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Race to Death S&M Edition
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Author |
File Description |
King David |
Posted on 03/07/04 @ 07:00 PM
File Details |
Ruleset: |
AoW: SM - TS Standard Rules |
Map Size: |
L |
Levels: |
2 |
Single Player?: |
Yes |
Co-Op vs. AI?: |
Yes |
PBEM/Hotseat?: |
Yes |
Multiplayer Online?: |
No |
# of Wizards: |
7 |
# of players: |
6 |
Skill Level: |
Advanced |
Password Protected: |
No |
Surface Minimap:
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Cavern Minimap:
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This is a 6 player COOP/FFA map that can also be entertaining in SP mode. It is challenging and highly original. This version of the map has been fully updated for AOWSM, and includes new buildings, improved terrain and dungeon crawls. Thanks to Swolte for encouraging me to update it, Flitter for his ideas and comments, and the PBEMers who are involved in games on it now, especially the gang led by Hocus Pocus, who got the first PBEM going on this map a couple of years ago (wow, time flies), and Thundarr who revived it when SM was released.
The Story:
For over two hundred years, the Undead spread their gospel of free commerce and fidelity to the democratic process across the Land. All the while, they secretly undermined the very litany they preached by supporting questionable leaders of far left, far right and center-center politcal inclinations. Key to their aspirations of world dominance was their support of underground networks dedicated to the illegal productiona and distribution of opium. This proved to be an effective means of controlling population as well as ensuring that opposition abroad did not exceed the occasional public demonstration by relatively uninfluential groups of university students and opponents of globalization and preventive medication. Support for the Undead leader, Walker, back home was phenomenal thanks to the fact that his cronies were the owners of both the media as well as the primary sources of fossil and magic fuels. But when the Undead had destroyed their own lands of production, and when other races, recognizing the increased bargaining power their own uncontaminted lands afforded them, began to openly demonstrate assertions of economic and political soverignty, the Undead crushed them with their superior military might. A few intelectuals and rogues banded together and managed to flee to the hills. Time went by, the Undead settled back into themselves, and the cycle of history began anew. All Romes fall.
Now, Six are the races who have returned to retake what was once theirs. Through the forging of a tentative peace accord, the six will coordinate forces with the objective of destroying Walker. Alone, this feat would constitute a mission of suicide. The six races have gathered together their finest heros and items forged by the hands of craftsfmen in exile or delivered by the very stars or earth or nature herself. Slave to the spheres of fire, water, death, life and air, the determined troops embark on a mission from which most of them shall not return, but from which the very course of humanity hangs in the balance. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your horses.
Sara of the Elves:
Sara has perhaps the most sound motives for wishing revenge upon Walker. It was her leader, Khun Sa, who sold out to the Undead leader, allowed the fertile Eleven agricultural lands to be converted to the mass production of transgenic poppies as the main supply source for the opium dens that would be used to control the masses. Sara herself watched the Elven Empire crumble around her, and one night, as she sat alone in exile among the comfort of forest creatures, she vowed that she would dedicate her life to restoring that Empire and so right the wrongs of her people's past.
S. Pearlman of the Humans:
Before signing his soul to the Undead, Walker lived among Humans, so the arguments for that race's return to the Land are feeble at best. Yet here they are, and S. Pearlman means to restore some sort of balance to the world at large. We'll see...
Dahlia Negra of the Dark Elves:
Being a praticioner of the magic of Death, la Dahlia Negra is looked open with obvious mistrust. Still, she seems to be sincere in here hatred of Walker and has therefore been allowed into the Pact. Other races are wary, however, she may just have an easier time than some at assuming Walkers throne once he is deposed, as much of the infrastructure she will need to rule is already in place.
Genghis Frost of the Frostlings:
None of the races are exactly sure why the Frostlings would have an interest in joining the hunt for Walker, but their reasons can not be good. Perhaps Genghis Frost envisions the other races caked in blocks of ice, or perhaps he has some grand designs for the achieving of Peace in the Land through the freezing of evil ways and means, who knows? The only thing clear is that the Frostlings are here and mean to make their stand among those who would see Walker's body slashed and bloodied upon the jagged rocks of the Isle of Death.
Lady Bane of the Orcs:
Lady Bane was the wife of Lord Bane, long now disappeared in death or in destinations unknown. The veins that give life to Lady Bane are filled with the nectar of hatred, and in exile she has worked to develop a resistance to the Opium of Walker's strategy for domination of the Land. Lady Bane harbors no ill feelings toward her husband, but means to outdo him in her own time. She sees the destruction of Walker as a fair place to begin.
Don Sata of the Tigrans:
Don Sata is driven solely by greed. And evil. And for that he will triumph. All hail the King. |
Author | Comments & Reviews ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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Aralon |
Posted on 04/05/04 @ 07:11 AM
Playability: 3
The map is fun to play in the early stages but once it becomes clear that the Undead wont realy put up a fight (even on emperor) it becomes abit less so.
