, tanking, pushing, fleeing, and other general nonsense. 3 charged with a 40 second cooldown.

Joe's Jar of Gel
Who knows what could happen when you smear this stuff over your body? (Add tons of random effects, like healing, damaging, color changes, etc.)


Enjoy!!

Well, those items are actually pretty cool. My map has a serious theme but those are still awesome and I might consider them. I was refering to off the wall as in very unique item systems. Like the recipe system but something never thot of or tried (even due to like too hard or too complicated.) But I like those items none-the-less. Maybe a certain spin on the recipe system or an improvement could be sufficient as an idea as well.

Ohh. Well, simply make them less comic and there ya go. But a spin on the recipe system? Hmm...


Maybe, a forge that you put 2 or more items into, and depending on the item, it takes X seconds for it to be fused. Then, a delivery griffen flies to your location, gives you the item, and flies back! Fed-Craft-Ex.

I've never EVER seen this done, and it'd be awesome to see.


Goblin Time Bomb
Sets a cluster of bombs at a target area. Then, using floating text, display the countdown on how long before the bombs go off. If possible, make the text visible to only the allies of the user, but the bomb visible to everyone.

Path-Blocker
Sets down a large rock (or tree, or whatever you feel appropriate) at a target area, cutting off the path completely and forcing units to take a different route (Or, if that's not possible, just make it block a chunk of it to force bottle-necking). Lasts 30 seconds.

Time Ward
Places a simple ward that goes off when enemy units approach it. ALL units in it's AOE are zapped back to their starting points. (Spawns to the spawn point, heroes to... wherever the heroes go)

Hope you like these ideas!

Hey darkwulfy,
I love these ideas, since our map lacks definite lanes, the path blocker can really add to the dynamicness (is that a word) of our map.

About the spin on the recipe system, I like that idea. It would stop powerful items from being too easy to get because the cooldown would reduce the strategy of pooling money for special items. It would also be visually cool. I'm trying to think of another gameplay element we could put into that system to make it truly unique.

Hmmm...

I KNOZ! HOE ABOWT 80 HEORS WIT WINDWALK AND ILLUSIONS! THAT R YEWNEEK!

*cough* dota...

Hmmm... I love giving ideas, since my map can't use the ideas I give, so I know they're going somewhere. Now then... Something even more unique... How about CPU controlled villagers or workers or whatever who scramble around the map building towers, spawners, repairing, healing, etc. etc. etc. The workers can be killed (for no real bonus, maybe some pocket change) in order to slightly hinder the process. This aspect is more of a fun thing, to add a new spin. It doesn't really require human interaction for it to be seen (like item systems)

And I'm glad you like the item idea. It was fun to think up.

(psst... That's v at the end of my name, not a y) >.>

Good luck, and if you need more ideas I'm happy to help.

yah so u pretty much hit dead center on my map. I will release u a version to review, when it goes live for the 2nd time this summer. I think I am going to focus most of the items on chargeables and the base stats increase. I will prolly end up using some of ur ideas for items. So what I could request from you (since u seem to have a lot of awesome ideas for items) is some more item ideas and they can be anything u can dream of. Are theme is modern against like the forces of hell but anything u can think of would be awesome since i can only think of the items from one perspective.

I was thinking that I might make a cool item based on ur teleport spell, I can also give you credit in the map if you want if you come up with some more that I can use (heck all give u credit already)

Also since your an offical map reviewer I hope i can count on some suggestions for our map when we send you a copy.

I'm on the job. It's late right now, so I can't give any more ideas, I'm tired. Later, if any come up, I'll let you know. But, real quick.

What are the races? Modern vs. hell spawns... So, basically, human marine dudes vs. demon guys?

yah i cant really tell u much until release but thats teh basic theme. the modern marine guys have like a imperial cult like twist to theme some guys have swords and there are holy spells n such

what about a staff which shrinks a target enemy (chargeable)
or a staff which gives a chance on attack to shrink the enemy (Use the orb of lightning ability and change the UnitID1 data field to you bloodlust spell)

Of course this is nothing special (no JASS/Trigger Stuff) but it looks really funny...
I would prefer the chargeable version since the other possibility ...is gay (would make the gameplay similar to DotA somehow)

It's really late right now. The best thing I can think of as of now would be...

Impervious Shell - Most likely can be a chargable item. You could use the Anti-Magic Shell icon for this. The idea behind this is that the target unit becomes immune to all magic, healing and damage. But, this also causes the target unit to be unable to use their spells(become Silenced). A double-edged sword item.

Fortunately or unfortunately, I just love double-edged effects. I'm sorry if that is a bother to what you want. It's just that, everything comes at a price. I guess I believe that sort of philosophy.

Soot Harness Lantern - Use the Potion of Restoration icon for this. In turn to giving a high output of speed, it sacrifices one's ability to fight by giving them Curse(Percent to miss). You can't see your enemy, they can't see you, it's the cue to run away. Or so what the nature of this item is.

Change the names if you want to. They just sound cool. At least, to me.

Astral Scope of the Catcher - Use the Goblin Night Scope icon for this. It temporarily gives the user a chance for Critical Strike, with whatever parameters you see fit and a little damage boost. However, using a scope requires one to focus their attention on what they see in front of them. Being attacked from the behind will amplify the damage done to the user.

Staff of Undeath - Temporarily turns a targetted unit Undead for 10 seconds. Nothing happens if the unit is already undead.

Frost Counter - Gives the hero carrying the item a chance to use Frost Nova when an enemy hero uses an ability targetting the hero.

Enhance Cast - An item that resets all ability cooldowns for the hero.