Custom Map #765: Solar Envy. By: Decagon

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This topic is for discussion of map #765: Solar Envy


Author: Decagon
Size: 280x280

Desc:
Whilst seeming benign at first, the asteroid belt destined to house the rejuvenating fleet holds a dark and ancient secret. Massive ship. Play at your own risk.

[ChaosMaster130]

OK I'll admit. I really can't wait for Virgil to finish the custom character portraits update, because I can not for the life of me tell all the different characters you made apart.
Pretty sweet map otherwise.

Spoiler

I actually was on my way to finish the map before the mega ship showed up  :o

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[Keeper Decagon]

OK I'll admit. I really can't wait for Virgil to finish the custom character portraits update, because I can not for the life of me tell all the different characters you made apart.
Pretty sweet map otherwise.

Spoiler

I actually was on my way to finish the map before the mega ship showed up  :o

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I agree. Having all of the characters layered within a single, unidentifiable portrait doesn't help much to distinguish them clearly. Unfortunately, since we have no idea when such an update will come, this is the best I can do I'm afraid.

Also, naturally some people are going to be faster than my timed designs, since I'm not that brilliant a PF player and I base much of my map design around my own capabilities.

[GoodMorning]

Actually, there is some possibly another light on the conversational horizon. In CRPL, planetfall recreated the conversation system in order to let the player review explanations of the scripting used. This might well be able to be ported to PRPL. It would be somewhat less convenient to write the conversations, but would (probably) allow custom art to be used.

[Johnny Haywire]

Well I for one am impressed by these maps - I've enjoyed getting introduced to PF by playing Decagon's series and I think I probably liked the ships - especially playing on different sides of battles - even better than the original series. Great work dude, and I hope you keep it up!

On this map, I actually was disappointed when the Flare showed up. I was looking forward to tackling the map solo, even at my slow and steady still-learning-the-game pace. But I think it helped the storyline, so I get that.

Great series, m8!  ;D ;D

[Keeper Decagon]

Well I for one am impressed by these maps - I've enjoyed getting introduced to PF by playing Decagon's series and I think I probably liked the ships - especially playing on different sides of battles - even better than the original series. Great work dude, and I hope you keep it up!

On this map, I actually was disappointed when the Flare showed up. I was looking forward to tackling the map solo, even at my slow and steady still-learning-the-game pace. But I think it helped the storyline, so I get that.

Great series, m8!  ;D ;D

I'm glad you enjoy my maps! It really helps my motivation to know that people like my work, so thanks!

Spoiler

Also, that ship that spawns in is actually not the Flare, but the Cobalt instead. You will notice that is significantly different than its larger counterpart, and is more aggressively battle-oriented than the Flare is. It might make more appearances later on in the series, alongside one final Titan-form that belongs to another Crystallid, which is going to be different again.

And I'll probably make them player-controlled next time, rather than AI. However, that stage is setting up for the final parts of the main "campaign" of my series, and won't see the light of day for a long while yet.

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[tornado]

well that was....entertaining. It seems really difficult at first, but then beomes very easy(Not that I'm complaining). I already await whatever comes next.

[GoodMorning]

I do not understand why or how Envy remains here after so long, or how she remained sane.

I am also surprised to learn of the habitual forms of the Crystallids - and that they have use for gendered pronouns.

However, uncontrolled Rift jumps can have unforseen consequences - which I might discuss with you elsewhere. Suffice to say I like the idea of lore crossovers, similar to yours with DA.

Spoiler

Cobalt seemed to have the least reason for such action - having an experience secondhand from Emerald or Placid.

[close]

Finally, at the point that the dialogue triggered, there was not a Starfire on the map.

Very good maps, though I am regularly finding myself at the energy-balace point (i.e. about to attack in earnest, rather than chip ooff territory) when your amplified ships appear.

[Keeper Decagon]

I do not understand why or how Envy remains here after so long, or how she remained sane.

Crystallids are generally pretty resilient; in this case, the Hydraxil installation was designed to keep Envy alive as much as it was to torture them. There is an additional element to it, however, since Envy is First Born and has a much stronger will than the average Crystallid, something the Collective was trying to break, albeit somewhat unsuccessfully.

I am also surprised to learn of the habitual forms of the Crystallids - and that they have use for gendered pronouns.

The Crystallids, after having spent a long time alongside terrestrial species throughout the ages, had adopted these simple gendered pronouns originally to make their race easier to understand for the others. Eventually, through extended interaction with other species, it simply became the norm for the Crystallids to claim these 'genders', despite their true nature being far more complex.

And besides, I'd say it makes it easier for the players of my maps to identify the characters.

However, uncontrolled Rift jumps can have unforseen consequences - which I might discuss with you elsewhere. Suffice to say I like the idea of lore crossovers, similar to yours with DA.

Well, there's more on the way for this crossover, which you may or may not see soon!

Spoiler

Cobalt seemed to have the least reason for such action - having an experience secondhand from Emerald or Placid.

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Spoiler

True, it would seem that way, but even a second-hand experience can be just as powerful, especially considering its nature. Cobalt is a conflicted character however, with dark emotions lurking beneath his steadfast exterior, and is not something he can necessarily control. This pool of hate within him, which I should add is wholly uncharacteristic of Crystallids in general, was spawned when he made contact with the fragment of a Creeper Nexus long ago. It channeled the hate for the Universe, the desire for nothingness, into his soul to the point where the Loki could even control him, should they be so inclined. The backdoor into his mind was shut temporarily by Flare in the 144th CE during an encounter with another Creeper Nexus, but he still has the dark energy trapped within, just waiting for the Loki to access.

Point is, this hate can be triggered by emotional events such as these, and once it is, there is little anyone can do for him until he expends his energy.

[close]

Finally, at the point that the dialogue triggered, there was not a Starfire on the map.

I know, that's because they're all supposed to be on the Starfire during the mission. Let's just say it was floating elsewhere in deep space.

Very good maps, though I am regularly finding myself at the energy-balance point (i.e. about to attack in earnest, rather than chip ooff territory) when your amplified ships appear.

Indeed. Although for this map, having the Super-Capital was necessary for the story. This may or may not occur for future maps, I haven't decided.

[GoodMorning]

I favour an approach where good, fast play can lead to an early win, but for those struggling, help will arrive after a time.

Of course, this makes it tricky to keep continuity. I wonder if a little scripting could change the MISSION_END conversation at each timed event...

Spoiler

No wonder Placid was so intent on avoiding the dormant Nexus. "At all costs" seemed a very strong command at the time.

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[TripleKings]

Spoiler

No wonder Placid was so intent on avoiding the dormant Nexus. "At all costs" seemed a very strong command at the time.

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When was this? I don't remember.

[Dark Ambition]

Spoiler

No wonder Placid was so intent on avoiding the dormant Nexus. "At all costs" seemed a very strong command at the time.

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When was this? I don't remember.

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