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| Thread: ICTC8 -Judging Thread |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 5 · «PREV / NEXT» |
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 11, 2015 09:03 PM |
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First of all, I didn't expected me to get the 9th place. Nice 
It was all for fun, I don't do thinks to win. Also, it's a nice beggining for everything.
Another thing, I though that if I give scores from 1 to 20, it's like at school, from 1 to 10. Now, I knew that there were more scores so I had to give more umm... scores, maybe repeating.
Also, I was nice, because like in the normal competitions, there is the Good Guy (me), the Neutral Guy (Steyn) and the Bad Guy (Jiriki).
Actually, we mean by the scores.
Nice one, judges.
Congrats to PandaTar, and, yo, bro   !
When will the next ICTC (9) thread appear ?
I just wonder 
____________
What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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Gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted May 11, 2015 09:22 PM |
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Huh, tied for 3rd... shweet. Congratulations Panta_Tar, and the only thing I can really ask for now is feedback on the faction itself, perhaps as comments in the thread? That's how ICTC's have worked in the past, as far as I can tell.
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Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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PandaTar
Responsible
Legendary Hero
Celestial Heavens Mascot
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posted May 11, 2015 09:35 PM |
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Thank you.
Yeah, some feedback would be good. Perhaps now that it has ended, we could actually have permission to finish this and that. Perhaps that would make it clearer why some things were added, in first place, and give a better understanding.
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"Okay. Look. We both said a lot of things that you're going to regret. But I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster."
GlaDOS – Portal 2
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Storm-Giant
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
On the Other Side!
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posted May 11, 2015 10:20 PM |
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Remind me to put this on the news...
Congratz to the winners!
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DagothGares
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
No gods or kings
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posted May 11, 2015 10:25 PM |
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I got permissions to post the things I judged, so here goes. Nothing personal if I put something mean here and there.
5/10 = you made something that works
6/10 = you made something that works that isn't bad
7+/10 = you made something I consider at least decent.
Hive: Unfinished zerg race
Gameplay: no gameplay, except for boring stat boosts.
0/10
Ambience: 1/10, you had a vision, but it's so unfinished I can only give one point for effort.
Background: 5/10, you have it all thought, but it doesn't interest me or give me an idea what it's about.
Total: 7/30
Wanderers: too much stuff, mostly unfinished stuff.
Gameplay: Random randomr random random and passive abilities that trigger randomly, absolutely infuriating to play as and against. It is unique, but the only thing I ask myself when Isee it all is "why?" A unit that gives the army free town portal every turn is broken, a unit that allows yo to cast chai lightning in an enemy army without even being in combat is broken. 20% chance to ignore defense to deal max damage is broken and random. It may as well just sya: "when this unit attacks you have a 20% chance to win the fight."
2/10
Ambience: You have a vision that unites gameplay and background, but you don't take it in any interesting directions.
6/10
Background: You figured out a philosophy and a way it fits into the world. How would nomads have a town? How would heroes that aren't lead be heroes? It is functional, but it's a hard pill to swallow.
5/10
Total: 13/30
Inferno: Unfinished, but entirley functional, just not very original.
Gameplay: Units actually have interesting abilities beyond passive stat boosts. Though, again there are units that function entirely on the word random and there's too many units. Tighten your design. Learn to trim down your faction and take out the most important things.
5/10
Ambience: Gameplay and backstory are very cohesive, lots of damaging effects, status debuffs and spawning weak units. This fits inferno.
6/10
Background: Basically inferno faction with a lot of thought behind it. Not a very interesting story however.
5/10
Total: 16/10
Final word on articun: your word formatting and presentation is hideous and an eye sore. Improve this, because it makes it really hard to judge your faction fairly.
Hades: first finished faction.
Background: Interesting distinction between "Death as a concept: the faction" and necromancers that is interesting. Can imagine the town well.
7.5/10
Ambience: The creatures very much play like their appearance and role in mythology would suggest.
6.5/10
Gameplay: Cerberus, fate spinner and soulsucker are cool creatures with interesting abilities. The rest seem weak or very bland. The pit lord's ability is a cool idea, but it only results in boring stat boosts. It'd be interesting if the pool of souls could be used to cast spells or something.
7.5/10
Total = 21.5/30
Portal cores and retirement home: joke factions/10
Loft: Unfinished, but is nicely ordered with a roster
Background: Barely there, just a theme.
1/10
Ambience: You picked a theme and stuck to it.
2/10
Gameplay: There are some cool units, I like the harrier, the paradise bird and the Ziz.
5/10
Total: 8/30
Necromancer's Guild: hard to read faction.
Background: Almost there, but not quite understandable or functional.
4/10
Ambience: You had a vision, but it doesn't come quite together.
4/10
Gameplay: Unplayable, passive effects and nothing interesting going on.
1/10
Total: 9/30
Oblivion: Perfectly finished faction. Somewhat okay backstory, but absolutely excellent design.
Background: there is a long story that somewhat makes sense and functions as an origin story, but the concept doesn't go much beyond explaining why the faction exists. It works, but sadly there's nothing all too interesting or unique.
6.5/10
Ambience: You had a vision, you gave it a story, you dressed it up correctly and every unit and element of the story acts as a cohesive whole.
8/10
Gameplay: This one is really well done and thought out. Core and Elite have a shooter, there's two teleporters and a flyer at the higher tiers. The abilities are fun and interesting, consisting mostly of debuffs and allowing freedom to create cool combos without being broken at first glance. The heroes are fully fledged and the only thing that is disgusting is the propht's ability to take contorl of enemy stacks or make enemy stacks kill themselves. Most abilities are activated or produce a cool effect depending on unit movement or on attacks, rather than being very boring stat boosts. Best gameplay design I've seen so far.
