This topic is for discussion of map #1433: The Seige
(http://knucklecracker.com/creeperworld3/queryMaps.php?query=thumbnailid&id=1433)
Author: Hubs
Size: 110x75
Desc:
The humans have taken refuge inside a large fortress. Strike quickly and wipe out everything in your path. #PlayAsCreeper #CRPL
We are definitely becoming big fans of PAC maps. This one is challenging but not so hard that the wee prince wants to pass. Persistence definitely paid off.
How hard would it be for a lay mapmaker to get their hands wet on a PAC map?
Very enjoyable map (I'm starting to think it's more fun to play as the creeper than the humans) with a good challenge right up to the end. I found the main base surprisingly difficult to get into.
Spoiler
With PAC maps I normally find about a 60/40 mix of spores to emitters is the best approach but those beam towers on PZ's were so well defended that approach didn't work. In the end I went all emitter and with a couple not targeted. A single super emitter was used to draw the fire while the untargetted ones snuck around the back.
Quote from: thumbmaster on December 02, 2014, 11:54:07 PM
We are definitely becoming big fans of PAC maps. This one is challenging but not so hard that the wee prince wants to pass. Persistence definitely paid off.
How hard would it be for a lay mapmaker to get their hands wet on a PAC map?
Stewbasic did pretty much all of the work creating the controls, creeper units, and Abraxis (which is the AI that rebuilds stuff). The biggest difficulty is getting all of the cores to run the scripts properly. If you want to get started, let me know and I can walk you through the process. I've been talking with the other PAC map makers and we all agree that we should make a much easier way for more people to start making PAC maps. I'm going to try and work on creating a ready to go template map that people can download and work from.
Quote from: wobblycogs on December 03, 2014, 05:04:31 AM
Very enjoyable map (I'm starting to think it's more fun to play as the creeper than the humans) with a good challenge right up to the end. I found the main base surprisingly difficult to get into.
Glad you enjoyed! I took a long break from CW3 and came back to colonial space and PAC maps. I was amazed and couldn't help but make a few maps myself!
2 maps this fast? good [REDACTED. vw] job man
Quote from: Hubs on December 03, 2014, 07:14:47 AM
Stewbasic did pretty much all of the work creating the controls, creeper units, and Abraxis (which is the AI that rebuilds stuff). The biggest difficulty is getting all of the cores to run the scripts properly. If you want to get started, let me know and I can walk you through the process. I've been talking with the other PAC map makers and we all agree that we should make a much easier way for more people to start making PAC maps. I'm going to try and work on creating a ready to go template map that people can download and work from.
A template would be fantastic. I tried to muck around using another PAC map as a base and it did not end well. I was naive enough to think it's just a matter of dropping emitters here and there. 8)
But when I needed to put down the CNs, I was like, "doh!" And of course nothing worked as intended and ghost structures start popping up on screen. It was kind of amusing watching it all unfold though. But yes, template please! ;D
Dear Kaptain, my 6 year old (my map muse) sometimes reads these comments with me. I'd appreciate it very much if we keep the language PG. Thank you for your consideration!
I am having a very odd issue, my field tool has stopped working on all play as creeper maps. At first I could restart the level and after a few restarts it would work again and now it has packed up entirely.
I tried reinstalling the game and I have the latest update, anyone encountered this before? It is making these maps impossible for me and is very frustrating!
Love the maps by the way.
Quote from: thumbmaster on December 03, 2014, 08:14:56 AM
Quote from: Hubs on December 03, 2014, 07:14:47 AM
Stewbasic did pretty much all of the work creating the controls, creeper units, and Abraxis (which is the AI that rebuilds stuff). The biggest difficulty is getting all of the cores to run the scripts properly. If you want to get started, let me know and I can walk you through the process. I've been talking with the other PAC map makers and we all agree that we should make a much easier way for more people to start making PAC maps. I'm going to try and work on creating a ready to go template map that people can download and work from.
A template would be fantastic. I tried to muck around using another PAC map as a base and it did not end well. I was naive enough to think it's just a matter of dropping emitters here and there. 8)
But when I needed to put down the CNs, I was like, "doh!" And of course nothing worked as intended and ghost structures start popping up on screen. It was kind of amusing watching it all unfold though. But yes, template please! ;D
Dear Kaptain, my 6 year old (my map muse) sometimes reads these comments with me. I'd appreciate it very much if we keep the language PG. Thank you for your consideration!
hey dude, and little dude 8)
i've posted a new thread here
http://knucklecracker.com/forums/index.php?topic=17566.0
it's got the basics for how to get PAC maps going from another map, and i hope it'll help speed the development of the PAC scripts a bit.
hubs i suggested the template before i saw you post here, sorry dude, not trying to steal your thunder ::) i was late to this party it seems! :D
could you attach it to a post or get it to me and i'll hook it to the first post on the PAC thread i linked to here?
