Despite the Sands [1.10+]

[Lukc]

Description:
Despite the Sands is a campaign taking place in the timeline of After the Storm’s last two episodes.

Even if the Chaos Empire lost both its emperor and its capital, it is still able to win the war. The border of the Northern lands are becoming vague under the constant pressure of its attacks. Could it be the perfect time for new leaders to appear and bring hope against the Empire?

Development:
Currently, 5 scenarios are available, and both are playable. The total number of scenarios is not decided yet, but at least 9 are planned and the end is not decided either (so it will probably be at least 14…).

Download:
An up to date version of the campaign should be available on Wesnoth’s add-ons server. If you are interested in untested work-in-progress, there is also a git repository available (http://devel.upyum.com/cgit.cgi/Despite%20the%20Sands/ for web interface or git://upyum.com/Despite_the_Sands for direct git URL).

Disclaimer:
This is my first campaign (or even add-on) for Wesnoth, so I expect a lot of bugs, problems, and a particular lack of balancing.

Also, English is not my mother tongue, so I also expect a lot of mistakes in simple sentences…


Try to have fun playing DtS.

[lipk]

I'm not a native speaker myself, but the title "Despite the Sands" sounds very-very weird to me... shouldn't it be rather "Against the Sands" or something like that?
The difference is like
"Despite the sandstorm, the managed to reach the oasis"
vs
"They had to fight against the sandstorm to reach the oasis"
(I hope it's correct)

[Lukc]

It always hurts to find the first mistake in the title…

I thought it was correct, even if I had doubts at first. You may very probably be right, but I’d prefer a confirmation from a native speaker before changing the name of the campaign. I’m trying to seek an answer using English lessons and things like that right now. Thanks for highlighting that problem anyway.

[Daravel]

I'm a native speaker, but a horrible teacher.

lipk is correct in his interpretations. "despite the sands" means "you manage to do something, even though something (the sands) were stopping you". "against the sands" would mean that the sands were the main enemy.

It might help if you describe what you want the title to mean. What role is are the sands meant to be playing?

[Lukc]

It refers a lot to the events of UtbS, so you’d better know them to really understand.

So, the sands are first the result of the destruction of Wesnoth and of almost everything on Irdya by the second sun… and it’s also where the Empire “comes” (even if that’s probably not exact). In my title, it’s then the dangers it contain and the Empire that are designated by the Sands.

(maybe too much metaphors is a bad thing)

When I chose the title, the meaning was effectively “the Sands are stopping you, but you manage to do something”. Yet, the Empire is the main enemy.

I think “Despite” may then be the good choice.

[Daravel]

'Despite the sands' works, but it is a little odd. Especially without context (a player just starting the campaign will have no idea what it refers to).

As the 'sands' are referring to the dangers which come from it (destruction, enemies, the empire) then I'd suggest going for 'Against the sands' with it metaphorically referring to all those things that come from the sand as your enemey (from weather to people).

[Lukc]

There’s however a problem with that. Against the Sands would be abbreviated AtS, which is already taken by After the Storm… and as my campaign takes place in the same timeline, that would be worse than confusing.

I suppose I’ll just have to find another name… *sigh*

EDIT: But in the meantime, I’d still love to have some feedback, because the first few scenarios of the campaign are still playable.

[Flameslash]

Not sure what the title could be, but:

Spoiler:

"None worked"
should be
"Neither worked"

"Elves usually badly consider dark magic"
should be
"Elves usually frown upon dark magic"

"Of course, most races see it badly"
should be
"Of course, most races hate it"

"didn't recognized me"
should be
"didn't recognize me"

"paves the road to hell"
should be
"paves the road to darkness"

"empire I fought now for several years"
should be
"empire I've fought for several years now"

"they switch side once"
should be
"they'll switch sides once"

"However the council"
should be
"However, the council"

"imperial group to come here?"
should be
"imperial group due here?"

"either us, either the empire"
should be
"either us, or the empire"

And shouldn't the Empire be recruiting Chaos Forces?

[Lukc]

The first scenario is not really yet the Empire. Next scenarios use Chaos forces.

Thanks for the (long) list of mistakes…

EDIT: I updated the add-on on the server (for now under the same name) to include the corrections given by Flameslash.

EDIT2: When I say “is not really yet the Empire”, I mean it’s a town that joined the Empire, but a very short time before the Council intervenes, which is why they don’t have Chaos forces. I may add a limited number of chaos units in this scenario in future versions, once I decided which and in which number.

[Flameslash]

Ok.

[Daravel]

If you want, check out my thread: http://forums.wesnoth.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=35997 If you post up your dialogue I'm happy to go through and correct any mistakes.

[GangrN]

I am no native speaker either but I think that "despite the sands" works far better than "against the sands". It means that "despite the sands" your hero achieved something, not that he only fought the sands.

"Against the sands" is flat and does not rise your imagination: you only fight against the sands and nothing more. "Despite the sands" makes you wonder what is to be done despite the sands and what other dangers are to be fought.

Too bad the campaign is no longer maintained, it started well.

Edit: available on the author's site, I did not see that.

[hermestrismi]

I want to complete your campaign. It seems interesting. Do u allow me to do so? If yes, do u have a story in mind or i have to create one?