|
Author |
File Description |
Queen Elquein |
Posted on 12/12/02 @ 08:16 AM (updated 12/13/02)
File Details |
Ruleset: |
AoW2: TWT - TS Standard Rules |
Map Size: |
XL |
Levels: |
2 |
Single Player?: |
Yes |
Co-Op vs. AI?: |
Yes |
PBEM/Hotseat?: |
Yes |
Multiplayer Online?: |
Yes |
# of Wizards: |
8 |
# of players: |
5 |
Skill Level: |
Advanced |
Password Protected: |
No |
What is Athendore, you ask. Well, those who are familiar with my map Athendore for the good old AoW, will know what to expect from this sequel. But for those unfortunate people who either don't have AoW, or have AoW and for some weird reason haven't downloaded Athendore...this is what you can expect.
The map is gigantic in every possible way, and the computer controlled players (elves, dwarves and archons) will most likely give you a royal butt kicking unless you know how to play this game well enough. Now what is well enough...that's up to you to decide.
Every hero and item are custom made, and there are several hundred of both of them. Lot of signs all over the map, and quite a few events as well.
This map is prefect for long co-op pbem or hotseat games against the AI. Because of it's huge size, this map is not best for online games, although if your and your friends computers are powerful enough, then by all means, play it online.
And here is the story...
-History of Athendore-
Taken from the book "Athendore, Heaven or Hell?"
By Jadral Bilgor
(Part 1 written by Bluecollarheaven)
Part 1
Long, long ago, at the end of the Golden Age of the Immortals when Gods and Descendants of the Mortal Races walked together in the Lands of Athendore, the Eldriens were the favorites of the Gods. They were the last to be created after the Humans, and thus were made flawless. They were like the gods for they were creative and knew of all things under the stars.
But as with things perfect and favored, the Race of the Eldriens soon became arrogant and made themselves Overlord over the other Races. The First of the Eldriens, Darcel Zau'ch even dared to go against the Creators themselves and challanged them. He seduced a great number of women of other races, and many detestable creatures, were brought forth from these forbidden reunions. His younger brother, Eziar, stole the Fruit of Fertility and the Eldriens soon had many children amongst themselves.
Because they were perfect, children were born knowing the world around them, and had formidable power even though they were still infants. In a matter of a few years, these young Eldriens grew to adulthood and gained knowledge of their parents. They formulated new power and soon were able to take the minds of other if they so wished.
Choas reigned the world. And all the Races were driven to the brink of extinction as the Eldriens continued to expand and increase in power and number.
The Creator Gods of Athendore, Kobos (Lord of the Earth), Thunderust (Lord of the Storms) and Lorrien (Lady of Reefs), were outraged by the rebellion of their perfect race. And thus they cursed the Eldriens and rained down their terrible anger on the Proud Race. Within a day, the Great City of the Eldriens fell into rubble. Disease, horrifying and disfiguring, broke out amongst the Rebellous Race. Overnight, They Who Were Perfect became They Who Were Inflicted.
Darcel Zau'ch was the worst of the Inflicted Ones. For his flesh, melted and seeped into the ground. Even his eyes fell from his face. In his pain, he cried out to the Gods.
None of the gods would heed his cry. None except one. Alas! Orgun, the Scarred God, who bore some hatred for his immortal brothers for severely punishing him when he created the violent race of Orcs. He heard the cry of the Eldrien First Man, and went to him in the shape of a mighty Black Vulture.
When the other Immortals saw him swoop down on the Eldriens, they thought that the race of Eldriens were finally annihlated and their wrath ceased. And no Eldrien body was ever retrieved, buried or found.
Orgun took all of them to his secret home beyond the Black Stars and hid them from the rest of the universe.
For many hundreds of generations, the scarred god kept these people and daily, they hungered for the blood of those who still walked the earth under the favor of their creators. But there was hope for these corrupted beings. For Orgun's horrible and violent creation, the Orcs were allowed to live among the Fair races. Then there was the ever zealous, desert worshippers of the self made Skull God who kept themselves away from the rest of civilisation. Orgun, thus realised a plan and fused himself into an idol of the non-existent Skull God. Through the idol, he spoke to them and taught them to worship him. Those who were wise enough to see through it all and realise what was really conspiring, were taken away, sacrificially killed in ceremonious occassions or locked away in a dark dungeon for the rest of their lives.
Part 2
A great war break out. Orgun saw his chance, and released his wrath upon the unsuspecting people of Athendore. Several armies of his followers were ready to kill everyone who would stand against Orgun. And that they did.
