17 replies to this topic

[MattTheLegoman]

This is the map that I failed to Livestream. I ended up talking to myself for over an hour, which is what I do regardless.

So here it is. And I say that it was great practice for Amon Sul.

This map is the new Iron Hills, it is not replacing the vanilla Iron Hills, that will be called River Carnen. So we now have two wonderful mirror-maps set in the north-east of Middle-earth.



The part of the map I am concerned about is the fortress of Dain, I might allow a third player or I might make it a hot spot - "minifortress". Regardless it will be moved around, and possibly up.

[njm1983]

WOW! looks really neat. Much improved Iron hills MTL.

Things I see that need a touch up are the large grass areas, and the road transition textures, the grass should bite into it occasionally right now the road and textures along it are literally perfect all the way. along. The texture pattern for the grass is visibly repeating and I think you need a few more grasses to break it up. The other thing is the rocky areas, most of them look great, Im concerned about stretching of the textures in a few spots. Height is great but stretching ruins it, when building levels to smooth into mountains use an 80 foot difference max. Unless you intend to cliff map. Im sure you know all this.

[MattTheLegoman]

Ha ha, well I wasn't sure about the 80 rule. But I will be moving the mountains down a notch. Thanks for the tip NJM.
The main idea I have with the larger than usual mountains is to have the mountains peaking over the pine trees when sky or unit view is used. The mountains closer to the trees can come down, but I will be keeping the further mountains the same size.

That path has gone through many changes, and I will be adding in damage, so thanks for telling me to put grass there as well.

[njm1983]

You dont have to shorten the mountains. just when you build them before smoothing use 80 ft increments. If the top is at 340 ft then the next step down should be 260 then 180 and so on on. I make what looks like a step pyramid using this method, then I come back and use smoothing to give the mountains the right look.

[MattTheLegoman]

Yes, that the method I use as well. Although I usually use 100 feet, sometimes 50 feet when I know what I am doing. I do rememer starting with quite a slope but I pushed it back a bit when I realised more than half the map wasn't passible terrain. I will be recreating the slope again, as it means the trees won't be sqished up. ;p

[Nazgûl]

Looks nice with that lunch mountain forest vegetation =)

[Dreamwalker]

Looks great. Reminds me of Age of Empires 3 for some reason... Just me?

[_Haldir_]

That looks really nice. I really like the three way bridge thing you've got going there. With the dwarven fortress, perhaps leave it two-player and stick a signal fire or something in there?

Or another idea: maybe add in two gates and make them capturable from the throne room. Could make for some interesting gameplay where one player is able to launch attacks from the safety of the fortress, but at the risk of leaving the more direct southern bridge less defended. You could even put an outpost or something on that bottom triangular area to help compensate for the other player needing to destroy the gates to advance through the fortress.

Don't give up so quickly on the livestreaming too by the way, i'm guessing you probably just had procaster running, but not streaming or something. Let me know next time and i can help check If you like. I'd certainly still enjoy watching someone besides myself map, as i'm sure other people would too.

[Bofur]

Yep don't give up too quickly on the livestreaming MtL, and Haldir's idea about the capturable gates would certainly make it one of the more interesting skirmish maps...

[MattTheLegoman]

There are two outposts in the fortress and two signal fires in the lower triangle.

If I could figure out how to script I would make a script that does this.

If both outposts are controlled by player.
Then gates are owned by player
IfNot
Then gates are owned by Civilian and open.
IfEnd

The two outposts are on either side of the fortress, next to the gates.

[Bashkuga]

Maybe "If player is inside area "Area name", then gate "blablabla" is owned by player"?

[njm1983]

Personally use map ini to make a capturable throne, using a capture flag then set a script
If thrown owned by player x
then transfer gates named y, and z to player x control

[MattTheLegoman]

Cause there's totally a spare throne there. ;p
Good plan 99.

[njm1983]

I used to watch the original "get smart".... There could be a throne, if you placed one there. Obviously we dont have one named "Iron Hills Throne" but the theory is still sound. You must have something better in mind

[MattTheLegoman]

99 was always making the better ideas. I already have a throne that I didn't think to use. ;D

[njm1983]

In my defense the last time I watched get smart I was 12......anywhoo..... looking forward to seeing this baby finished up.

[MattTheLegoman]

Iron Hills is ready. :thumbsup:

 

Brand is now inside the Iron Hills.

 

Dwarves now control the two outposts.

 

And when you control both outposts, you get command of the gates.

 

We hold them here, Dwarves!

 

Dwarvish expedition over the bridges.

 

Surprise attack! And they have a Cave Troll!

The goblins have managed to break through the mountain and siege me from the other side (they do this regularly when I play against brutal.)

 

Counter attack, with help from the Hobbits.

Edited by MattTheLegoman, 24 April 2013 - 04:15 PM.

[njm1983]

Awesome work as usual.