BONFIRE: An upcoming new mod/game

[raknefne]

I just wanna tell about the mod Terroin and I are working on. It should be ready for testing in the spring - we will post when we need testers. :)

It is inspired by the Heroes of Might and magic 3 map-generator. A lot more are random compared to a normal KB game. It means that sometimes a game is more easy and other times more hard - just as it was in the Heroes3 mapgenerating.

It builds on the shoulders of the Hylfire mod with Acrimaldo and the randomness with skills and the new or improved spells and items.

It is sort of new game, not just a mod: We have re-used just 1 existing map (Tungsinn) but altered it alot, plus we have created 7 new maps with 15 new undergrounds and 35 new arenaes (plus around 12 old arenas) - and more can be added over time! It's easy to add future maps, since it is a world where you can travel anywhere. The enemy creatures grow in strength when you grow, this means the whole world is open (as seen in the Heroes 4 game). Each map has a "mapmaker" person that sell a new map. See pic:

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The starting location doesn't have many buildings from start, but you can build them! There are 2 things you need a lot in Bonfire: Woodpiles and Kill Proofs. Each time you kill and army you get 1 kill proof which is a token you keep in your backpack for later trading. To build the starting Castle you need 3 kill proofs:

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Creatures can be restocked for kill proofs.

[raknefne]

After building the castle you can upgrade it! You can build 3 different kinds of buildings, each can be upgraded:
-sawmill: Gives 0-1 woodpile after each fight. Can be collected when you return to castle. Access to building Stable that gives temporary rage after fight.
-mine: Gives an extra chance of gold and crystal after a fight. 3 levels.
-Blacksmith: Grants you access to creatures like barrior, cannon, griphon statue and iron ball. Weaponry can be build afterwards that can give 3 items.
-Cellar: Get access to a 3 level dungeon under the castle, 5000 gold pr level, each with increasing chance of finding goodies. Especially good if you have a tough start.
When 2 things are build you can also build Higher Baracks which gives acces to level 4 and 5 creatures in your alliance/race. Without this you will only have level 1-3 in the castle.

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Woodpiles: You can get woodpiles from the sawmill in the castle if you choose to build one, or find them in chests, both visible/sea chests/digged up ones.
Close to the castle an inn can be build for 1 woodpile after you help the innkeeper finding a drunkard. You will then have access to creatures, some spells and occationally items. The inn can be upgraded for kill proofs which also grants you leadership in return. After fully being upgraded you can gamble in the inn.

Furthermore, in each map there will be around 5 building sites where you can build a random building for 2 woodpiles. You will have a builder with you (at one of the valkyrie slots in the hero menu). Here is an example of a building site:

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And vupti, a random building is created. It is completely random which building that will be build at a particular site. This Building is a rare one with a few level 5's. Some have items, scrolls, recipies or creatures or a mix.

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Another Building choice in the starting area:

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BTW, I will post more pics about the game in the days to come.

[Javiwii]

It sounds very interesting, I can not wait to try the mod ^^

[raknefne]

Here're some pics from one of the new maps, "Hrasken". The 2 first pics show the randomness in the landscape. In the first the bridge is blocked by a tree but in another game not. In this game I have to access the other site by going down the dungeon.

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Also an example of map difference: There's a fence to the left blocking the passage. Other games it is blocked a different place, still I can always get to all areas.

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The 3rd pics show a scene from the Hrask Dungeon, a huge dungeon:

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... and a new arena in the dungeon:

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[raknefne]

Here are some more pics from the demon + undead map, Zellock :-P:

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The following one of the new arenas:

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A new arena from a cave in Zellock:

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You also see a huge yellow fly to the right on the battlefield. It is my companion. A companion is like a 6th stack but there are only 1 in the stack. When the hero levels up the companion does too in Health, Defence etc. It will automatically resurrect for the next battle if it dies in battle. Can be used as cannon fodder or tank.
So far it is the same 7 companions as in Hylfire. In the first map I can choose between 3 random of them. And if I have chosen "Arena" at Arturok (shown at the end of the first post in this thread), I'll be able to rechoose companions until I get the one I want. It costs 5 kill proofs to do that.

[ataris]

Can't wait for the new mod :) Maybe you can share video from the new mod?

[raknefne]

Don't think I'll get around to a video...

