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Best Files » PTC02 - ¤Dragonfly¤ The Still Point of Time
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PTC02 - ¤Dragonfly¤ The Still Point of Time
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Author |
File Description |
AnastasiaKafka |
Posted on 07/15/02 @ 12:00 AM (updated 10/31/02)
File Details |
Version: |
The Conquerors 1.0c |
Style: |
Other |
Dragonfly - 2002 Pretty Town Contest Map and Tour -
Forward:
Days and months are the travelers of eternity So are the years that pass by. Those who steer a boat across the sea, or drive a horse over the earth till they succumb to the weight of the Ages, spend every minute of their lives traveling. There are a great number of the ancients, too, who died on the road. I myself have been tempted for a long time by the clouds, and filled with a strong desire to wander.
I've moved here from the Immortal's place. Flowers everywhere we didn't plant before. The courtyard trees are as green sculptures. At the ceremony, tea cups float in a new spring. Dark balcony. Path through deep bamboo. Long summer dress. Confusion of books. I sing in the moonlight and ride a painted boat, Trusting the wind to blow me home.
Tenshi Kaminari (Angel Thunder)
Kaminari Prologue:
It was only toward the end of summer that I returned from rambling along the coast. I barely had time to sweep the cobwebs from my house along the Ibo River, when the fall mist began to rise over the field. Then I wanted to be on the road again to turn the Dharma wheel at Engyoji through winter and to cross the Seki Bridge at Taishi in due time. The gods seem to have possessed my soul and turned it inside out, and the roadside images seemed to invite me from every corner, so that it was impossible for me to stay idle at home. Even while I was getting ready, mending my torn trousers, tying a new strap to my pouch, and applying moxa to my legs to strengthen them, I was already dreaming of the setting sun over the beach at Mitsu.
Himeji Japan:
Himeji is located in the heart of the Himeji plain in the southwestern part of Hyogo Prefecture. Progressively amalgamating adjacent towns and villages since its municipal inauguration, Himeji now stretches 23.5 km to the east and west and 21.3 km to the north and south and boast a total area of 273.47 km squared. The city nestles in the shadow of Mt.Shosha to the north, and gazes toward the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea to the south. Nurtured by a moderate climate at the fertile delta of the Ichi, Yumesaki and Ibo rivers, the huge plain including Himeji flourished over the ages, as an industry and transportation center in proximity to the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. The Climate of Himeji Blessed year round with the unique mild climate of the Seto inland Sea, Although it does snow in Himeji, the city also enjoys many warm days in winter.
Castle Town:
Japanese castle towns situated in the heart of the domains flourished as military, administrative, and commercial centers, in which respect they were much the same as towns in other countries. A feature of these provincial towns in Japan, however, was that they had no walls and gates. In order to promote commerce within their territories, the various domains encouraged merchants and artisans to gather around the castle. Residential areas for members of the samurai class and areas where the merchants and artisans lived and worked were kept separate, and Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines tended to stand round about the periphery.
The Map:
Japan is a pallet of visual texture and color, from flying white castles, and sculpted green trees to the meticulous hues of a teahouse garden, and delicate molded Japanese candy. From architecture to the presentation of food, the Japanese approach to design has historically been asymmetrical, with texture and elements emphasized creating a visual display of depth. Dragonfly is an Age of Kings map representation of the historic castle town, Himeji.
The Tour:
The Japanese concede imagination to all people. It is not art, therefore, to paint a complete picture or write a poem complete with denouement. Rather it is craftsmanship. Far better is it to capture one universal thought or image and with it guide the imagination of the reader along the path you wish them to travel but at their own pace and to their own destiny.
Credits:
AzN PaRaDoX - Shoreless Water
Zanzard Lothar - ADVANCED Immobile Units AI
Angel Thunder - 2002 Pretty Town Contest
New Design Features:
Gaia Shorefish into Shoreless Water
Seafoam or waves eyecandy
Dragonfly received Honorable Mention in the 2002 Pretty Town Contest.
Dragonfly is dedicated to Cat, team leader of our sister team Dragon Game Design Network.
