MAPDBL - The Hunger Games Map in H7

[Antalyan]

Discover details about my latest released map, The Hunger Games!

PROJECT SUMMARY
Map type: big scenario map for singleplayer or hotseat multiplayer
Players: up to 6
Concept: designed to be a very unique map with various ways to victory
Final Version Release: 07/05/2018
Download: maps4heroes.com

Map description
This is the improved version of the original The Hunger Games map with completely changed beginning to be much faster.
A unique concept of singleplayer/multiplayer scenario map, working only in SINGLEPLAYER & HOTSEAT due to H7 restrictions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- the map is scripted for 6 players in hotseat
- it is recommended to play with random skilling for more fair game
- you should update the game to the latest version 2.21 for playing

How to set factions (they have no gameplay impact but they code the map function)!!!
- player 1 must be always human and they can choose whatever faction
- humans players in positions 2-6 must NOT CHOOSE HAVEN (haven activates scripts for playable AI)
- AI players in positions 2-6 MUST CHOOSE HAVEN
- if you want to reduce the number of players, just set them as AI + assign them any other faction than Haven, these players will lose anyway when the Hunger Games start

Main differences against version 1.0
- you can play against AI (see above)
- the preparation phase takes only one week, so the game is fast and dynamic (you get to the arena straightaway):
- fixed broken scripts

ABOUT THE MAP (recommended to read before playing)
The map is inspired by famous series written by Suzanne Collins. If you know them, some features might be familiar to you. However, it's not necessary to know the original Hunger Games at all, you can still enjoy a multiplayer map which is great I hope.

Each of 6 players controls two heroes, chosen by a community poll in autumn, and two towns from different factions (representing thus all 12 districts). All players get only ONE WEEK to prepare, to build their armies and to level up their heroes (everything in the underground). During that time, players are strictly forbidden to fight each other. Before the timer expires, they have to move to the island in the middle and teleport to the arena, where the battle will take place. Compared to the original version, this one has much faster beginning, so you get to the arena after several minutes of playing. The whole game can be finished in a while... or in many hours, it's just up to you.

As soon as the timer expires, all barriers are broken and players and heroes can start fighting until only one winner is left. There are no towns in the arena and heroes lose their beginning towns as soon as the timer expires, also their resources are set to 0. Sure there are some neutral armies, resources, artefacts and neutral locations in the arena, but they can be occupied by your enemy...

The map offers various ways to win, many hidden places and mechanics you might discover only after several games, so the replayability should be great. Additionally, the map should be completely different to the rest of multiplayer maps.

HEROES
I decided to use the feedback of the rest of the community and let them/you/ decide which heroes will fight each other in arena according to the rules above.

The survey has been finished and the most excited of you have chosen the following heroes:

Player 1
District 1 - Ella
District 2 - Fredrik

Player 2
District 3 - Darkstorm
District 4 - Reem

Player 3
District 5 - Nur
District 6 - Yrris

Player 4
District 7 - Gem
District 8 - Ludmilla

Player 5
District 9 - Christian
District 10 - Amari

Player 6
District 11 - Ciele
District 12 - Svea

[Antalyan]

The post has been updated: poll results & answers for common questions.

[Kalah]

Sounds like fun - depending on the size, we could probably set up some kind of hosting service, like a torrent or something. Or maybe the Steam thing works?

[Pol]

We may create CH dropbox

[cjlee]

Applause for your hard work, Antalyan! As I said, people like you are the future of Heroes 7. If there are not enough mapmakers like you the franchise will die.

Now, since this is a custom map, I would recommend taking the ideas from Heroes mod5.5.

1) you are the mapmaker and I'm sure you know how dumb H7 AI is. So remember to scale up the difficulty for human players.

2) you could script in additional units for AI players like how H5.5 does it. AI is sure to lose more units fighting its battles.

3) Since you are the one making the neutral stacks, I encourage you to customize each stack. Mixed armies of 4-7 stacks with diverse abilities supporting each other are best. I recommend that many important structures and chokepoints be guarded by neutral troops with hero support.

4) H5.5 has been very innovative in its risks and rewards. For example, the Dangerous Cave is one of the least Dangerous H7 structures, and it offers a poor reward. So I tend to attack the dangerous cave early when I am short of cash, and ignore them later.

If you can, do script the Dangerous Cave to increase in difficulty. And to offer rewards like permanent increases to hero stats and offer 'tier 1-4 unit prisoners released'. That way it both makes sense to visit a structure, and offers an increasing challenge as well.

[Antalyan]

@Kalah
I really doubt the Steam Workshop works - there are very few things, and tehy are usually official. The majority uses hommdb.com.

