Re: Loladins of Legend
Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:04 pm
Cannon garrisons -
A change I thought I had added before didn't work. They are supposed to have about 10-30 base attack damage and this goes up as time passes. They also provide a minor speed and attack speed bonus to things around them, and provide a gathering location for allied heroes returning to battle.
Sir Lol and Lord Dread -
If anything they are virtually complete, now. Their health may be increased slightly and their base damage decreased slightly to rebalance them with their new spells, but that's about it.
On to bill's comments....
the Central building
I like this idea a lot. I'll probably end up adding it. The offset though is that the level 10 and epic units spawned by it will take a bit more time to enter the battle. This could prove to be annoying, especially with my upcoming division changes, so I'll probably just have it handle Epic units.
For its invulnerability mechanics, I'll probably have its power connected to the battle fortresses and Loladin equivelents, or something fancy like that.
Stalemates
I like the idea of a final battle between Sir Lol and Lord Dread. Since most of their abilities won't work on each other it'll be a hectic battle deeply involving allied heroes who will have one last chance to win the game. I might have to disable Lord Dread's Wrath for that fight since it would otherwise wipe the enemy team in every single encounter. Additionally such a pew pew lazer canun might be added.
On to Arcan...
About streamlining the Divisions
As far as auto-attack is concerned, if you're only auto attacking the creeps, it's no wonder you guys keep losing.
And, to repeat once more, this is NOT like dota. Dota is boring. You get an item, you win the game. LoL will never be like that. I have also stated repeatedly there will eventually be combo items (nothing like bashers, buriza, ect. though), an arena would be nice to have, and so on. However, other than the upcoming division streamlining, it will never be as simple as dota is. There will be plenty of opportunities for all-hero battles with World bosses, control points, contribution junkies, and so on. I'll consider doing some minor additions/changes to the terrain and adding waygates for easier movement around the map, which should help promote these activities.
As far as I am concerned right now, the only other Evil-side division I intended to add was either the Delirium or Prophecy. I have/had plans to do the majority of the remaining Loladin divisions for a while, but I don't really have the motivation to do that much triggering/data/graphics/playtesting to make sure it even works.
To repeat myself some more...
Combo items are not going in until all existing heroes are "complete" and are working correctly.
Divisions will, for the most part (not all of them), will be changed to the following formula -
Level 1 -> level 5 -> level 10 base unit conversion (4 padawons become 4 warriors become 3 lolonels).
Level 5 -> level 7 -> subunit conversion (this only applies for some divisions. IE musketeers will become archers, stronger, and less in number.)
Level 7 -* (Most divisions will be given at least one level 7 unit. Some have some, some don't. Level 7 units are support units in virtually every case. An example is Inquisitors, Thunderers, so on.
This will dramatically reduce creep counts.
Additionally, Epic units will be getting a very significant buff. This will promote actually having some degree of tactics to fighting the creep battles (which no one but me seems to understand yet), and better pushing strength once you are victorious.
The Loladin base
I always thought the Desolator fortresses provided the teleport ability. I'll fix that some day. (As it turns out, it's the 4 guns at the Evil fountain. Shoot these and the FoE can't teleport there anymore.)
The Loladins need their level 2 defender unit (Bloodstone Guardians), and all level 1 need their offensive abilities.
Now, to clearify some misconceptions...
LoL is not simply an AoS. It was built on the foundations of the AoS, but was not intended to be like DotA. Personally, I get very bored of dota after a single game. It's always the same thing - deny creeps early on, get big sword, 1shot everyone. You die, the game's over. Simple.
LoL is more forgiving but also less forgiving. The bosses and strong creeps/defenses are there because it's how I like to play AoS' - I prefer a challenge, and not being able to end the game with my sword of a thousand truths within 15 minutes because the other team made a goof-up. Granted, making a goof-up against me in LoL still usually ends the game in my favour, but that's because I know exactly how the map works. It's built on the foundations of my tried-and-true ET balancing system. I've used this system since SC so please, if you have any questions or concerns about specific aspects, please ask.
When the introduction of combination items does eventually come, it will challenge the balance system in a way I cannot foresee. This is why I have been reluctant to add them. The balancing right now is so carefully plotted in my head, and the introduction of something as simple as 30% to attack speed will completely alter it. I must be careful what I add, or we'll end up in a far worse state than TGS or DotA were ever in.
Concerning Int heroes once more -
There are the hidden concerns of, due to the low ability cap and the high level cap, int heroes will get screwed over - probably twice as much when more items are added. To make it clear once and for all, there is plans to give most of the existing int heroes that do not having scaling abilities one that does scale. For example, the Spider Dude's glacial spike will scale in the future damage-wise.
