tain.totalcodex.net

This is partly a rant, partly a query, partly a request...

As far as I can tell, there are few types of projects in development right now. Some people are making expansive TCs or expansions for TCs with all sorts of new units and features. Others are making multimap projects with enormous armies, or small armies of complex heroes. And of course, there are the many incarnations, clones, remakes, modifications, and reconsiderations of Mazzarin's Demise. Don't get me wrong; such things are all well and good.

But I really miss reg maps, particularly solo reg maps. Even in the community's prime there weren't that many--I've got about two dozen good ones in my plugins folder. But now they've almost become nonexistent as projects. Were there any released during the entire year and some months between Frenzy and Grave Tidings? I can't remember any. And as they're my favorite thing to play, I wish there were more. Expect to see more releases from me personally, and from the Onyx Warlords team as a whole (our behemothian lovechild marches on toward completion as always).

But what I really want to know is...are people working on reg map projects? Can any releases be expected in the near future? And if not...why?

A-Red

I've got some multi-player reg maps and a solo for RDF coming soon(tm).

I've also got a reg solo on my project list but there are several items in front of it.

For a long time now I've wanted a simple but challenging reg solo map that involves light versus light or dark versus dark as a way of practicing and honing basic myth skeels. I've had a hard time finding one of these - maybe none exist?

It's definitely more involved to make a good solo map since it involves a decent understanding of scripting and making the map playable and interesting.

I also think most people bite off more than they can chew with projects in general, going for epic straight out of the gate.

Maybe it's time we organized all Myth Mapmakers into a loose-knit Guild of sorts simply as a way of centralizing status and activity? I see so many threads here and on PM where people ask what people are doing or assume nothing is happening because they can't see it happening. It's like we need a single update-able page that shows: mapmaker, mapmaker group (if any), project, status.

That'd be nice.

Maybe another project for Winter? :: jots it down ::

Once TheTain is done and all resources are together it'd certainly be a more realistic option. Almost everyone in map-making has some connection to this place, but not everyone's here.

First thing you need to do is compile a list of map-makers and contact them all. This is active people in the community, not necessarily map-making now but hopefully on hand if need be and worth involving in this.

Outside of TFV and Magma, I made a count of about 25 people who are active in the community who appear to have the ability and possibly the motivation. Certainly enough to put together.

Baak wrote:For a long time now I've wanted a simple but challenging reg solo map that involves light versus light or dark versus dark as a way of practicing and honing basic myth skeels. I've had a hard time finding one of these - maybe none exist?

My next solo side-project is something like that. It would be interesting to see more maps like this, and pretty easy to wrap the Myth story around it by having one team be "rebels" or something. Maybe someone could make a plugin set during the TFL civil war, as a number of mapmakers have considered doing but not gone through with.

Baak wrote:It's definitely more involved to make a good solo map since it involves a decent understanding of scripting and making the map playable and interesting.

I also think most people bite off more than they can chew with projects in general, going for epic straight out of the gate.

Solo maps are tough, but reg is the best place to start. If you don't have to worry about new units and uber-fancy attacks and features, you can make a simple but satisfying reg map pretty quickly.

Baak wrote:Maybe it's time we organized all Myth Mapmakers into a loose-knit Guild of sorts simply as a way of centralizing status and activity? I see so many threads here and on PM where people ask what people are doing or assume nothing is happening because they can't see it happening. It's like we need a single update-able page that shows: mapmaker, mapmaker group (if any), project, status.

That'd be nice.

Maybe another project for Winter? :: jots it down ::

Interesting idea, as long as it preserves the mapmaking teams that already exist. There's a lot of potential to be able to get help from a larger group, and the organization would make it easier for the mapmaking community to grow.

There's also some potential for independent mapmakers to join one of the two large teams that currently exist; I'm not sure how open Magma is, but Horus occasionally seeks someone out to ask them to join Onyx.

CWR is I think the best plugin in need of more support being offered, would be a nice place to start.