9.5/10
Total: 24/30
Summit: Unfinished faction/10
Tribe: Unfinished faction/10
Oubliette: Unfinished faction/10
Forge: Unfinished faction/ 10
Free folk: functioning creature line-up, sadly no heroes or story.
Background: I get the general gist of what the faction is about, but not why it's a faction, rather than just a collection of neutral creatures. This needs more of a write-up.
3/10
Ambience: You had a vision and put it across entirely through your line-up.
6/10
Gameplay: It's up with the HOMM template of having two shooters, late game flyers, a fast creature and a tough walker. Only interesting units are Rokh or Stormborn, because of their special attacks and spells. I like the moneygrubber ability. All other effects are pretty boring passive or stat effects that don't effect strategy much. Could use some more polishing and thinking about mechanics.
6/10
Total: 15/30
Moors: needs some more polishing, but a basically finished faction.
Background: I like how this is "multiple races in one faction" is done. It explains all the relations well and offers some perspective as to how their army works and how they originate.
7/10
Ambience: This does feel like a swampy faction with some weird utility first, but when it becomes advanced and monsters are churned up from the depths, it starts to become very magical and threatening.
8/10
Design: Plenty of fun, tactical and activatable abilitie son each unit, nice unit diversity, sadly enough no heroes. Also "broken abilities that are balanced by random chance" are really annoying and hard to deal with. I'd like to avoid these types in the future. Some interesting interactions could be done, like sending a coatl inside a couple enemy stacks and then casting an aoe spell there for added damage. Phase shift, tether, brandish spear, intangibility and stampede are really cool abilities. I don't like death stare, typical "50% chance to outright win the fight" ability.
7.5/10
Total: 22.5/30
Ancient Shantiri: lot of words, little content.
Background: there's a lot of hocus pocus, but not much spicy or interesting stuff to it. It isn't even functional, I feel.
4/10
Ambience: You had a vision, but it is drowned in a lot of mumbo jumbo and boring abilities get mixed with strange creature along incomprehensible lore.
3/10
Gameplay: Virtually unplayable, unfinished.
2/10
Total 9/30
Polis: Big faction that is complete
Background: The background story works and is interesting and it explains the unit roster and has a Greek theme. I like it, except for one thing: too much stuff. You put in too much and don't actually come to a nice complete whole.
7/10
Ambience: Same as above really.
7/10
Gameplay: It works, there's a roster of units. the elementals are incredibly boring, most of them having elemental resistance and some weird damage aura or something and nothing else. try giving elemntals strange abilities relating to their elements next time. These units don't give much in terms of strategic options. The sphinx giving random skills is weird and doesn't end up in much. I like the fusion elemental and the hoplite and the sand elemental. Next time try to reduce the overall amount of creatures and heroes. it is simply too much.
7/10
Total: 21/30
Foundations: Disgusting amount to read, hard to find information, lots and lots of backstory.
Backstory: monstrously huge and thought out.
7.5/10
Ambience: Nice ambience, it all comes together, you had a big vision and you worke dit out entirely.
7/10
Gameplay: I can see how someone would really love the sheer size of this faction and make long character builds and ideal unit compositions, so that's a plus. The units look good too, but their design is hideous. Random is the main key word of most abilities that aren't very balanced. Attacks that completely ignore defense are ridiculously broken. Most abilities are passive "occasionally this unit is stupid strong" or passive stat or damage boosts.
6/10
Total:
20.5/30
Conflux: well organised huge faction
Background: Ridiculously long and flavorful. Faction origin story is functional and the creatures are very varied and flavourful.
7.5/10
Ambience: The story and the design go hand in head by having all these mystical creatures cooperate without it just looking like a bunch of cobbled together units.
9/10
Gameplay: These elementals are done right. They have nice tactical and flavorful abilities that fit their element. Most units have special abilities that make them function uniquely on the battlefield and require tactical decisions. The only problem is that there's too many units. There's 9 base units and some of them have two or more upgrades. It allows for specialisation, but this variety is simply much too large to get a nice cohesive whole.
7.5/10
Total: 24/30
Bastion: long walls of text, mechanics usually random effects, okay story
Background: pretty well thought out, relations with other factions pretty cool. Units blend together nicely.
7/10
Ambience: Cohesive theme, lots of poison and covert things works well together with these swamp dwellers.
8/10
Gameplay: random random random random random. These small random chances to be strong units is disgusting and nigh unplayable. There are however some cool abilities: predating, swarm, camouflage, long tongue, multi-headed, toxic glands, hunger and dig. These random effects tend to also be boring stat boosts or chanceds to do extra damage. The units also have no counterplay to applying their poison, since most of them do it automatically. there is also no unit that synergises well with the mechanic.
6.5/10
Total: 21.5/30
____________
If you have any more questions, go to Dagoth Cares.
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Jiriki9
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Altar Dweller
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posted May 11, 2015 10:25 PM |
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Feedback will come, I already have it, jsut have to sort it and I will definitely put it online! Just will need a couple of days or so to find time for that.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted May 12, 2015 04:07 AM |
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Edited by Fauch at 04:30, 12 May 2015.
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got a decent score I see
looks like husham really liked my faction
Quote:
Gameplay: Cerberus, fate spinner and soulsucker are cool creatures with interesting abilities. The rest seem weak or very bland. The pit lord's ability is a cool idea, but it only results in boring stat boosts. It'd be interesting if the pool of souls could be used to cast spells or something.
