Warcraft III: Age of Myths
I’m a huge fan of DotA…Warcraft III AoS maps are excellent LAN/Battle.net games that should be played by every Warcraft RTS fan at least once. Recently the group of guys that I play DotA on a periodic basis with decided to try out a new tower defense map. (which I have available for download here)
The map was Age of Myths, created by Clan TDW. The game is very similar to DotA in that there are two opposing sides, the goal is to destroy the other’s base, and each side spawns creeps that follow a specific path and attack anything in their way. Each player chooses a hero that has an allotment of abilities that add to the deadliness of the game and can buy items (Here’s the official list) to augment those abilities. Thats about as similar as it gets.
Here are some good/interesting differences:
- AoM is a 12 player game (DotA is 10 player)
- The map has an uber-zoom-out…this is awesome
- The map has the ability to trigger re-matches where teams switch sides and pick new heroes
- Bases are in the top left and bottom right of the map
- Rebalance mode. If there is a leaver, the players can request a rebalance which will sort the players into a fairly balanced match-up
- The map sports 4 lanes rather than 3
- The map sports custom models
- There’s some funny custom sounds
- There are 16 heroes in the game
- Maximum hero level is 20
- Spell effects are MUCH more elaborate than DotA
- There are categorized items that can only be carried/purchased by specific hero types
- Players can purchase builders to repair buildings
- Additional troops can be purchased to help push a lane
- Like DotA, you accrue money over time and with each kill, however, when you get a hero kill you gain a spirit point. These spirit points (or kill points) can be used to purchase items that cannot be purchased with money.
- One of my favorite things is: All abilities for every hero are controled with Q, W, E, R, and T. There is no need to hunt around and memorize a different short-cut key set for each hero
But, with all those cool features, there are some drawbacks:
- Its may be a bit unbalanced…for example: the caster classes are the only ones that can buy an item (and its cheap!) that allows them to teleport to anywhere on the map where a friendly structure exists.
- The map is a bit big…I’m not sure the size is quite necessary. I may be singing a different tune when I play with more people.
All-in-all it makes for a fun game. If you are a fan of DotA, I’d highly suggest giving this one a shot as it shows real promise. Its a blast to play and has some sweet features. I guarantee you that my friends and I will be playing AoM a lot more! Oh and if you’re curious, here’s a list of heroes available:
Light Side
- Bjorn Ironside - Dwarven Berserker
- Sasaki Kojiro - Chujo Ryu Swordsman
- Cosmos - Astral Mage
- Gigas - Titan
- Roland - Paladin
- Monsopiad - Headhunter
- Storm - Weather Seer
- Triton - Water Archon
Dark Side
- Arachna - Lycosa Tarentula
- Ghelgath - Frost Fiend
- Sludge - Virus
- Admiral Galbator - Phantasmal Pirate
- Magnus - Minotaur
- Scox - Skeletal Marksman
- Nergal - Dark Druid
- Narglauth - Fire Caller
That’s a brief list of the heroes as the stand now, I’ll be featuring each one in its own blog post soon to discuss their skills, give screenshots, etc.
Discuss This Article
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20 Responses to “Warcraft III: Age of Myths”
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Rz.
Posted: Sep 24th, 2006 at 8:00 am1 -
Kev
Posted: Oct 30th, 2006 at 3:56 pmReply to this comment.AoM IS A MAD GAME!!!.. but takes ages to load…
people who want REALLY good quality gaming and have the time to spare should get this map and start HOSTING…
btw.. anyone kno the official site for this map??
cheers.2 -
Lasserith
Posted: Nov 5th, 2006 at 7:37 pmReply to this comment.the webite for aom is beam.to/vile :D
3 -
Prasta
Posted: Jan 22nd, 2007 at 3:33 pmReply to this comment.its amazin, play and enjoy!
4 -
lll
Posted: Mar 2nd, 2007 at 5:41 amReply to this comment.u could try eota
eve of the apocolypse twilight, it is in the b.net hall of fame
it is also AoS5 -
dh
Posted: Mar 23rd, 2007 at 10:43 amReply to this comment.dota is such a simple map, its not NEAT or anything, i could easily replicate it, and its not beutiful. it gets way too boring…so simple.
6 -
code786
Posted: May 27th, 2007 at 7:53 amReply to this comment.is there any AI(computer) version for AoM??? i only know AoM v4.58 and its not AI version. gimme the site plzz..
7 -
...
Posted: May 30th, 2007 at 4:12 pmReply to this comment.AoM its the most easy and unbalanced mod i’ve ever played. DOTA its far better.
8 -
Pete
Posted: May 30th, 2007 at 4:23 pmReply to this comment.Ill start by replying to the retard that said he could replicate dota:
- DO YOU KNOW WHAT PROGRAMMING IS?Now replying the “good things” of AoM:
1-What? Who? Where? When? Are you sure?
2-Lets make a new interface and get rid of the minimap, i mean, its just some dots and spots that are ugly and are good for nothing.
3-Perhaps the only advantage over dota, but still…
4-That makes no friggin sense yo!
5-DotA wasnt made for leavers, it was made for players. AoM was made for leavers?
6-Since when thats an advantage? Well, i dont think its a drawback either so lets just forget the lanes.
7-So does Dota, but just not so much, its not really a necessary thing, pure bad eye candy.
8-Who farted?
9-There are 82 in DotA
10-*cough* So what?
