Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Feedback for the mainline campaign Heir to the Throne.

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thejasper
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by thejasper »

(1) What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?
1.10.4 med
(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
8 - dependent on how willing you are to sacrifice

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
very clear

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
very clear, interesting and helpful

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
Learning to give up. I do tend to replay scenarios where I lose (too many) high level troops. I try not to reload turns just restart scenarios (but I'm not perfect). I call this scenario, death of the veterans. I even tried using lots of level 1 almost ready to level troops. Alas, my level 2 cadre took a big hit. My flying elite is almost dead.

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
9

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
Winning numbers to the lottery? Maybe some more dialog betwixt orc and humans.
Linthar
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by Linthar »

(1) What difficulty level and version of Wesnoth have you played the scenario on?
Medium Difficulty 1.10.7

(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
3

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
Clear

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
It's all serviceable, but all the talk about how dangerous the situation is massively clashed with the actual gameplay.

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
There weren't really any, and its a shame. The scenario has a great concept, carving out a path through two massive opposing armies, but I barely saw anything of either of them. And looking at the replay the orcs and humans barely fought, there was more fighting between the humans and elves, then there was of promised clash of the massive human and orc armies, which mostly just stayed in their two bases.

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
2. Interesting concept but a very disappointing execution.

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
Make the human and orc armies massively more aggressive. Both sides have 50+ units at their bases, make those units actually fight each other, and make it so the battlefield is actually full of units and a dangerous place to be, instead of a place where I kill a mere 7 enemies total and am home free. Basically make this scenario actually live up to its concept instead of being a total walk in the park.
bizulk
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by bizulk »

[duplicate]
Last edited by bizulk on March 26th, 2015, 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.
bizulk
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by bizulk »

(1) What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?
Normal. 1.12.1

(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
1 Feeling it was too easy and could spare money using weaker units.
I just ran to the east, in the middle of the map ( noth of the river ) and scout some villages.
Like said by someone else in this topic : elves allies are really agressive with ennemies, and we don't feel there's a battle there. Most Orcs ennemies stand in theire villages.

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
very clear, bring konrad in the forest and stay there.

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
What did say Konrad wasn't really clever to me, how could he regain the throne without his support ?
More dialogs between ennemies would help to feel the battle.

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
Find the right way, but that was easy.

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
4 Because it was really easy, but it has potential so that's worth tuning it.

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
That would be good to put some groups of Orcs / Humans in battle, that we would have to avoid modifying our way.
We can also add some dialogs between ennemies and/our with allies troop to notify battle movements and help avoid them.
That was a good idea to let some elves escort us, but just let the others ones attack ennemies when they are to close to the forest.
SigurdFireDragon
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by SigurdFireDragon »

Played on 1.12.5 Hero (Normal) 522 gold

This one is rather straightforward, not much to say.

For this one, I came from the Swamp of Dread.
I recruited 4 Scouts and 2 Horseman as blockers. Went below the lake and along the river.
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Caladbolg
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by Caladbolg »

Comparison (North/South routes):
(1) What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?
1.12.5, medium.

(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
3. The much anticipated 'big battle' never actually happened and I had an easy time moving everyone eastwards.

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
Clearly understood.

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
It was alright. "We are walking into slaughter!" by Li'sar is slightly silly as the path towards the woods was mostly clear.
"...and Delfador, of course. And Kalenz... and.." is pure gold, a big plus for that.

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
None unfortunately.

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
6. It is interesting as an idea, running through the middle of the battlefield before the armies clash but the execution isn't really good. The armies that were supposed to fight each other didn't do that. I saw some orcs on the north and farmed them for XP. Then a few loyalists appeared and fought with a few orcs in a small skirmish and then I was free to trot towards the forest. I didn't see any orcs afterwards and the loyalists did put out a bunch of enemies but by then I was already a step away from the goal and the elves were doing a great job keeping them at bay. I did manage to level quite a few units and it was an easy scenario with an interesting map and that funny bit of dialog so it was quite fun all in all.