7.5/10
well, elite and champion units were supposed to have more interesting abilities than cores.
I thought that exclusive spells as racial ability had been done quite a bit. you also have the choice to increase creature growth. actually at first the racial was focused on the castle, and allowed you to use the souls not only to buy more units but also to build for free.
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Articun
Supreme Hero
As i dream, so shall it be!
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posted May 12, 2015 10:25 AM |
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@DagothGares
Wow man!!! U strict as hell 
But still, your input is very appreciated. I have to apologise for Infero as it was actualy made in a rush and i meant to edit it to be somewhat better but then PhD got the best of me and all the energy was spend on hours of experiments...
As for the abilities of units, i know random could be a bit difficult to play with or against but i wanted something different for Refugee/Wanderers, something that could give them a unique feel as individuals and as a whole. Maybe i needed to see it through more. Next time perhaps!
As for the unimaginative abilities, i do think i overdid myself with Inferno, Wanderers, Bastion being worked at the same time in a 5/5/3 format and Hive being in the grand scheme as well.
All in all though, i will take your input for the next entry i make Thnx
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted May 12, 2015 05:09 PM |
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I think I gain 2 ranks with dagoth scores
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husham123
Famous Hero
Yes
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posted May 12, 2015 09:03 PM |
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Dragoth. Why were you disqualified not participing ?
Come on man, let's have fun 
____________
What the darn-diddily-doodily did you just say about me, you little witcharooney? I’ll have you know I graduated top of my class at Springfield Bible College, and I’ve been involved in numerous secret
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DagothGares
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
No gods or kings
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posted May 12, 2015 09:29 PM |
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Jiriki did all the heavy lifting already and like the winners were already declared when I was finished, so I fully agree my scoring can be left right out.
@ Fauch: yeah, but like core units in heroes games can have interesting abilities, making them all distinct from other core units.
And I feel I was harsh but fair. I wouldn't give myself a score higher than 10/30, I think.
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If you have any more questions, go to Dagoth Cares.
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Gnomes2169
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Duke of the Glade
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posted May 12, 2015 11:07 PM |
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Buahaha! And that, my friends, is why you spend most of your time on the creatures themselves and procrastinate on the faction background until the last moment.
No, don't do that, I should have worked so much harder on the background than I did. Ugh, there was so much more to do and so much editing I could have done to make it more cohesive and compelling...
But hey, tied for first by GD's standards... I count that as a win
____________
Yeah in the 18th century, two inventions suggested a method of measurement. One won and the other stayed in America.
-Ghost destroying Fred
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Articun
Supreme Hero
As i dream, so shall it be!
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posted May 13, 2015 10:37 AM |
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Now i am more hyped up to try my factions again and finish them as Version2
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PandaTar
Responsible
Legendary Hero
Celestial Heavens Mascot
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posted May 13, 2015 04:13 PM |
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I would give it a try to other two faction ideas: Totem and Canyon.
____________
"Okay. Look. We both said a lot of things that you're going to regret. But I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster."
GlaDOS – Portal 2
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Jiriki9
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Altar Dweller
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posted May 17, 2015 11:22 AM |
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So, finally, here come the reasons of the judging, faction sorted alphabetically by the first letter of the creator's nick:
Note 1: Husham sent me reasons for all scores, but I accidentally deleted the message with the reasons for Portal Cores, Wanderers and Loft. He will certainly be so kind to send them to me again very soon, and then I will add them here. I hope neither husham nor the creators of these towns are angry with me for still posting this now, it has been overdue for days now!
Note 2: I myself had the scores included in my feedback, hope it's ok I did not change that now.
Articun - Hive
Husham:
Same as The Guild Town. More things needed to get a higher point 
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Nearly no information. 0 points
Background: Quite a bit broad background, but little about the faction itself and that very much what you expect from a swarm faction. 1 point for the work put into that.
Ambiance: Hard to say, as not much is there that could be ambient. It seems to feel like a typical swarm-faction. point for the feel of coherence with Ashan created through the bg.
Total: 2 points for the largely unfinished attempt.
Steyn:
It has a really extensive, albeit strange, back story. Unfortunately the line-up and unit descriptions are missing.
Articun - Inferno
Husham:
Not pretty original, but I guess is a fine town. The gameplay would be as normal, classic as Inferno town which is a normal town in HoMM usual.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Still missing much, giving only an almost-done lineup, which is flawed in quite some ways. Many details like abilities are unclear. Quite some abilities seem a bit unbalanced as well. No clear information on unit stats are given. Elite is actually a 3 out of 6, not 3 out of 5, and what are the ~cubus’ upgrades names? The lineup is a good combination of original and classic units, though. 4 points for a well-done lineup with some flaws.
Background: Only little overall background given, though that is done in a way that certainly gives one a feeling what inferno is about. Could have been more, though. A lot of nice background for the creatures, though sometimes I think I spotted a few logical flaws. A bit background for the hero classes would have come in handy. Not mentioning the whole bunch of other things that could have been done. 2 points for the backstory and adding a bit of depths to the creatures.
Ambiance: Ambience certainly is the strong point here. Even unfinished, this faction manages to get a certain feeling transported. The music theme chosen certainly helps here. The images seem to fit the creatures. The lineup feels fitting together. The background mostly works together with the units as well, but some abilities feel a bit off the creatures. The town screen only brings a basic feeling, architecture information would have been MUCH appreciated as it may be wholly different than before now they dwell in Ashan completely. 5 points for the chaotic, demonic feeling I got when reading this faction.