As in Hylfire you have a chance for trooptalk:
After battle your mentor, Acrimaldo, might give you an opportunity to talk to your troops. You can get a boost from your level 1-3 troops, anything from gold, rage, mana, new units etc.
That means if you carry for instance Miners in your army or in the Reserve you can get 1.500 gold pr. hero level. If you carry Gardeners they can change into Royal thorns etc.

I have made a post in this forum about which creatures gives which bonus:
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=229790&page=13 (post#126)

or download the list here: 15407

[aristobal]

Good day. What about the following. Game generates skills pool at the start of game but in lower quantities then in vanila. For example not 39 skills but only random 27 skills. Why? No need such big pool of skils in vanila. For example, what use of such big number of spells distributed by 4 schools? It seem to be excessive.
And it will be very good if players have an another way to use runes and crystalls, for example to upgrade some (2 per class) items, given them new qualities.

[raknefne]

to Aristobal: I'm not sure what you mean. Item suggestion I understood, but not the thing about Vanila? What is Vanila? Could you explain more? We have distributed some spells to the 15 different heroes, but perhaps the 4th magic school is too much, but that is how WoTn is... too much work changing that now...

For now we don't make more items that there're in the Hylfire mod, we have focused on new maps/arenas, randomness in maps, building buildings. More items for instance for upgrade could be in a later update. Depends on how much it is getting downloaded when published...

Eucrysty who was the first to play Hylfire besides the Hylfire team, will make a pre-test in a few weeks time. We will wrap up different bugs we have found in our early tests before a bigger test (I'll make a new thread about the test, people wanting to test play can already mail me or post here - I guess 3 testers or so would be enough).

I'm working on the 7th new map now, we have 35 new arenas or so! The starting map is a re-done Tungsinn map, also Merlassar, Grotland and Iceland is in the Bonfire mod but re-done. So far it is 11 maps in all in the mod, easy to add new ones along the way, since you can go anywhere in the world. IMO it is high quality maps with a lot of detailed stuff. Questing is limited since it is a "random generator" mod. Or as close to as possible.

When I've finished a new map, Terroin and I have tested it along with other stuff made, so in the test it will especially be important to see the balance hero level 15+. We have only played until level 11.

[aristobal]

"Vanilla" in the computer world means a basic version of something, original game

[raknefne]

In the Hylfire mod you didnt have many skills from the start but you got a choice of skills when you level up. It is the same in Bonfire. But there is a quest giver on the first map, Skillix is his name, he sells skills like Heroism (attack and rage), Defense (Defense and Mana), Rage Control (rage), Meditation (mana), Wisdom (mana), Artifactor (mana etc), Onslaught (rage/ini).

That helps in case you don't get skills early on from the randomization. But sometimes we had to abandone even ok skills for the Gold you also can get instead in some situations on the Impossible Difficulty level...

The random skills given could be enhanced by a bigger chance for the low level skills early on, we will see if we get around to that...:-P

[raknefne]

We have changed the medals a bit. Some of the medals where you had to use certain spells for level the medal up, like the Iron Knight medal, we have exchanged with Orc armies killed. We have also added information about what the medal gives when maxed.

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[raknefne]

The starting conditions are different from easy to impossible in the mod:

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We made the starting conditions with a bigger difference since the difference of the growth of creatures is bigger over time. :grin:

[aristobal]

what size of mod?

[raknefne]

Can't say precise yet, Terroin is just working on reducing it these days. But around 4 Gb or so.

[aristobal]

any news, teasers?

[raknefne]

It is being testing by Eucrysty now. I have made a new thread for testing results: http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?p=715518#post715518

BTW, it is 2.6GB in zip version. After his test and when we make some more quests and adjustment we will ask more people to test.

[raknefne]

Here's a pic of the world map in the mod. The central island is the starting position, Bonbong land (re-done Tungsinn map). There're 7 completely new maps around with 38 new arenas (and a few old ones re-used). I made the maps in the editor. We have removed all the WoTn maps from the "world", this is like a new campaign. Also clouds have been removed, but you can only sail to the island where you have bought a map from the "map maker" as I explained earlier. If we will add clouds? Don't know, probably not, its a mod, and ok if people can see it is all new, all new maps to conquer, I think.

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We have left some space for new maps to come... now this is being testing by Eucrysty. I'm extending some of the maps with extra random passages. For instance the Fefne Islands will get a 65% chance of a hidden sea gate for another location. So each time you play, it could be a little different...

