Pao Archipelago — Maps: Tribes of the East

MasteR

9 years ago

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Title: Invasion from the Underworld - Part 3. Pao Archipelago --- Hell invasion - Episode 3.Pao Islands

Name in game resources: Pao Archipelago
Map type: Scenario
Two-level map: yes
Game version: only 3.1
Number of players: 4
Size: large
Map author: MasteR

Description: More and more demon forces are gathering at the northern border of the Unicorn Empire, preparing for a devastating attack on the lands of the Ashan people. At this time, the Devil instructs Sigrif to go south to lead a second army of demons towards the first one. This maneuver will prevent the demons from allowing their still unsuspecting enemies to coordinate and unite. The islands of Pao were chosen as a staging ground for offensive operations. The local orcs are unlikely to be happy with uninvited guests...

About the map: A dynamic game against three fairly strong opponents in an alliance without additional quests.

Previous story parts:

Part 1
Part 2

Have a nice game!

Map update from 12.03.2017. Changes:

1. Another mentor has been added to the Dungeon.
2. Reduced the chance of neutral creatures joining.
3. Slightly more free resources.
4. Now, to win, you need to capture not only cities but also kill all enemy heroes.
5. If Sigrif flees from the battlefield, the game does not end (there is an opportunity to buy him out from the tavern within 3 days).
6. Added 2 one-way portals, 1 stable near the starting Castle.
7. Sigrif's starting skills have been changed; the "Wrathful Blow" spell has been added.

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elizbar1967

9 years ago

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Good map, interesting. A very large number of creatures join, especially undead. Does it even matter? Or is it just that I reached Markel earlier this time?

In reply to elizbar1967

MasteR

9 years ago

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elizbar1967

Good map, interesting. A very large number of creatures join, especially undead. Does it even make sense? Or is it just that I arrived at Markel earlier?

Only small groups of demons join "by default". All the others are regular neutral creatures. Perhaps it's due to diplomacy, or the stacks are very weak compared to the hero's army.

elizbar1967

9 years ago

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500 Black Knights, 500 Liches, and 258 Death Harbingers joined my Dungeon. Not counting several hundred Barbarian Warriors and 128 Djinn Sultans. Diplomacy is well-developed.

In reply to elizbar1967

MasteR

9 years ago

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elizbar1967

500 Black Knights, 500 Liches, and 258 Death Harbingers joined my Dungeon. Not counting several hundred Barbarian Warriors and 128 Djinn Sultans. Diplomacy is well-developed.

I checked this stack, and it doesn't have the "Always Join" flag set. What was the hero's army size at that time?

Perhaps I'll set flags for all the "left-wing" neutrals so that even diplomacy won't help...

First, I'd like to get information about the difficulty of completing the map at each difficulty level. Due to lack of time, I only tested the map for script functionality.

elizbar1967

9 years ago

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The hero already had a decent army, but it was weaker than the joined forces. Moreover, undead creatures are constantly joining. Oh well, never mind. The map is difficult until a certain point, until the hero's army becomes stronger than the neutral forces. So far, I've only completed the dungeon and emerged outside. And regarding resources, there's a complete shortage of mercury. I haven't been able to find a mine... Maybe I didn't look hard enough. And I could also use a mentor. Otherwise, the AI has given me unsuitably native lands and the "Death's Advance" skill. But that's not what I need. I would have preferred scouting with navigation. In any case, the map is captivating.

Added 1 minute ago
Yes, I was playing on the impossible difficulty level.

In reply to elizbar1967

MasteR

9 years ago

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elizbar1967

The hero already had a decent army, but it was weaker than the ones that joined him. And it was mostly undead joining. Well, never mind. The map is difficult up to a certain point, until the hero's army becomes stronger than the neutrals. So far, I've only completed the Dungeon and emerged outside. And regarding resources, I'm completely out of mercury. I haven't been able to find a mine... Maybe I haven't looked hard enough. And I could also use a mentor. Otherwise, the AI has given me an unappealing starting area and the "Death's Advance" skill. But I don't need that. I would have preferred scouting with navigation. In any case, the map is captivating.

Added 1 minute ago
Yes. I was playing on the impossible difficulty level.

Thank you for the information about the neutrals; I'll keep that in mind.

What about the opponents? Are they a nuisance?

There is a mentor, but not at the beginning of the map.