Total: 11 points for a not really finished faction with a great feeling to it.
Steyn:
Looks good. Still do not like the escape of Urgash, but that’s my personal opinion. The horned demons are imo too similar to the ravagers, but the rest of the line-up looks really nice. I like the idea of making demons perversions of some elements.
Articun - Wanderers
Husham: ???
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Well, hard to judge. The lineup seems simply great and the faction abilities are awesome but still not much strength/weakness info and many creatures still lack abilities as well. And no further gameplay info as well. 4 for a lineup that seems very promising, but would need to at least be complete with abilities for higher scores.
Background: The background could be a bit more, although it is well done and seems internally logical. 3 points for little, but nicely given background and solidly creative backstory for faction and units alike.
Ambiance: Well, this quite exceeds the awesomeness of Inferno, even. The pics seemingly do exactly what pictures in a faction proposal should do: give you enough information to be able to imagine the creature but leave open enough so you are not focused on them. Great song and a good, whole feeling to the faction, and that aside it being a faction with a freedom-theme, which generally is hard to make feel “belonging together”. Only the sphinx feels a bit off for me. 7 points for simply great ambience-creation.
Total: 14 points for an incomplete faction which literally felt like fresh air and still maintained basic classical elements of a freedom-air-faction.
Steyn:
Three humanoid mages seem a little too much to me. Especially because two of them are very similar to your hero classes. Same goes for the marauder unit, which also shares his name with a hero class. You have too many humanoids imo, which might be an effect of the 5/5/3 system you imposed on yourself. I would personally go with a 4/4/2 system, because this is far easier to fill.
DagothGares - The Guild
Husham:
Was this town abandoned? Anyway, the Heroes and Line-ups seemed nice, but I have to be realistic, it does deserve more info and attention for a bigger score.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Only a little information given, sadly. The ideas are very much to my liking and some concepts feel very fresh and creative to me, especially the thing with the difference between upgrade and unupgraded unit. The unit abilities are done in a good way as well. The special abilities are solid, but quite less creative imo. 2 for little, but great, information.
Background: Well, a solid background for the faction is delivered, as well for the existing parts. Not overly creative, though. 2 points for a fun-to-read description of a quite typical mercenary-gain-faction.
Ambiance: Now this is interesting. I personally find it hard to look at ambience with so little information but it feels quite interesting to me. Issue with such factions always is that units might feel a bit patched together, but it is not so bad here. 3 points for an interesting ambience in the core units.
Total: 7 points for a very promising, but also very incomplete faction.
Steyn:
A really interesting start. Shame the unit descriptions are unfinished/removed. I really like the use of economic/utility buildings for training or upgrading the core units. Also the idea of two completely different play styles seems to work quite well.
Darkem - tba
Husham:
Only a pic, and the title. THE WORST, or wait... wasn't Tribe Town too ?
Jiriki:
0 points for no information at all.
Steyn:
Not even started.
Fauch - Hades
Husham:
Yes, yes... A pretty nice to have in game think. A combination of Inferno from Heroes 3, the Tower from Heroes 3, and the Necropolis from Heroes 3, with some additional info. Also, I know it doesn't have that much text, or screens, but seemed pretty interesting for me. Some other towns weren't that nice.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: A solid lineup with some creative unit meshup and an interesting collection of abilities. Stat infos are little but seem reasonable. The town seems solid. Would have liked one unique dwelling doing something else than racial-increase. Racial is okay, but not overly creative. 5 points for a solid, but not outstanding gameplay.
Background: A solid background for this non-evil all-hated semi-undead faction. I like the general idea, it does not lack creativity. It could have been mentioned on which world the Hades shall be. It may have been not done out of purpose, but then THAT should have been mentioned imo. 2 points for a solid background, which could use a bit more depth.
Ambiance: Indifferent. The town screen infos look a bit empty, though that is explained. I miss a grim reaper as champion, which to me is an ambience issue, especially since the fate spinner seems off to me in this faction. The names are fitting. Hero class and racial are fitting with the other informations. 4 points for an interesting ambiance which binds the gameplay elements well for the concept but still feels a bit hard to blend into an homm-game.
Steyn:
Nice back story and good line-up. The only unit I dislike is the soulsucker. Its description is very vague and it hardly has any backstory. Also the necromancy ability might be a bit OP.
Geny - Portal Cores
Husham:
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Whilst there are some strange things (due to the concept) there are also some VERY creative game mechanics. I’d actually love to play the faction just to see how the core-body concept works out. I miss the town here, especially, because it would have been nice to see how you designed it. But heroes and Racial are very nice as well, so… 7 points for a really interesting and creative concept, missing the maximum only because of the missing town and a few issues I have about balance.
Background: While the background is fun to read, and the general story has a certain inner logic, it is also very clichéd and on quite osm eof the units, the logic is …non-existent. That adds to the fun factor (coming in on ambience) but takes from the background. I would also have loved to get faction relations, maybe because of secret research already done…I would really like to have seen how the cores like whom. 2 points for a cliché background and fun but absurd units.
Ambiance: The faction blends together surprisingly well. It is really fun to read and surprisingly imaginable, all adding to ambiance. The droid pictures, while adding to the general feeling of the faction, fail to produce images of units in me, sadly. 6 point on ambiance for the fun and the coherence of this approach.
Total: 15 points for the weirdest and greatest fun faction I saw so far.
