The Black Cross of Aleron (formerly Besieged Druids)

[Celtic_Minstrel]

And somehow the 'holyauraresistanim' animation seems not to work.

Meaning, you managed to actually get the ability (by putting someone at 9,33 and then stepping on the necklace, or by editing the file) but the animation didn't play? I noticed it plays only when the person being attacked is someone adjacent to the person with the necklace, not when said person himself (or herself) is being attacked; would that explain your thought that it doesn't work?

I guess for the latter case I could add a [defend]... but that would disable the regular defense animation when fighting undead, so maybe it's not a good idea...

[Celtic_Minstrel]

Since the primary reason for having no turn limit on scenario 2 is gone (it was because the map was mostly cave), I'm thinking of putting one on it again. How long did people take to finish it? Last time I played through it took 35 turns; did anyone who played the new version take significantly longer?

[Celtic_Minstrel]

1. Limit the recruits.
2. Reduce the gold.

What do you mean by "limit the recruits"? Do you mean for the player, or for the enemy? Also, please see the top of page 2 where I responded to one of your points with a question that you seem to have missed.

When I go around and trigger all the initiates in the villages first and kill the goblins with them much of the dialog ("No, there are no goblins anymore.") doesn't make sense.

Quick query: is it just the leader's responses that don't make sense, or does this also apply to what the initiates are saying?

[Adamant14]

And somehow the 'holyauraresistanim' animation seems not to work.

Meaning, you managed to actually get the ability (by putting someone at 9,33 and then stepping on the necklace, or by editing the file) but the animation didn't play? I noticed it plays only when the person being attacked is someone adjacent to the person with the necklace, not when said person himself (or herself) is being attacked; would that explain your thought that it doesn't work?

I guess for the latter case I could add a [defend]... but that would disable the regular defense animation when fighting undead, so maybe it's not a good idea...

Yes, I edited the code to get the necklace.
And yes, I thought the holy aura should work for the unit itself.
But you say it is for the adjacent unit.
I'll check that.

EDIT:
I checked it, and it works like you told.
Great job. Looks really cool.

Since the primary reason for having no turn limit on scenario 2 is gone (it was because the map was mostly cave), I'm thinking of putting one on it again. How long did people take to finish it? Last time I played through it took 35 turns; did anyone who played the new version take significantly longer?

I already deleted the save-loads.
But I remember I finished the scenario (version 1.2.2) in something about 30-35 turns.

1. Limit the recruits.
2. Reduce the gold.

What do you mean by "limit the recruits"? Do you mean for the player, or for the enemy? Also, please see the top of page 2 where I responded to one of your points with a question that you seem to have missed.

What I meant is, I had nearly unlimited gold (because the campaign is not balanced yet).
Because of that I could recruit many many initiates and civilians.
To prevent this you can do either:
- limit the gold (side 1 starting gold and gold carry over)

or:

- limit the recruit-able initates and civilians (side 1)

In the scenario 'The Journey Home' I had recruited really a ridiculous number of civilians and initiates. (because I had more than 700 gold)
I used them as cannon-fodder to stop the orc's.
So I could easily finish the orc's with my levelled units without loosing any levelled units.
And the scenario was easy to win.
How you could prevent that?
You limited the number of recruit-able fighters and archers.
You limited the number of recruit-able merfolk.
So why don't you also limit the number of recruit-able initiates and civilians.
I think that is much easier than to balance the gold carryover.

When I go around and trigger all the initiates in the villages first and kill the goblins with them much of the dialog ("No, there are no goblins anymore.") doesn't make sense.

Quick query: is it just the leader's responses that don't make sense, or does this also apply to what the initiates are saying?

I think what Taptap means is the part when the chiefdruit says something like: "There are no more goblins around here.", while across the river is the next goblin pack preparing its attack.
But maybe the chiefdruid just don't know about what happens across the river.



By the way:
I played scenario 1-4 again, this time version 1.2.2
and I can tell you, it is much better balanced than the first published version.
Scenario 1-4 are well balanced for a difficulty NORMAL or MEDIUM.

I really like your campaign.
When version 1.2.3 or maybe version 1.2.4 is out (well balanced then),
it will become one of my most favourite campaigns.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

Yes, I edited the code to get the necklace.
And yes, I thought the holy aura should work for the unit itself.
But you say it is for the adjacent unit.
I'll check that.