Additionally, int heroes are capable of decent damage with their standard attack. Due to the way balance works out, they are NOT screwed by insane armor values on agi and strength heroes because I have made that about an eighth as effective as it is in Dota - 25 agility won't suddenly make you indestructible. Take this into account when setting up battles - armor reduction like Curse of Flesh and such are very, very powerful. Int heroes can take this advantage to do some SERIOUS damage.
Ranged heroes -
There is a lack of ranged heroes. I know that. I'm not worried about it right now, either. Doctor Doack will be ranged. Some other existing heroes to be added will be ranged.
Now...
About the map, there is potential. The framework is laid out. Thanks to ricky and others I have a very basic knowledge of triggering. This doesn't grant me the power to make much other than the very basic of spells (I did Deathwish, the holy lasers, ect.) but it does grant me some power over the divisions. However... Due to the nature the divisions are triggered in, it will take some time to reformat them to a state that reduces memory leaks.
When the map lags, it is NOT due to the graphics. I have tested wc3 with absolutely apeshit numbers of units before and so long as the standard AI is not running it did not lag. That is why this is an AoS, and not a B&D mercenaries like in SC which was what it was originally planned to be. The AI would utterly clusterfuck this thing to hell and back.
The lag is from the spawn triggers. I know how to fix it, and one of these days I will settle down and spend an hour or so going about doing just that. The map load time will never be reduced - it's due to the geometry of the map and the sheer complexity of the tiles. It's a price we pay for professional-grade quality. Only a few people suffer extraordinarily long load times, anyway. It's ten times as bad when mucky tries to save, though. If mucky does it one more time I am suspending him from any LoL play. I am getting seriously pissed off. It's okay if it's dota because it takes five seconds and usually is well deserved, but in LoL the save lasts far too fucking long and half the time it crashes me. I tried to take efforts to stop saving but until I figure out a more extreme method this will be my answer.
Arcan, you wanted to do graphics, I really wish you would try it sometime. It's a lot more motivating to do division work when I have something actually waiting to be added. I have a graphic for a second Loladin epic unit waiting to be added as we speak.
"Well, the map's still in a testing phase, so naturally it won't be balanced."
Everything is in a testing phase, but I am now keenly attuned to balancing. Once the heroes and divisions are working in a way I deem fit, I will bump the CP and arena up to the top of my list.
Good day,
A change I thought I had added before didn't work. They are supposed to have about 10-30 base attack damage and this goes up as time passes. They also provide a minor speed and attack speed bonus to things around them, and provide a gathering location for allied heroes returning to battle.
Sir Lol and Lord Dread -
If anything they are virtually complete, now. Their health may be increased slightly and their base damage decreased slightly to rebalance them with their new spells, but that's about it.
On to bill's comments....
the Central building
I like this idea a lot. I'll probably end up adding it. The offset though is that the level 10 and epic units spawned by it will take a bit more time to enter the battle. This could prove to be annoying, especially with my upcoming division changes, so I'll probably just have it handle Epic units.
For its invulnerability mechanics, I'll probably have its power connected to the battle fortresses and Loladin equivelents, or something fancy like that.
Stalemates
I like the idea of a final battle between Sir Lol and Lord Dread. Since most of their abilities won't work on each other it'll be a hectic battle deeply involving allied heroes who will have one last chance to win the game. I might have to disable Lord Dread's Wrath for that fight since it would otherwise wipe the enemy team in every single encounter. Additionally such a pew pew lazer canun might be added.
On to Arcan...
About streamlining the Divisions
As far as auto-attack is concerned, if you're only auto attacking the creeps, it's no wonder you guys keep losing.
And, to repeat once more, this is NOT like dota. Dota is boring. You get an item, you win the game. LoL will never be like that. I have also stated repeatedly there will eventually be combo items (nothing like bashers, buriza, ect. though), an arena would be nice to have, and so on. However, other than the upcoming division streamlining, it will never be as simple as dota is. There will be plenty of opportunities for all-hero battles with World bosses, control points, contribution junkies, and so on. I'll consider doing some minor additions/changes to the terrain and adding waygates for easier movement around the map, which should help promote these activities.
As far as I am concerned right now, the only other Evil-side division I intended to add was either the Delirium or Prophecy. I have/had plans to do the majority of the remaining Loladin divisions for a while, but I don't really have the motivation to do that much triggering/data/graphics/playtesting to make sure it even works.
To repeat myself some more...
Combo items are not going in until all existing heroes are "complete" and are working correctly.
Divisions will, for the most part (not all of them), will be changed to the following formula -
Level 1 -> level 5 -> level 10 base unit conversion (4 padawons become 4 warriors become 3 lolonels).
