vivid's DE maps
Posted: 24 Oct 2020, 06:37
by vividlyplain
I've returned to the ESOC forums and map making with the release of DE. I'm starting this thread to share my maps. Some I've shared before here but many I've never posted here and some are completely new! I've ported all my maps over to DE I appreciate any and all constructive feedback on maps. If you dislike a map and think it can be improved, please explain why. I'd love to hear your thoughts on potential improvements. You'll find in my signature a link to download my maps from my Google drive.
I don't have a set philosophy for making maps. My maps range from competitive to meme. Generally I focus on 1v1 spawns but I ensure that my maps work for all spawns. Below I'll share some map pics and a brief description for each of my maps. I've included spawns for 1v1, team, ffa (for @howlingwolfpaw), and koth. Note that the 2v2v2v2 spawns just like the FFA spawns (but teammates spawn together) and FFA KOTH spawns the fort in the same location as in team.
My Map Mod
____________________ My Maps ____________________
____________________ Other Maps ____________________
thank yous
My Map Mod
____________________ My Maps ____________________
Alberta
This map design by @dansil92 was the reason I started making maps. It features 4 Cree villages, two in base tower on top of your starting mines, gold mines in the mountains on the west side of the map, several large bison herds, and many chokepoints. @Cometk once described it as "intense in every way". I like to think of this map a bit like Texas on steroids!
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Arena
Made upon request from @n0el to resemble AoE2's Arena. Players start with their base protected by bastion walls and wood is only found around the perimeter of the map. Your base is safe from early pressure, but you will have to push out on the map for food and coin! Natives are present in the center of the map. There are 5 variants to represent different regions in the AoE3 world including Northwest Canada, Northeast US, South America, Dekkan, and Southeast Asia.
This map has seen some updates since some of the screenshots were taken.
1v1
safe res
base
team
ffa
koth
This map has seen some updates since some of the screenshots were taken.
1v1
safe res
base
team
ffa
koth
Bering Strait
Largely unchanged from ESOC Bering Strait. It's wide open, has lots of food, and two gold mines amongst the ice and islands. Only 1 mine in base so you will need to push out from under your TC for gold mid-game. I'm aware that the FFA spawn doesn't match the irl geography but I took this liberty to make it spawn better for FFA. I've reskinned this map for WoL as a swamp map and have pondered reskinning it again as a swamp map for DE.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Black Rock Desert
I was inspired by the Fly Geyser/Black Rock Desert in Nevade for this map. Unfortunately the available water/cliff code is limited for replicating the real place, but I made due. Wood is sparse except near the geyser. Herds are many in number but most are small (6 animals in most for about 50k food on the map). There are 2 gold mines contained between the cliffs that players will have to fight to control.
Now with a NR20 version where you cannot cross half map before the treaty ends due to an invisible and indestructible barrier.
1v1
team
ffa (yeah...)
Now with a NR20 version where you cannot cross half map before the treaty ends due to an invisible and indestructible barrier.
1v1
team
ffa (yeah...)
Death Valley
This map is ironically named and is meant for FFA and wild team games. Players start on a barren cliff overlooking a valley teeming with resources and a trade route. In team games, players spawn alternatingly with their allies and enemies (I've indicated this on the team spawn image below).
1v1
team
ffa
ffa
1v1
team
ffa
ffa
Dhaka
No big changes from ESOC Dhaka - lots of berries, 2 Bhakti temples, too many TPs. At one point in time I foolishly removed the middle pond, but it is back!
1v1
team
ffa
koth
(note that Japan doesn't get the 8 berries in base)
short rush distance
1v1
team
ffa
koth
(note that Japan doesn't get the 8 berries in base)
short rush distance
East Africa
All new for DE, designed by @JaiLeD. This map features some new terrains from Africa, a large central cliff that divides teams, 2 trade posts, and lots of coin. In KOTH and FFA games, the central cliff spawns circularly and has ramps up to the natives and/or the KOTH fort.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
new terrain
new cliff type
1v1
team
ffa
koth
new terrain
new cliff type
Empire Wars (2 maps, wet and marsh)
My first "award winning" map! I had lots of help with custom triggers from @Ammmmmmmmmmmmmmm and Enki! Thanks bois!
