Last time i've been here, can't even really remember, but it either was to ask some rudimentary questions or getting up to speed back when Heart of the Swarm was released.
Back then i haven't really picked up mapping again besides one project that i'm still working on with a friend but in the past few days i've played the LotV campaign on a buddys account, and it has somewhat drawn me back to being interested in mapping again.
But before i start working on any project that is rushing through my head i obviously have to ask some questions that need to be answered in order to know what i am actually able to do. I hope you guys can help me out and answer these questions for me.
So, first things first - I still only own Wings of Liberty. I have never bought HotS and i also did not buy LotV. So far the only reason to get them would be, if i'm interested in playing melee games, but i suck at them and that's why i did not bother.
- The question now is, what can i do with just WoL? Starting the editor and playing around with dependencies, i'm able to place all kinds of HotS and LotV stuff - but will i actually be able to publish and play with these assets in my map?
- Next question would be, if i am able to publish and play with these assets, are there still any other limits i have to take into consideration, or can i just use everything to create and play a custom map?
- Third question builds up on the other ones somewhat... Are the arcade lobbies and player bases "global"? Like, are players owning LotV able to play custom games with WoL, but also will WoL players be able to play with LotV players? Obviously i don't want to create something that will then just rot away on the "WoL Battle.net" because everyone else is on the "LotV Battle.net", if you understand what i mean.
- Last question is just a side question, i've never been that great with the data editor, i knew my way around it to make some things work but in the end i had to go through lots of trial and error and in the end mostly scrapped things since i just couldn't figure it out. The question i'd like to be answered now is relativeley specific... Heroes have an appeal in every game, no matter how big or small of a hero they are - but almost every one of them has some abilities. How much did change in regards to heroes and abilities editor-wise and did someone yet release some kind of "ability library"? I've always wondered why noone took care of that, just creating the most basic abilities you'd know from WC3 or current MOBA's, and just putting them into a big library for the community to use.
Thanks for reading and possibly answering my questions :)
I'm just getting back into map editing like you, but I think I can answer the last question at least. The void campaign dependency already gives you almost all the abilities blizzard has ever used. There's thousands of data entries. Trying to organize those, plus gather the abilities other people have made, and make a map that lets you see them in action, would probably be on par with the work required to make a whole custom campaign.
If someone knows a better way to get abilities than copying the xml data from the abilities and effects entries of a map or mod that has what you want, I'd like to know too.
1) Yes, you can publish LotV assets without a LotV license. No word on whether this is a bug or not. I can only assume it isn't, given WoL, HotS and LotV are all standalone titles now.
2) Obvious rules apply. No religious references (at least, tasteless ones that get reported), no porn etc.
3) Yes.
4) Renee's wc3 mod has a lot of solid work done on wc3 style heroes.
I do have some personal thoughts on ability librarys though. I've considered releasing my ability library. It consists of every wc3 ability remade, but to my standards which are not the same as wc3 standards. I'm more open to imperfect copies for the sake of performance. I also don't like armor as a mechanic.
It contains;
800 abilities, of which about 200 qualify as "hero abilities" which are entirely modular in nature.
About 100 hero templates, which simply require abilities to be slotted in. Most are WarCraft 3, but also every major StarCraft 2 character is there. 21 are from Heroes of the Storm.
25 custom attributes that cover most modifications. From LoL-style "Ability Power" to %-based weapon range, life-steal or ability damage spellsteal.
A switch effect that every ability contains on launch and impact, where other effects can be hooked on to. For example, if you wanted an item to give a 10% chance to turn the target into a sheep, you could do so easily.
Same as above but for weapon launch/impact.
180 items. Though not all have any stats. Some items are also upgradeable which is in-built.
Extremely light-weight. Like I said, I aim for performance above all else.
Small size. 8mb. My net sucks.
The mod removes almost all data work. Adding a hero is as simple as taking a hero template and positioning the desired abilities on it's command card. A second step is required to add these abilities to the hero's learn ability, if those abilities are levelable. Then that's it. Job done. All the animations and everything is done for you.
The downside is that there is some rigidity involved. If the user were to make a new ability or hero then it has to be formatted in a certain way. If I do publish it, then it'd have to come with a comprehensive guide.
1) Yes, you can publish LotV assets without a LotV license. No word on whether this is a bug or not. I can only assume it isn't, given WoL, HotS and LotV are all standalone titles now.
