Since the SC2 beta will be released soon, I thought of organizing a team to make a SC2 AoS map.

I have decided to make a normal AoS style map first (like dota and TS). This is because I already know how to make this style map, and because this type of map is already popular. This is mainly to get a good balance in the game, and to have the game name known.

After the above map is decently well balanced, a third person shooter AoS map will be made. Although many things will be the same (base/buildings, heroes, spawn, spells), many things will change (base layout, terrain, communication spells, unit speeds). The balance in this map will focus less on damage/spells, and more on ease of use, as TPS melee units will be new for many.

Edit: I just realized that the normal AoS is TPS. The second map will be more like a FPS game, but with the camera slightly behind your hero. The player will not be able to look around the map, but only where his hero looks. New communication spells/abilities/equipment will be added. This entire map may just become a game option for the first map...

Both maps will be thoroughly polished, and updated regularly.

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Map Info:
Aiming to have 60-70 heroes: T, P, Z, TP, PZ, TZ, TPZ
Spawns become stronger/more as base income increases (as time goes by).
Will have a circular map with 3 major lanes.
Aimed ideal for a 5v5 match; up to 7v7
Will have capturable bases (like TS) that will provide the allied computer with money (more/better units)
Spawn based game. The main advantage the human player has is micro and tactical attacks.
Neutral player that attacks both teams.

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If you wish to help, please post below. We need anyone who can design graphics, terrain, spells. Anyone who is creative, and is good at map making. Voice actors will probably be need as well (eventually).

I will help as much as possible, as soon as I get my hands on the editor.

In. I can come up with interesting concepts for heroes, but exectution is my weak point.

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First person shooter + AoS ?
I don't know......

Depends on how you put it together I guess?? But still.. First person AoS sounds strange.

Also it's Variety*

I feel that doing a First Person AoS would be too ambitious and risky without letting the Sniper maps experiment with the First Person shooting mechanic first... cause we all know ppl'll make them... and why should we be the guinea pigs?
Moreover, making it First person does shut down many strategies that AoS's use to ride on.. Moreover, it somewhat limits the types of spells that one can create.. Lastly, i don't see why >100 heroes are necessary...

IN the end, however, I really can't say.. We do not know anything about Sc2's capabilities...
but an AoS will come about... and if you're heading to the right direction, I'd want to be part of it.

I pretty much agree with unholy... A first person AoS would ruin the genre imo.

The whole point of an AoS is that it's very team oriented and focused on micro. Only being able to see in front of you pretty much ruins the whole aspect.

I'd rather just have a good ol' fashioned AoS revamped with the SC2 engine.

This also, from an official discussion with an italian forum.

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Post 9: Have you decided whether to include the editor in the beta or not? Will the system requirements be issued before or simultaneously to the beta? Will there be all game type? (1vs1, 3vs3 and so on)

Zhydaris: From 1vs1 up it will all be available, no exception. The requirements will come in due course, yes. No editor, at least in the very first released version.

So no map editor right away for beta.

Quote from O)UnholyUrine

:\

First person shooter + AoS ?
I don't know......

Depends on how you put it together I guess?? But still.. First person AoS sounds strange.

Also it's Variety*

I feel that doing a First Person AoS would be too ambitious and risky without letting the Sniper maps experiment with the First Person shooting mechanic first... cause we all know ppl'll make them... and why should we be the guinea pigs?
Moreover, making it First person does shut down many strategies that AoS's use to ride on.. Moreover, it somewhat limits the types of spells that one can create.. Lastly, i don't see why >100 heroes are necessary...

IN the end, however, I really can't say.. We do not know anything about Sc2's capabilities...
but an AoS will come about... and if you're heading to the right direction, I'd want to be part of it.

I only stated 100+ since DOTA has 108 (i think).
We can make a crappy map and perfect it over time. The main point is to finish the majority when SC2 comes out.
Since you can customize the FPS as well, we can have not only "sniper" units, but a "hydra" (and others) and hopefully melee units too. (melee will be slightly 3rd person)
This makes the game more challenging since you cant see 360/your allied players.

Spells are usually "weapons" and the fps units can get weapons (and have abilities such as board vehicle [i think] and lockdown), I hope spells will be available.

Quote from ShredderIV

I pretty much agree with unholy... A first person AoS would ruin the genre imo.

The whole point of an AoS is that it's very team oriented and focused on micro. Only being able to see in front of you pretty much ruins the whole aspect.

I'd rather just have a good ol' fashioned AoS revamped with the SC2 engine.

This also, from an official discussion with an italian forum.

Quote

Post 9: Have you decided whether to include the editor in the beta or not? Will the system requirements be issued before or simultaneously to the beta? Will there be all game type? (1vs1, 3vs3 and so on)

Zhydaris: From 1vs1 up it will all be available, no exception. The requirements will come in due course, yes. No editor, at least in the very first released version.

So no map editor right away for beta.

Maybe this map is the evolution of AoS maps. It may not necessarily be better, but it can still follow some of the same concepts. (like having a base, a team spawn, etc.) I just wanted to make a new type of map. AoS has been done in SC and WC3 already, and undoubtedly there will be a lot of competition for a normal AoS map.


http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91943-StarCraft-2-Beta-Will-Include-Map-Editor
nooo!!!

Quote from O)UnholyUrine

IN the end, however, I really can't say.. We do not know anything about Sc2's capabilities...
but an AoS will come about... and if you're heading to the right direction, I'd want to be part of it.

You better make TS 2.0 first!!!
I would help but sadly, im not a mapper. I tried makeing maps in Age of Empires and Earth 2150 but only for fun.(ex: bring Trojan horse to the castle- blue player gets 5000 Robin Hoods with 100 attack and 10k range . Unfortunately, the Robin Hoods kept missing moving targets)
I still want to help though :/, perhaps i could be a tester? I currently have no life so I'm game anytime.