Steyn:
Don’t know very well how to judge this entry. For me it misses a heroes feel. I don’t like the SF style of Forge, and this is even more SF. Still it is a funny idea and you clearly made an effort to develop this system.
Geny - Retirement Home
Husham:
Yes, very nice! But couldn't beat the other ones high. Still, even if I already gave that score (17), it deserves this too.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Gameplaywise, this is rather imbalanced, and quite a bit ridiculous. The ideas are interesting and creative but – other than those of the portal cores – I can hardly imagine them in a HoMM-game. The town seems quite reasonable. The lacking of a racial is explained and the heroes seem fun and fitting as well. Thus 4 points for a creative, but hardly playable faction
Background: Quite a funny background, but fun goes to ambiance. It Is not 100% logical, but not entirely illogical as well. The units are…well un-hommish and I must say that reduced points. The hero backgrounds are interesting and, in the setting, informative and fun. 3 points for a ridiculous, but internally good background.
Ambiance: Absurd and ridiculous – and funny. And that adds to the ambiance. A problem is that is so … wrapped together that no coherent feeling is there. 3 points for the fun, but no more because it does not REALLY get through to me.
Total: 10 points for a really funny approach which could use more playability and coherence.
Steyn:
High fun factor. However most of these guys don’t look retired
Gnomes2169 - Oblivion
Husham:
Sorry that I couldn't give you a bigger score. But I am not sure you deserve it. I want you to PROOF you deserve a better score, because I KNOW you have a potential. Also, nice screens and texts.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Not an easy task here. The Lineup is great to me in matters of gameplay, the cursing/destructive abilities fitting very well. An issue is that the Champions feel a bit overmighty to me, especially the Duke of Pains Rebirth Stuff. The hero abilities look fitting and interesting. It is a bit sad that the town is not in the main post. 6 points for an elaborated, great, dark lineup and the corresponding heroes.
Background: The background story has a nice length and provides an interesting story, having captured me quickly. The backgrounds of Heroes and units seem good as well. I miss a description of the current society of oblivion, though, as well as faction relations. 4 points for an interesting, deep backstory, but for the top score there would have to be more about the current situation.
Ambiance: Well, the faction certainly blends together. It creates some nice vision in my head (with which the pics certainly help). 6 points for how oblivion feels and looks.
Total: 16 points for an interesting town with few things truly missing.
Steyn:
I find your lore a bit confusing, with a god that cannot create and then suddenly spawns legions of horrors. Also, why aren’t there any of those demons you speak of in the line-up? The blood lord feels out of place and as if it is stolen from necropolis, which I don’t like.
HiddenElephant - Loft
Husham:
???
Jiriki:
Gameplay: The gameplay aspects of this faction which are given have some flaws for me. First, the gameplay of this faction lacks creativity. The only creative thing is having an all-flyer faction which of course poses heavy balance issues. Many references (especially in the abilities) to the wiki, which of course means many pre-existing elements and also makes the faction less easy to read. Not much innovation about the buildings either. The spell lsit seems reasonable for H4-matters, but not perfect to my taste. More special spells would certainly have been nice. 3 points for quite some gameplay infos, which yet cannot convince me this faction would be interesting or fun to play.
Background: Well…very little here. And almost no explanations. 1 point for a little information being given on the heroes creatures and faction.
Ambiance: Honestly this faction fails to convince me. It is of course somehow “coherent”. But it simply lacks variety! Not much information provided that helps imagining creatures, heroes or town visually, either. 0 point for little to none ambiance in the way I envision it.
Total: 4 points for a faction that has quite some info, but feels very off and does not convince me at all.
Steyn:
The line-up feels quite unimaginative, consisting of 3 birds only differing in size, 2 magical birds and 3 birdlike humanoids. Also lacks back story.
Husham123 - Necromancer's Guild
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Well…I find it hard to judge. The gameplay infos could definitely have been given in a clearer way. And a bit more on the units in gameplay aspects would have been nice as well. The level and the creatures seem a bit out of place, the abilities are, as mentioned, quite unclear. I have not seen explanation how the chosing between holy and unholy gladiators works. Some ideas are really great, especially the Organic Reanimator. So 3 points for confusing gameplay infos and some nice ideas.
Background: Well it is given but it does not really convince me, although I AM very fond of the idea of good-bad faction meshups, and especially of Castle with Necropolis. But the tie to the Sandro campaign is a bit unclear, also there is much information missing – how do other factions react to them? What about the non-military stuff? What exactly IS the rebellion cult? 1 points for a bit of background given.
Ambiance: Well. I mentioned before I really do like the general idea of necro-castle mixing but in this case, it failed to convince me. It may partly be due to issues of presentation – this could definitely need more order in presentation and language. It is also that this only partly brings the feeling of a faction that is …whole. Which definitely is very difficult on such a faction! Maybe a bit more background informations would have helped here. Of the creatures, some I could not really imagine. So, 2 points for a very nice idea that would need more outlining and structure to be perceived as ambient by me.
Total: So, on the whole 6 points for a very weird faction based on a nice idea, but quite a bit messy.
Steyn:
I have no idea what this faction is about.
JeremiahEmo - Summit
Husham:
Oh, really !? Just the description and the line-ups? Bad.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Only the lineup given and without seeing more, I cannot give points for that.
Background: Well...a bit information there, at least. 1 point for the few words what the faction is about and WHERE it is.
Ambiance: Well…with so little info it is hard to speak of ambiance but I actually liked what I saw and would have liked it being outlined. 1 Point for catching my interest.