[raknefne]

This is a new arena for the starting map in the mod. 2 main routes to the enemy (a lake in the center). Also notice 2 decoy routes for chests, one in the bottom at the campfire and one in the top to the right. A little different than "normal" arenas. ;) There are 2 chests in this case kind of off roads in the bottom of the arena...

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BTW Eucrysty: this is not in your test version.

[eucrysty]

I found a funny cellar :) with a dead guy at a table that drinked wine till death :) also the wine barrels are flowing


https://s12.postimg.org/scw6w278d/KBWot_N_2017_03_19_09_11_49_80.jpg

[eucrysty]

Also a good sight . The mother chicken with her little chicks :)


https://s16.postimg.org/pep0eyd6t/KBWot_N_2017_03_19_11_05_24_53.jpg

[raknefne]

We have added an extra Companion in Bonfire. In Hylfire there were 8. The 9th is the Orc Shaman:


Orc Shaman: Can give mana or rage in battle, bless nearby troops with +1 speed, +1 att/def, bless spell, 25% extra Health for 5 rounds. Stationary but with Teleport.

Stranded Whale: Stationary. Summons Devilfish, Geysir like spell to enemy standing next to, teleport. +5 Def to all devil fish. Remember Devilfish can double in numbers in fight and get a random new skill!

King Spider: Throws web at distance, melee, regenerate full health by killing fleshy enemy.

Queen Spider: Summons Spider Offsprings, web next to. +10 DEf to Cave spider and offsprings. Gives Cave Spiders after battle to the army.

Dragonfly: Cast Dispel/haste if enough mana or rage. Gives +10 Def to flies. The 2 fly types after battle.

Ancient Oak: +3 Health all units, summons level4 ents from level 7. Slow and other stuff cast on nearby enemies. shoots wasp. Stationary and cannot change position (it is a tree-like thing...).

Shooter: +5 att to shooters with bow. can shoot a shot with random curses/etc. cast same talent as the Gorguana Shaman (double damage)

Scary Abonimation: Cast damage spells. Teleport. +20 Def to Abonimations (level 3 creature neutral). Summons Abonimations from level 7. Cast "fear like" spell on enemy standing next to which halves Health (a Ghost with 150 Health will now have 75 as their max Health and easier to kill).

Black Hound: Melee, can poison everything around, +10 def to Hyena and Wolves (good combo with the Summon Hyena spell, some items that gives Defense to hyenas).

Some get extra defense by clicking Defend. All resurrect after battle automatically. When leveling up they get better stats, like initiativ, speed, def, health, att etc. Only 1 in the stack always.

[aristobal]

billigerent troops increase in numbers depending on days of game or something else?

each island is inhabited by one race?

[raknefne]

All enemy troops are random, not just one race on an island (completely opposite to WoTn with mostly undead to fight). And funny army combos. Some will even join u!

They get reinforcement depending on hero level only. Let's say an army get +1 to each stack, that also means level 1's are not getting so strong but level 5 is getting much stronger. We have calculated an average. That also means that if you just kill easy ones at first half of the game, it will be tougher later... but early game you have to to survive. The Impossible Difficulty grows around 100% more than the Easy Difficulty.

[Csimbi]

So, have you set a release date already? ;-)

[raknefne]

So, have you set a release date already? ;-)

NO, we will not do that. We are 2 guys doing this in our spare time as a hobby. We don't wanna stress. But we can limit new things in one version and then in a later version add more maps, creatures/items perhaps and other stuff. For instance more creature sounds, right now we have made 48 sounds when meeting enemy creatures, but not all creatures have been changed regarding sound. Also adding theme music.

Mapmaking has become a hobby for me, I made campaigns for Heroes 4, now KB.

Next step is finishing, then testing by more players. Then a release. You could sign up for a testing, then u get it earlier. (mail me your mail adress to uffemander@gmail.com) And it is very playable now, just ask Eucrysty. :cool:

We are also working with the idea of putting some random sounds in the map, so when you walk in a forest you can sometimes experience a windy sound, when walking next to a wolf in the scenary (we have put some not to fight, just for the look), then you will sometimes hear the wolf houling when you walk by...

