Arena Map & Help

[Aqo]

I'm working on an arena map (pick a hero, kill stuff, make your hero become uberawesomelolz, etc), and there are some things on which I'd like a second opinion.

1. What leveling 'ways' do people prefer in arena maps?
Killing random creeps that spawn in remote locations? Killing creeps that spawn in random locations? Doing random small quests? Doing one main quest which progresses along with you through the map? etc

Say which one you prefer (doesn't have to be one of the above) and why.

2. What should be the death penalty made of? Time loss? Random item loss? Attribute loss? Permanent weakening? etc

I want people to actually avoid death and not use it as a town-teleport spell. :\

3. Should players be able to increase their attributes by selection which is enabled with leveling up like in Diablo II or be able to buy them with money like in Angel Arena?

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Also, on the mapping part, is there any way to hide or remove the patrol and hold position buttons, so that I could fit two more abilities per hero without having to use the spellbook ability or items?

[Sid]

Levelling ways, oh well... I'll recommend that you try AAA - Azeroth Arcane Arena by Black.dk. It's hosted on Wc3Campaigns. It holds all the elements that a Hero Arena needs.

Normally enemies + creeps is the best way. People can creep upto level 5 or 9 and then engage enemies. That's a best way recommended.

Death penalty, I think it should be in form of Enemy Bonus XP + Gold, and you lose Gold + Heavy revival time. Attribute loss is not worth it. Cause if you lose Attributs, you must have a way to goin 'em back, which makes it up nothing but ChEaP ToMeS!

I think Heroes should not gain Attributes at all! That keeps the combat balanced... and it purely shows your combat skill!

Anyway, go for it, Aqo, a Wc3 map! Woot!

[Aqo]

Levelling ways, oh well... I'll recommend that you try AAA - Azeroth Arcane Arena by Black.dk. It's hosted on Wc3Campaigns. It holds all the elements that a Hero Arena needs.
I don't want to use premade data, I know how to use the WC3WE... I was asking for player-preference in this aspect; i.e. do you find it more enjoyable to kill random creep spawns or to follow a quest pattern.

As for creeping up to level 5 or 9... I had in mind something more along the lines of facing enemy heroes starting from as soon as level 3, while also being able to level up with no limit at all (the level cap will be ~300, but it will take around 2 hours to reach level 100, and the intended game-time for the map is 30-45 minutes.). I'm planning to allow nearly limitless improvement of abilities, and making heroes really rely on them rather than just turning on some passive abilities and using attack-move. Now, since leveling will be one thing the game revolves around, is simply letting people fight random creeps really going to work iyo?

Enemy Bonus XP + Gold in the death penalty - won't that suck for your team if someone intentionally kept dying to pool the enemy?

And not gaining attributes won't really insure imbalance... Heroes -will- and -should- improve, in other means if not by attribute, after all that's the whole point of playing isn't it? However, with each level you should be made about 5% stronger than you were before, so it should stay balanced unless there's a huge gap in how well people play. But after all, it's reasonable that if someone plays better he'll do better, right?