Antik

9 years ago

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I played as a hero and completed the map with difficulty in 169 days (I received a Bone Dragon as a reward). I must say, this map is heroic in every sense, just like other works by the author. As for the drawbacks, I would note the following. The resource situation is terrible (especially with mercury, which is extremely important for demons), and without a portal and an army, there's nothing you can do. The mentor is located in a remote area that you only reach towards the end of the game. I had to restart because I didn't immediately realize that you can't defeat the enemies without Dark Magic and Logistics (the hero's magical skills are only good for the first couple of months). It would be more convenient if captured enemy castles were destroyed (to allow you to return to your own). After defeating the brown and burgundy factions, I spent a long time running away from the orange faction, Tomb, with its huge army and devastating Dark Magic suppression. In the end, I didn't fight him; I simply captured all his castles, and the game ended. Also, it seemed to me that magic somehow didn't have the desired effect; that is, the turn didn't come faster, but as usual (a script issue?). I watched the final cutscenes, but I didn't understand the meaning. Overall, a huge thank you to the author for creating a challenging but very interesting map.

In reply to Antik

MasteR

9 years ago

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Antik

The resource situation is a complete mess (especially with mercury, which demons desperately need), and without a portal and an army, there's nothing you can do.

This is a factor that forces you to seize resources from neutral creatures as quickly as possible, as well as dwarf lairs and orcish cities.

Antik

The mentor is stuck in a place that you only reach at the end of the game.

Perhaps I'll add another one somewhere under good protection.

Antik

I had to restart because I didn't immediately realize that you can't defeat the enemies without Dark Magic and logistics (the hero's magical skills are only good for the first couple of months).

I think summoning magic will be no worse. For me, the phantom and the wall of swords were decisive. Chaos magic will allow Devil's Strike to deal more damage with a reasonably high spell power.

Antik

It would be more convenient if captured enemy castles were destroyed (to allow you to return to your own).

It would be too easy.

Antik

After defeating the brown and burgundy ones

Did they cause any inconvenience?

Antik

I ran away from the orange Grog for a long time because of his huge amount of health and the fatal suppression of Dark Magic. In the end, I didn't fight him, but simply occupied all his castles, and the game ended there.

It would be more logical to have the complete destruction of the enemy as the goal, rather than capturing cities...

Antik

And also, as it seemed to me, magic somehow didn't have the desired effect, that is, the turn didn't come faster, but as usual.

Perhaps it doesn't affect the Hell Wave and Devil's Chain, but otherwise it should work as usual.

Antik

I watched the final cutscenes, but I didn't understand the point.

What exactly is unclear?)

Antik

9 years ago

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Brown and purple were constantly trying to take my castle. So, I had to buy resources, build a guild of mages, and use a portal to return to the castle in time, where they didn't dare attack me. After accumulating enough troops and developing my skills, I dealt with them, although it wasn't easy and I suffered significant losses. As for the Necropolis, you can win against him (by having more troops, initiative, and the Darkness skill) only by being in a castle that you've taken from purple or from him (of course, if he attacks), using Darkness, and destroying the catapult first (then he just stands near the castle walls). In the end, I had that option, but after fighting him for a while, I preferred to replay using the well-known method, although I didn't expect that the game would end after I captured all his castles. Yes, and a mercury mine is still necessary near the castle; otherwise, it will be difficult. Respect to the author.

Maxor

9 years ago

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Will there be a sequel?

elizbar1967

9 years ago

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I'll continue later and provide an update.

MerlKori

9 years ago

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Hmm, why do enemies clearly ignore the hero when he's inside the castle? I was waiting for him to attack me – he was sitting in the castle with such an army

– and he just walked past. But as soon as he left the castle, he immediately attacked me – I barely managed to defend myself. The next one also ignored me, even though his army was even stronger, and mine was the same. And you can't retreat during a battle in the field to a tavern – it's an immediate defeat.

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In reply to Maxor

MasteR

9 years ago

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Maxor

Will there be a sequel?

If I have the time and inspiration, then yes. There should be at least two more maps for Inferno.

Added 1 minute ago

It's hard to say, I didn't make any changes to the AI's behavior. Apparently, it's not stupid and knows what will happen if it attacks the Castle.

Added 1 minute ago
Most likely, I will release a new version of the map tomorrow with a fairly large list of changes.

Added 12 hours 38 minutes ago
Map version updated. Changes:

1. Added another mentor in the Dungeon.
2. Reduced the probability of neutral creatures joining.
3. Slightly more free resources.
4. Now, to win, you need to capture not only cities, but also kill all enemy heroes.
5. If Sigrid flees from the battlefield, the game does not end (there is an opportunity to redeem him from the tavern within 3 days).
6. Added 2 one-way portals, 1 stable near the starting Castle.
7. Sigrid's starting skills have been changed, and the "Wrathful Blow" spell has been added.