The ability works for both the unit and any adjacent units, but the animation only works for adjacent units at the moment (it'd be nice if that changed though).

What I meant is, I had nearly unlimited gold (because the campaign is not balanced yet).
Because of that I could recruit many many initiates and civilians.
[...clipped for size...]
So why don't you also limit the number of recruit-able initiates and civilians.
I think that is much easier than to balance the gold carryover.

Okay. I won't limit the recruits just yet though, since I'll be doing tweaking that'll affect the gold carryover and stuff, which might end up being enough. Even then I'm a little reluctant to limit them.

I think what Taptap means is the part when the chiefdruit says something like: "There are no more goblins around here.", while across the river is the next goblin pack preparing its attack.
But maybe the chiefdruid just don't know about what's across the river.

She doesn't know until the scout returns... though maybe I should account for the possibility of not seizing one of the villages until after that... still, it didn't sound like that's what Taptap meant. I hope he answers himself.

I played scenario 1-4 again, this time version 1.2.2
and I can tell you it is much better balanced than the previous version.
Scenario 1-4 are well balanced for a difficulty NORMAL or MEDIUM.

I really like your campaign.
When version 1.2.3 or maybe version 1.2.4 is out (well balanced then),
it will become one of my most favourite campaigns.

Good to hear! Thanks.

Also, uh... it seems I directed you to the top of page 2, when in fact I meant the top of page 3. Whoops?

[Adamant14]

Add a limited number of level 2 units to the recruit list of the troll leader.

For a second here I thought you said recall list. By "limited" do you mean something where they can only have (for example) a maximum of 3 Dwarf Pathfinders at any given time?

Yes, that is exactly what I meant.

Sorry, I thought I had already answered this question.

[taptap]

Please don't limit the number of initiates and civilians you can recruit. Otherwise you might end up without any possible recruits and have to recall even L0 units! (All other recruits are already limited!) Better balance by the amount of available gold (or by making it advisable not to burn through your gold because you need it later. Though Adamant, I wonder who is spamming L0 units when he has overachieving L2 with their special abilities more similar to L4? I actually try to level some L0 to get a better recall list for non shaman-line units or more and new overachievers.

Scenario 1: Well, I didn't know I get reinforcements when closing in on the keep, so I was just killing the goblins on the central island with initiates I get from the villages and the druid before I moved on the keep. The dialog when triggering the initiates while the 1st goblin leader is still at large doesn't make sense most of the time because you assure them there are no goblins when you are in the middle of a fight.

Scenario 6: I guess you levelled the dwarves differently (both to Lord) and had more elvish flyers (I have less, because I am so curious about these special abilities that I want to try out all of them ) as I found approaching the lich rather difficult. (Nearly lost my dwarf lord.) For me only two dwarves (I don't want to put the berserker in the frontline), the shadow and the crossbowman and elvish flyers were somewhat mobile in the cave.

Advertisement:
Well, the campaign picture is a druid in the middle of a melee attack on an elvish village as it would look in the game? Maybe a better readable druid picture looks better. But what would really help is to add a better, lengthier campaign description. Don't miss out on a good campaign description after all the hours you invested in writing the campaign.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

Please don't limit the number of initiates and civilians you can recruit.

I wasn't planning to. In the unlikely event I did, it'd be as a last resort and would be a large limit (at least 100, probably), and probably only apply to the last two scenarios.

Otherwise you might end up without any possible recruits and have to recall even L0 units! (All other recruits are already limited!)

Well, I would be expecting people to recall at least a few initiates, anyway.

Better balance by the amount of available gold (or by making it advisable not to burn through your gold because you need it later.

I agree with this.

Though Adamant, I wonder who is spamming L0 units when he has overachieving L2 with their special abilities more similar to L4? I actually try to level some L0 to get a better recall list for non shaman-line units or more and new overachievers.

Which special abilities seem more similar to level 4 on a shaman? I'm sure some of the abilities could be reduced in strength a little.