One after another were killed. And for a long time, it seemed that there was no stopping them, and Athendore would fall under their might.
But the remaining free races of Athendore, Elves, Halflings, Dwarves, Humans and Frostlings, combined whatever forces they had, and raised to oppose Orgun's Champions. The losses were great. Never had the lands of Athendore seen so many bodies, so many innocent people dead, who only sought to defend their homes, their freedom and families.
But the will to win was even greater than the losses they suffered. Even when severly outnumbered, they did what many thought would be impossible, and defeated anything and everything Orgun had. And in the end, they banished Orgun's Spirit from the mortal plains...or so they thought.
Then there was calm. No more fighting, no more suffering. Many thought that they could once again live their lives in peace, like they did before. But that was not the case. As soon as Orgun's forces had been defeated, the Elves, Dwarves and Halflings came to the conclusion that such war should never happen again. And it did not take long for them to find a way to prevent it from happening.
They gathered whatever forces they had and drove everyone off Athendore. Even Humans and Frostlings who had been fighting side by side with them against Orgun's forces.
A council was created by the Elves, Dwarves and Halflings. And the first thing it decided, was to summon more allies to secure the peace the land now had. And thus, the Archons came to Athendore. These haughty and proud people were the perfect allies. They would never allow such evil to rise again.
But fools they were, thinking that peace could be achieved in a way they tought it could be. The only thing they created, was bitter feelings amongst the banished people. Hatred, betrayal, revenge, arrogance.... Just like in the beginning.
|
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Last » | Author | Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
---|
EMc2 |
Posted on 12/22/02 @ 08:11 PM
Playability: 1
All the beginning wizards are in a good area to explore. The frostlings seem to be stuck between a rock and a hardplace. As the game wears on it become quite obvious that you stand no chance against the computer. It simply starts off with to much of an advantage.
Balance: 1
I played the map 3 times before looking at it with the editor, IMO there is no way to beat the computer opponents unless it is set at squire (maybe lord). To many resources and beginning armies for the PC. The ratio is like 20 to 1 (human player being 1).
Creativity: 5
The attention to detail in this map is better than any I've seen made. Has almost an RPG feel to it.
Map Design: 5
Goes along with the creativity. Outstanding in its detail, map author really thought about map before making it.
Story/Instructions: 5
Wonderful storyline. Now if I could just live past turn 83...lol
Additional Comments:
I understand the need to make the map hard but IMO the PC is given way to much in the beginning. At about turn 23, one of the PC characters casts Life Mastery (don't even think about beating her), the PC knows way to many spells from the start.
Could be a very good map, maybe one of the best if balance was fixed.
|
lacryma |
Posted on 12/22/02 @ 10:53 PM
Playability: 5
(Insert Playability analysis here)
Balance: 5
(Insert Balance analysis here)
Creativity: 5
(Insert Creativity analysis here)
Map Design: 5
(Insert Map Design analysis here)
Story/Instructions: 5
(Insert Story/Instructions analysis here)
Additional Comments: The harder the map, the better. It is challenging like the author said it would be, but not even nearly impossible. The starting armies of each playable races could have been made little stronger. And there were some empty signs scattered here and there. And computer takes quite long to end it's turns later on. But apart from those little problems, the perfect map for me.
|
cycl0ps |
Posted on 12/26/02 @ 05:58 PM
Playability: 1
(Insert Playability analysis here)
Balance: 1
(Insert Balance analysis here)
Creativity: 2
(Insert Creativity analysis here)
Map Design: 3
(Insert Map Design analysis here)
Story/Instructions: 3
(Insert Story/Instructions analysis here)
Additional Comments:
Can't say I liked this much it isn't just about making maps hard anybody can do that the trick is too make them playable which this isn't. Progress is just too slow and the balance non existent. It is beatable but just takes too long. This one will only appeal to those who like defending sieges. Fun it isn't. |
Oidar |
Posted on 12/27/02 @ 02:48 AM
Playability: 5
(Insert Playability analysis here)
Balance: 4
(Insert Balance analysis here)
Creativity: 5
(Insert Creativity analysis here)
Map Design: 5
(Insert Map Design analysis here)
Story/Instructions: 5
(Insert Story/Instructions analysis here)
Additional Comments:
The best map there is so far. Beautiful to look, and chellenging to play.The big size of the map makes playing it sometimes annoying.
|
Steubeny |
Posted on 12/29/02 @ 11:23 AM
Playability: 1
(Could have been a terrific experience but falls far short)
Balance: 1
(Absolutely hammered by AI)
Creativity: 4
(Can't argue with your ability to make a beautiful map )
Map Design: 2
(Just far too large)
Story/Instructions: 3
(Found them sufficient)
Additional Comments:
This could have been the best map we have ever played & have been playing AoW/AoWII from the get go. Unfortunely the author turned it into an ego trip. |
Lena Elvar |
Posted on 01/01/03 @ 03:20 PM
Playability: 4
I had much fun with this map. The places all over this map were great, and had obviously been done with great care. I really had fun exploring the places on this map. ANd I think I still have not seen it all.