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
1a) Push the humans more to the west. Currently we don't have an impression that this is a big battle because initial forces sent by either side are not big enough and Konrad's forces chip away at orcs while the elves chip away at humans so the forces that reach the middle of the map are really small. Moving humans west would make the battle develop closer to Konrad, making it more challenging and it would also remove humans from elves who are currently more than capable of dealing with them. This however means that the eastern end of the map wouldn't have many enemies, so maybe something like this would be better:
1b) Make both fronts wider- this way the battle would be distributed evenly across the entire map. Or:
1c) Make the map shorter- this would solve all the issues but maybe wouldn't be good for the 'feel' of the map as it wouldn't feel as a frantic rush across the battlefield. I'm not sure what would be the best.
2) Distribute the gold evenly. Currently both humans and orcs waste all their gold before you even come close so you don't see much fighting nor encounter many difficulties. On turn 10 both armies get a huge gold boost (+1000) but by then you're already out of the woods (or rather in the woods). Make them both have a relatively steady influx of gold with slight increases so that they'll be able to constantly put out units but it will get more intense as the time goes by.
3) Make those guards around enemy leaders do something. I get their purpose but it would be much more of a challenge if such units entered the fray as well.

Replay statistics and commentary :
-continued from: Swamp of Dread
-starting gold: 504
-recruits(1): Horseman
-recalls(5): Ranger, Outlaw, White Mage, 2x Elvish Rider
-auto-recalls: Grand Knight, Fugitive, Assassin, Ranger (all loyal)
-on the first turn we get a loyal Elvish Rider. I didn't really register that so I took out 2 other Elvish Riders (1 would suffice). I recalled quick units that were mostly close to advancing so I might as well use them here. I'll use them as shields because enemy doesn't often go after such units and they'll be fully healed upon advancement. Riders are sent to grab villages.
-encountered the first orc on turn 3 though we don't get close to their main force until turn 5 when we also get an ally rider to help us. Li'sar was intentionally exposed as she can take a beating and she'll be able to lure enemies which will be converted into XP
-humans sighted on turn 6; they start brawling with the orcs but both sides have <10 units here so it's a far cry from the advertised battle. I use a close to leveling outlaw on a village as shield/lure. He advances and puts me in an advantageous position.
-another allied rider on turn 7; I intended to level my White Mage here but he missed; later on most of the humans and orcs kill each other, leaving me only a few low HP units to deal with
-on turn 9 all enemies from the middle of the map are removed; this means that the 'big battle' got resolved in ~3 turns
-turn 10: huge gold boosts for my enemies but the orcs cannot even reach me now no matter how much they try
-turn 13: Konrad reaches the forest; I try to get as much XP as I can- this exposes a few units but most of them can survive (even if they end up low on HP); the ones that could die would need to be extremely unlucky and that is if the enemy targets them in the first place (which I seriously doubt as there are allied units that are closer, more exposed and have less HP). Things go as expected, even though one of my Rangers was in more risk than I assumed he'd be in.
-turns taken: 14/18
-end: 508 gold, 19/45 villages
-carryover: 278
-no losses, no reloads
-advancements(5): 2x Rider->Outrider (not the loyal one), Outlaw->Fugitive, White Mage->MoL, Horseman->Knight
-XP: Knight (~1/2), Ranger (~2/3), Rider (loyal, ~3/4), Ranger (loyal, close)
-dmg dealt: +2%
-dmg taken: +12%
Luck was in enemy's favor but considering how little contact there was between us, higher difference is to be expected.
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rmj
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by rmj »

1.13.4
Suggestion for easy level: I was surprised at how many orcs attacked me, more than when I played at a higher level. I think that because the orc leader is not spending money on orc warriors it is spawning more units than at higher levels, and the wolf riders move fast. This was too difficult for an easy level (unless my luck was just bad). I don't have a solution except, perhaps, limiting the recruits of wolf riders.
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LordWolfDan
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by LordWolfDan »

(1) What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?

- 1.14.5, Beginner

(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)

- 6

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?

- Simple, move Konrad to the east while avoiding orcish and human skirmish

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?

- Clear, I like how these elvish scouts came to the small, yet worthy aid

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?

- Surviving against humans. Orcs didn't seem so tough in this one

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)

- 6

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?

- Make it that the win is when Konrad once enters the elvish keep, the game goes on until the turns run out, forcing the human leader to declare defeat after uselessly sending his troops to death
Tad_Carlucci
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by Tad_Carlucci »

IIRC the objective was to survive to the end of that turn. Not disagreeing, and I think I considered your suggestion when I worked on HttT last year, but decided to go with the state objective, instead of change it and end the scene immediately upon his arrival. My thinking was that it's just barely possible Konrad could be killed after moving into the target area, but before the turn ends.
I forked real life and now I'm getting merge conflicts.
Konrad2
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by Konrad2 »

(1) What difficulty levels have you played the scenario on?

