"Life of a Peasant: Original" Project

Also found here.

I am thinking of starting a new project that will focus mainly on restoring and organizing a version of the original Life of a Peasant map. I have played many, many versions, and they have all edited different portions of the map for their own purposes. I have pieced together the various components, and I know how the original map is.

Heck, I can probably even release a copy of it soon.

However, I want to create an even better, improved version of it - yet without changing its original purpose and intent. I don't want to introduce gods into the map, or zombies, or giant spiders or any of that - I just want to expand the things in it. More items, more heroes, more skills, more abilities, more units - yet without changing the essential nature of the map, and doing it in a way as similar to the original creator's style as possible.

Anyone up to the challenge? Contact me and we can start immediately. :)

Also, if anyone doesn't want to work with me yet wants to create a similar project, then I'll just post up some info that I've discerned to help you.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ORIGINAL MAP HAD THESE:

PEASANT JOBS:
1. Mayor
2. Garbageman
3. Mailman
4. Drug Runner
5. Crypt Keeper
6. Fisher (this is an ambiguous case, actually, because half of the spin-offs have them and the other half don't, so it may or may not have been in the original map)
7. Lumberjack
8. Thief
9. Hooker/Gigolo
10. McStankys
11. School Principal
12. Fireman
13. Doctor
14. Footballer (it's not technically a job but it works the same way as the others. E.g. you can't play football if you have a job, just like how you can't have two jobs at once)

I've seen a couple of versions with the Judge and Sheriff jobs, but because only a minority of the maps have them, I don't consider them part of the 'original'. This may be due to my limited amounts of maps, which is possible, even though I have 40+ versions and I'm fairly sure I'm right.

RANDOM SECRETS:
1. There appeared to be a small cheat in the original map. I've forgotten how, but it was possible to obtain an item called the Stank Charm. It's too insignificant to be truly called a cheat, however, and it doesn't ruin gameplay or anything.

GAMEPLAY IN GENERAL:
As far as I know, the only 'special' players there were were the Mafia (no, not Yakuza, not Gang, or whatever other name they call it), the Police (not the Sheriff, not Security Forces) and the Drug Lord. The rest were all Peasants.

The stats (e.g. attack damage) of the units and heroes of these special forces vary in many versions, and it's virtually impossible to keep to the original (though I believe the original may have been flawed anyway), so if I do create an 'original' copy, these values will be changed to be balanced.

* * * * *

CHANGES PROPOSED:
1. Wider range of items
2. Slight re-arrangement of certain things, for a more organized look
3. More doodads, for a richly-detailed gameplay
4. Tweaks to balance the existing units and jobs
5. Addition of more units, such as for the Drug Lord, Police and Mafia to recruit, as well as for the Security Services (still considering)

Basically, I want to widen the vista of possibilities in the map - such as a wider variety of weapons and combat implements for Bob's Gun and Survival Shop (e.g. throwing nets, pistols, magnum pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, land mines, kevlar armor) - though like I said, the essential nature stays the same.

That means that I don't intend to change the jobs at all, except perhaps with a tweak here and there. Neither do I plan to change the landscape, though I'll probably add in loads of doodads and perhaps re-arrange a couple of things to make it look more organized and realistic (garbage in the Garbageman room; a fountain, some troughs or something similar for the Fireman, and the like).

One thing that gets me is how one can become virtually and unrealistically powerful through consumption of drugs. However, since the original creator stankynuggy created it like this, I will merely add a cap to how far your stats can increase.

I have many more ideas, but they'll all be for naught because I generally can't find the motivation to work alone.

If making a balanced, improved version of the original Life of a Peasant map seems like a worthy goal to you, then please, message me at jiechern@hotmail.com. Do not add RE: or FW: in the title, however, as these mails are automatically sent into my Junk folder.

Thank you
Xeno.Hawk

A Final Version

Alright, after seeking and subsequently gaining schoolisTORTURE's permission to continue to edit his map and call it the 'official' version - and I have a copy of the mail in case you want the proof - I intend to create one last, final version and that's it.

First of all, looking at it after 2 years, I notice loads of stuff that I've added in that were simply not necessary or even improving the gameplay of the map. These stuff include the Guardian mercenary that you can hire at Security Services (wtf's a Guardian, anyway?) and the various other out-of-place creatures you can find in the game.

I've greatly nerfed all the imbalanced stuff - yeah, funny how my mission to 'balance' the game still resulted in imbalanceness - such as the orbs and stuff.

Also, I've organized all the tooltips and buttons, as well as expanded the range of items you can buy from the shops. Hopefully, none of the items are imbalanced.

