Heroes of Starcraft originally was my discussion plan on how I would approach making each map type. What I've discovered was that I consistently wanted hero variations or sub-factions. Some of the map types include:
- Tower Defense
- tug of war map
- Zombie survival - be the zombie
- Melee map mod
- Mission objective - like CO-OP command maps
- Campaign Story - Mass Effect + Starfox game style
Here are some on the spot rambling about the map type ideas:
Tower Defense
Most Tower defense maps has no race selection. In my map, I would enable race selection and have 3 sets of towers to choose from. I'm thinking a semi co-op type tower defense map instead of separate islands. Maybe one giant island that is initially separated by mountain range, river, but as the game progresses, players can unlock tunnels, bridges that allow for minions to pass through other players lanes. This can help alleviate pressure by making enemies go through additional roads through other players before the enemy gets to the end. How about a map where it encourages race diversity; Towers of different race that synergies. (like a zerg tower that poisons, a protoss tower that slows, and a terran tower that damages). Or even unlock towers if 2 towers of different race are close proximity. Maybe a unique "ultimate" ability that you press on each tower with cooldown of 1 minute.
Tug of War
Instead of just picking a race, you get to pick a subfaction. There would be 3 subfaction per race making a total of 9 armies to choose from. Each Subfaction in a race will similar but each get unique structures, units and even their own unique ultimate. As players play numerous matches, they will discover synergies. For example, if one team has Artanis Protoss and Alarak Protoss, they'd get to unlock Super Archons. If one team chooses Kerrigan Zerg and Raynor Raider Terran, then they get to unlock the Sons of Korhol with Terran Ghost Kerrigan units. Maybe have a dynamic terrain where different rocks when destroyed will yield additional minerals or unlock a neutral outpost.
Zombie survival - be the zombie
All the zombie maps are terran units trying to bunker down on an outpost. This map is inspired by Helms deep map on SC1 when playing as the orcs. you get to control mass units of different kinds of zombies. The lore would be - a virus outbreak which affected people in different geographical areas making different zombie tribes. You go rampage on a city. It would be like taking Grand Theft Auto V world map and shrinking it to 256x256 SC2 map. Each zombie tribe will have their own unique zombie hordes and tankers and creepers.
Melee map mod
I would simply create subfactions for each race and have them inherit unique structures, units and abilities. There are lots of fun like heptacraft and SCExpanded, but I myself would decide on the uniqueness of each subfaction. Since SC2 is inherently micro-intensive, balancing a new variety melee map would be impossible, instead this would be an ongoing balance effort catered to the bronze players of SC2.
Mission objective - like CO-OP command maps
This project was renamed to: SC2 generals. It was going to be another co-op series but free for everyone. I stopped working on it because I "Accidentally" bought lots of games during the Steam sale and now I'm trying to play them all. As far as balancing goes, it would be much more easier because... it would be nonexistent :P. I can create a level where you control Kerrigan and 1 hive and can only build drones and you must kill enemy base B and at point B. I would just have to tweak the AI enemy computer.
Campaign Story - Mass Effect + Starfox game style
Choose your own ending! Story: the REAPERS from the void are coming to consume the galaxy. Their mission is to restart the galaxy by purging intelligent living things. Players start off by choosing a sub-faction. Their on a rescue mission flying to different planets. As players save more people, they provide additional units and buildings and abilities. There will be base building levels, hero walking levels, defend levels, assault levels. Unfortunately, time is running out and the end battle is near. Players can only save so much. Each play through will create a unique army to go against the Void Reapers. Unlock additional skins for saving a combination of generals.
Heroes of Starcraft originally was my discussion plan on how I would approach making each map type. What I've discovered was that I consistently wanted hero variations or sub-factions. Some of the map types include:
- Tower Defense
- tug of war map
- Zombie survival - be the zombie
- Melee map mod
- Mission objective - like CO-OP command maps
- Campaign Story - Mass Effect + Starfox game style
Here are some on the spot rambling about the map type ideas:
Tower Defense
Most Tower defense maps has no race selection. In my map, I would enable race selection and have 3 sets of towers to choose from. I'm thinking a semi co-op type tower defense map instead of separate islands. Maybe one giant island that is initially separated by mountain range, river, but as the game progresses, players can unlock tunnels, bridges that allow for minions to pass through other players lanes. This can help alleviate pressure by making enemies go through additional roads through other players before the enemy gets to the end. How about a map where it encourages race diversity; Towers of different race that synergies. (like a zerg tower that poisons, a protoss tower that slows, and a terran tower that damages). Or even unlock towers if 2 towers of different race are close proximity. Maybe a unique "ultimate" ability that you press on each tower with cooldown of 1 minute.
Tug of War
Instead of just picking a race, you get to pick a subfaction. There would be 3 subfaction per race making a total of 9 armies to choose from. Each Subfaction in a race will similar but each get unique structures, units and even their own unique ultimate. As players play numerous matches, they will discover synergies. For example, if one team has Artanis Protoss and Alarak Protoss, they'd get to unlock Super Archons. If one team chooses Kerrigan Zerg and Raynor Raider Terran, then they get to unlock the Sons of Korhol with Terran Ghost Kerrigan units. Maybe have a dynamic terrain where different rocks when destroyed will yield additional minerals or unlock a neutral outpost.
Zombie survival - be the zombie
All the zombie maps are terran units trying to bunker down on an outpost. This map is inspired by Helms deep map on SC1 when playing as the orcs. you get to control mass units of different kinds of zombies. The lore would be - a virus outbreak which affected people in different geographical areas making different zombie tribes. You go rampage on a city. It would be like taking Grand Theft Auto V world map and shrinking it to 256x256 SC2 map. Each zombie tribe will have their own unique zombie hordes and tankers and creepers.
Melee map mod
I would simply create subfactions for each race and have them inherit unique structures, units and abilities. There are lots of fun like heptacraft and SCExpanded, but I myself would decide on the uniqueness of each subfaction. Since SC2 is inherently micro-intensive, balancing a new variety melee map would be impossible, instead this would be an ongoing balance effort catered to the bronze players of SC2.
Mission objective - like CO-OP command maps
This project was renamed to: SC2 generals. It was going to be another co-op series but free for everyone. I stopped working on it because I "Accidentally" bought lots of games during the Steam sale and now I'm trying to play them all. As far as balancing goes, it would be much more easier because... it would be nonexistent :P. I can create a level where you control Kerrigan and 1 hive and can only build drones and you must kill enemy base B and at point B. I would just have to tweak the AI enemy computer.
Campaign Story - Mass Effect + Starfox game style
Choose your own ending! Story: the REAPERS from the void are coming to consume the galaxy. Their mission is to restart the galaxy by purging intelligent living things. Players start off by choosing a sub-faction. Their on a rescue mission flying to different planets. As players save more people, they provide additional units and buildings and abilities. There will be base building levels, hero walking levels, defend levels, assault levels. Unfortunately, time is running out and the end battle is near. Players can only save so much. Each play through will create a unique army to go against the Void Reapers. Unlock additional skins for saving a combination of generals.
Here is how many games i have on Steam: