Custom Map #1435: Ep 1: Assault (Harder version). By: Ankheg

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This topic is for discussion of map #1435: Ep 1: Assault (Harder version)


Author: Ankheg
Size: 320x200

[Niflthaena]

Dang, that's good. Definitely feels like the player, their base, and the terrain all matter - it takes focus on all to make any major progress.
The asymmetry in combat is good; the west and east provide quite different challenges. The terrain could be more finely tuned with the challenges in question, but that's sort of how it goes when adding difficulty levels to existing spaces.

I especially liked the new patches of breeder terrain in the throne room; they were hard to take, harder to hold, but very necessary in order to confront the emitter itself. They give off a great vibe, like the royal guards defending their king.

[AgRecluse]

The additional blue breeder definitely adds difficulty without letting the AC snowball like it does in the easier version. I like this remake! And the inside of the fort was much more interesting! It's like a proper boss battle  8)

[helmetflakes]

Phew that was tough! Great map and a real challenge especially to get enough ground for energy at the start before the crimson comes and kills you. Nice one

[Karzon]

Harder than the original without ever feeling like a slog.  Very nice.

[AgRecluse]

I had to come back after playing it a few more times. Yeah. Oh, yeah. This is a good map  8)

[heritor]

It's amazing how making some (relatively) minor adjustments can make something feel like a whole new map.
Very much enjoyed.

[hbarudi]

Any walkthrough for this map? I could not even defend the lab itself from the creeper...

[Ankheg]

Any walkthrough for this map? I could not even defend the lab itself from the creeper...

Here's a bit of help for the early game anyhow:

Spoiler

I see you have a completed time on the easier version, so you should be familiar with the basics.  For those of you reading this who aren't, start with the easier version of the map first and read the ADA messages.

I'd say start by spending your initial points (pause it, you don't want to waste a bunch of time doing nothing).  Your first priority is to get the ghosts that start out visible up and running and to keep them safe.  Don't shoot the pools of creep too much, instead use your fabricator (weapon 4) to get those running and a little AC on the ground (weapon 3) to gently push the creep back a bit.  Getting those first couple towers up is important because the energy buffs your attacks.  The creep nearest the rift lab will be covering a couple towers and a cannon that you probably also want to get up.

After that move north-east a little towards the two circular silos.  The AI will want to build a lot of weapons in there (this is mentioned in the ADA messages).  Alternate between keeping the creep back with guns and laying down anti-creep, and helping them build with your fabricator.  You may need to help out the units up by your rift lab once or twice too, a little anti-creep or weapons fire should do the trick.  Then after the cluster of weapons in front of the silos are running, clear out the anti-creep breeder nearby and give it some anti-creep.

Then pick a direction and start exploring.  The AI in some areas will hold the line without your help but some won't so don't expect to just be able to abandon an area and have it hold indefinitely.  While you push out one side keep an eye on your base to make sure it's not being overrun, then after you have pushed that out to a place you think can hold without your help push the other side out.

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