Ruins of Valhalla: Map Reviews

[Yodaking]

Here is the first map I put together after seeing this thread. May have to make a second submission seeing how good some of the other maps are. Anyway here is my take on a tournament style map for the theme 'Ruins of Valhalla.' It would certainly be a tactically challenging map for some of the standard tournament armies, which I think is a good thing.

Castle Bellosk

Over a hundred years ago, Castle Bellosk loomed large over the denizens of Nastralund. Lord Bellosk's endeavor to expand into neighboring lands soon became known as Bellosk's folly though. Legend has it that the castle began to sink into the the marshlands on which it was constructed, sending large cracks through its massive walls. A development his detractors were quick to seize upon by organizing an uprising among the local inhabitants. The walls were soon breached with Lord Bellosk slain and his invasion force driven out.

Mother nature has slowly reclaimed the ruins since Lord Bellosk's departure, but new rumors have emerged since the War of the Wellsprings has taken hold of Valhalla. Some say the reason why Lord Bellosk had built this castle in a swamp was actually because his scouts had discovered the first Wellspring there. Not knowing how to master the power he had found though led to a disastrous experiment, which released enough power to fracture the castle walls from within. It is even said the Lord Bellosk was actually slain by something he had summoned through the well rather than by the local primitives. As such, new armies march on the ruins of Castle Bellosk to see for themselves what they might find.

Spoiler Alert!

Castle Bellosk
set requirements: 1 Castle, 1 TJ, & 1 SotM
VS file
Build Directions

[TREX]

Thanks for contributing everyone, very good stuff coming through here.

[Sir Heroscape]

Great submission @Yodaking . Love the backstory, so fun and exciting to read, really brings out the theme of what we're going for. looking forward to your next submission!

[NecroBlade]

Originally Posted by NecroBlade

An expedition record, of sorts:

Spoiler Alert!

Vydar's Log

Found 9 years After Battle of All Time (ABAT)

Log date 6 ABAT

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Scouts returning unharmed is enough cause for celebration on its own. There were so few of us to begin with, even this long after the war each loss is one we cannot afford. However, the news they bring this day is the best we've had in a very long time.

Previous flights over the great tundra to the north had shown every kilometer, even previously inhabited, to be as covered in dunes of snow as Volcarren is naught but fire and ash, and still further south the swamps and jungles have reclaimed everything as well. Today's returning patrol tells me there is a spot of thaw among the ice. It seems as though something is beginning to melt away that which has frozen over the third fort we had rediscovered in Thalenk.

More than just the battlements atop its uppermost towers are visible from there air, now. Hopeful speculation is that there is a wellspring located there. I do not recall this to be the case during the war, but then those wellsprings are no more, their power gone. Perhaps power returns to the land anew. If there is a chance that it is true, the time may have come to finally leave our safe haven. We must claim it for the Alliance...

The Alliance. Part of me wants to say I was right, that standing against the forces of Utgar would end in destruction. Thankfully, that seems to have been mutual: the armies of both sides, like the lands of Valhalla, have all been devastated. On the other hand, had we - no, I alone made that decision - had I not left, perhaps... But it will not do to dwell on this, not now. Not with power once again in the land. We must act.

I know the war ended, both won and lost, for better or worse. Now may be our chance to begin a new Valhalla. Yet I cannot shake the feeling, since hearing this news, that we are not the only ones interested in Thalenk III. Whom or what else could be, I cannot say...

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Was Vydar successful? Do we follow in his footsteps toward freedom or folly?

And now, ladies and gentlemen, mambo number five Thalenk III:



VirtualScape
PDF

The image in the PDF didn't save correctly, but you get the idea. I also noted that the map uses 2 random treasure glyphs as well, though I didn't see the option in VirtualScape; they would go on the snow spaces just inside the ruins next to the road marked on the map with glyphs of Brandar.

I aimed for balance in symmetry, competitive if not tournament caliber map, and the theme of a ruined fort thawing out of snow banks and glaciers due to the (new?) Wellspring. Enjoy!

[caps]

I think a common practice is to use glyphs of Brandar for treasure glyphs, along with a note in the map description.

[Dignan]

Hey guys. Love the idea for a contest. Ruined landscapes are a lot of fun to work with. Anyway, here is what I came up with. Hopefully you guys will enjoy it.

(sorry about the image, the high quality render on my VS wasn't working correctly)

Map: Stalwart
Date Uploaded: 9/7/2016
Requires: 1 RotV, 1 RttFF, 1 FotA

[Dad_Scaper]

I, also, love this idea for a contest.

I have here my own modest idea:


It was designed expressly to be a "ruined" something. Specifically, a ruined, fallen pier. I am very proud of it.

Unfortunately, I uploaded it over five years ago, so it isn't quite a suitable entry into this fine competition.

[Yodaking]

You could test the map, make a few small changes to it, and then submit it as a new improved map.

[Sir Heroscape]

Submissions are looking good everyone!

@NecroBlade if you use Brandar Glyphs as placeholders for treasure glyphs, that will work fine...and if it's not too much a hassle if you'd upload the image again, just so we know where they should be located.

@Dad_Scaper I agree with yodaking. I think @Tiranx and @TREX would agree that to make that map an official/original entry for this contest that there should be some -even if small- alterations from it's original form. I look forward to seeing Fallen Pier 2.0

[TREX]

I would really like it if you did submit something "like" this one @Dad_Scaper , its a very cool build indeed.

[Dad_Scaper]

Thank you. I haven't meddled with virtualscape since I made it, but I will give it a shot. I have a couple minor changes in mind.

[Tornado]

I see no reason why the Ruins cannot be a pier.

My one suggestion would be to add some water and push the pier out a little bit into the water so a couple supports are completely in the water.

Really cool map!