[eucrysty]

The idea is great . I ll suggest to add sounds in battle too. Like when a troop deal the killing blow to say something ... Your soul is mine mwhahaha or some funny ones .... EASY PIzzy lemon squeezy :)

We are also working with the idea of putting some random sounds in the map, so when you walk in a forest you can sometimes experience a windy sound, when walking next to a wolf in the scenary (we have put some not to fight, just for the look), then you will sometimes hear the wolf houling.

[raknefne]

l wonder how many actually still play the KB series? If just a few, it's not a hurry to finish this mod...

[aristobal]

Kings bounty is colorful, fairy tale game with moderate pc system requirements. I think there are many active players. We can see some mods on Russian forum. Some players came to Kings bounty from Heroes might and magic, so Bonfire may be attractive to them.

[Erkilmarl]

I feel that I must wait for some time before I can replay KB games yet once again, but a game with new content would be very welcome.

[aristobal]

How do you calibtate (design stats) units of different level in mod?

[raknefne]

How do you calibtate (design stats) units of different level in mod?

To make it more interesting with lower level units we altered the units stats already in the HYlfire mod. We uses same system in the BOnfire mod:

In most cases
level 1: 50 Leadership, 50 Health, 100 Gold, 10 points distributed between Att/Def/crit/speed/hitback/no retal (for instance one could have 3 att, 2 Def, 2 speed, 3 crits. Endless retal would give 1 point).

level 2: 150 Leadership, 100 Health, 20 points distributed. 600 Gold.

level 3: 250 Leadership, 150 Health, 30 points distributed. 1100 Gold

level 4: 450 Leadership, 200 Health, 40 points distributed. 1800-2800 Gold.

level 5: 600 Leadership, around 350-400 Health, 50 points distributed. Around 5000-7000 gold

With some variations. Rats only have 30 Health (level 1 shooter, new unit). Devilfish 30-35 Health. Level 4-5 have variations in price/health but leadership is fixed. They were overpow to begin with so we reduced the Health. Thorns we reduced in prices since we rarely bought them.
Acrimaldo gives sometimes, around each 10th fight, a bonus if you har a level 1-3 in your army or in the Reserve. It could be att/def/gold/mana/rage/transformation to other units etc. Playtesting should balance it even further. According to Eucrysty (the 1st tester other than the modders), it seemed balanced. There can be small adjustment needed, but we were tired of games just ending up with the same units. On the downside, you can get level 5 earlier than Vanilla, but they are weaker than Vanilla too. We added more leadership to level 4-5, since they often are more tactical then level 1-3.

[aristobal]

What are Rats?

[raknefne]

It is a new neutral unit. they have a short range shooting, can give Rage and use the Preperation talent like the Hyena. Also double in numbers in fight like the Devilfish from the Hylfire mod. Only downside is they are very small... you can start with just 1 and make big numbers from it (from the double in numbers in fight, that stays after fight, 1-2-4-8-16...)

[silvrtung]

Raknefne, I would love to be kept in the loop on your mod. Been hurtin for a new kb for a long long time.

[raknefne]

Terroin is coming over today, hopefully we can finish for the last playtest today.

Werewolf, Whitewerewolf, all Vampires, level 3-5 Dragon of Chaos: They only have partial regeneration now. It was too strong with full regeneration of Health, and very difficult to fight against early game.

Listening to the recent Hylfire review from Xev and the last topics in the Hylfire threat (post 130-33 or so) all level 5 will (hopefully be more balanced).

I have added quests too after the first playtest by Eucrysty: Some in the maps, other in the Guild - it's the same Guild as in HYlfire, but they can give quests too, but with limited text. The quests in the landscape are more "natural" with text/talk etc.

SKILL ADJUSTMENTS:
DIVERSION: 5-10-20-30-40% (ended at 60%)
CONCENTRATION: 1-2-3-4-6 mana (ended at 9)
DESTRUCTION: 10-20-30-40-50 and 5% crit
CREATION: 10-20-30-30-45 and +1 duration of spells from lvl4 (ended at 60, was 3)
ANGER: 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 1 rage, 70% and 1 rage (ended with +3 rage and 60% both in Hylfire and Vanilla)
ACTION RAGE: -0, -1, -2, -3, -4 turns (ended at -5)
HIGHER MAGIC: 6-10-15 mana requirements for 2nd cast, 34 Magic Runes to Max it (was 30 runes, 10-15-20 mana),
GUARDIAN (BETTER NOW): 3-6-10-15-20 defense when pressing def.button


Furthermore: When meeting the Mapmaker hero to get a new map, you get just one random map (not a choice of all as it was in the first test). So when you play Bonfire next time, the first map you get will most likely be different. Completely random which order you get to the different maps!!