Replay value is there to test the different sides and to find out which race has the most challenging task in the quest to defeat walker.
A big plus are the funny events and the micro games hidden on the map.
Balance: 4
Most sides have fairly equal starting resources. The Hero items could be more balanced, the elves items are a bit too powerfull imho. The map is balanced for sure and each side has a good chance to win the game.
Creativity: 4
The background story along with the events and elements like walkers death tax and the opium dens makes this map stand out on the creative field. I liked the humor and the story elements alot, thanks for the good laugh. Only the effectiveness of the AI was not improved´enough, but that is surely one of the hardest things to do.
Map Design: 4
Very nice detail and enough diversity. The roads might not be all to usefull in some places but that fits into the theme of the map and the ruined condition of some areas.
Story/Instructions: 5
From the maps story you can definitely judge the kind of content you are about to face. The instructions are quite clear and the overview on the download page is correct.
The pop up texts surely lighten up the gaming experience and are quite amusing all of the time.
The map truly shines in this category.
Additional Comments:
A wonderfull map with funny content and good balance. Plz if it is possible to make the Undead adversary more challenging, do so, it will highten the replay value alot. The the map could then be played as coop vs the AI and still be a challenge.
I know the AI is dumber than dirt and i am probably not speaking about some easy task here :(
The problem is that fpr example while I played frostling i never encountered any serious attack against my territory. A very occasional Hero stack is a nice thing to train my own heroes but no threat. And most of the time small stacks of three or two undead lvl2 to 3 units came over which could be ignored as long as one or two doom wolves were on patrol duty.
After a while your magic skills are enough to qhipe out the AI with summoned big fliers alone since the AI has not cast mastery till it is way too late if it does so as all.
And since even your computer allies seem to do very well against the undead he is probably too busy overall to eliminate one specific enemie race.
At a certain stage in a single player game you have to turn on your neighbors to make things more interesting.
Ok sorry for the negative rambling, this is an overall problem in AOW-SM and could only be overcome in a few maps yet, athendore2 and survival being good examples. To keep the AI as an active attacker and a real threat till the endgame often requires things like hard to reach remote city clusters for the AI.
As always i can only recommend to give the AI alot of magic reasources and a few effective domain and overland spells from the beginning. |
Sul the Wise |
Posted on 04/06/04 @ 02:14 PM
Playability: 5
This is an epic map - you can't beat in under a hundred turns, and if that's your cup of tea, this is a great map.
Balance: 3
I found myself overrun by Undead while my A.I. allies peacefully got on with scouting the countryside. I was playing Elves and every damn Undead attack centered on me. Not that it's not fun to play, just seems rather unfair.
Creativity: 5
Couldn't stop grinning. The Hero descriptions were a nice touch, especially the ones that rhymed. I didn't make much use of the side games, though (I will next time I play).
Map Design: 4
Nice landscape, very well thought out, but some of the islands weren't connected.
Story/Instructions:5
[Edited on 04/06/04 @ 02:16 PM]
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Horza666 |
Posted on 05/19/04 @ 09:23 AM
Playability: 4
The map is not for beginners as one could find himself in a defensive position early in the game. But this in just part of the challenge. Every Wizard and his race might use their special abilities fighting Walker. This way the map offers unique replay modes in SP and detailed tacticoptions in MP.
Balance: 4
The gamebalance is improved since the original version of the map. It is the skill of the player which decides the game (who picks up the best items and levels his heroes???)
Creativity: 5
Nothing more to say ... play and smile :)
Map Design: 5
Beautiful landscape and use of special technics as well. The design fits perfect.
Story/Instructions: 5
It's all there, nice story, hero descriptions and at sometimes an reminder on what the map is about. The little ingame games are quiet useful too.
Additional Comments:
Definately one of the maps which is playable at all times. |
zeta |
Posted on 07/03/04 @ 01:14 PM
I gave this map three tries, and each time everyone lost at about the fourth or fifth turn when the Lady Daughter died. I tried to watch (with cheats) the last time, but I still can't figure out what is happening. Kinda sucks. The map looks cool, though. |
PetrusOctavianus |
Posted on 11/21/07 @ 11:17 AM
S&M Edition? ;-)
^^^ |
RogerRabid (id: Roger the Rampant) |
Posted on 11/09/10 @ 11:49 AM
Presumably he means SM (i.e. Shadow Magic) edition; does cause a quick double-take though, admittedly! :P |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.3 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 4.0 | Balance | 3.7 | Creativity | 4.7 | Map Design | 4.3 | Story/Instructions | 5.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 2,036 |
Favorites: [] | 0 |
Size: | 310.68 KB |
Added: | 03/07/04 |
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