I entered this into the January Bounties after this thread was created, thanks @n0el ! Inspired by aoe2's Empire Wars, I've started with the idea to jumpstart your economy 5 minutes into the game. I'm certain it's not balanced yet, but updates will be made. Every civ starts with somewhat typical villagers, houses, market/techs, various wagons for trade, consulate, military, dock, etc. Asian civs start with their typical first wonder which should always be on the front or side of the TC. I tried to mimic a typical first card sent by most civs but I couldn't manage this with Heavenly Kami or Schooners so Japan (and sometimes Ports) get 2 starting shipments. There is also an alternate win condition: in a 1v1 you must stockpile 5k of each res and about 10-12k XP to win (ofc normal sup rules still apply). Stockpile means you have unspent resources in your bank.
I encourage you to play on it a few times and welcome all balance suggestions!
As for the map, there are two variations. One is land focused with some encouragement to ally with natives (similar to Marshlands). There are a few swampy ponds but nothing like a full swamp map. The natives are Inca, May, Mapuche, and Zapotec (although not necessarily all at once). I've deleted your first hunt for you (except Ottos and Indians get a few animals remaining), Dutch has lost some coin off their firs tmine, and Japan has used up some of its starting berries (although they get a full 8 animals on their Toshogu). For the water map, you get a dock wagon instead of one of your military wagons and some of your vills are replaced by boats!
It's hard to fully describe all the starting stuff so I've been keeping a spreadsheet. Again, I welcome all feedback!
unique win conditions and sexy xp counter
1v1 dry
1v1 wet
team marsh
china
inca
india
japan
swedes
brits
spain
ffa marsh
ffa wet
2v2v2v2 wet
I entered this into the January Bounties after this thread was created, thanks @n0el ! Inspired by aoe2's Empire Wars, I've started with the idea to jumpstart your economy 5 minutes into the game. I'm certain it's not balanced yet, but updates will be made. Every civ starts with somewhat typical villagers, houses, market/techs, various wagons for trade, consulate, military, dock, etc. Asian civs start with their typical first wonder which should always be on the front or side of the TC. I tried to mimic a typical first card sent by most civs but I couldn't manage this with Heavenly Kami or Schooners so Japan (and sometimes Ports) get 2 starting shipments. There is also an alternate win condition: in a 1v1 you must stockpile 5k of each res and about 10-12k XP to win (ofc normal sup rules still apply). Stockpile means you have unspent resources in your bank.
I encourage you to play on it a few times and welcome all balance suggestions!
As for the map, there are two variations. One is land focused with some encouragement to ally with natives (similar to Marshlands). There are a few swampy ponds but nothing like a full swamp map. The natives are Inca, May, Mapuche, and Zapotec (although not necessarily all at once). I've deleted your first hunt for you (except Ottos and Indians get a few animals remaining), Dutch has lost some coin off their firs tmine, and Japan has used up some of its starting berries (although they get a full 8 animals on their Toshogu). For the water map, you get a dock wagon instead of one of your military wagons and some of your vills are replaced by boats!
It's hard to fully describe all the starting stuff so I've been keeping a spreadsheet. Again, I welcome all feedback!
unique win conditions and sexy xp counter
1v1 dry
1v1 wet
team marsh
china
inca
india
japan
swedes
brits
spain
ffa marsh
ffa wet
2v2v2v2 wet
Forest Nothing
My version of Forest Nothing - I dislike the typical chop trees for an hour and still no action so I designed my version differently. You can even lame monitors! You may say it is more like AoE2's Black Forest, but I qualify it as "forest nothing" since it has no other natural resources.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Fortress
Meant more for FFA and KOTH, this map was designed by @howlingwolfpaw to be
1v1
base
tower stats
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
In team games, players spawn alternatingly with their allies and enemies like they do in Death Valley.howlingwolfpaw wrote:unlike any other map AOE 3 has ever had. It will be fun for newbs who don't want to get rushed out of the game at 7 mins, and KOTH.
1v1
base
tower stats
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
Fraser River
Still the same as ESOC Fraser River - aside from some new terain thanks to DE changes. At first, this map seems very defensive with so many chokes, but if you stay on your plateau too long, you will starve. Natives alternate between Cree, Nootka, and Cheyenne. The trade routes are separate.
Now with a NR20 version where you cannot cross half map before the treaty ends due to an invisible and indestructible barrier.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Now with a NR20 version where you cannot cross half map before the treaty ends due to an invisible and indestructible barrier.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Marshlands
This map was inspired by @Misha to try to promote native plays. I used Bering Strait as a template and replaced the ice with swamp. In a way it is a "better bayou"! You begiun with a native socket in your base and a trade wagon in a further attempt to promote native play. At least 2 native types will always spawn and sometimes 3. There are 3 variations: SE USA (Cherokee, Seminole, and Mayan), SA (Caribs, Incas, and Zapotec), and Asia (Shaolin, Zen, and Jesuit).
