The Black Cross of Aleron (formerly Besieged Druids)

[Adamant14]

(1) Number or Name of the scenario.
03 Orcs in the Port

(2) What difficulty level have you played the scenario on?
Again, there is only one. I recommend to change that.

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

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialogue and storyline? What can be added to make the story clearer / more interesting?
Pretty clear.

(5) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
2 (with all the carryover-gold I had from the previous scenario, and all the loyal units you placed for me in this scenario, it was really, really easy.)

(6) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
There where no real challenge in this scenario.
EDIT: The enemy has only 40 starting gold.

(7) Did you cheat? And why?
No.

(8) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
6 (only '6', because it was a bit to less challenging.
EDIT: Don't get me wrong, it is a pretty good scenario. Would it have been better balanced, then I would had voted maybe with an '8' )

An extra point for:

Spoiler:

The cowardly Ork Archer that joins the players side.

And also an extra point for:

Spoiler:

the domination abillity.

(9) Was there a bug in the scenario?
No.

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

Spoiler:

I suggest to remove a bigger part of the shroud, when the 'A merfolk village is under siege!' is spotted, so the player can see a bit more of what happens there.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

Do you know that there are two dwarf-fighter portraits in core?

I didn't, actually. I'll probably make use of that, then.

I also would make the way down shorter (less hexes to go).

I think that would be difficult unless I completely replaced the map (not that that's out of the question).

(2) What difficulty level have you played the scenario on?
Again, there is only one. I recommend to change that.

On my todo list.

[Ulfsark]

I am playing through your campaign right now, and I am noticing a lot of small things that I personally would change about the dialogue. If you would like me to keep track of all the little changes I would make I will gladly do so.

However I understand if you would rather change it all yourself when you get around to it. I don't want to practically rewrite your entire dialogue :p

[Adamant14]

(1) Number or Name of the scenario.
04 'Watery Tunnels'

(2) What difficulty level have you played the scenario on?


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

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialogue and storyline? What can be added to make the story clearer / more interesting?


(5) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
6 (this is the first scenario I had really losses)

(6) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
It was no problem to win the scenario, but to avoid loosing many units.
This is the first scenario with 'strong' enemies (level 2 and level 3), and I lost two loyal units, and a level 3 unit.

(7) Did you cheat? And why?
Yes,

Spoiler:

I reloaded because of the mean Tomato Surprise.
(where first the 'wounded' Ghost, and then some orcs and undead appear)
My units had no moves left, and the enemies was just a few hexes away.
The enemies attacked, and killed a level 3 loyal unit.

(8) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
7-8

(9) Was there a bug in the scenario?
No.

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

-Tomato Surprise: Set the spawned enemies moves to:

Code: Select all

moves=0

, so they can move and attack not until the next turn.

- Whirpool Tunnel: Place also an whirlpool image on the other exit of the tunnel, so that the player easier find the way back to the main cave.

- Whirlpool Tunnel: It looks weird that the end of the tunnel is on top of the little cave (x,y=2,17), I think it should be on x,y=3,24.

- Secret Dwarf Tunnel: Add an option; the player should be able to choose, if he wants to open the tunnel or not.

- Reduce the turn limit, I finished the scenario after turn 23 (turn limit 50)



Note: I didn't found the magic neclace

[Celtic_Minstrel]

I am playing through your campaign right now, and I am noticing a lot of small things that I personally would change about the dialogue. If you would like me to keep track of all the little changes I would make I will gladly do so.

That would be welcome; I may not use all of them, but I'd probably use some of them.

It was no problem to win the scenario, but to avoid loosing many units.
This is the first scenario with 'strong' enemies (level 2 and level 3), and I lost two loyal units, and a level 3 unit.

Should I change something here, or do you think it's reasonable to be harder?

- Whirpool Tunnel: Place also an whirlpool image on the other exit of the tunnel, so that the player easier find the way back to the main cave.

I don't think putting another whirlpool makes as much sense; I'll think about whether to reuse the whirlpool or look for some other sort of graphic.

- Whirlpool Tunnel: It looks weird that the end of the tunnel is on top of the little cave (x,y=2,17), I think it should be on x,y=3,24.

I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I can fit it how I want like that...

Note: I didn't found the magic neclace

It may be in a slightly bad place, considering only the merfolk can get there in a reasonable time. Perhaps I'll move it.

[Adamant14]

It was no problem to win the scenario, but to avoid loosing many units.
This is the first scenario with 'strong' enemies (level 2 and level 3), and I lost two loyal units, and a level 3 unit.

Should I change something here, or do you think it's reasonable to be harder?

No, don't change it. It is good as it is.
But please change the Tomato Surprise the way I suggested.