P.S. Unholy go on west so i can help you test 1.6!!!!!

AoS will be a thing of the past. First person CTF Team fortress esque is going to be the new fad. I swear.

Cough *World of Starcraft* Cough

As long as DOTA doesn't win, I prefer TS.

Quote from [MadZombie!

AoS will be a thing of the past. First person CTF Team fortress esque is going to be the new fad. I swear.

That's why it's a fps AoS.

I still need people, since there is a great deal of planning to do (that can be done w/o the editor), such as thinig up characters, unique abilities, weapons, appearences, unique game features, characterization of heroes, thinking up nonstandard Starcraft units, etc.

This seems cool, but until I see more progress done I don't plan on committing myself to this.
If you really want me to you can sign me up but I'm promising nothing.

How the hell is first person even gonna work on sc2? I don't think the sc engine is gonna work like that...

Quote from TiKels

This seems cool, but until I see more progress done I don't plan on committing myself to this.
If you really want me to you can sign me up but I'm promising nothing.

How the hell is first person even gonna work on sc2? I don't think the sc engine is gonna work like that...

unit design + weapons. Terrain. Unit abilitiies. Triggers to spawn computer units + ai. That's the minimum this map requires; hopefully the editor will exeed that...

Quote from TiKels

This seems cool, but until I see more progress done I don't plan on committing myself to this.
If you really want me to you can sign me up but I'm promising nothing.

How the hell is first person even gonna work on sc2? I don't think the sc engine is gonna work like that...

Yes it will, they already recreated SC:Ghost in SC2.

i could see having like ranged characters having an option to toggle to first person or forced for certain heroes, but are all going to be ranged, because first person melee seems REALLY awkward let's face it, i doubt it will be an oblivion, doubtful it'd even reach red steel in fun(unless you had fun flailing )

So wait.. I read the first post and got to the red text and now I'm wondering. Does that mean some people will get the editor and some wont during the beta? I don't remember seeing that anywhere D:

I personally think this could be a great idea if you were to have just those 4-7 heroes that have skill trees (think WoW or something.) That will make things so much more interesting and entertaining.

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I personally think this could be a great idea if you were to have just those 4-7 heroes that have skill trees (think WoW or something.) That will make things so much more interesting and entertaining.

This.

Just a word of warning: you only need a mapper and a modeler for this sort of project, and it's best that they are the same person. If you are going to have a team project, you want only ONE other person besides yourself, and that person has to be trustworthy. If he isn't, you might put a huge amount of effort in, and then the project falls through because the other person doesn't deliver. Because it's the internet, you can't go over to his house and force him to finish. You have been warned.

As for the idea itself, I think TS 2 will work better, and if I get a computer/more time, then I'd be willing to help UU with it.

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I personally think this could be a great idea if you were to have just those 4-7 heroes that have skill trees (think WoW or something.) That will make things so much more interesting and entertaining.

I was thinking of something along those lines too. There would be 6-7 classes (Terran, Zerg, Protoss, tz hybrid, zp hybrid, pt hybrid, and maybe tpz hybrid). Terran is a very mobile race that has a tactical out look at war; they could possibly have jet packs, take control of vehicals, and command allied spawn (like a Sargent and his platoon). The Protoss seem kind of like the covenant from halo; high templars are reveered more than zealots, dragoons are simply the soul of a zealot + a machine body, and dts are of the lowest caste. They use photon/plasma weapon with enhanced psionic abilities, and can alter time and gravity. The Zerg system is based of psionic dominance. The overmind was dominant till it was killed, when the next strongest Zerg creature took control - Kerrigan. The Zerg rely on back up/the swarm (think nydus), infestation (defilers, queens, the new corrupters, and those burrowed unit that took control of the barracks), and usually have claws , spines, or acid. They are 100% organic.

Have a player choose to be one of the 3 classes, or one of the 3-4 hybrid classes and let them choose their path from there. Heroes start at the grunt level (basic spawn) and can level up to be a true hero. Bases will be a tpz hybrid base.

All of the above is just an idea I've been thinking of...

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i could see having like ranged characters having an option to toggle to first person or forced for certain heroes, but are all going to be ranged, because first person melee seems REALLY awkward let's face it, i doubt it will be an oblivion, doubtful it'd even reach red steel in fun(unless you had fun flailing )

As for the melée units, they will either be in 3rd person, 1st person (if it can be pulled off... Doubtfully), or make the game a normal AoS.

Quote

Just a word of warning: you only need a mapper and a modeler for this sort of project, and it's best that they are the same person. If you are going to have a team project, you want only ONE other person besides yourself, and that person has to be trustworthy. If he isn't, you might put a huge amount of effort in, and then the project falls through because the other person doesn't deliver. Because it's the internet, you can't go over to his house and force him to finish. You have been warned.

As for the idea itself, I think TS 2 will work better, and if I get a computer/more time, then I'd be willing to help UU with it.

We need:
1 person to trigger
X Voice Actors (if it is available in SC2)
1+ Modelers (Terrain, Spells, Heroes, Buildings)
Lot of testers

This could be done with 2 people, but having like 20 people working on it, and 100 people just throwing in random ideas is better. This way, the only way this map fails is if the triggerer leaves (and that's me.. I'm not gonna leave..). If a Modeler leaves, another can take over his work. Also, an allowing others to input ideas increases popularity, which makes the game better.

As for this map being a FPS, will depend on whether or not 1st/3rd person melee works. (making this map a normal AoS)