1.15.1, Champion (Challenging)

(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)

3

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?

Clear.

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?

Clear. I like the idea of the two armies clashing, but they just don't do that...

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?

None.

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)

5

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?

Give the armies more income, make the spawned units loyal, let the spawned units move out on turn 3 or 4. That way the armies will actually clash instead of being entrenched.
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Poison
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by Poison »

(1) What difficulty levels have you played the scenario on?

1.14.7, Champion (Challenging), 323 gold.

(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)

6.

(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?

Clear.

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?

Clear.

(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?

Evading opponents.

(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)

4.

(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?

No idea.

(8) Was there any event that caused you to lose the game and forced you to reload or restart the scenario?

No.
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Zrevnur
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by Zrevnur »

Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (1) What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?
1.14.9 Challenging (in Ironman mode), played once
Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
2
Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
Not properly clear. I would like to know which precise tiles I have to step on.
Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
In terms of fluff the whole thing feels like "somebody wanted to add a scenario here". I dont know why there is this conflict between the enemy sides etc. Maybe I didnt read the dialog properly.
Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
Not knowing much about it was the only real challenge.
I also got Delfador snipered by some cavalry. After watching the replay this was in part due to unpredictable scripting. I hadnt seen any horses before so I didnt ward against them. At exactly the snipering turn however the enemy sides recruited full keeps - including some horses. One of them decided to hit Delfador. Anyway he only lost 20 hp. So not exactly life threatening - I think the cavalry even hit 4 times out of 4.
Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
2. I dont like this scenario. Its too artificial. The objective is not properly clear. Its (probably) somewhat RNG. And it has unpredictable scripting.
Content Feedback wrote: March 8th, 2006, 10:08 pm (7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
Not sure. I dont think the design with two sides clashing and me having to get through that is properly compatible with BfW campaign gameplay. If there would be more time and more recruits it would be better because both would dampen the RNG. But as its now its either so that its usually too easy or so that it ends up too random. That cant be helped with the way the AI works.
Making the terrain less open would also help vs the randomness I guess.
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mal_shubertal
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by mal_shubertal »

(1) What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?
1.16.2 Challenging
(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
1. cake walk.
(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
very clear.
(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
I liked Konrad and Lisar bonding over the "burden of command", i.e. sending a bunch of fodder units to their deaths in every battle. Adds a bit of realism, and makes you think about what it's like to be a normal soldier in this story, where you can just get recruited with zero experience and be immediately left to die in front of a giant horde of orcs while your noble leader sprints past you and says "good luck!" over his shoulder.
(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
thinking it would be harder, lol. I recruited a bunch of sylphs and stuff the first time around, expecting a really difficult battle, but once I realized how easy it would be, I restarted with lower level units to save upkeep.
(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
5. I think the concept is very interesting, the execution is just lacking.
(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
I like the concept of needing to cross an active battlefield between 2 much larger forces. It reminds me of the second scenario of Northern Rebirth, where you have to navigate the big troll/skeleton battle in the cave. But the layout is wrong here. The orcs start so far west and the loyalists start so far east that instead of the big loyalist/orc battle that is advertised, instead you basically fight the orcs on your own, the elves fight loyalists on their own, and a few loyalists and orcs fight for a few turns in the middle before you bulldoze through them all and stroll into the forest. I think this could be resolved by adding 2 more keeps. So there would be the orc keep where it is, with a new loyalist keep directly south from it across the river. And then the loyalist keep where it is, with a new orc keep directly north of it across the river. And I would say that the elf keep could still exist, but not recruit anything, or only have some rangers that would passively attack any orcs or loyalists who entered the forest. Either way, the elvish force should be pretty weak so that the loyalists and orcs spend most of their time fighting each other. That way, as you crossed the battlefield, you would see the western orcs and loyalists approaching each other behind you with you having to rush to get out of their way, and by the time you approached the forest, the eastern orcs and loyalists would be at the peak of their battle, right in your way. Then you would have to use your small number of highly advanced troops to punch through everybody in order to get to the forest before the orcs/loyalists behind you caught up. There could also be some kind of triggered event where if you got one of your units into the forest to tell them konrad was on the way, The elves would suddenly recruit a bunch of forces to help him get through.
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ElvishMystical0
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by ElvishMystical0 »