Total: 2 points for an interesting idea which was not further outworked.
Steyn:
Starts of interesting, but is really unfinished.
Kimarous - Oubliette
Husham:
Again a low-in-text-and-low-in-photos Town. Not nice 
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Well, hardly any information given. Not even the lineup complete and though some abilities are hinted at I will not give points for that.
Background: Quite the same on the background side. We get to know what it and a little crea backgrounds but not enough for points => 0 points.
Ambiance: Actually, the little information that is there managed to catch my interest and invoke strong pictures, so… 2 points for without much words getting over a kinda feeling of inquisiton.
Total: 2 points for a nice idea that remains far from completed.
Steyn:
By far not finished, but an interesting start.
leiah2 - The Moors
Husham:
Not bad at all. Original. Likefully. Not much to say about it, it didn't kicked it out that way 
Jiriki:
Gameplay: For gameplay we mainly get the lineup with quite some abilities. Some creatures get a bit few for my taste, though it may be more were originally planned. One could argue we get the hero classes – but we get no gameplay infos about them. The abilities seem nice, though, always fitting and some show creativity, though none was outstandingly original in my eyes. A thing I haven’t seen yet is a ranged fairy dragon. Also I really like it is a bit off the typical swamp faction, having much less reptiles and amphibians. Over all, 4 points for a creatively done lineup with solid abilities.
Background: Well, we do get some background information certainly. The story is not new, but solidly done. The merfolk is explained, though not 100% convincing for me. The creatures mostly have a bit of background info as well. More info on society, religion, town and heroes would have been nice. We also get the relations, though I would have liked more descriptions. 3 points for a solid faction backstory and creature infos.
Ambiance: Well, I am a bit split here. I find it really hard to blend the merfolk in, even with the description. Otherwise, I do like the ambience of the faction. A bit more on the look of the town and the heroes would of course have been nice as well. 4 points for an interesting swamp faction which somehow contains very oceanish creatures.
Total: 11 points for a solid faction of which I would really have liked to know more!
Steyn:
The lizardmen feel a bit out of place between all the more magical type of creatures. The rest looks really good.
LightAvatarX - Ancient Shantiri
Husham:
Nice pics. Not Bad, a bit good, and decent.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Well, sadly there is not much information at all and what is given is a tiny bit hard to read properly, making it harder to judge because I am quite unsure how exactly some abilities work. Still, I think it sad because there definitely are ideas I like – as I understand them – Especially the body-shooting thing which I interpret as dealing to damage to themselves which is resurrected at end of turn and which is quite creative. However, it still is little information, very little. 2 points for tiny, hard to read, bits of awesome-sounding gameplay aspects.
Background: Well, a short description of the Shantiri empire which I do not know much about and would like to know MUCH more…their lore, their religion, their society, and of course their relations. The creature backgrounds are certainly creative to me, though hard to read again, as well as not 100%ly clear to me in terms of inner logic. 1 point, mainly for the creature descriptions.
Ambiance: Well…the faction of course leaves much open, so it I hard to see how things work together. The three creatures certainly do, and look interesting, and as well fit to the townscreen/s, which give an awesome imagination, making hunger for more. However the language I cannot completely ignore here, and it frankly takes a point down. 2 points for the interesting ambiance the information that is there creates
Total: 5 points for a VERY interesting approach that sadly remains unfinished.
Steyn:
Unfinished and the core creatures don’t make much sense to me.
Mediczero - Forge
Husham:
Still in progress, eh? Well, then umm, let's just ignore it. It still have some decency though, so I gave it 3 points.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Well almost no information here. The lineup tells a tiny bit about the creatures, but not that much. 0 points because it just is not enough.
Background: Well, we get tiny scraps of information but that is all… 0 points for not enough infos again.
Ambiance: Well, again, it is hard justifying ambiance if nothing much is there that can be ambient…but I actually WILL give one point here, for the tiny scraps of information given and the faction concept actually look interesting to me and I think that fits here best. So 1 point for the interesting concept.
Total: Overall only 1 point for an interesting concept which remains but the ribs of a faction.
Steyn:
Where did everything go?
Minastir - Polis
Husham:
The Tessera/Polis drains my attention from the first when I saw it. From the screenshots updated manually, to the nice text, ideas,and it really IS interesting to have it in game. It is basically the most magic town, the most amazing project I ever saw. It REALLY deserves the first place, in my opinion.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Well, this is truly a great lineup in my eyes. A few more abilities could be there, concerning me, though. And of course, I miss town infos again. The faction ability of course fits and is solid, though not outstanding. 6 points mainly for a great lineup with some creativity in it.
Background: What I like here is that it does sound really logical to me, although it could have a tiny bit more depth. I also like that I get to know interesting bits about society and hierarchy in the polites. Biggest miss is relations again, and here I REALLY miss them because I would really like to know how they stand towards the other factions! 3 points for interesting background
Ambiance: Well, to me this town is awesome in terms of ambiance. The antique/Greek theme blends into the elemental town theme perfectly in this case, imo. The pictures are well-chosen and the song as well. I can really good imagine this faction, it feels whole, it feels nice and interesting…it gets 7 points, which is the maximum for ambiance!
Total: 16 points for a really great faction, that for full points would only have to be shaped out a bit further even.
Steyn:
Looks great. Several comments on the line-up though: Those storm elementals might be to strong for core tier with their chain-lightning. It seems strange to have leaders as core creature, where is the rest of the band? I would’ve gone with Phalanx -> hoplite. Overall your core seems a bit too strong and you have a lot of flyers and shooters. However, you did a really good job turning the conflux into a believable and well designed faction!