A-Red wrote:Interesting idea, as long as it preserves the mapmaking teams that already exist. There's a lot of potential to be able to get help from a larger group, and the organization would make it easier for the mapmaking community to grow.

In my mind it would be a "central networking resource" for the all existing and new mapmaking teams and individuals - definitely not intended to absorb teams into some kind of mega-mapmaking-group.

I know these forums are excellent for the most part in this regard, but it's almost like a dedicated one-stop shop for Myth Mapmakers specifically would be nice, with news, resources, networking, etc., just for them.

It's like a focusing of existing sites/resources just for this.


Elfoid: I agree with you that when The Tain and/or other map sites come into existence this will be much easier to bring into reality.

There is Return to the Mountain which is my first released coop that came out after frenzy. U can tell its my first map, but its playable Its tfl style with frenzylike waves and thanks to Graydon has a nice new cmap.

I also have in the works a map that pits a small force of reg units against progressively harder and more numerous enemies so that only the most skilled survive to the end.

As for a regular solo style map in the original myth style, I have detailed plans for one, but it won't even be started until oak/winamber comes out.

A-Red, if it's any help, I'm making a regular-ish map. It is a sequel which follows the events of an Avatara. It has a few (about 6) heroes in total, but your army is not entirely made up of them. Some of the attacks are a bit over-the-top but I think mine will be a stable solo campaign. (i may include multi maps, but i haven't decided)

Also, it will probably not be released in the near future because
a) I'm the only person working on it.
b) It contains about 9 levels, and is therefore a huge project for one person.
c) It is nowhere near finished. Releasing it now would be like a much worse version of the incomplete version of Myth 3.

I'm working on solo campaign. I want to use existing colormaps, because I'm terrible artist (I will need some permissions), but I can scripting. It's a big work though and it won't be done in near future. But... I'm still working and my project is still in progress, I'm not stopping

Good to hear things are in the works.

Gleep, I'll check out Return to the Mountain. If Gray cmapped it, it must look good

Just join Magma. We are always looking for people.

ozone wrote:Just join Magma. We are always looking for people.

Ozone ~do my work bitches

I just got home from a night out..
I've got work tomorrow, but I'd still like to take some time responding to this.. I think the reason why most people are making mazz-esque maps right now is because of the popularity the mazz series have enjoyed. Every incarnation of Mazz has brought together bunches of people that would rarely, if ever, play together otherwise. Reg maps don't seem to bring the same excitement out of people, at least it doesn't seem like it to me.
I usually dl every thing i can find that seems even remotely playable, mostly because I like to try new things.. whether it's a new unit, a new map or a new attack. Personally I suck at using Fear, so getting new attacks for several units is a workload that takes several months for me.. I've probably bit off more than I can chew right now but I'm slowly working towards getting a little solo campaign together.. sad thing is, ever since the start of the project I've had small tweaks to units in mind, and several super units for the player to control.. (I still doubt I'll ever have something ready for dl as I seem to get preoccupied with multiplayer map ideas and rarely have time to sit down and think about where I want to go with my co-op project) so I do what I can to get some maps out to the public.

It still seems like the player community isn't that receptive to new ideas in the mapmaking department though, I've tried getting UT tweaks in for awhile but it seems people don't want to try new mesh variants out of spite.. might just be my wacky UTs though.. the two maps I've (just about) completed, features unorthodox unit trades that don't seem to appeal to the wider public.. I'll probably release both maps with generic UTs just to get them considered for tournament play, I just think it's a shame that people have to follow the old Desert/Creep or Trow/Clash UTs for people to play the maps...

I'm sure this rant won't make a lot of sense to people, probably not even me in the morning, but I just had to get it out of my system..

The Elfoid wrote:

ozone wrote:Just join Magma. We are always looking for people.

Ozone ~do my work bitches

hahaha...not at all.

I was jokin Oz ;p

I take your point Helm. On the other hand, if you look at the download count for RDF. That's totally different.