Latest News Article

[Criswell]

Yes, you can loot any chests that aren't marked for sale, or associated with a quest. there are a couple side-quests (trading books or paintings for example) where you can get payment for items found. Quest chests can be used according to the conditions of the quest, but there are only a few of those. You can also mine exposed mineral ores if needed and refine them for currency. Remember to stash extra stuff along the way in case you die!

In the next version, currency items will become much more useful.

e: oh I see what you're asking, except for currency items (iron gold diamond), items in sale chests which aren't priced can be taken if needed from a sale chest.

[Dragondj0]

Omg this look awesome downloading now. Just a question though does it contain the Secret well not so secret but true ending upside castle parts from Symphony of night. If that could you just maybe use MCedit copy and flip and place it underground mirroring it. That would be awesome.

[Criswell]

You mean like this?

Version 1.2.1 in progress.

Stay tuned!

[ShocKz]

Absolutely amazing
I'm speechless

[sicktitck2]

Got any idea when v1.2.1 is coming out?

Oh and I tried to start an adventure craft version.

[wolfie]

Absolutely Epic...

I only have 2 small complaints:

1 - Useful items are so numerous, you never have to buy anything, i have 2-3 stacks of torches, a couple lightstone *blocks* diamond sword, some slime balls, almost a stack of iron, almost a quater stack of gold, and enough paintings and books for well... a few blocks of diamonds.... And i still have no clue how far i am in the adventure, which brings...

2 - No clear definition of which way is the 'main road' i really do think the line between main roads, and side roads should be slightly blurred, so your always guessing, 'Am i *sure* i am going the right way' but seriously, i took a side route to the first farm, played around, but when i first got there i was like: Um... I just missed something didn't i? Now, this could mainly be due to, in minecraft, i am a explorer, so i will almost always be side-tracked, but in some cases, i thought i was going the right way... now was i supposed to go the the castle before the swamps? if so, i failed, my next thing is a:


Okay, this is a serious question, but can spoil some things, in one of the towns, there is a shop area with a counter, is it unlawful-ish, to just jump behind the counter, go into the back room (The customer side has a iron door, only open-able from the other side, behind counter is wood door) and just steal there stuff?


Other than those two small things, it was very good, the architecture was simply amazing.
<< For your future progress, we all need diamonds, you know you want them XD

[Criswell]

Thanks for your input!

For now, feel free to play however you see fit, there are a few ways to explore the map, as long as you end up at the top of the castle and beyond. The main route (esp. from Gillis to the Main Gate) and the rules regarding shops and quest will be clearer in the next version, which I hope to have ready this weekend, maybe next if I try to work in every idea. Since we're due for a Minecraft update soon, it probably still won't be the final version.
As far as excessive loot goes, upon completing the game, gold blocks and other treasures carried to the end can be used to determine your score.



After watching some folks' playthroughs I noticed a tendency, when given two paths, to take the less obvious path. I think this is due to an exploration instinct developed during normal play, and so in the upcoming version I've taken some steps to discourage wandering a bit more. Also items are more scarce, especially if you rush through the map.

There are more items for sale and more quest-related signs to solve morally-confusing areas like behind shop counters. Basically, if there is a sign with "dialog" or pricing, it indicates a character is present, otherwise loot away! In general you should not rob the cash registers or take anything from shops not marked for sale, although you can craft replacement items from the spare parts if they become "sold out". However, back rooms are explorable and lootable (you may find additional quests/shops in the next version).

Many players seem to proceed straight to Verona from Gillis, which is intended as a midpoint resupply rather than a second stop, but this will no longer be possible without persistent wandering or pathbreaking. Hopefully the main gate will be the more obvious route now.

So far the first half of the overworld map is balanced enough that currency items have some value and stores are more useful. I've also raised all the prices in the shops, and put more useful items for sale. I've noticed a tendency for people to, uh... die in this map, and so making stashes of funds and gear is advised. If you play this game hoarding everything and not leaving supplies behind, you will get shafted. Some people find too much gear, some get frustrated after looting chests then dying and having a stick to wave around. I try to strike a happy medium though.

I'm writing a clearer rule set as well, and scoring for a final goal involving bringing 24 treasures back through the Nether to the starting chest (old-school dungeon crawl style). The final Nether level is pretty much built, left to do is just to rig a few gizmos and try to anticipate how players will try to skirt my pathing. There will be a lot of lava and plenty of falling, I can tell you that much.



p.s. I discovered a very sneaky trick with mob spawners. You could almost swear some areas are haunted, haha.