Anastasia
Tsunami Studios
anastasiatsunami@aol.com |
Author | Comments ( All | Comments Only | Reviews Only ) |
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AnastasiaKafka
Official Reviewer
File Author |
Posted on 09/03/02 @ 12:00 AM
¤Dragonfly¤ The Still Point of Time
Dear Players:
I have updated Dragonfly in response to the Review it received. In the Review, Dragonfly received a poor rating in the Playability category. The main points of contention was a feature included to reveal the map entirely, and the Unit choice of this non-game scenario. Although it was pointed out in the Review as a bug, I maintain that it was an intended feature. The only playability bug the Reviewer found was with one of the eight ferries (Player one was unable to unload), and this has been fixed and enhanced along with the other ferries.
Dragonfly and The Still Point of Time Update is not a game, it is a scenario designed primarily to view a contest map design. The tour if you will, has not been designed as Role Play, but moreover as an animated diorama of a Historic Subject. There is also the elements of Japanese Cultural and Spiritual life represented as it existed in the Seventeenth Century. The AoK Map of the Historical Castle Town of Himeji Japan is an artistic representation of a real historic location. There are countless messages that contain historic, and cultural information. Perhaps too many to take in all at once, and you may need to save and return. I am still hoping that you will enjoy the update with a new tour option available.
The Still Point of Time (Review Update):
Taking from the fantastic feedback I received in the Review, and in subsequent letters on Playability from Tanneur99, I have updated to include the option for a new tour with a faster unit. I have also enhanced many of the original features, and included new elements and aspects too. The new tour includes the aspect of conventional map reveal, and it is more structured and well instructed. My hope is that Players will enjoy this expanded and enhanced version.
Sincerely, Anastasia |
Achaean Lionness |
Posted on 11/08/02 @ 12:00 AM
All around the finest example of creative vision in AOK/TC map/scenario design I’ve encountered anywhere – matched by the brilliance of the technical skill and innovations incorporated.
Dragonfly is a 5 star example of what Can be realized in AOK/TC design with a profound vision as idea, technical ability, great focus and a good deal of determination.
What Dragonfly captures in ‘time’ and offers the open-eyed visitor is truly remarkable and easily missed by any cursory, superficial stroll-through without any pause to look around and admire the well-thought-out inclusions and design aspects as a unity.
It’s brilliant.
Download this Scenario and gear yourself Before loading it up to take a time-warp back to Feudal Japan, and allow yourself the luxury of seeing, feeling and discovering it as that mode of experience and as intended.
If you’ll just pass through with a superficial glance over your shoulder – save yourself the time of the D/L.
Creations like this aren’t geared for the shallow and the hurried.
That is, indeed – Just the impression I had of AnastasiaKafka’s beautiful Japan.
I’d rate this with more than a petty 5 if I could girl – way to go… Deny this is art ‘til you turn blue… Sometimes, a samurai-sword is just a samurai-sword.
Lioness of Achaia
Playability - 5. It makes no sense to me to rate playability less than 5 when it has not a single bug. In this case, Playability refers to the ease of movement without any blemish throughout the whole, consistent with the author's exact intent.
Hopefully, my other ratings are acconted for in my lines above. |
Tom Edwards |
Posted on 03/09/03 @ 12:00 AM
LOL, I never know samurai warriors held tea parties until I played this. Excellent sounds, too: a job well done. |
heavy_swordsman |
Posted on 05/09/04 @ 12:00 AM
very good, excellent map design, but one thing i noticed was when you become a Scout, you can't garrison inside any of the Town Centre's |
paco_7eshing |
Posted on 07/26/04 @ 12:00 AM
The insturactions in this scenario is dificult to understand |
The Richard |
Posted on 05/30/05 @ 11:21 PM
I've seen some beautiful maps in my time, but this one pretty much takes the cake. |
HGDL v0.8.2 |
Rating |
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4.6 | Breakdown |
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Playability | 4.7 | Balance | 5.0 | Creativity | 4.7 | Map Design | 4.7 | Story/Instructions | 4.0 |
Statistics |
Downloads: | 3,495 |
Favorites: [] | 2 |
Size: | 2.00 MB |
Added: | 07/15/02 |
Updated: | 10/31/02 |
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