Posts from Valley of the Marauders

Title: Valley of Sky Raiders
Map name: Valley of Disaster
Map type: Scenario
Two-level map: No
Number of players: 3
Size: Extra Large
Map author: Ornstein Dragonslayer
Note: This map is a mod. After completing it, it is best to delete the "rework (4)" map from the Maps folder.
Map description: This map is set outside the HOMM universe. It tells the story of how the elite of the earthly world sends a captain on an expedition to the heavens to prevent the end of the world. It turns out that 5 villains supposedly split the single entity of the heavens into 5 elemental fragments. The Archmage Zimo took the Metal entity, the great warrior Ofotis took the Wood entity, Quinadja, the Water Queen, took the water fragment, the dark entity of Drakki, the leper dragon, absorbed the Fire entity, and the summoning researcher Gluttonix reluctantly and under pressure took the Earth element entity. In this state, the heavens cannot exist in a stable state and are about to collapse, and they have been preparing to do so for several decades, but it still hasn't happened... It is urgently necessary to save the lower world from the apocalypse!


Author's note: So, the map is large, don't try to complete it in one sitting. Also, tell me about the balance, where it is too difficult, where it is too easy... the map is not intended to be super difficult (except for the bosses). If something doesn't work, in the message of this topic, screenshot the error in the console and the quest you were doing.

I would also like to express my special thanks for the help in developing the map: Gerter, Jack_of_shadows, Ment.

Installation: Download the rework.zip archive from the link. There are 2 files in the archive. Put the file with the .h5m format into the Maps folder, and the file with the .pak format into the data folder.

Updates and fixes:
v 1.01 - Some places where neutral creatures could be bypassed have been fixed. Player 3 no longer dies after the first week.
v 1.02 - Now all valleys, except for the first one (metal), are closed. They open when the boss of the previous valley is defeated (clockwise). Some of Quinadja's abilities have been changed, and Drakki's animations have been adjusted.
v 1.03 - Fixed a bug where the game sometimes froze when Oldrick was killed. Oldrick no longer has war machines. The initial neutral creatures have been slightly strengthened. Some treasures have been removed.
v 1.04 - Test version, as I have significantly complicated the second half of the map. Let's see if it is passable or not. The lighting has also been changed to be brighter. The finish line in the "Race" quest is now more clearly marked.
v 1.05 - The armies of all citadels have been strengthened, the armies of almost all enemy heroes have been increased, and the neutral creatures of the wood and water valleys have been strengthened. The location of the portal in the wood valley has been slightly changed. Creature weeks have been canceled. A small passage has been added from the huts to the portal. Some typos have been fixed. Now you cannot get to the golden armada until the quest is completed. Some inaccuracies in the quest with the druids and goblins have been fixed. It was not possible to approach some objects - this has been fixed.
v 1.1 - final. Vampirism is banned on the map. The number of neutral creatures on the map has been changed (fewer at the beginning), the armies in the citadels have been changed, but the abilities of the defending heroes have been corrected (some previously had 4 development branches instead of 5). Zimo has been slightly weakened. Now, after the Sky Devourer has been defeated, he will return every month with an increased army. Finally, a full-fledged final boss fight has been added. The experience coefficient on the map is now 0.6 (it was 0.9). Minor bugs have been fixed.

Link to the archive on Yandex.Disk

I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. :smile12:
Right off the bat: Oldrik dies in the second week.
Preliminary testing:
-Undead (metal) and unicorns near the city (water) make it practically impossible to break through.
-The heroes in the cities could have a larger army. The same goes for the neutrals; otherwise, they start running away from the second week.
-I appreciated the joke about Amun. He could also use a larger army. If you kill the hero before he takes the quest, it doesn't count.
-What's the point of having a garrison in the lava field?
-Despite the green one dying, the succubus and angel appeared.

I'll complete the map tomorrow, as the save files aren't working, but I did find one flaw: the second Manticores can be easily defeated.

I've been waiting for this day for a very long time. :smile12:
Right off the bat: Oldric dies in the second week.

Oh, damn. Very important information. Because the green player appears in many places. Don't continue. We'll fix it.

Added 26 minutes later
Updated. I guess I'll have to replay. :c

Added 3 hours 9 minutes later

Preliminary testing:
-The Undead (metal) and unicorns near the city (water) are practically impossible to break through.
-The heroes in the cities could use a larger army. The neutrals too, otherwise they start running away from the second week.
-I liked the joke about Amun. He could also use a larger army. If you kill the hero before he takes the quest, it doesn't count.
-What is the garrison in the lava field for?
-Even though the green player died, the succubus and angel appeared.

Archliches leave after Oldric is destroyed (as they should), and unicorns leave after completing one of the quest branches in the Valley of the Trees.
Are you talking about the Golden Armada? I'll fix it.
The garrison in the fire location is just for aesthetics.
So, is everything already completed? Hmm. General wishes, as I understand it, are to strengthen the neutrals and the enemy armies?