11-Only if you mean graphically and they are all not so amazing.
12-Thats the BIGGEST drawback you tard -.-”
13-What is this, tower defense?
14-Who needs creeps when you have uber heroes, with uber skills that have uber aoe damage with uber graphic efects on not so uber weakling creeps?
15-BORING
16-There is a program called dota keys and its not so hard to place ur fingers around, unless ur a big fat bitch with big fat fingers and cant place them in small areas all together.I just needed to reply to such retardedness
9 -
Pete
Posted: May 30th, 2007 at 4:35 pmReply to this comment.Have in mind i dont disrespect the work of TDW clan but unless they start making things serious instead of fancy and shiny the map wont become what dota is today.
10 -
Matt
Posted: May 31st, 2007 at 5:24 pmReply to this comment.@Pete
lol. Thanks for the response. It is quite obvious that you are new to reading but that list isn’t a list of benefits, per se. It is a list of good/interesting differences. Things I like and thought were odd/interesting. Relax. I’m not saying AoM is better than DotA (nothing is)…but playing something new is a breath of fresh air.
11 -
P3tttte
Posted: Jun 30th, 2007 at 7:15 amReply to this comment.its just that some friends of mine think its way better than dota because they suck at it totally. and the only thing i find interesting in AoM is that there are 2 spells from 2 diferent heroes from 2 diferent sides that stack as a deadly trap. that is that big water hole and the grim reaper thingy in the middle of the hole.
plus casters own so its Xtremely unbalanced.12 -
jEMO
Posted: Jul 17th, 2007 at 6:24 amReply to this comment.stupid game..!!
dota rules..
13 -
Stupids
Posted: Nov 13th, 2007 at 3:58 amReply to this comment.AoM is the best if you want fun, cool graphics, more challenge when combining powers and spells, laugh, and so on.
Dota is more the league game. Noobs wont find this game interesting since they will get a harsh time. Dota is more teamwork, push-nuke game. There is more balance in dota yes, but thats only because it is more played globally.
*If you knew anything that AoM was publicid only because the maker wanted people to have some fun and share his work with other.
I will say that AoM is way much better and cooler than DotA, but DotA is just the pros game…
14 -
Kaze' Kage'
Posted: Nov 18th, 2007 at 8:13 pmReply to this comment.I was wondering what the command is that lets you pick from players on either side was. if anyone could tell me I would be most greatful
15 -
Avatarking (Wc3-Name)
Posted: Dec 27th, 2007 at 10:19 amReply to this comment.Hey, I do want know: How I get new Models who can me ask?
Hey, ich will wissen:wie man neue Moddels kriegt wer kann mir antworten?16 -
Sally
Posted: Jan 3rd, 2008 at 5:45 pmReply to this comment.AoM its the most easy and unbalanced mod i’ve ever played. DOTA its far better.
if only noobs would say this is an imba game, towerdefence? no, creeps are for tactis and not for feeding, so what if u have a strong hero, you can still lose if u have what u said a “imba hero’ whats the prove that u say dota is better? more hero? more item?
17 -
inuyashasama
Posted: Apr 11th, 2008 at 10:07 amReply to this comment.The Final version of AoM is out at ageofmyths.org. Features more heroes, items, better terrain, shuffle teams feature etc. Also is a forum where you can comment on and help develop Viles (now Kabals) latest project.
18 -
Rafinius
Posted: May 18th, 2008 at 5:03 amReply to this comment.1 - I would like to know how you can make it 6v6 if 12 is wc3 maximum and you need 2 slots for creeps.
2 - the zoom out is very useful as you can earlier see what nearby enemies do. btw, @pete what does your post have to do with his?
3 - yeah thats nice as u don’t need to re host, but i think i saw this once in DotA too (not shure).
4 - …
5 - No map is made for leavers, but they still exist and at AoM they dont destroy the game. (btw DotA’s banlist option is retarded as not all people leave because their stupid, some have a real life calling them for tasks).
6 - 4 lanes or 3 lanes with 6 people per team… I have no idea whats better…
7 - ok some custom models are nice, but the more custom stuff is in a game the more big it gets.
9 - yeah 16 heroes is less then DotA but I expect they will become more over time.
10 - its the best imo when your max level just before the base towers are taken down, also less levels maes it easier to catch up for less good players and this makes the game more fun for them, but less then 20 would mae it to little for any AoS.
11 - they are more elaborated both in graphics and functions but DotA has much more work in their spells in balancing.
12 - here i agree with pete (not the retard part ;D). its a nice concept but it far to imba. btw all the items suck, just look at their skills and the heroes skills. the items are boring useless (most of them), imba (axe of vampirism) and buggy (regen items dont work).
13 - dont know if this is good
14 - creeps can bee helpful as they are cheap. most AoS have this option.
15 - I still dont now whats the use of the bounty points. the points per hit is nice because it puts the last hit competition between teammates away, but why not give gold immediately?
16 - thats very nice as its sometimes difficult to remember which key does what in other maps (DotA). @pete what crap isit if you need a special program for a function that can be made ingame.P.S.: are you DotA lovers already members of dota-allstars.com?
19 -
Rafinius
Posted: May 18th, 2008 at 5:07 amReply to this comment.ups i forgot 9
so
9 - the funny sounds are blizzard sounds, not custom. and they are funny in the beggining but no one is interested in them during the game20
Just wanted you to know, AoM/DoTA are AoS-type maps, not tower defence.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Defense]