@cjlee
Thanks a lot for ideas.

1) Don't be worry, it won't be too easy
2) The map's originally intended exclusively for human players. I'm not sure how AI would react to the scripts & events. Most probably, it would be neccessary to prepare the extra scripts for AI. However, if AI works, I can add it some extra creatures for sure.
3) Not sure if I will customize each stack but I will do what you suggest on armies guarding key locations.
4) I will look into it

[Antalyan]

Almost one month after my latest response, there is a quick update:
- I researched AI possibilities a bit and as I have predicted, it would be extremely difficult to make this map for players controlled by AI too because AI does not recognize any other win & loss conditions than standart ones. It would be neccessary to script every single action of AI, and even then it would have some unfair advantages against player and it could never be equal to human players (I know it never really is but in classic games it can look like it is at least). So there will always be 6 human players neccessary to play this map. The bright side is it reflects the original THG better and also the feeling from the game should increase while playing against unpredictable opponents.
- Besides default adventure map buildings, also the ones from LTA and even several new ones (for scripts) should appear on the map.
- The rewards for winning the combat against each other were also a discussed topic. I decided for 50 Arcane Archers and 100 Lizardmen for now, sure only later testing shows if it needs to be changed.
-Strategy: Definitely, what I really don't want is to have a map where everything is decided in a few first turns. As in THG, there will be a Cornucopia in the middle of arena with some gold mine (the only one on the map) and dwellings. However, for those who don't want to join the first fights, there should be enough possibilities and sites to visit to have a chance against their "professional" opponents. So consequently with heroes fighting & collecting resources in the main Cornucopia zone, there should be longer-lasting fights for rewards hidden in different map corners. Sometimes you will need to reach certain hero level or visit some altars to obtain them. Generally, my aim is to provide the map with different possible strategies to win - sure only time shows if I succeed or not I also hope the fact you control two heroes, each of them from a different faction, should enable more combinations and strategies too.
Information: Naturally, I guess you could want some more concrete information. At the current time, I can just say I have finished around 90% of scripts and 70% of map painting so I should not be much far from creating a playable version of the map, hopefully till Christmas if no major problems appear. I hope you will help me to test it then

[Antalyan]

December update:
As you might have noticed, I originally planned to release this map even this year. However, as the map painting process is more time demanding than I previously expected, and as I also came up with several new ideas (like how do the feast in the arena), it's obvious now that I won't manage it on time.

So the testing version of this map should be released in very early 2017.

I wish you to enjoy the Christmas time and come back in January to see the (hopefully) finished map!

The original post has also been updated with some info & the first arena screenshot!

[Antalyan]

Hello Heroes,
The time has finally come and the map can be released!

After months of working with buggy (but mighty) MMH7 editor, I have finally finished my work and now its up to you to test my effort!

The map has been uploaded to maps4heroes.com and hommdb.com.
As these websites have their own way of verifying the recorded maps, the exact time of availability of the map is unknown but I expect it to by in the following hours, or days at latest.

Check also the updated map information above!

As always, any feedback you can provide me is interesing for me, although some ideas simply cannot be realised of course.
Also if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask me

Enjoy!

[Antalyan]

The version 2.0 is in progress:
- much faster preparation phase (you will be able to prepare your army within several minutes - one game week, perfect for players with less time, also much decreases the % chance of desync issues)
- a possibility to play against AI too (to be available for any amount (1-6) of human players)

To be released soon!

[Pol]

Antalyan can you fix the links and images?

[Antalyan]

Well, the map development has been abandoned due to H7 not supporting Multiplayer scripts.
However, I could release a "final" version including what I've done, it could be still good for Hotseat. I will update the link afterwards.

[Pol]

Please, proceed sir.

How is the state of the art? Playable with limited multiplayer? You can send it to me and I will upload it here forever.
Or at least till the end of internet

BTW, what about Umbramancer mod. Did you started testing?

[Antalyan]

Please, proceed sir.

How is the state of the art? Playable with limited multiplayer? You can send it to me and I will upload it here forever.
Or at least till the end of internet

BTW, what about Umbramancer mod. Did you started testing?

I managed to release the final version which works in hotseat multiplayer and also singleplayer (it's important to highlight that specific rules must be obeyed when setting up the players).
I used maps4heroes but their web design is pretty outdated, I will be glad if the map appears here, too (I may update the link as soon as the map is released here ). I will send you the PM with the map link.

The umbramancer mod was originally supposed to launch its beta in spring but some problems occurred, so it may be delayed.
Any new information will be announced on our Project page and in our Steam group.

[Pol]

Ahh, that's a challenge by itself.