Quote from: thumbmaster on December 03, 2014, 08:14:56 AM
Quote from: Hubs on December 03, 2014, 07:14:47 AM
Stewbasic did pretty much all of the work creating the controls, creeper units, and Abraxis (which is the AI that rebuilds stuff). The biggest difficulty is getting all of the cores to run the scripts properly. If you want to get started, let me know and I can walk you through the process. I've been talking with the other PAC map makers and we all agree that we should make a much easier way for more people to start making PAC maps. I'm going to try and work on creating a ready to go template map that people can download and work from.
A template would be fantastic. I tried to muck around using another PAC map as a base and it did not end well. I was naive enough to think it's just a matter of dropping emitters here and there. 8)
But when I needed to put down the CNs, I was like, "doh!" And of course nothing worked as intended and ghost structures start popping up on screen. It was kind of amusing watching it all unfold though. But yes, template please! ;D
Dear Kaptain, my 6 year old (my map muse) sometimes reads these comments with me. I'd appreciate it very much if we keep the language PG. Thank you for your consideration!
I had the exact same experience when I first tried. Delete all the units and hit play. All of them started piping up everywhere haha. I made some great progress on the human ai which is the trickiest part of the crpl.
Tek, thanks for starting that thread. I hope we can start seeing a bunch of new PAC maps soon!
Quote from: Hubs on December 03, 2014, 06:49:39 PM
Tek, thanks for starting that thread. I hope we can start seeing a bunch of new PAC maps soon!
no worries, me too on the more PAC maps dude! 8)
Quote from: wobblycogs on December 03, 2014, 05:04:31 AM
Very enjoyable map (I'm starting to think it's more fun to play as the creeper than the humans) with a good challenge right up to the end. I found the main base surprisingly difficult to get into.
Spoiler
With PAC maps I normally find about a 60/40 mix of spores to emitters is the best approach but those beam towers on PZ's were so well defended that approach didn't work. In the end I went all emitter and with a couple not targeted. A single super emitter was used to draw the fire while the untargetted ones snuck around the back.
Yeah, the PZ beams stop anything you can throw their way. I hit with two groups, one on each side.
Quote from: D0m0nik on December 03, 2014, 10:26:43 AM
I am having a very odd issue, my field tool has stopped working on all play as creeper maps. At first I could restart the level and after a few restarts it would work again and now it has packed up entirely.
I tried reinstalling the game and I have the latest update, anyone encountered this before? It is making these maps impossible for me and is very frustrating!
Love the maps by the way.
just checking, you do have some blue ringed totems yes?
Quote from: teknotiss on December 04, 2014, 11:33:31 AM
just checking, you do have some blue ringed totems yes?
It could also be that the berthas hit too close to the totems to temporarily knock them offline. That's happened to me plenty of times. I've come to rely on a little trick when I'm not busy brute-forcing with digitalis.
Spoiler
I have found that when you have captured a sizable tract of land and you want to work with spores without the berthas getting in your way, you can focus all your creeper on a distant emitter (T key). That way the berthas are all drawn to it and you can do your work in peace until you need to do a digitalis push again.
I might have named the tool wrong, I mean the green arrow, push tool, I thought it was called field but may be push or something.
Quote from: D0m0nik on December 04, 2014, 02:50:12 PM
I might have named the tool wrong, I mean the green arrow, push tool, I thought it was called field but may be push or something.
Yes that is the field tool. Once you capture at least one totem, you can use the field as kind of a Jedi Force push on the creeper. The more totems you have, the more powerful the field. I find that it works best if you start a field from a deep pool of creeper, pointing to the target.
I almost always have my fields start just behind an emitter and point it toward the direction I'm trying to go. That way I can push most of the new creeper being created. Also if a Bertha hits where I'm pushing from. I'll pause the game, then set the field to pull from an area with creeper until my emitter builds up again.
Thank you thumbmaster, I had not made the totem connection!
Quote from: D0m0nik on December 05, 2014, 12:21:44 PM
Thank you thumbmaster, I had not made the totem connection!
You're most welcome. In these PAC maps, part of the fun in the early game is to strategize where to focus your limited resources (since you usually start with one emitter): taking over PZs or capturing totems. Some maps give you a clear path. Others forces you to make a hard choice. PAC maps are very addicting. :P