River of blood

[[JSD]Turtleman]

This is my very well thought out map suggestion, This is currently the 1st draft beta design so I am accepting feedback on layout. This map was brought about by many hours playing HoN and thinking the current 3 maps where limiting and even more so since you could only play one with matchmaking. I am trying to make a fun, different map with competitive play in mind, but not only designed for.



^Gameplay Map.

As you can see, there are many paths to victory and the map plays differently then you would expect. Middle is no longer the most important lane and that has gone to top where there is 2 outposts (changing it to one in the middle of the lane later) and a rune spawn close. Not only that but a early tower kill applys pressure to the rax early so you want to send a strong middle player to the top half of the map.

As you can see, there are 3 creep spawns near whats called mount vanguard. This mount Features a different artstyle then the rest of the map and is the spirtual home of the vanguard. Betting this 3 spawn is hard, stacking it is harder and luring your enemy into them only having them killed in a chase is priceless. Oh and there is a rune at the top, the creeps kinda like it so you better not touch it! (taking the rune causes the creeps to run up there, stacking them in some cases)

The water here is very special. It, before the 2 factions came was a dried river, supporting no life. However, after setting up there wells it overflowed, spreading life and lava all over the river. Now the 2 magical liquids have combined and have formed a new liquad that heals for 1/4 of the wells power to every hero standing in it! Amazing.


Art style.

I think this is important to talk about, and this map uses some to create a mood of realism. Most of the area around the map has been turned into factory land which means your effectually fighting in a dump. Expect to see waterfalls of toxic waste, pipes pumping into the river, barrels of hero "Waste" and a run down, shatted ecosystem. The toll of war is huge on both sides but in different ways.

The only place that hasnt been effected is the mount, which has a different "mystical" artstyle to it. Think mt moon with holes. A natural haven to creeps, its said, every 2mins something special happens at the top... (which you can climb for a rune!)

The creeps who take the water path have also had there models changed, warped by the water and are no longer in there natural state and in return, have become weaker (they get the hp regen from the magic water to keep it fair)

I'm taking feedback, and will make changes in the next version, please leave it below or pm, I will credit you for your help of course.

[Orderr]

I really like the map, both the design and layout.

However the water lanes offering 1/4 of the regen isn't just mapchanging, it's game changing. The high regen would be exploitable by some heroes (Can you imagine soulstealer with high hp regen and enough mana to endlessly spam his mana efficient nukes?)

I'd say scrap the regen idea, and keep the regular lane/mobs... maybe a different model would be cool, but people like Cadaver because it's familiar and it's HoN. It'll be next to impossible to sell it to S2 and players over maps like watch tower when you start saying "And there are special creeps, and certain lanes have regen properties, etc etc"

You need to keep the laning feel of HoN.

Otherwise, I love it though, great original theme, obviously some thought put into the map and areas where ganking and forest fights take place. Thumbs up and I look forward to seeing some revised versions of this.