[raknefne]

Each of the 9 maps in the "Dansken World" as we call it in Bonfire are very different from each other - in all of them you can build random buildings with woodpiles. A lot of time has been spent to make the maps beautiful:


Hopland: = "Jumping Land" translated from Danish. 5 islands you can jump between with a random teleporter. 1 cave with difficult fights where you have to be level 10 to get access to. Limited sailing. 1 quest here.

Fryseland: = "Freezing Land" translated from Danish. Mainly snow, the biggest map, sailing. 1 cave. 1 castle to store troops etc.

Fefne Islands / Fynnen Islands: A lot of sailing. Sea portal between Fefne/Fynnen. In Fynnen there's a 33% chance of gremlin towers in fight. 1 small cave.

Mangelangeland: = "Many Long Lands" translated from Danish. Mainly autumn forest alike or Skandinavian, 1 is with snow, 1 tidy lizard-inspired cave.

Skrumpeland: = "Shrink Land" translated from Danish. Dwarven inspired, big mountain, 3 caves. Limited sailing.

Hrasken: 3 islands which are connected threw a huge dungeon. Also a Cellar/cave and a castle. Limited sailing.

Bonbong Land: Starting island. The Tungsinn map completely changed. 2 fixed caves and 1 random cave (random one out of 3 caves!). Many quests. Sailing. You can build a castle, inn with gambling, building with free neutrals/scrolls/items if you are lucky and a special building of choice. In the castle you'll build you can choose an alliance out of all races and that alliance will appear in the castle build. Inside the castle you can furthermore build up to 3 buildings.

Pnelve Islands: Elvish inspired islands. Sailing. 2 quests.

Zellock: Dead/Demon inspired, 2 islands connected with a long bridge. 2 caves. Some sailing in a submarine in a sea of blood.


All except Pnelve have a Guild. There are no WoTn or Ice'n fire quests/story - the only map from Vanilla is Tungsinn but it is changed a lot. Each map has a mapmaker you can visit and pay 10k Gold for a random new map. You need to kill at least 8 armies before being able to buy a new map on the new island you get to.

It is a huge new experience!

[raknefne]

The second round of playtesting is on now, Eucrysty, Aristobal, Erkilmarl and Xev are testing it!

Follow the test results in the other Bonfire threat about testing.

[BB Shockwave]

Given that the last two "games" were more like extensive mods themselves - from people who were often worst at it than amateur modders - frankly I am reluctant to try any mods. I want a new game from Katauri, using the team that created the first 2 games (and Crossworlds)...

[eucrysty]

What you want is impossible. The Katauri will not make another kb game. They ended franchise with the failed release kb dark side

[raknefne]

Given that the last two "games" were more like extensive mods themselves - from people who were often worst at it than amateur modders - frankly I am reluctant to try any mods. I want a new game from Katauri, using the team that created the first 2 games (and Crossworlds)...

The first 2 games were the best. The last 2 doesn't seem to have been tested a lot. Terroin and I make mods because we enjoy mapmaking and modding. In Bonfire you will find a whole new world (new maps). OFC we have different wishes... I noticed WoTn copied some things from the Red Sand mod, like the exp system for creatures and the Undead Lizardmen. I think the maps in WoTn were soo beautiful made, while Darkside not as good, something I notice more now when I mapmake myself. I actually sometimes looked at WoTn maps for inspiration for my own maps.
I dropped Darkside after being level 11 Mage and having like 115 mana... not a challenge... I don't like too many quests either.

[raknefne]

We are wrapping up things for a release now. Just need to adjust upgradable items so they are easier to upgrade since games are shorter, and possibility of finding sets will be easier. Also when leveling up you get a skill choice from each skill tree, ALWAYS!, BUT only 1 from each skill tree along with the same choice as in Hylfire: gold/random stats.

Release is here in May !!!!

[eucrysty]

cool . we are waiting the release. good job for the time spent for improving it

[Csimbi]

cool . we are waiting the release. good job for the time spent for improving it

That!

[raknefne]

The mod is ready for download:
http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showthread.php?t=229989

Please make all further posts in the linked forum.
Have fun!

[Csimbi]

The wait is over, great, thanks!