I also strongly recommend playing through the map clockwise (starting from the Valley of Metal); otherwise, errors may occur.

However, that's why I won't play through the map (sorry, but that's how it is) because the map should work correctly regardless of the player's chosen method of play.
There are two possible solutions:
1) Make it so that the map can only be played clockwise and in no other way (i.e., eliminate the possibility of an error);
2) Make it so that the map can be played in any way and still work correctly (without errors).
The second option is better, but that's up to you.
Overall: I wish you success in mapmaking.

I'll try playing with the active green skill now.
According to my assumption, he should stand still and not move. But Oldrik showed up to besiege my castle. He has no chance of winning. Is this a script or a bug?

First question: do some mapmakers intentionally reduce the lighting on the map to almost zero, so that the player's eyesight deteriorates even faster? If you want a dark atmosphere, add some gothic elements to the map, but don't make my poor eyes suffer!

Unfortunately, I can’t download the map myself. Could you please make it available in the same format as other authors do (without using WinZip)?

I'll try playing with the active green hero now.
According to my assumption, he should stand still and not move. But Oldrik came to attack my Castle, without any chance of winning. Is this a script or a bug?

Everything is as it should be.

First question: do individual map creators deliberately reduce the lighting on the map to almost zero, so that the player's eyesight deteriorates even faster? If you want a dark atmosphere, add some gothic elements to the map, but don't make my poor eyes suffer!

Your eyesight won't deteriorate) I just wanted the map to have nighttime lighting, as if the lack of light is due to a post-apocalyptic state.

Unfortunately, I can't download the map. Could you please make it available like other authors do (without using WinZip)?

I'll try to re-upload it now.

Scenario [XL] - Valley of the Marauders is attached.

The map is magnificent! You can tell that the author put their heart and soul into it!

I read it during loading – Please play the map clockwise, or errors may occur – this completely ruined my desire to play. Couldn't you block movement counter-clockwise?

Added 1 minute ago
Friend, why is the link to the map on your page, and not on the author's?

after killing the green creature, a sand timer appears, and the game freezes.

Completed the map with a hero in 150 days, earning the Thunderlord badge. Comments: 1. The speedrun challenge was not recognized for some reason. I completed it the next day, obtained the artifact, and received the rewards. 2. The darkness significantly detracts from the experience. Running around a large, black room and searching for something unclear! I almost stopped playing halfway through, but I returned and finished it as quickly as possible. 3. Balance. Initially, there are some natural difficulties, but later, both neutral creatures and heroes become mere formalities. The exception is the unicorns on the 3rd castle. Without Darkness, I wouldn't have been able to complete it. 4. I didn't understand the purpose of the non-white and non-black dragons at all. 5. In the green ending, I didn't kill the enemy; I took the 5th castle and reached the designated location. If this is a valid way to end the game, then why was the green enemy even necessary? 6. The author's suggestion to play the map in a circular manner is reasonable in terms of the scenario, but illogical in terms of the requirement. The alternative path should be closed off, at least with the same barriers. Overall, the map is interesting and worth playing!

Completed the game with the hero in 150 days, earned the Thunderlord badge.
Comments:
1. For some reason, the speed quest wasn't registered. I completed it the next day, got the artifact, and received the rewards.

A quest in the Valley of Fire? That's strange. Let's double-check.

2. The darkness ruins a lot. Running around a large black room and searching for who knows what! I stopped playing halfway through, but then I came back and finished it as quickly as possible.

I don't think the lighting issue is that critical. We need to gather more feedback.

3. Balance. At first, there were natural difficulties, but then both the neutrals and the heroes became just a formality. The exception is the unicorns on the 3rd Castle. Without Darkness, I wouldn't have been able to complete it.

Do we need more challenging battles? At what stage of the game did it become too easy?

4. I didn't understand the purpose of the non-white and non-black dragons at all.

The map is designed for careful exploration. It's not surprising that some areas remained closed, unclear, and unknown to you.

5. At the end of the green quest, I didn't kill him; I took the 5th Castle and reached the destination. If you can finish the game like that, then why was the green quest even needed?

This is called choice.

A quest in the Valley of Fire? That's strange. Let's double-check.

Yes

I don't think the lighting issue is that critical. We need to gather more feedback. 

In such cases, they do this: a daytime version for normal people, and a nighttime version for those who want a challenge. Personally, I have poor eyesight.

Do you need more challenging battles? At what stage of the game was it too easy?

After the second castle. Proper balance is a complex thing. I was just stating a fact. I think that the strength of neutrals and players should also increase over time. Just not as quickly as with unicorns.

This is called a choice.

I think you're wrong. This isn't a choice, it's a flaw.