The Collector's Temple.
I was avoiding giving this a description mainly because my basis for the level is reading the introduction programmed into it, then going by that introduction to solve clues. Saying more about it might ruin the challenge of solving the clues. As a player, it's encouraged that you wouldn't analyze anything of the map before playing. As a programmer, I assumed it's somewhat easier to download it and "what you see is what you get" that my description wouldn't be of any use to you better than the program already shows.
But I guess in the spirit that I'm only talking to programmers that are here to advise on its improvement (which is good), then my presentation is about what I want to accomplish with it -- which in turn suggests I would've been better to place it in "mapmaking" rather than "showcase". Nevertheless, here's the idea--
I want to make levels more complex than killing every enemy in sight. I'm also fond of the rpgesque feel but I don't like to make a game using Starcraft characters to emulate some other genre. It's too weird when you do that.
So I want to work within the Starcraft storyline and make interesting plots. With that said, I'm happy with opinion about the nature of the story as well as the gameplay. But there's no point in going too in-depth because this is kind of my quick test of what I want to do, considered like a rough draft.
So what do I want players to do in the game?
A temple was found and you have to figure out what to do with it. After reading some clues you will hopefully gather that I want you to develop your technologies including my favourites. I'm really fond of the idea that you can create a Dark Archon to eventually command all different races, as well as neutral characters. I'm also really fond of the idea that you can transport virtually anything you can command using the Arbiter. I would've also liked the idea that you'd have to nuke a specific point on the map, but I don't know enough to require that.
So what was the simplest way to achieve all that?
The player as it turns out has to bring an Infested Terran along with the zoo of all 6 different standard neutral characters (animals) to the temple. To produce an infested terran (it's unlikely the enemy will have one for you) you have to develop high technology in both Terran and Zerg races. Interestingly enough, you also have to be a little friendly to your enemy (all the SCVs or Zerg die, and you're screwed. I kill you off if it happens so you don't end up doing all sorts of work for nothing). I also advise at the beginning (without really saying why) that you don't want those units to die.
I like grandiose decoration for the temple (I was actually hoping to do something more grandiose, but it's rough draft). I also like how the path puts you through long twists and turns (like an rpg) in which you're probably better off sending units down those paths and infiltrating before developing all your flight technology.
When I played my level (I confess I'm a noob), it was easy enough to invade all the bases with photon cannons then produce carriers until I've killed the protoss, and subdued the terrans and zerg to "extract" my precious Drones and SCVs.
I'm hoping my clues are useful enough. They say nothing direct but heavily imply what you need to do. I like philosophical terms like "the collector appreciates both those defenseless and those martyrs infested by the wrath of war" then also using advice "beware the Dark Archons with their mind control whom appear with two Dark Templers and the infested terrans that martyr themselves" (lol) so that someone unfamiliar with the terms can pick up what to do. ("Oh look. That Zerg Queen says 'infest'")
The game also doesn't allow you to win until you've read all the clues (hey, they have to read all my stuff).
Here's a more point form of how I want this to work.
*The player has to solve clues. The answers are not handed to him but are made obvious enough.
*The player has to use advanced technology to its limits. It doesn't require quick thinking but does require a good understanding of what you can accomplish.
*The player has to hesitate from just killing everything that flashes red. Be covert. Exploit the enemy for your own ends.
*I had an alternative idea to finding the temple. You have to partially build the temple like a magic spell. Eg: "Place pylons in all these locations to form a pentagon to create the portal"
I'm hoping that this better suffices as an introduction, and lets me keep my thread, moose.
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Post has been edited 2 time(s), last time on Mar 16 2008, 12:38 am by gaiaguerrilla.
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