Well, almost a year ago, Teeth told me to update these maps. At the time I really couldn't get into renovating, only moving forward with the new, no matter how bad it was. Now I can't really get into making something new, but I like the idea of going back to previous endeavors.
I am so fickle. Anywho....
Battle
BariyyeIt's native city number whatever, but I always thought it was the coolest native city, so years ago I added a few ladders and ramps to allow rooftop fighting. Not really sure if this would play well on the servers anymore, given its size, but hey, might as well keep the option open.
***Updates***
Added another route on ground to roofs for inside spawn and made inside spawn area larger. Removed AI mesh to decrease file size. Replaced/removed some minor objects. Moved flag locations.
Blue Forest (formerly Blue Bells & Beech Trees which was too long a name)This map has seen many changes over time. Originally it was just trees and blue flowers EVERYWHERE. Games were crashed, complaints were filed, and 80% of the forest was cut down (and the tree type changed), and a rope bridge was added to the trees while the slopes were smoothed out. A LOT. The latest update has been no less radical.
***Updates***
Slopes have been smoothed out MASSIVELY. Some trees removed (down to 15% of original number). Plants redone from scratch. Spawn and flag locations changed. The stair climbs don't take as long either as the platforms are not as high anymore. Creek is more shallow and dried up in spots for better crossing. Wooden fence guards on ground are taller for better protection from ranged. And of course, AI mesh removed.
Burning of the ShipsAnother smaller map I think. One of my very first maps. Balbaroth once called it the most balanced map he had ever played. In his defense, there were no more than 15 maps in rotation at the time, and half of them were mine, so probabilities were in my favor,
and he didn't technically call it balanced, just the
most balanced.
***Updates***
Removed AI mesh to decrease file size (and boy did it decrease by half!). Moved spawn points and flags. Made beach area a little larger.
City Under SiegeI was gonna list this under "Maps I left to die and why" because it is too large. File size too large, map too large. This was originally designed for a 150+ man
server when it's full, and the design had changed too many times for me to have even a foggy idea what I wanted to do with it. That is, until I found the original file.
***Updates***
Removed AI mesh (dear God it dropped from 540kb to 260kb!) Removed some ladders and buildings. Worked on terrain a bit (smoothing, coloring, textures) and got rid of the inner walls so the city is far more open. Placed a low wall along the perimeter where the barriers are. Removed a lot of smoke for particle effects, cut back on torches, deleted items that no longer exist in cRPG, and moved spawns and flags.
Ice AgeOh yeah. The one that made absolutely no frickin' sense is back! Sadly, I had to get rid of the standalone gatehouse to make room for a winter village (we didn't have snowy houses back in my day, boy! If we wanted snow on houses, we had to put it there ourselves and it was never worth it!) TY devs for EZ mode.
***Updates***
Removed AI mesh to decrease file size. Moved spawns and flags. Smoothed the terrain out a lot. Made the water more shallow. Removed gatehouse and replaced it with a frozen village. Lightened the terrain color a bit so it isn't pure ice blue.
Prison RiotI don't know if this ever got into rotation and I doubt it ever will, but it's here nonetheless. It isn't cav friendly (though there is nowhere a horse cannot go by walking forward) and it isn't very archer friendly either I suppose, what with corners to hide behind. You can imagine then why it hasn't been played.
***Updates***
Added trees to courtyard..... Nothing else to do really.
Pueblo VillageI really can't think what to do different. I think people don't like it because it isn't cav friendly, which is ok. It got played a lot in the past, so I'm satisfied.
***Updates***
Moved flags. Replaced a barrier.
Rivendell
RuInIt's already in rotation and I haven't heard further complaints, so no update.
Thawing TundraI made this map based on a picture of the Alaskan tundra, and thought to try a balanced map where it's a snowy alternative to random plains. I might have achieved too much balance since the multiplier just goes back and forth on this map and there have been a few complaints.
***Updates***
Moved spawns and flags. Changed log bridge out for stone bridge. Added a log cabin and stable for ranged protection. Added a wooden bridge to cross the ford (or fjord for you vikings). Main fighting should no longer take place in river.
Winter VillageIt's already in rotation and I haven't heard further complaints, so no update.
Siege
Bragelon CastleBridge of EldiaIrongron CastleViking Village Siege EditionMaps I left to die and why:
Bridge of EldiaWell, technically I
am updating it, but not as a Battle map. I'm converting it to Siege based on Teeth's idea from a year ago. Why not as a Battle map? Because pure bridge maps have seen their day I think.
Cutthroat IslandI started updating this one and realized there really wasn't anything else I could do with it. Also, dynamike's map Booty_Island pretty much accomplishes a tropical island map but without the restrictions I have on this one.
Desert IsleAgain, dynamike's map serves this purpose, and I like his better.
Dhugan IslandI never uploaded it and the original was deleted with no backup.
Lake MountainI did work on it a little, but was reminded that my physical map size exceeded the limits apparently, because the outer areas always have black paint on them. I could use that to my advantage as a scorched earth, but the fps is kinda low right now and there's a possibility of it crashing at first load.
Par 9Same as Dhugan Island. I never uploaded it and the original was deleted with no backup.
Sakura IslandsI did smooth the little islands out (wasn't very good at it way back when), but unless duel server starts to have a rotation, I see no value in this as a Battle map.
Santas CastleI can't really think what to do different, and there are some better maps in this vein out there.
Viking Village (Battle)As a Battle map, it's not so great. I converted it to DTV as my first DTV map (though still not a very good one imho). I am tempted to try converting it to siege though, just to have something different like Bridge of Eldia.