Scenario 1: Well, I didn't know I get reinforcements when closing in on the keep, so I was just killing the goblins on the central island with initiates I get from the villages and the druid before I moved on the keep. The dialog when triggering the initiates while the 1st goblin leader is still at large doesn't make sense most of the time because you assure them there are no goblins when you are in the middle of a fight.

That's kinda what I though; so I could have separate druid responses depending on whether side 2 is annihilated or whether the scout has appeared with news of side 3, and it'd make more sense, right? That would be three possible responses from the druid, per village. One if side 2 has units, one if it doesn't and the scout hasn't yet appeared, and one for after the scout appears.

Scenario 6: I guess you levelled the dwarves differently (both to Lord) and had more elvish flyers (I have less, because I am so curious about these special abilities that I want to try out all of them ) as I found approaching the lich rather difficult. (Nearly lost my dwarf lord.) For me only two dwarves (I don't want to put the berserker in the frontline), the shadow and the crossbowman and elvish flyers were somewhat mobile in the cave.

Are you trying to say I should make it easier in some way? I should probably at least add a lot more mushrooms and some dirt inside the caves (though adding dirt could prove mildly problematic since I think my time area is keyed to it... I guess that's not hard to get around if I just use a different dirt than outside.

Advertisement:
Well, the campaign picture is a druid in the middle of a melee attack on an elvish village as it would look in the game? Maybe a better readable druid picture looks better. But what would really help is to add a better, lengthier campaign description. Don't miss out on a good campaign description after all the hours you invested in writing the campaign.

Ah yes, I do need to make a much, much longer campaign description.

[taptap]

Ehm. When I comment something is difficult this is not necessarily intended as a plea for a reduction of difficulty - I could have easily lost some high value units, which in itself isn't bad. Here it is just, that it depends on very few mobile units (shaman line units on their final level, dwarves, the orc, the ghost) and if a player lost a dwarf earlier he will have a hard time with the lich, but of course if you focus on levelling out shaman-line units you could easily have a sylph or two by now, instead of half-way enchantresses.

Abilities: L4 power not on a shaman, but my "arcane damage initiate" (she is dextrous too I believe) got 10-5 damage as she levelled to sorceress. But I guess it is tough to manage so many special abilities while keeping them still different from each other.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

Abilities: L4 power not on a shaman, but my "arcane damage initiate" (she is dextrous too I believe) got 10-5 damage as she levelled to sorceress. But I guess it is tough to manage so many special abilities while keeping them still different from each other.

Ah yes, if you take a faerie fire shaman to sorceress they get an extra boost to faerie fire. It could be toned down slightly, I suppose.

[Adamant14]

... Here it is just, that it depends on very few mobile units (shaman line units on their final level, dwarves, the orc, the ghost) and if a player lost a dwarf earlier he will have a hard time with the lich, ...

Spoiler:

Isn't this the perfect scenario to use the 'Haste Potion'

EDIT:
Just for the case you found it.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

Perhaps so. Note that I'm going to decrease its power quite a bit, though. As it is it more than doubles movement for your entire army, which is really a bit much. I kinda want to make you choose who gets it (not just one person, though).

[Adamant14]

(1) Number or Name of the scenario.
09 Reclaiming the Citadel

(2) What difficulty level have you played the scenario on?
Different difficulty levels would be great.

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

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

(5) How difficult did you find the scenario? (1-10)
I finished the scenario in 19/40 turns, with only two losses. (and I am not a very good player)
So it was not very difficult.
2-3

note: With the gold carry-over I had four times more gold than the enemy.

(6) What were your major challenges in meeting the objectives of the scenario?
No challenges.

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


(8) How fun do you think the scenario is? (1-10)
It was much to easy, so I don't give a rating here.

(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?

It is the final scenario, so there should be something special.
I don't know what, but only kill the enemy ... I miss something I can not name.

And a end dialogue, after all this fighting, after defeating all enemies, there should be some pathetic words.


Note: Healing-Potion and Haste-Potion, both is a huge benefit for the player.
(I fear many, maybe most of the players will not find the chest with those potions)
And the player who don't find those big, big 'helpers' has definitely more to struggle.

Resume:
An emerging campaign, with big potential.
Great new ideas.
Brilliant coded.
It still needs a little balancing, but really fun to play.
Thank you Celtic_Minstrel for your wonderful campaign.