1v1
base asia
base NA
base SA
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
1v1
base asia
base NA
base SA
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
Nechako River
A map originally designed by @dansil92 and updated based on recommendations from @Cometk. Fight for control of the north tp line and gold mines, but you must defend the south as the enemy team is close! Each player also starts with a market and either a Cree cdb or a native Healer, depending on the natives that spawn.
1v1
base
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
1v1
base
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
Nepal
The same as ESOC Nepal other than the terrain appearance change. Note that it was updated for EP9 to no longer have the acropolis around the TC.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Nomad (the map, not the lobby option)
This map was inspired by AoE2's Nomad map. On this map you start the game with an explorer, pet coyote, 3 villagers scattered across the map, a fishing boat, and 700 wood. You will also be randomly spawned in so you may or may not be near your allies. Note that on DE you can build TCs with your villagers so there's a good chance you can find a place to settle near your allies. As the water on this map is a lake, there are no whales. The trade route is pretty brooken right now giving 450-500xp per pass in larger games. Natives are Cree and Huron. Also, the map is enormous.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
2v2v2v2
1v1
team
ffa
koth
2v2v2v2
Regicide Island
A complete meme. I'll list the gimmicks off the top of my head but I'm sure I'll miss a few. Obviously it is regicide (complete with daimyo and castle but no walls), dekkan+ crates, dock rickshaw and catamaran, starting shipment, first 60 seconds instant construction/research (I haven't done this for wonders yet however), and completely random natives (I haven't been able to verify that they all work on DE however).
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Ring
This map is a meme map based on a bad idea I had. The idea is simple, you have to move down into the center to get different resources - food, wood, gold. The outer most "ring" has a mixed amount of resources but in very small quantity. The natives are variable - all natives are possible. Occassionally it can spawn in some different ways such as you have to ascend into the center or you have diamond mines (100k each) in the center.
1v1
base descend
base ascend
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
1v1
base descend
base ascend
team
ffa
2v2v2v2
Twin Sisters
Another map designed by @JaiLeD. This is AoE3's diamond rush (inspired by AoE2's Gold Rush map) that features only 1 mine in base and diamond mines on central mountains (1 per player). If you're unaware, diamond mines contain 100k coin. The trade routes cross in between the mountains to make walling difficult. In FFA, players spawn around 1 central mountain containing 1 diamond mine per player. Also in FFA, players spawn with a trade socket in base and a second starting mine.
Update (October 28, 2020): Diamond mines are now mineable (bug fix) and updated FFA pic below.
Update (December 18, 2020): Diamond mines are now no longer only belonging to one player (QoL fix) and mineable by all.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Update (October 28, 2020): Diamond mines are now mineable (bug fix) and updated FFA pic below.
Update (December 18, 2020): Diamond mines are now no longer only belonging to one player (QoL fix) and mineable by all.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
Vietnam
The same as ESOC Vietnam (new as of EP9). This map is tiny and features Shaolin and Zen temples along one side and ample sea rources. Players start with dekkan crates and lots of safe res. Treasures are all tier 1 and the mines are tin. I've tried to keep trees spawning close to the shore for those wanting to water boom.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1 screen away
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1 screen away
Wabakimi
Lastly, Wabakimi is the first map I ever made. It has been updated (and hopefully upgraded) over time. It has changed plenty since ESOC Wabakimi. Most notably, one of the cliffs was removed, the lake is larger, and there are more fish.
1v1
team
ffa
koth
1v1
team
ffa
koth
____________________ Other Maps ____________________
Lost 6.01
Adapted from Lost 5.02 for DE. I rejigged some of the spawns for consistency and rebalanced the resources and treasures.
Settler Massacre
On this map you start with just a TC and some vills. Not even an explorer. I'm not sure who made this map in the past but I have included it as a request from a few others.
RH Chesapeake
Made by Ragnarok_Hero. This is the bank map that some people may have heard about or played on in a TSREV tourney.
1v1
base
team
ffa
1v1
base
team
ffa
RH Polynesia
Made by Ragnarok_Hero. This is an insane water map where oyu are forced to migrate and island hop. You start on a tiny island and begin with a caravel.
1v1
base
team
ffa
1v1
base
team
ffa
RH St Helens
Fight at the foot of Mt. St. Helen's. This map features a free, instantly training hot air balloon from your TC to start the game.
1v1
team
ffa
volcano
1v1
team
ffa
volcano