Staredit Network

I'm making a UMS for two reasons. A: I like micro maps and I have decent knowledge of how they work and B: 1com since more than 90% of UMS players I've met absolutly HATE melee and even if they didn't they'll only play 1 or 2 games and suddenly claim to know how the game works.

Anyway, onto my game...

The idea here is that each side gets 1 commander, 1 platoon of units that can be commanded only from the commanders panel (dropship) and 1 group of units to micro with. The goal of the game is to control the hill by bringing your commander to the hill (marked by psi emitters on the lower platform terrain) for a given amount of time (about 500 seconds).

There are 12 Levels of units to micro with in this game, Level 2 is the counter for Level 1 units, Level 3 is the counter for 3 and so on. When you lose your level 12 units you restart at Level 1.

You also get a platoon owned by a computer player, with which to send in various directions. There are 7 commands, all of which are activated by the droping a unit from the dropship. If your commander is dead, you cannot use these commands.
Take Center: Attack to Hill
Take Bridge: Attack to Bridge
Attack:Attack to enemy zone
Follow me: Attack to commander, wait 6 seconds, attack to commander, wait 6 seconds, attack to commander
Come Here: Move to commander
Defend Home: Attack to your zone
Retreat:Move to your zone

However, I have not yet done much with the platoon, you get a bunch of lings in the beggining and that's it. I intend to add to this later.

Purchasing Units is possible via your shuttle and droping the unit you want to buy. I havn't yet done anything for this, but I plan to make a HT, a DT and a Reaver purchasable.

Soon to come will be concise instructions in the briefing, as it is there are none.

As it is, it's pretty fun just to play as a micro map, with the twist that you have a higher objective than just getting the kill, and that standoffs are stratigically complex.

EDIT: I also plan to give the commander special abilities like mirror image (hallucinations) Teleport (obvious) etc

[attachmentid=9167]
I'd like you to try it if you have the chance.

For those of you who think this game is just about attack moving to the center and watching sprites duke it out, don't. Honestly, if you do that this game will be insanly boring, and you'll be beaton every time by a player who takes the time to control his units well. Some basic tips on micro: Concentrate fire, lure enemies into traps, move back injured troops, use spells, HOTKEY HOTKEY HOTKEY (set control groups)! Don't forget to hotkey your comstats, located in an almost impossible to miss spot.

It's not done yet, this is being made purly in the editor that came with StarCraft. If you're too lazy to try it, it's 2 players against each other.

I hope I covered everything, but I've probably forgotten a lot. Use trigger viewer if you like, everything is commented. Comments welcome, suggestions... not so much.

Thanks for reading,

PsychoTEMPlar

I play tested this with Psycho quite a few times. It was very fun and kept me wanting to play more. At the same time, you improve your micro.

No flaws in this game, and the balancing of units was done very well.

I recommend someone at least posts in this thread....

Just try and check it out.

ADDITION:
Why isnt anybody posting in this?

It definately deserves some recognition...

I am working on a micro/macro/strategy ums that can be played under the melee game type!! It's a normal map.


If you think these are fun, then by all means play them (and you guys obviuosly like them), but they don't help you in any way for playing normally. The scenarios are rarely realistic, and you don't have to worry about anything else besides micro. Real games require tons much more than that.

I'm not trying to bash your map; I'm sure it's fantastic as a micro-arena. But it shouldn't be used to teach people about the normal game, because it will give very false impressions.

I don't expect any UMSers to switch to melee, they simply won't. I think what Yenku meant was that it practices mouse speed and maybe even a few counters. It also forces a player to hotkey well and shift click etc... It'll only get more unrealistic as I add features but whatever, I'm just trying to make it fun.

Common guys, melee gamers post in your maps whenever you make something for the melee forum, I'd like to see something.

I actually think Micro maps help improve darn near everything in melee gameplay. They make you faster, you learn whats good against what, it helps on hotkey improvement, better use of terrain (some micro maps have terrain levels or w/e)

Yes thanks Wes and Psycho just what i was saying.

Lol, only the melee guys posed here... Why doesnt anybody else?

It's not a true micro game with the use of spells and platoons, but I suppose it gives the same flavour of it. I do like the sound of controlling a platoon of units, I'm assuming they're choosable? No upgrades or special abilities either? The thing is, the more complex you make this, the less Micro Arena it will become, and more like an "arenaish" type of map. It'll discourage micro, but for those who take the time to, will gain an advantage. Just make sure to make the user interface simple and friendly. Sounds great, I hope you can complete this!

EDIT: 300th post, now I can post attachments again =D

Better late than never =D They probably won't be choosable, they're meant to be used as fodder (in melee players commonly send less valuable units, such as zerglings before the important units, such as lurkers, so that the lurkers are able to do damage and won't die. I might allow cracklings to come into the platoon, but I'm not sure.

I know it won't be a pure micro map (hence micro esque), this is because I figured the UMS community wouldn't be familiar enough with micro to have fun. However, the current version is pretty much all micro, so you can give that a swing if you like. The user interface is quite simple =D

Thanks for the input,

Micro Arena and Uberena are pretty popular in the B.net and UMS communities though, as they mainly focus on micro also. But, they have heroes and special abilities, but the main focus of both maps are micro. They're very well accepted by the community. I'm going to play it soon, as I'm interested to see what's done so far and how it looks.

Good to know, I'll try to finish this up before next map night, tested for bugs already. I just need to find some time.

Screenshots?

sometimes when i'm bored i go over to the Asia server and play with the koreans. I don't understand them, they don't understand me, but goddamnit, they love me. Anyways, the only UMS games they play are micro maps, (TMA, the impossible scenarios) and sometimes defenses. So i think that micro maps are pretty much popular anywhere on starcraft.

Since it's based off melee, duh.

I like the sound of ordering around the computer-controlled platoon. Since I like micro-oriented maps like Uberena and TMA, I'll be sure to check this one out.

One reply attracts them all.

Nah, I saw this, but I was afraid that since I'm not a melee player, I wouldn't have too much to contribute to this thread.

Don't worry, all comments from people like you are welcome.
YOU WANT SCREENS?! YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE SCREENS!


ADDITION:
More...

Screen shots galore. (just finished playing it with psychotemplar)



Nonsense.

The terrain could add use some sprites or doodads, but for right now, it looks nice. It's simple, and I like how the hill is at a disadvantage since it's at lower terrain. Can you always see the hill? Will it feature a increasing unit system like Uberena where more kills = more men? Or is it like you get 1000 minerals which is enough for a big force? Is white and teal computers? Also, possible to pick time for King of Hill? So you can have short games or long games?

Round 2

Yes.

I've never played Uberena, but more kills=cash, you decide what you want to do with it.

Nope, you're rewarded for minimizing losses (the opponent doesn't get mins).

Yes.

Not yet, but I'm a cynical person and I believe people would manage to screw this up, I can release a second and third version if there is actually a demand.


EDIT: something dumb happened so I had to delete a copy of the entire first part of the message.

You should try uberena, its a fun micro map but its not too UMSy for my liking. it could be inspiring to you.

I prefer to restrict myself from looking at what other people have done (similar to what musicians do) until I have finished my own stuff. I will try to get it by Friday, but things are looking dismal right now... and I'm kind of depressed.

ADDITION:
PS: Someone want to make a comment on the Screens... ie the person who requested them. Do you think it's looking good or bad or what?

Yea, that took my 56k modem like 14 hours to upload. (jk)

ADDITION:
Yea, i know the topic is dead, but it was never really alive, and none of you actually said anything about it. Jeez, someone just say SOMETHING.