This is not a bug, they announced this, but it got buried with a bunch of other things at the time. You need ONLY own ONE expansion to have access to ALL assets and publishing rights.
Search for "Good news for Modders" in the following article
TYya, i am waiting for your library of abilities to release before i bother working on another map. You will save me much time. I will be happy enough to wait for that tbh.
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Hello people, it's me again.
Last time i've been here, can't even really remember, but it either was to ask some rudimentary questions or getting up to speed back when Heart of the Swarm was released.
Back then i haven't really picked up mapping again besides one project that i'm still working on with a friend but in the past few days i've played the LotV campaign on a buddys account, and it has somewhat drawn me back to being interested in mapping again.
But before i start working on any project that is rushing through my head i obviously have to ask some questions that need to be answered in order to know what i am actually able to do. I hope you guys can help me out and answer these questions for me.
So, first things first - I still only own Wings of Liberty. I have never bought HotS and i also did not buy LotV. So far the only reason to get them would be, if i'm interested in playing melee games, but i suck at them and that's why i did not bother.
- The question now is, what can i do with just WoL? Starting the editor and playing around with dependencies, i'm able to place all kinds of HotS and LotV stuff - but will i actually be able to publish and play with these assets in my map?
- Next question would be, if i am able to publish and play with these assets, are there still any other limits i have to take into consideration, or can i just use everything to create and play a custom map?
- Third question builds up on the other ones somewhat... Are the arcade lobbies and player bases "global"? Like, are players owning LotV able to play custom games with WoL, but also will WoL players be able to play with LotV players? Obviously i don't want to create something that will then just rot away on the "WoL Battle.net" because everyone else is on the "LotV Battle.net", if you understand what i mean.
- Last question is just a side question, i've never been that great with the data editor, i knew my way around it to make some things work but in the end i had to go through lots of trial and error and in the end mostly scrapped things since i just couldn't figure it out. The question i'd like to be answered now is relativeley specific... Heroes have an appeal in every game, no matter how big or small of a hero they are - but almost every one of them has some abilities. How much did change in regards to heroes and abilities editor-wise and did someone yet release some kind of "ability library"? I've always wondered why noone took care of that, just creating the most basic abilities you'd know from WC3 or current MOBA's, and just putting them into a big library for the community to use.
Thanks for reading and possibly answering my questions :)
I'm just getting back into map editing like you, but I think I can answer the last question at least. The void campaign dependency already gives you almost all the abilities blizzard has ever used. There's thousands of data entries. Trying to organize those, plus gather the abilities other people have made, and make a map that lets you see them in action, would probably be on par with the work required to make a whole custom campaign.
If someone knows a better way to get abilities than copying the xml data from the abilities and effects entries of a map or mod that has what you want, I'd like to know too.
1) Yes, you can publish LotV assets without a LotV license. No word on whether this is a bug or not. I can only assume it isn't, given WoL, HotS and LotV are all standalone titles now.
2) Obvious rules apply. No religious references (at least, tasteless ones that get reported), no porn etc.
3) Yes.
4) Renee's wc3 mod has a lot of solid work done on wc3 style heroes.
I do have some personal thoughts on ability librarys though. I've considered releasing my ability library. It consists of every wc3 ability remade, but to my standards which are not the same as wc3 standards. I'm more open to imperfect copies for the sake of performance. I also don't like armor as a mechanic.
It contains;
The mod removes almost all data work. Adding a hero is as simple as taking a hero template and positioning the desired abilities on it's command card. A second step is required to add these abilities to the hero's learn ability, if those abilities are levelable. Then that's it. Job done. All the animations and everything is done for you.
The downside is that there is some rigidity involved. If the user were to make a new ability or hero then it has to be formatted in a certain way. If I do publish it, then it'd have to come with a comprehensive guide.
@TyaArcade: Go
You are the real mvp :)
This is not a bug, they announced this, but it got buried with a bunch of other things at the time. You need ONLY own ONE expansion to have access to ALL assets and publishing rights.
Search for "Good news for Modders" in the following article
Standalone Announcements
Thanks for the answers gus, helps me out a lot.
@TyaArcade: Go
This sounds pretty amazing, can't wait to see this released! :)
wol has access to the data, however players might need to switch to wol in bnet2, no?
Don't mind me.
@houndofbaskerville: Go
Nope, ever since Arcade went F2P, you didn't need to own anything to play anything in the Arcade.
TYya, i am waiting for your library of abilities to release before i bother working on another map. You will save me much time. I will be happy enough to wait for that tbh.