PandaTar - The Foundations
Husham:
Nice screens, nice texts. It deserves some attention. And also, the TONS of text applyed make it worth to be on the second place. In my opinion, it DOES deserve almost the most biggest score. It's just how (a merely participant) see how a nice town is made.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Now, here is a LOT of gameplay information – and not just that, it also looks very intriguing. Still, the mass made it a bit harder for me, but as I like and enjoy complex factions and gameplay, it does not take points. Still the only true issue I have is that it is MUCH changes and I did not think I grasped exactly how it works and am now wondering how homm-ish this can be. However, it is certainly great work, with awesome abilities, units, specials, concepts and all. I wonder how this whole ocean staff would balance out as well. 7 points for a jawdropping faction in gameplay terms, which would have got the top score – if I were certain I now know how it works.
Background: Also a lot given. …but no relations which is quite sad. The creature and hero backgrounds seem awesome. A bit more direct info on current society would be helpful likewise. 3 points for a more than solid background – which actually leaves still too much missing for higher scores.
Ambiance: The faction does feel awesome, certainly. The pics help there, but the writing does even more, creating images in my mind. Very nice! The faction seems “whole” as well. An issue arising here, at least to me, is the quite racial (though double-racial) humanoid-focused style here. …overall it to me feels like it would fit much better into AoW than HoMM. However, still 6 points for ambiance for a very ambient faction.
Total: 16 points for a truly awesome faction, lacking only on a bit background, and a bit on having a hard time understanding it.
Steyn:
Wow, this is a really extensive description. You also added lot of special features, which is nice. It does make the system a bit complicated to understand however Especially the unit system I don’t completely understand. Also I don’t really see the alliance between the Anqae and Marrow, as birds generally don’t like water. Maybe it would’ve made more sense if they were 2 allied factions…
rootsrocka - Tribe
Husham:
The text ,,In progress'', and a pic. BOO
Jiriki:
0 points for no information except one pic.
Steyn:
Nice picture. Unfortunately that’s all that can be said.
Sleeping_Sun - Conflux
Husham:
You did nice. The gameplay would be awesome, and has potential. But as I say, it could always be better.
Jiriki:
Gameplay: Another great elemental Lineup. The idea of making different creatures as elemental embodiments, instead of XYZ elementals is a good one, I think. Some creatures are also very creative. The abilities range from solid to outstanding. I am indifferent on the diverse upgrading system, but I think it fits really good at most points. The elemental summoning thing is a bit obvious, both fitting and not that creative. Town missing again. 6 points mainly for an awesome conflux-lineup.
Background: Now I think this is the best background info I have seen so far in this contest. Relations are in, many things are explained, awesome unit backgrounds. 4 points for a background that leaves only few questions and only has tiny flaws – this was VERY close to a full background score of 5!
Ambiance: I LOVE the ambiance of this faction. With all the tiny bits of ambience-inducing little informations and twists, most special to me the rumours, nice music and lively pics and descriptions, it is a bit like eye (and ear and mind) candy to me. It also seems to fit very good together, at least in my eyes. 7 points for a greatly imaginable, interesting conflux.
Total: 17 points for a version of conflux I would really like in HoMM!
Steyn:
– An interesting take on the tier system. I miss a bit the reason for some of the elemental creatures why they are in this faction.
Steyn - The Free Folk
Husham:
Nicey, nicey, a pretty good work
Jiriki:
Gameplay: We get a solid lineup here, with no strength informations, though. Some very creative abilities are in, and others are quite solid. To my taste, some creas could use a bit more abilities, maybe. The lineup seems a rather “forward” lineup, which fits a freedom/ylath-faction of course. None other information though. 4 points for a solid, but not outstanding lineup.
Background: A tiny bit of background on the faction, but really not much. Solid creature background. A narrow 2 points, mainly for the creature background infos.
Ambiance: I am a bit partial. The faction has an interesting feel to it, mostly nomadic, but with some certain twists. Two creatures at least certainly feel a bit out of lineup but not too much. Still, I think this is worth 4 points for a solid nomad faction feeling.
Total: 10 points for a solid nomad lineup.
Minastir and Articun - Bastion
Husham:
Umm, yes, let's say that Articun and Minastir did some nice jobs on this. The screens and the text shows me pretty classic imagination. I mean, it is like a Fortress from Heroes 3. I may say that REALLY it IS a town with potential, and also, the townscreens make it pretty imaginative. Nice work, guys !
Jiriki:
Gameplay: The lineup is huge and quite awesome, great mix of creativity and classic swamp faction. The abilities are largely fine, though some questions remain (f.e. do the frightening presence abilities stack? Do they count on friendly units as well? And such) and some feel not that fitting. I really like the buildings as well. I’d have wanted more information on the faction ability – like what (de)buffs can be given and hwo the metre is filled. Positive was the gameplay summary! 7 points for a swamp faction that I would love to play!
Background: The History is nicely written and seems logical to me, creativity is in a good middle field on the background. Nice culture and religion infos. I would really have liked relations here, though. 4 points for a good background.
Ambiance: The faction certainly feels totally fitting together to me! The visual and acoustic material provided, as well as the descriptions, give a nice imagination of the faction.Thinking hard, I cannot find an ambiance downside, so… 7 points for an awesome swamp ambiance!
Total: Overall an awesome faction, nice work you 2 did! 18 points for a truly awesome swamp faction.
Steyn:
The 5/5/3 system makes you use too many similar units.
