When we initially released the BattleForge Map Editing tool back in October of 2009 it was met with open arms by the community. This editor is powerful, REALLY powerful and that put some players off using it as with that power comes a great deal of complexity. To get the best out of the Editor, you have to be familiar with LUA code, or at least willing to learn it. Quite a few dedicated individuals were willing to put in the time and learn how to best take advantage of the capabilities the Editor made available to them. We have already seen some amazing community made maps being published on our forum, the entries to our competition have be at least as good as the best maps we have already seen, and quite possible a good deal better !

Without further ado, let’s get on to announcing the winners!

The Winners!

3^rd Place: “Twisted Legends” by Omelie & Blodir – 4 Player

Placing third, we have a map created by Blodir & Omelie who kept us entertained and well informed with his progress both when he was having no issues, and when the scripting was stumping him. For his effort he will receive 2250 BFP. 

Omelie certainly knew what he wanted each player to do in this map. There are more goals in this mission than a Juggernaut could shake a very big tree at! In fact there are so many that trying to complete them all may appear to be a daunting task at first. Rest assured however, it is entirely possible to complete the goals once you have your wits about you and know what to do.

Throughout this map you will see a number of familiar faces. Dotted amongst the swarths of enemy troops, you will meet foes long ago defeated, foes who are looking to exact some revenge on their most hated nemesis..you! Once you battle your way on through, you will be met by a boss battle of epic proportions. Be wary this certainly won’t be a straight forward fight!

Some of the things we particularly liked about this map are...

·         The overall size of the map: There are plenty of large open spaces which allow XL Creatures to come into their own. Importantly these open spaces do not make the map feel empty or boring.

·         Mini-Bosses: It was a delight to see some previous characters being used as “mini-bosses”, without it being too cheesy.

·         The Horde: The sheer amount of enemy units for you to kill in as many different ways as you can think of lets players imaginations run wild!

·         The Boss Fight: Immense, that is all we’re going to say!

2^nd Place: “The Dwarfens Stronghold” by LInsoDeTeh – 4 Player

In second place is Linsodeteh with his amazing effort netting him each and every card from the Lost Souls edition!

Well, what can we say about this map other than that it is visually stunning! The amount of work Linsodeteh put into making this map look just right is astonishing. Make sure to look out for the Lyrish villages situated in the heart of the mountains when you first load in, they will take your breath away.

 Of course, aside from the visuals this map has got what it takes to be the best in bucket loads. The map features it all, going on the defensive, relying heavily on teamplay with your teammates, going on the offensive to reach your individual goals, and even taking care of some poor lost souls. The sheer amount of enemy waves will make your head spin, Linsodeteh certainly didn’t want anyone to be able to complete this map without breaking a sweat. Make sure to watch out for the Shamans raining down a burning death onto your stoic troops!

Some of the things we particularly liked about this map are...

·         The Visuals: While game play always takes priority, this map had those basses covered. The stunning visuals simply enhance the entire experience to the nth degree. It truly is a pleasure even just to view this map.

·         The Learning Curve: This map has a particularly nice learning curve. The first goal is relatively easy, but the goals quickly become harder, up until the point where they make you want to rip your hair out in frustration as you get so close to completing it, but fall short seconds from the end.

·         The Scripted Events: As we already mentioned, the visuals in this game are amazing, but that means nothing if the gameplay isn’t up to scratch. Fortunately it is here, and great scripting is very much on show too!

·         The Style of the Map: This map will feel familiar to BattleForge veterans; there is something about it which smacks of quality. It is easy for those new to BattleForge to get used to, while providing a challenge for those players who have been with us from the very beginning.

 1^st Place: “The Awakening” by Scairus – 2 Player

In first place we have the mother of all community maps! This is without doubt the best community map we have played so far, and my god, we can’t wait to see what you guys think of it! Well done to Scairus for coming up with a truly original and perfectly crafted map. For your troubles you have won the much coveted honour of having your name included in the BattleForge Credits, written confirmation from EA Phenomic that you have contributed to this amazing game, your map will be included in BattleForge, and you will receive each and every card from the Lost Souls edition! Well done.

The thought that went into the layout and design of this map must have been immense. From the moment you load into the map you can see that every centimeter of the map has been meticulously planned, and designed to fit in this one specific place and no other. This is a map designer’s map, there is no question about that. Happily map designer’s maps tend to be VERY enjoyable for everyone else too, we are confident this map will become a fan favorite!

The story is carried quite well throughout the map, with the scripted actions really lending some gravitas to the story unfolding before your eyes. There is something for everyone in this map, something for both offensive and defensive players. This map is the most well rounded and balanced maps out of all of the entries we have received. 

Some of the things we particularly liked about this map are...

·         The Clear Map Layout: This map looks as though it was created by a professional the design is immaculate.

·         Map Progress: The progression through the map will keep you wanting more and wondering what is next around the corner. It will suck you in!

·         The End: The end of the map is truly immense. It may bring back memories of times well spent on previous BattleForge Maps.

So there you have it folks, the top 3 submissions to the Map Editor Contest! We had some amazing entries, the competition was stiff. Commiserations to those who’s maps were not chosen, and congratulations to those who made it into the top three. In particular congratulations to Scairus! 

If the pictures above weren’t enough of a sneak peak for you then make sure to check out BattleForge TV(German) and BattleForge HD(English) at 19:00 CEST / 13:00 EDT  on Wednesday 19^th of May for an in-depth play through of the top 3 maps being streamed right to your PC, with Commentary! This will be your first chance to check out these maps as they haven’t even been made available to the general public just yet. Make sure to tune in if you want to know everything there is to know about these maps before anyone else! Who knows, they may even have some prizes to hand out...

With all that said and done, we would once again like to thank all those who entered the competition. Congratulations Scairus, and commiserations to the rest. We look forward to seeing everyone’s response to these maps. Make sure to leave your feedback on our forum and Facebook page!