Level 5 -> level 7 -> subunit conversion (this only applies for some divisions. IE musketeers will become archers, stronger, and less in number.)
Level 7 -* (Most divisions will be given at least one level 7 unit. Some have some, some don't. Level 7 units are support units in virtually every case. An example is Inquisitors, Thunderers, so on.
This will dramatically reduce creep counts.
Additionally, Epic units will be getting a very significant buff. This will promote actually having some degree of tactics to fighting the creep battles (which no one but me seems to understand yet), and better pushing strength once you are victorious.
The Loladin base
I always thought the Desolator fortresses provided the teleport ability. I'll fix that some day. (As it turns out, it's the 4 guns at the Evil fountain. Shoot these and the FoE can't teleport there anymore.)
The Loladins need their level 2 defender unit (Bloodstone Guardians), and all level 1 need their offensive abilities.
Now, to clearify some misconceptions...
LoL is not simply an AoS. It was built on the foundations of the AoS, but was not intended to be like DotA. Personally, I get very bored of dota after a single game. It's always the same thing - deny creeps early on, get big sword, 1shot everyone. You die, the game's over. Simple.
LoL is more forgiving but also less forgiving. The bosses and strong creeps/defenses are there because it's how I like to play AoS' - I prefer a challenge, and not being able to end the game with my sword of a thousand truths within 15 minutes because the other team made a goof-up. Granted, making a goof-up against me in LoL still usually ends the game in my favour, but that's because I know exactly how the map works. It's built on the foundations of my tried-and-true ET balancing system. I've used this system since SC so please, if you have any questions or concerns about specific aspects, please ask.
When the introduction of combination items does eventually come, it will challenge the balance system in a way I cannot foresee. This is why I have been reluctant to add them. The balancing right now is so carefully plotted in my head, and the introduction of something as simple as 30% to attack speed will completely alter it. I must be careful what I add, or we'll end up in a far worse state than TGS or DotA were ever in.
Concerning Int heroes once more -
There are the hidden concerns of, due to the low ability cap and the high level cap, int heroes will get screwed over - probably twice as much when more items are added. To make it clear once and for all, there is plans to give most of the existing int heroes that do not having scaling abilities one that does scale. For example, the Spider Dude's glacial spike will scale in the future damage-wise.
Additionally, int heroes are capable of decent damage with their standard attack. Due to the way balance works out, they are NOT screwed by insane armor values on agi and strength heroes because I have made that about an eighth as effective as it is in Dota - 25 agility won't suddenly make you indestructible. Take this into account when setting up battles - armor reduction like Curse of Flesh and such are very, very powerful. Int heroes can take this advantage to do some SERIOUS damage.
Ranged heroes -
There is a lack of ranged heroes. I know that. I'm not worried about it right now, either. Doctor Doack will be ranged. Some other existing heroes to be added will be ranged.
Now...
About the map, there is potential. The framework is laid out. Thanks to ricky and others I have a very basic knowledge of triggering. This doesn't grant me the power to make much other than the very basic of spells (I did Deathwish, the holy lasers, ect.) but it does grant me some power over the divisions. However... Due to the nature the divisions are triggered in, it will take some time to reformat them to a state that reduces memory leaks.
When the map lags, it is NOT due to the graphics. I have tested wc3 with absolutely apeshit numbers of units before and so long as the standard AI is not running it did not lag. That is why this is an AoS, and not a B&D mercenaries like in SC which was what it was originally planned to be. The AI would utterly clusterfuck this thing to hell and back.
The lag is from the spawn triggers. I know how to fix it, and one of these days I will settle down and spend an hour or so going about doing just that. The map load time will never be reduced - it's due to the geometry of the map and the sheer complexity of the tiles. It's a price we pay for professional-grade quality. Only a few people suffer extraordinarily long load times, anyway. It's ten times as bad when mucky tries to save, though. If mucky does it one more time I am suspending him from any LoL play. I am getting seriously pissed off. It's okay if it's dota because it takes five seconds and usually is well deserved, but in LoL the save lasts far too fucking long and half the time it crashes me. I tried to take efforts to stop saving but until I figure out a more extreme method this will be my answer.
Arcan, you wanted to do graphics, I really wish you would try it sometime. It's a lot more motivating to do division work when I have something actually waiting to be added. I have a graphic for a second Loladin epic unit waiting to be added as we speak.
"Well, the map's still in a testing phase, so naturally it won't be balanced."
Everything is in a testing phase, but I am now keenly attuned to balancing. Once the heroes and divisions are working in a way I deem fit, I will bump the CP and arena up to the top of my list.
Good day,