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articun
Supreme Hero
As i dream, so shall it be!
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posted May 17, 2015 05:14 PM |
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Hmmm... So,
1. Better Ability explanation
2. More Diverse, creative and less random bonuses from abilities
3. A bit more detail on the factions themselves and more specific
4. Try to make creatures feel (and look?) more unique
5. Give more extensive background to each creature
6. More Hero Infos
7. More Building infos
8. Specific relations with other factions
9. Strategy output and possible themes
10. Better text structure.
That's a lot But i will try to keep them in mind for next time. Thank you all for all the big work and effort in Judging all of us
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Jiriki9
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Altar Dweller
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posted May 17, 2015 05:34 PM |
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Quote:
That's a lot But i will try to keep them in mind for next time.
I'd say go for it one step at one time
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Geny
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
What if Elvin was female?
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posted May 17, 2015 06:05 PM |
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Gameplaywise, this is rather imbalanced, and quite a bit ridiculous.
Really? Huh. And out of the two faction, Retirement is the one I actually tried to balance. Even sent to someone more experienced to give his opinion. I mean, sure they were strong, but I when I made them I was thinking about an extreme version of the classic Dungeon - powerful creatures with high cost and low growth.
Care to elaborate on your comment, Jiriki?
____________
DON'T BE A NOOB, JOIN A.D.V.E.N.T.U.R.E.
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Fauch
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
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posted May 17, 2015 07:38 PM |
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Jiriki:
It could have been mentioned on which world the Hades shall be. It may have been not done out of purpose, but then THAT should have been mentioned imo.
actually, I didn't really think about it, though I talk about demons pretending to be from Hades, and they are actually the kreegans. in the french version of homm 3, their castle is named Hades.
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I miss a grim reaper as champion, which to me is an ambience issue, especially since the fate spinner seems off to me in this faction.
well, the fate spinner is the master of fate, and the sirens take the souls. it didn't leave much for a grim reaper
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Steyn:
The only unit I dislike is the soulsucker. Its description is very vague and it hardly has any backstory. Also the necromancy ability might be a bit OP.
well, it always was. actually I tried to make it more balanced, instead of a hero raising 30% of all casualties + castle bonus + artifacts bonus + speciality, etc... you are capped at 20%. and you have to kill them with a specific unit.
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PandaTar
Responsible
Legendary Hero
Celestial Heavens Mascot
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posted May 18, 2015 05:59 PM |
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Husham:
Nice screens, nice texts. It deserves some attention. And also, the TONS of text applied make it worth to be on the second place. In my opinion, it DOES deserve almost the most biggest score. It's just how (a merely participant) see how a nice town is made.
Thanks. ^^ Hope you liked it.
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Jiriki:
Gameplay: Now, here is a LOT of gameplay information...
I added most of things I would enjoy seeing in a Heroes game, trying not to make it too wild. Most of the information to help understanding gameplay would be described in the Skill Wheel and Town Tree, but I had not time to finish them. I could do them now that I don't have a deadline.
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Background: Also a lot given ... but no relations which is quite sad.
I chose a detached history because I don't fancy Ashan and I don't quite recall Antagarich either. Also, they are supposed to be on their own, with very little known about themselves on the lands. They, however, know about all others. It would be better if I had another faction proposal, because they would base between each other, and they would also help giving a better idea of balancing of abilities and line ups. Again lack of time. ^^
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Ambiance: The faction does feel awesome, certainly. The pics help there, but the writing does even more, creating images in my mind. Very nice!
Glad to hear it. Those two races were meant to complete each other, as ruling the skies and the seas, while other races would rule lands. As the fliers can watch over all, they share tidings with those who learn about all. And by imbuing strong magic, both can coexist and even fight together if needed be. This is a very powerfully magical faction. They have a Lv 7 magic guild.
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Total: 16 points for a truly awesome faction, lacking only on a bit background, and a bit on having a hard time understanding it.
I'll keep that in my for the next proposal. Probably Totem.
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Steyn:
Wow, this is a really extensive description. You also added lot of special features, which is nice. It does make the system a bit complicated to understand however Especially the unit system I don’t completely understand. Also I don’t really see the alliance between the Anqae and Marrow, as birds generally don’t like water. Maybe it would’ve made more sense if they were 2 allied factions…
I tend to write extensive things. I will try addressing to that next time. As for the line up, units have roles, so, when I referred this OR that, is that you must choose which branch to follow, which means that you cannot hire all those units in the same town. However, you can build all dwellings. Any unit you cannot hire directly to carry about in hero's army is available as reinforcement on the surroundings (1 day away from the town), if needed be. Reinforcement is an added feature, which is also a learning skill (from the Commander Role); i.e. can improve reinforcement mechanics. The image shown here explains that you must choose which starting unit you want to hire: tritons or simurghs. Their roles in the faction are similar, so they rarely fight together, that's why you don't hire both. Nereids are spellcasters, with their own role. So you can hire them regardless your first choice. Hermes or Garuda, given that garudas are meant to charge on enemy ranks and block projectiles with their bodies, they are not compatible with Hermes, a ranged unit. Their alliance was explained somewhere there, in Krut-Suparna's bio, a little bit. That's the idea of mutual interaction. They agreed to bind themselves together. But that could have been better explained if I had more time to think about that. ^^
All in all, thanks for all input. I'll try working on that the next proposal I happen to make.
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"Okay. Look. We both said a lot of things that you're going to regret. But I think we can put our differences behind us. For science. You monster."
GlaDOS – Portal 2
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