SMotA is an Aeon of Strife (AoS) type map, where each player controls a hero that can grow stronger over time. A familiar map that is also an AoS would be DotA. AoS originally came from StarCraft; however, the WarCraft III map editor is simply much stronger, allowing for functions impossible to make with the StarCraft editor.
1. Objective
Destroy the enemy base structure.
The High Elves must raze the Demonic Portal, whereas the Demons must eradicate the Well of Eternity. Both of these structures have an extremely high amount of hitpoints and armor, and also quite a bit of regeneration. The easiest way to bring these down is to first destroy the barrack structures, allowing upgraded creeps and even Mega Creeps, the strongest level of spawned creeps. Mega Creeps can kill the otherwise invincible fortresses in a matter of seconds. These are much stronger than their counterparts in DotA.
2. Heroes
To help reach the objective, each player picks a hero from one of the taverns in the beginning of the game. They can also use the -random command, giving them a random hero. If the decision is made within the first two minutes, a player can type -repick, relinquishing their current hero and allowing him to repick another.
Each hero has a primary attribute: strength, agility, or intelligence. Strength heroes tend to have more hitpoints and be difficult to kill, agility heroes are generally faster and can deal more damage, while intelligence heroes normally have a wide range of spells available to help with many aspects of the game. For a more detailed explanation of these, take a look at the Attributes article.
3. Items
In SMotA, many items can "upgrade" or combine with other items into more powerful versions.
In the early game, it is important to have a source of hitpoint and/or mana regeneration and also bonus stats. It is not a surpise then that one of the most popular starting items for advanced players is the Keg of Ale, which provides hitpoint and mana regeneration, armor, and a bonus to all stats. It is created from 4 items that each provide one of the bonuses of the original item: Ring of Regeneration, Sobi Mask, Ring of Protection, and Circlet of Nobility.
Another important aspect throughout the game is movement speed, which is given by the Boot/Gauntlet tree. A simple level 1 Boots of Speed is sufficient in the early game, but a level 3 Boots of Speed can later combine with a level 3 Gloves of Haste, resulting in a level 1 Power Gauntlets, which in turn can also be upgraded to level 3, providing a whopping 110 movespeed. There are many more items for the beginner to explore, and it must be mentioned that a secret shop exists, despite the fact that it doesn't sell anything.
4. Lanes
A lane is a path that is taken by spawned creeps from its own base to the enemy's. There are three lanes, which are commonly referred to as top, middle, and bottom. The top and bottom lanes each possess an Outpost, while the middle lane contains two. Observatories also exist between the middle lane and either side lane.
5. Bases
Each team begins with one relatively large base. Players are normally safe once inside their bases, that is, unless oppoenents have taken down base towers and such. Bases contain shops that sell important items. The High Elves begin with a base on the Southwest, while the Demonic base resides in the Northeast.
6. Outposts
Outposts are mini-bases that are located near the center or at the other two corners from the main bases. The top lane outpost is initially controlled by the High Elves and is located in the Northwest, whereas the bottom lane outpost is controlled by the Demons in the Southeast. Additionally, two Outposts are located in the middle lane, each team controlling the closer one in the beginning. Outposts spawn special creeps, provide sight, and come with teleporters back to base. Outposts can be captured by either team. If a team can hold all four Outposts for an extended period of time, they are normally at an advantage.
7. Observatories
Observatories, like Outposts, can be traded back and forth between the two teams. Observatories do not offer as many benefits such as extra creep spawning and teleporters, but they provide an enormous area of sight, hence their name. See the article on Observatories for more information.
8. Creeps
Creeps are spawned primarily from the two main bases, however, the Outposts will spawn bonus creeps once in a while. Outpost creeps are stronger than normal ones, but are small in number. Main bases also periodically spawn bonus creeps themselves, including magical and flying ones in addition to the normal melee and ranged creeps. Neutral creeps exist at several sites across the map; these fight for neither side and are hostile to anyone who crosses their path. However, they often give more bounty than lane creeps, and tougher ones can give more experience as well.
9. Pushing
Pushing is simply the act of advancing along one or more lanes; this normally involves destroying towers. On the map it looks like one team is pushing the other one back, hence the name. A win is impossible without pushing, because a player must advance into the enemy base to achieve victory.
1. Objective
Destroy the enemy base structure.