- Whirpool Tunnel: Place also an whirlpool image on the other exit of the tunnel, so that the player easier find the way back to the main cave.

I don't think putting another whirlpool makes as much sense; I'll think about whether to reuse the whirlpool or look for some other sort of graphic.

I suggest to use the same graphic. Its just to mark the exit, to show the player where he has to move to exit the hidden cave.

- Whirlpool Tunnel: It looks weird that the end of the tunnel is on top of the little cave (x,y=2,17), I think it should be on x,y=3,24.

I see what you mean, but I'm not sure I can fit it how I want like that...

Give it a try ...



And what do you think about the secret dwarf tunnel?

[Celtic_Minstrel]

And what do you think about the secret dwarf tunnel?

I think that suggestion was a good one. I intended to do it but forgot. Twice. I guess I'll do it now before I forget again!

[Celtic_Minstrel]

New version on the add-on server (0.2).

Spoiler:

Quite a few changes this time.

• Second scenario ("Dank Tunnels") has a brand-new map with an altered focus. Instead of "cave with splotches of dirt", it's "dirt with splotches of cave". The general concept of the scenario, along with all events and so forth, remains the same; only the layout and terrain quality is changed.
• Castles in the second scenario are now outlined with little stones to make their function more obvious. Some other changes were made to this scenario too, such as clarifying the objective, tweaking AI parameters, reducing gold carried out, giving one of the dwarves a different portrait, and increasing the proportion of level 1 monsters faced.
• Elvish Zealot sprite is now green. Its sprite remains the same in every other respect.
• Elvish Initiate iceball attack icon is now a smaller iceball.
• Third scenario (Orc Port) gives the enemy more gold and raises shroud a little on sighting the merman.
• In the fourth scenario (Watery Tunnels), the turn limit was reduced and the ankh necklace moved closer to the main path.
• The "tomato surprise" in Watery Tunnels is changed so that the newly-appearing enemies do not attack that turn.
• The player gets to choose when to open the secret tunnel in Watery Tunnels.
• Add overlays for the Initiate traits and the cures ability; give the daggers backstab
• All scenarios now have music, including a few track changes triggered by events.

[Ulfsark]

Alright here is all of the writing stuff I found playing through most of the first scenario. A lot of it is nitpicking and very minor, but I think it would help out a little bit.

Spoiler:

In the intro use There is as opposed to there's. I think it fits a little bit better with the fact that this takes place in fantasy setting

Replace, what did you do to the guards. with "what have you done with the guards!?"

"I am certain my knights are just about finished with them" instead of I am sure my knights are just about finished with them

Overall I feel that it is often better to use two words instead of compounding them, like they are, as opposed to they're as it adds a more archaic feel to it without being too excessive.

maybe give the leader in the first scenario some sort of ranged weapon like throwing rocks, so that ranged damage does not feel like the only option against them.

instead of "is the danger already passed", maybe put "has the danger passed?"

"we have finished our sweep, not one goblin still draws breath" instead of what they say about checking for goblins.

Also maybe say offensive spells, instead of offensive magics

I really like the fact that the units that come out of the woodwork(pun intended) are all low hitpoints, it really creates a cool feeling of there having been an attack which I like a lot.

A small suggestion that would make a big difference was that recruiting so many initiates got really tedious. So What I would suggest, would be to have the scout go check all the villages for survivors and have him find a few at each one. This would allow the player to be even more immersed by the fact that there was an attack, as well as giving them something else to do each turn instead of moving a ton of zerg like units :p

If you want it to be random then check out the code from the second scenario in the Descent into Darkness campaign, it has things spawn at random when the player captures a village, Otherwise you could just use a move to event that spawns units

I hope this helped!

[Celtic_Minstrel]

I've made a number of dialogue tweaks based on your suggestions.

Spoiler:

maybe give the leader in the first scenario some sort of ranged weapon like throwing rocks, so that ranged damage does not feel like the only option against them.

Spoiler:

Can you clarify a bit? Do you mean giving the Goblin Rouser and Goblin Knight leaders an additional ranged attack? If so, can you explain your reasoning?

A small suggestion that would make a big difference was that recruiting so many initiates got really tedious. So What I would suggest, would be to have the scout go check all the villages for survivors and have him find a few at each one. This would allow the player to be even more immersed by the fact that there was an attack, as well as giving them something else to do each turn instead of moving a ton of zerg like units :p

That is a good idea... I'm reluctant to give more loyal units, though, especially initiates; do you think it would be okay if such random initiates were not loyal?

Also, would having a slightly larger castle help with the tediousness?

[Ulfsark]

I've made a number of dialogue tweaks based on your suggestions.