Balance: 5
It is clear that the computer players are supposed to be lot stronger than the human players. Even as it took me 4 tries to beat this map, I think that every race has equal chances to win this map. It was much easier when my friend was playing this with me in the Hotseat mode.
Creativity: 5
The use of terrain is the best I have seen for this game so far. There are some pretty surprising looking places. And most places look very natural. Well as natural as a computer game can look like.
Map Design: 5
Not sure how this differs from creativity, but this map is just plain beautiful and detailed everywhere.
Story/Instructions: 5
I loved the story, what more can I say. Many maps seem to be missing a good story.
Additional Comments:
I really liked the map Athendore, and even as this map wasn't as good as that was, this is still simply a great map. I am not bothered by the difficulty, as I can have fun even if I do not win. I'm a big fan of very large maps, and hope there will be more maps like this. There were few errors on this map, but nothing critical.
|
Lucky Strike |
Posted on 01/02/03 @ 05:31 PM
Playability: 4
A very playable map. The only detraction being the extra long AI turns in the mid-late game. I like to read a page or two between turns, so I don't mind : )
Balance: 4
Not all of the starting races that a human can play are of equal power. You might want to be familiar with what each race starts with when playing multi-player, so each human is roughly equal.
Creativity: 5
A very very fun map with lot's of neat events. It feels like a role-playing game.
Map Design: 5
Simply put, it's gorgeous! The one issue I have is that road building underground is severely limited in some areas due to the terrain.
Story/Instructions: 4
Meh, the story was better than most. I don't really care about the story that much in these types of games anyhow.
Additional Comments:
This is easily the best custom map for AoW2 I've ever played! Like the author said, this is not a map for beginners. For those of you (like me) who a tired of the late game consisting of mop up drudgery, this is the map for you. It is quite difficult from beginning to end.
|
Lord Vito |
Posted on 01/05/03 @ 01:06 PM
Playability: 1
Fun until turn 40.
Balance: 1
No balance to speak of.
Creativity: 1
To many blank signs.
Map Design: 1
First map I've ever seen with to much stuff.
Story/Instructions: 1
Story makes no sense and seems pointless.
Additional Comments:
Map was okay, not the best by far.
|
Arcana |
Posted on 01/08/03 @ 01:39 AM
Playability: 3
A time-consuming scenario with challenges that will be fatally overwhelming to casual players.
Balance: 2
The A.I. only wizards start with tremendous advantages. It might be a scenario best left alone by impatient non-experts.
Creativity: 5
A very complex, rich, and sophisticaed work of imaginative genius!
Map Design: 5
Inspect the map in the editor and you shall contemplate its vast, exquisite, and twisted beauty.
Story/Instructions: 5
This coruscant scenario displays a deep and complex creative genius, somewhat intoxicated by the arcane intuitions of Darkness.
Additional Comments:
Why does the agregate score for map design indicate 0: a compilation bug?
[Edited on 01/08/03 @ 01:44 PM]
|
osho |
Posted on 01/16/03 @ 08:36 AM
Playability: 1
long turns leads to levels of annoyance previously unknown to mankind. Sadly i dont hate myself enough to put myself through completing this map.
Balance: 2
goes beyond impossible this is not challenging but lunacy.
Creativity: 4
has good ideas with some imaginitive events
Map Design: 3
surface looks nice but what could be a beautiful underground has been savagly defaced so the underground no longer looks like the underground
Story/Instructions: 4
very good beginning story but trails off as it has not been sustained through the use events
Additional Comments:large amount of potential as map looks nice but spoilt due to extremly long turn times.
|
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Last » |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
---|
4.1 | Breakdown |
---|
Playability | 3.8 | Balance | 3.5 | Creativity | 4.5 | Map Design | 4.5 | Story/Instructions | 4.3 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 9,233 |
Favorites: [] | 2 |
Size: | 641.68 KB |
Added: | 12/12/02 |
Updated: | 12/13/02 |
|