[Celtic_Minstrel]

The power of the potions will be reduced quite a bit; I'm planning to make them usable 50 or 100 times, but each time only affects one unit. That might also make using the healing potion feel like less of a waste.

Spoilers follow, so read at your own risk.

Potential expansion?:

I could add an end cutscene and/or story chunk (the latter requiring an extra dummy scenario).

I thought about adding a scenario between Watery Tunnels and Along the Coast, which would essentially be Erendor heading south to contact the Lord. That would probably involve another dummy scenario in the Along the Coast map where he leaves; then you go to the new scenario, and after that it's Along the Coast.

Names wanted! Apply within!:

I don't like the name of the Elvish Lord. Any suggestions would be welcome. I've also recently increased the role of the loyal mermaid a bit, so I think I'd like her to also have a non-random name. Other candidates for getting a non-random name... maybe the berserker or the drakes? The three loyals in the first scenario probably don't need one. The dwarf brothers... eh, maybe. The old captain, perhaps. Maybe the cowardly orc. Also, enemy orc leaders could use new names: the goblin knight in scenario 1, the warrior/warlord in scenario 3, the ruler/sovereign, and his son (who's currently a random).

Anyone who feels like testing different possible paths, read this. Expect heavy spoilers if you click here!:

Since at least one person has finished the campaign, I'm going to make a sort of pseudo-diagram showing the possible paths you can take through the campaign. Although the progression of scenarios is linear, some events in earlier scenarios affect events in later scenarios. Here is a list of choices that have a significant effect.

1. In scenario 4 (Watery Tunnels), you don't have to kill Sir Malcorn in order to beat the level. If you don't kill him, he reappears in scenario 6.
2. In scenario 4 again, you have the option to not spare the orc leader. If you choose not to spare him, his son (a level 1 Orcish Leader) gets angry and follows you into the marsh for revenge. There, he behaves just like his father would have (including wanting to kill the necromancer himself), but also attacks you.
3. In scenario 6 (Into the Dread Marsh), you can either let the orcs kill the necromancer, or do it yourself. If you kill him, the orcs will come back in scenario 8 (unless you also killed the orc leader and his son). Otherwise, you encounter outlaws in scenario 8.
4. In scenario 6 again, Sir Malcorn reappears if he survived scenario 4. If you still don't kill him, he reappears again in scenario 7.
5. In scenario 7, Sir Malcorn reappears if he survived scenarios 4 and 6. If you still don't kill him, he reappears in scenario 9. If you kill him at any stage, you only encounter goblins in scenario 9; if you don't, you get both him and the goblins (on a single side).
6. If you get the mermaids and the loyal one survives scenario 6, and you don't kill Sir Malcorn by the end of scenario 7, the loyal mermaid plays a role in the final scenario. (Note: As of the time of this post, this is only in the current version that's not yet uploaded.)

In addition, there's a list of minor things that give you some kind of bonus, and as such will have minor effects (ie, lacking the bonus) if you don't do them.

1. In scenario 2 (Dank Tunnels), there's the hidden chest and the dwarf brothers.
2. In scenario 3 (Orcs in the Port), there's Ariandela, the aged captain, the mermaids, and the cowardly archer.
3. In scenario 4 (Watery Tunnels), there's the storm trident, the ankh, necklace, and also Halbern (the ghost) and the berserker; the loyals are semi-optional in that you have to get at least one of them, but it doesn't really matter which one you get.
4. In scenario 5 (Along the Coast), there's just the drakes.
5. When you kill Sir Malcorn (except in the last scenario), you get his Freezing Staff (which is probably still slightly overpowered, but whatever).

A "worst-case" run-through would probably involve choices such as this: don't get the hidden chest or any of the optional loyals, don't kill Malcorn, don't spare the orc leader, and kill the necromancer yourself instead of letting the orcs do it. It may not be possible, in which case I'd like to tweak things so that it is. Obviously it should be harder without any of the bonuses, but I don't want it to be absolutely impossible. (There's a shortcut in the marsh for quickly getting behind the enemy lines, which could help.)

[Adamant14]

About the names,
why don't you choose a name from: data/core/macros/names.cfg

There you can find a lot of cool names.