Spoiler:

maybe give the leader in the first scenario some sort of ranged weapon like throwing rocks, so that ranged damage does not feel like the only option against them.

Spoiler:

Can you clarify a bit? Do you mean giving the Goblin Rouser and Goblin Knight leaders an additional ranged attack? If so, can you explain your reasoning?

A small suggestion that would make a big difference was that recruiting so many initiates got really tedious. So What I would suggest, would be to have the scout go check all the villages for survivors and have him find a few at each one. This would allow the player to be even more immersed by the fact that there was an attack, as well as giving them something else to do each turn instead of moving a ton of zerg like units :p

That is a good idea... I'm reluctant to give more loyal units, though, especially initiates; do you think it would be okay if such random initiates were not loyal?

Also, would having a slightly larger castle help with the tediousness?

Yeah I guess the ranged attack isn't necessary, It just feels a bit dirty to range them down.

I think it would be okay if the units weren't loyal as long as you balance it so that the gold stays where you want it. I just mean use them in place of recruiting so many as opposed to giving them more. A larger castle wouldn't help much, Just hitting ctrl+r so many times and moving them all off the keep to do it again is tiresome.

oh and what may be cool, is if instead of having a solid keep, make it like a large ring (with them still connected) then have a great tree tile in the center or something like that as a courtyard.

And I am glad I could help with the dialogue

[Celtic_Minstrel]

I think it would be okay if the units weren't loyal as long as you balance it so that the gold stays where you want it.

I was thinking of adjusting your income to account for their upkeep when I remembered that they're level 0 and thus have no upkeep anyway!

I just mean use them in place of recruiting so many as opposed to giving them more. A larger castle wouldn't help much, Just hitting ctrl+r so many times and moving them all off the keep to do it again is tiresome.

I tend to use Cmd-Option-R (Ctrl-Alt-R) to repeat the last recruit, but even then I see what you mean.

oh and what may be cool, is if instead of having a solid keep, make it like a large ring (with them still connected) then have a great tree tile in the center or something like that as a courtyard.

That does sound like an interesting idea. I'm not sure whether I'll do it though.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

New version on the add-on server (0.2.1)

Spoiler:

• Make Giant Toad neutral, change name to Giant Frog (because it looks more like a frog than a toad to me)
• If you opt not to immediately open the secret passage in Watery Tunnels, there's some dialog when you later choose to do so. It now scrolls back to the berserker after this dialogue is finished, so you can see the new tunnel.
• Changed the graphics for the following units: Elvish Wisp, Elvish Mage, Elvish Archmage, Elvish Priestess.
• Improved some dialogue in the first scenario
• When Eärendil levels to shyde, she uses a different portrait; instead of the core Shyde portrait, I've taken the Cleodil portrait from Legend of Wesmere, which looks to me as though it could be the same person as the default druid portrait and thus makes the level-up feel less "jarring".
• You get bonus initiates for the first five villages you capture in the first scenario (that's roughly every village on your side of the river); this is complete with a different line of dialogue for each one which is used in random order. How many initiates is random and will probably be somewhat scaled with difficulty once I implement that.
• Initiates can no longer get the resurrect ability; however there is now a new ability added to replace it. Of course, the resurrect ability is still available to the level 3 Elvish Priestess.

[Faerie_Storm]

so finally some campaign feedback

Spoiler:

01 Goblins!!!
nothing to comment here

02 Dank Tunnels
Really like the new map here alot better then the old one. Elves are so slow in caves so making it dirt with bits of caves and mushrooms makes it alot better. I love the new enemies in here as well.

03 Orcs in the port
there could be more orcs here, maybe loyal ones guarding on the bits of keep as well?

04 watery tunnels
I like that I don't have to open the tunnel now. When I grabbed the necklace it didn't change anything on the unit that picked it up.

05 Along the coast
random group of outlaws is allied with the undead?

06 Into the dread marsh
Malcorn's squire is more threatening then the necromancer...

[Adamant14]

(1) Number or Name of the scenario.
05 Along the coast

(2) What difficulty level have you played the scenario on?


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

(4) How clear and interesting did you find the dialogue and storyline? What can be added to make the story clearer / more interesting?
I like it.

(5) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
4-5

(6) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
Not to loose a levelled unit.

(7) Did you cheat? And why?
Yes, because I lost my loyal Mermaid Priestess in a silly way.

(8) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
7-8


(9) Was there a bug in the scenario?
No.

(10) What, if any, are changes you would have made to the campaign to make it more fun?
Add a limited number of level 2 units to the recruit list of the troll leader.

Maybe a matter of taste, but I think an Outlaw would better fit as leader for the misfit side, instead of the Troll Shaman.



Note: I like the 'cairn effect' idea