The High Elves must raze the Demonic Portal, whereas the Demons must eradicate the Well of Eternity. Both of these structures have an extremely high amount of hitpoints and armor, and also quite a bit of regeneration. The easiest way to bring these down is to first destroy the barrack structures, allowing upgraded creeps and even Mega Creeps, the strongest level of spawned creeps. Mega Creeps can kill the otherwise invincible fortresses in a matter of seconds. These are much stronger than their counterparts in DotA.
2. Heroes
To help reach the objective, each player picks a hero from one of the taverns in the beginning of the game. They can also use the -random command, giving them a random hero. If the decision is made within the first two minutes, a player can type -repick, relinquishing their current hero and allowing him to repick another.
Each hero has a primary attribute: strength, agility, or intelligence. Strength heroes tend to have more hitpoints and be difficult to kill, agility heroes are generally faster and can deal more damage, while intelligence heroes normally have a wide range of spells available to help with many aspects of the game. For a more detailed explanation of these, take a look at the Attributes article.
3. Items
In SMotA, many items can "upgrade" or combine with other items into more powerful versions.
In the early game, it is important to have a source of hitpoint and/or mana regeneration and also bonus stats. It is not a surpise then that one of the most popular starting items for advanced players is the Keg of Ale, which provides hitpoint and mana regeneration, armor, and a bonus to all stats. It is created from 4 items that each provide one of the bonuses of the original item: Ring of Regeneration, Sobi Mask, Ring of Protection, and Circlet of Nobility.
Another important aspect throughout the game is movement speed, which is given by the Boot/Gauntlet tree. A simple level 1 Boots of Speed is sufficient in the early game, but a level 3 Boots of Speed can later combine with a level 3 Gloves of Haste, resulting in a level 1 Power Gauntlets, which in turn can also be upgraded to level 3, providing a whopping 110 movespeed. There are many more items for the beginner to explore, and it must be mentioned that a secret shop exists, despite the fact that it doesn't sell anything.
4. Lanes
A lane is a path that is taken by spawned creeps from its own base to the enemy's. There are three lanes, which are commonly referred to as top, middle, and bottom. The top and bottom lanes each possess an Outpost, while the middle lane contains two. Observatories also exist between the middle lane and either side lane.
5. Bases
Each team begins with one relatively large base. Players are normally safe once inside their bases, that is, unless oppoenents have taken down base towers and such. Bases contain shops that sell important items. The High Elves begin with a base on the Southwest, while the Demonic base resides in the Northeast.
6. Outposts
Outposts are mini-bases that are located near the center or at the other two corners from the main bases. The top lane outpost is initially controlled by the High Elves and is located in the Northwest, whereas the bottom lane outpost is controlled by the Demons in the Southeast. Additionally, two Outposts are located in the middle lane, each team controlling the closer one in the beginning. Outposts spawn special creeps, provide sight, and come with teleporters back to base. Outposts can be captured by either team. If a team can hold all four Outposts for an extended period of time, they are normally at an advantage.
7. Observatories
Observatories, like Outposts, can be traded back and forth between the two teams. Observatories do not offer as many benefits such as extra creep spawning and teleporters, but they provide an enormous area of sight, hence their name. See the article on Observatories for more information.
8. Creeps
Creeps are spawned primarily from the two main bases, however, the Outposts will spawn bonus creeps once in a while. Outpost creeps are stronger than normal ones, but are small in number. Main bases also periodically spawn bonus creeps themselves, including magical and flying ones in addition to the normal melee and ranged creeps. Neutral creeps exist at several sites across the map; these fight for neither side and are hostile to anyone who crosses their path. However, they often give more bounty than lane creeps, and tougher ones can give more experience as well.
9. Pushing
Pushing is simply the act of advancing along one or more lanes; this normally involves destroying towers. On the map it looks like one team is pushing the other one back, hence the name. A win is impossible without pushing, because a player must advance into the enemy base to achieve victory.
NEWS... As you can see the forums died >_> Lets see if we can get a better forum host. |
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What is SMotA? Sacred Masters of the Arctic is a WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne mod or map, and is currently in open beta, at version 0.99c. It is an Aeon of Strife (or AoS) type map, inspired obviously from the popular Defense of the Ancients (DotA). While SMotA at first was much inferior to DotA, it has now surpassed the widely played map in number of heroes, at 110, and has many unique gameplay features that make the game just as fun, if not more so. |
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