When will I be finishing the final version? I'm not in any hurry, seeing as no one really played this version of LoaP anyway, and I want to make sure it's perfect, so it won't be any time soon.

Similarly, I'm working on another project, and may be working on a third project that will create a perfect copy of the original LoaP, which I will elaborate upon in the next post. :)

LoaP War of Gods v2.0

At last! The next and probably final version! I've retired from map-making after creating several other maps, usually under several other names. I've also included the original creator's name in the newest version, so hopefully I don't get banned again.

I've also noticed a lack of LoaP games being hosted. Either it's just coincidence that everytime I log in, there're no games, or no one cares about or even remembers LoaP anymore. Hell, even the first map that I created all by myself gathered players faster than this edited LoaP map, even though I, its [my own map] creator, think it sucks.

In any case, you can get the latest version here.

This version includes:
-Lots of bug changes.
-New sets of skills for every single darn Hero in the map.
-Lots of tooltip and button changes.
-Lots of new units have been created, and many old ones have been remade.
-Balanced out the jobs. I checked my Gmail account (one of the rare times when I check my 9 email accounts) and I found lots of emails stating that the Kidnapper job was imbalanced 'cos it was similar to the Mayor job, except with more power.
-Added ranged units in the Training Room so that ranged Heroes no longer get an advantage over melee Heroes.
-Added and balanced many, many small, minor issues, half of which are small visual effects.

Also, notice the inclusion of magic attacks for some Heroes. Yes, I've lost sight of my goal to created a realistic life-simulator. But hell, it was a really silly idea to start off with anyway. Anyone who wants a life-simulating game can just buy The Sims 2 or something. But hey, I was 11 at the time and I'm only 13 now, so I guess such childish-ness can be forgiven, no?

Yes, I'm 13. Whatever.

No Contact

I've completed LoaP War of Gods v2.0, which features many, MANY changes. However, I cannot find the creator of the original map: schoolisTORTURE. Darn it! I've found his profile on the Unofficial WC3 Forum thingy, but he doesn't have any contact information.

I'm planning on using The Hive to upload my maps, as I believe I've said before, and I've carefully read through the rules so that I won't get banned like EpicWar crappily did. So I've sent a "Contact Us" mail to them, asking if I can still host an edited map even if I can't find the author.

If schoolisTORTURE is reading this, please tell me whether I can upload your maps, 'cos I have a shrewd idea that it was you who reported my map using false excuses in EpicWar (it said in EpicWar that I uploaded a map containing porn, which it didn't, in both my and YOUR map).

Stuff That Will Be Put in v2.0

In v2.0 of LoaPWoG, I am aiming for a totally bug-free, totally playable, totally up to standards map. I'm working on the skills, tooltips and realistic-ness of the map. The realistic-ness thing is more or less completed already, and all playable units and buildings' tooltips have been done. Now I'm working on realistic skills. I mean, how can a female civilian call down an air strike? (I'm referring to one of the Peasant Heroes) It just doesn't seem right.

LoaP War of Gods v1.9

At last, another version. I've been busy with other things, and forgot all about my map. Anyways, I've checked this map so many times that it is safe to say that my map is almost completely bug-free (check out the changes). You can get the map here.
This version includes:
-Many fixed bugs.
-Several new items, but only two that can be gained through... normal means.
-Reduced the salary of the doctor (I just realised how much cash you can earn from that).
-Increased the damage and armor of the God of War and his rival.
-Made a new sheep that only people who can teleport can access: the Money and Lumber Sheep! However, there is a drawback to this sheep: every hit earns you 1000 gold and lumber, but deals 5000 damage to the attacking unit. Oh, and the God of War can't earn anything from this.
-Made several things more realistic, such as changing the Skeletal Minion in the Training Room to just 'Trainer'.

Now, I know that many people have been complaining about blizzard attacks out of nowhere. I don't know what's causing them, although I suspect that an uncompleted... ah, project of mine may have caused it. Whatever happens, please don't leave the game, and please please PLEASE host the map!

LoaP War of Gods v1.8

Wow, I can't believe that I managed to create another version of my map WITH beta-testing. This is the first time I seriously beta-tested my map. Anyways, I spent an afternoon and a half to make this version. Hope you like it! Here's the link.
This version includes:
A new mansion.
A new Bandit Ground
Replaced the Crypt with a Security Services shop.
Made a new training area, but the creeps are a lot more stronger.
Increased the salary of more than half the existing jobs.
Reduced the area where Fires spawn out, such that Fires only spawn out in the park, which is a great relief for the Firefighters.