[Criswell]

Quick status update, all new map building is done and I had expected to release today, but I'm only halfway done testing the map and cataloging all the loot to help me distribute everything properly and avoid any duplicate treasures... it's kinda tedious, but important since I want to release a well-crafted map. May be done late tonight or tomorrow, will post as soon as it's ready!

...and almost 100 chests later... still at it...

[bobbert7591]

This is truly the greatest map I have EVER downloaded. It has the perfect blend of exploration, story, and difficulty. Some pointers would be expand even more of a story. Make it seem like as the player, you are actually discovering things, and learning new things about the towns, ect. Side quests before the Nether would be nice too.

[sicktitck2]

I dont mean to rush you but... Shouldn't 1.2.1 be out yet?

[Criswell]

I *just* finished cataloging every chest in the game in a spreadsheet, which will allow me to tweak the loot closer to my intentions for gameplay. That was a PitA! Looks like a couple more days though, sorry to keep you all waiting! It should be worth it though, already a lot of areas for improvement have been identified.

e: Apparently we are going to see Minecraft beta 1.3 next week, which will convert all maps to a new format. No point in releasing this map before then as it will become obsolete within days, forcing all downloaders to convert the map themselves. The next release will be v1.3.0 and will be in the converted format. Didn't really want to delay this further but it only makes sense at this point, should be a 0-day release.

[pebg03]

Your map is awesome. So awsome that the 6 top Minecraft gamers in the French community used it to make a multiplayer game. The video can be seen from each person's vue!

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHVCt3fwxj4&feature=player_embedded" is one of them, the links for the others are in the description box

[NoMercyJon]

This, is awesome! I'm currently at the House that's off the cliffside with ice and a cave underneath it. This place is massive, I spent two hours at Gills, Deadmans cave, and the farm. The Cave is massive. One question about a cave near the proper, there was a switch on the wall, is there a treasure down that way? I died twice and gave up because it didn't look promising.

[Criswell]

That switch opens (or sometimes doesn't due to quirky physics) an unexplored branch of the cave, purely optional for mineral-seekers. Technically, you can mine it and increase your final score in the next version when those rules are implemented.

Also sometimes it chucks lit TNT into your face and kills you, which I quite like.

Any cave you can reach from the game area is fair game for exploration, but you will not find any unusual items therein if you find yourself out of sight of telltale signs such as torches or cobblestone. There will always be at least a minimal level of light (such as redstone) in any designed area.

There is another hidden mine across Stillwater Lake, impossible to access legit when starting out. These are free for exploration but not linked with any game objective other than final score (coming soon), and for players who wish to "take over" the area after beating it and develop it further on their own. A lot of the extra building materials in the chests were for this purpose as well, but much of that will be reduced next version to avoid confusion and streamline the player goals of the game.

[polt01]

this map is so amazing, i cant imagine how much work it was to create all of this.
im not even half way through but im already loving it!

[lewis3399]

Criswell said:

Onion said:

Apparently, it takes 3 hours to download the full version.
Whyyyyyyyy

I dunno, this is the first time I've used dropbox to share files, if you can suggest another fileshare site that doesn't have superannoying popups, I'll provide alternate links. The Full file is a pretty large world though, be warned.

Hello iv just downloaded this map and when i go to play it it spawns me at a beach and i dono how to get to the start location iv been looking on the map and still no luck please can you help me i rlly wanna play this map

Thansk

[pandahamster]

Ive been looking around for an hour and cant find anything but torches on hills !

I went back to the spawn point using the compass i found at a minecart track, which, flew me into a pond, so where do I go from the spawn point?

[Criswell]

There are marked paths from the spawn point to the main objective. Watch the first video if you need some idea where you can go from the start. There is a map included in the .zip as well. If you can't see the landmarks, maybe you have fog turned up too high?

I double-checked the file I posted, if you are not spawning in the snow by a locked gate, a chest and a signpost, something is wrong with your file. Since beta 1.3 is due out today or maybe tomorrow, I hope to have a new version ready to go shortly thereafter, maybe that will solve your problems.

[Matteron]

This is absolutely beautiful, I have to say this is probably the most detail I've ever seen placed in a map.

[pandahamster]

ah, thanks criswell. i'll just have to look around for a bit until then if you do i love the map though, it freaked me out a little when I saw random torches