(1) What difficulty level and version of Wesnoth have you played the scenario on?
Versions 1.12 to 1.16 Easy and Medium. This feedback relates specifically to 1.16 Medium.
(2) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
This was a 3. There's not much combat and if you're recalling quick units you're fine.
(3) How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
Very clear, just had to get Konrad to a forest and castle.
(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
Hit and miss. The conversation between Konrad and Li'sar has potential but as they don't have well defined characters that potential is wasted. It's a shame because it's in dire moments when you're facing a common threat that relationships are formed. The relationship between Li'sar and Konrad really needs to start in the middle of this battlefield.
(5) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
Deciding which quick expendable units to recall. Most recently I only had one Elvish Rider so had to use Gryphon Riders and Horse units.
(6) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
I give this a 3 because it's essentially moving a dozen or so units across terrain while trying to avoid combat. A loyal Assassin and loyal Fugitive Delurin did their thing with the Orcs and loyal Paladin Haldiel took out a Red Mage.
(7) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
No suggestions regarding game play as not all scenarios can be fun in such a long campaign. The storyline needs work especially the Li'sar Konrad dialogue.

Maybe have Li'sar say something about being tired of war or being scared of being killed and Konrad assuring her that she's safe and just needs to keep moving. You can somehow work the expendable troops bit into the dialogue but see in the cutscene even Parandra notices that Konrad has a thing for Li'sar. You could even have Li'sar telling Konrad that he better keep her safe or else and start the relationship off that way. She can be bitchy about it but also in a way where she's also vulnerable and I feel that would work.
JL42
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Re: Scenario 20a: Home of the North Elves

Post by JL42 »

What difficulty levels and game versions have you played the scenario on?
v. 1.16.10
Lord / Challenging
How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
3 – The difficulty can vary a good bit depending on what the other armies do, but overall it's fairly easy.
How clear did you find the scenario objectives?
Mostly clear. It's a bit vague about how far Konrad needs to move into the forests in order to win. This is a real annoyance when you're trying to help out your allies and give your troops some experience near the end of the scenario.
How clear and interesting did you find the dialog and storyline of the scenario?
Some aspects are a bit confusing and weakly developed. Konrad says here that he would expect the princess to take the side of the Queen's forces. But, in the previous scenario (Snow Plains) he declared confidently that the princess wants to end the Queen's rule. That doesn't really hold together well, and it's fuzzy about what exactly the princess's perspective is. She again comes across in her own lines as a petulant brat stamping her foot, rather than a thoughtful leader who could earn her companions' respect. Would be better if she was rewritten here and through the previous several scenarios as someone who is actually competent and honorable and is deciding if she is willing to throw in her lot with the rebellion.
What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
The main challenge is being careful in your movements and finding the right time to advance. There are really good mentoring instructions given here about letting the enemies engage each other and avoiding early contact – if the player ignores that and starts fighting with the whole orc army in the opening rounds then things are going to get really difficult.
How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
8 – This is a quick, minor map but really fun; it reminds me of the very first scenario where you have to flee through a major battle. Except here you have a bit more power to wreak some havoc on your way through. I really enjoy how the campaign includes several of these maps where you're in the middle of larger events and have to achieve a specific, targeted objective rather than just kill everything. (I mean, killing-everything is great too, but the variety adds spice.)
What, if any, are changes you would have made to the scenario to make it more fun?
None, other than some work on the dialogue to remove inconsistencies and help improve the princess's character.

---------------
About the Overall Campaign:

The maps and storyline here are well-made and polished, though not as completely epic as some of the other campaigns. I like that it is lengthy, giving you time to develop your army, and gradually introduces many different terrains and unit types. This seems like a great beginner campaign since it's fairly easy and the early scenarios are framed as a kind of mentoring environment for the young hero. (However, it's a bit strange that some of the basic dialogue tips, like "hey, loyal units don't require upkeep!" are just now arriving, after I've already played through several previous campaigns without that advice.) There are some glitches that can come up in the Scepter of Fire scenario, and some of the princess-related dialogue around scenarios 17–21 felt a bit confusing and unbelievable (more specific comments in the relevant threads). This campaign is very close to full marks, but due to those few lingering issues and the lack of any real epic blow-you-away maps I'm going to rate it 4 out of 5.
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