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Ashen is the first and only scenario by Samuel Coates.
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Ashen 6.08 (6.7/5.3)
MultiQuote#2 Drizzt
Posted 26 March 2008 - 10:12 AM
There is a review, but in retrospect I think I was a bit generous. Graphics and items still good, story . . . well, I've seen worse, but very weak at points. 6.5
Drizzt’s Review
Ashen, a scenario written by Samuel Coates, was the only scenario in Olympia’s Third Annual Scenario Contest not actually in the contest. Whatever the circumstances were, if it was entered a few hours past the deadline, and perhaps internet gnomes intercepted the intended entry, denying the scenario its rightful place in the competition, this review will have to suffice as an evaluation.
The scenario begins rather intriguingly, with the simple sentence “One moment you’re minding your own business, the next you’re running for your life from a forest fire.” When the fires die down, you’re left to explore a valley covered in a black ash. Graphically, this is down rather nicely, as the author created a number of different black ash terrains pieces, from trees to plains and variations in between. The ash always has a grass ring around it, so it doesn’t really feel like you’re exploring an area blanketed with ash, but rather patches of ash with grass between the ash and the water or hills. This removes some of the sense of adventuring in a brand new area, since much of it is familiar, but it still looks good and is all carefully put together, with none of the terrain formatting errors common in many scenarios.
The story, however, is not very well developed at this point. You’re left with the mission to find the source of the fires that toasted the valley, and thus the exploring begins. There is one town near the entry, but the folks there don’t have much to say about the ash, and offer you no clues on where to proceed. I wandered aimlessly around the rather large and empty outdoors, and found only one other town. I managed to complete two missions that didn’t seem related to the plot in any way (and they weren’t) and was left with even fewer ideas of how to proceed.
Finally, I stumbled upon a hut in the middle of the swamp, and was abruptly given the entire reason for the fires. Story revealed, I set off to pick up the required plot coupons, conveniently scattered around the valley (including one of the missions I had already done), gained access to the bad guy with the coupons in my possession, and did away with him, ending the firery threat to the valley.
Story development is clearly the weakest part of the scenario. It would have been so much more effective if the player couldn’t simply walk to the contact in the valley, or his story was scattered around the valley, or if anyone else had anything to say about the events. As it is, the valley comes off as a rather static backdrop to an ultimately simple story of a bad guy who does bad things, well, pretty much because he’s a bad guy who isn’t concerned about how his actions affect others, and that’s what bad guys do.
Fortunately, there are many other aspects of this scenario that are very well done. Besides the custom terrain, there are many other excellent custom graphics, including items, dialogue pictures, and monsters, all of them impressively drawn by the author (or at least not credited to anyone). There are also many custom items to be found and new monsters to fight, which give the scenario a very original feeling.
The outdoors, although they felt too large, were reasonably sprinkled with special encounters. The two (inhabited) towns in the valley had enough people to talk with and provide the needed services, and differed enough from a standard Blades town to be interesting, especially the Dwarven village.
There are some excellent side missions, including one that reveals a bit more about your swamp-dwelling benefactor and his motivations for sticking around. The towns containing the aforementioned plot coupons are also well done, although one isn’t much more than a standard fight your way to the bad guy, kill him and get the item variety. The other, though, is a well-told tragic tale of some doomed knights’ castle, the story of which I found a bit more interesting than the scenario itself.
One of the outdoor encounters gives you a special item that you can offer to one of two people in the valley who want it, both providing different rewards. There is also another special item that opens otherwise inaccessible chests that are found throughout the caves and towns of this place.
All of these custom items, graphics, monsters and special items give this scenario a very unique feel, and are all very well done. To be fair, the story is still better developed than many others out there, and the ending offers a bit more to the player regarding the bad guy’s motivations and plans, but it still ultimately feels flat. There is an interesting choice presented to the player at the very end which offers an alternative ending and a bit of treasure, but it doesn’t add much to the experience.
The scenario comes with a short .txt file, but doesn’t offer any hints. The author suggests a beginning level party is appropriate, but some creatures at the end would be rather difficult (Martyr’s Shield!), so I’d recommend a more advanced party.
The author includes an email address, but unfortunately also a disclaimer that he is moving and will not have access to it for an indefinite amount of time. Because of this, the password to the scenario is also given, which is a nice gesture and with it no one should have problems playing through this scenario.
Overall, I rate this scenario as an 8. The custom graphics and custom items are exceptional, but the story development (or lack thereof) is the one failing of this scenario. I would still recommend it to anyone, though, as a short scenario I enjoyed playing through.
Drizzt’s Review
Ashen, a scenario written by Samuel Coates, was the only scenario in Olympia’s Third Annual Scenario Contest not actually in the contest. Whatever the circumstances were, if it was entered a few hours past the deadline, and perhaps internet gnomes intercepted the intended entry, denying the scenario its rightful place in the competition, this review will have to suffice as an evaluation.
The scenario begins rather intriguingly, with the simple sentence “One moment you’re minding your own business, the next you’re running for your life from a forest fire.” When the fires die down, you’re left to explore a valley covered in a black ash. Graphically, this is down rather nicely, as the author created a number of different black ash terrains pieces, from trees to plains and variations in between. The ash always has a grass ring around it, so it doesn’t really feel like you’re exploring an area blanketed with ash, but rather patches of ash with grass between the ash and the water or hills. This removes some of the sense of adventuring in a brand new area, since much of it is familiar, but it still looks good and is all carefully put together, with none of the terrain formatting errors common in many scenarios.
The story, however, is not very well developed at this point. You’re left with the mission to find the source of the fires that toasted the valley, and thus the exploring begins. There is one town near the entry, but the folks there don’t have much to say about the ash, and offer you no clues on where to proceed. I wandered aimlessly around the rather large and empty outdoors, and found only one other town. I managed to complete two missions that didn’t seem related to the plot in any way (and they weren’t) and was left with even fewer ideas of how to proceed.
Finally, I stumbled upon a hut in the middle of the swamp, and was abruptly given the entire reason for the fires. Story revealed, I set off to pick up the required plot coupons, conveniently scattered around the valley (including one of the missions I had already done), gained access to the bad guy with the coupons in my possession, and did away with him, ending the firery threat to the valley.
Story development is clearly the weakest part of the scenario. It would have been so much more effective if the player couldn’t simply walk to the contact in the valley, or his story was scattered around the valley, or if anyone else had anything to say about the events. As it is, the valley comes off as a rather static backdrop to an ultimately simple story of a bad guy who does bad things, well, pretty much because he’s a bad guy who isn’t concerned about how his actions affect others, and that’s what bad guys do.
Fortunately, there are many other aspects of this scenario that are very well done. Besides the custom terrain, there are many other excellent custom graphics, including items, dialogue pictures, and monsters, all of them impressively drawn by the author (or at least not credited to anyone). There are also many custom items to be found and new monsters to fight, which give the scenario a very original feeling.
The outdoors, although they felt too large, were reasonably sprinkled with special encounters. The two (inhabited) towns in the valley had enough people to talk with and provide the needed services, and differed enough from a standard Blades town to be interesting, especially the Dwarven village.
There are some excellent side missions, including one that reveals a bit more about your swamp-dwelling benefactor and his motivations for sticking around. The towns containing the aforementioned plot coupons are also well done, although one isn’t much more than a standard fight your way to the bad guy, kill him and get the item variety. The other, though, is a well-told tragic tale of some doomed knights’ castle, the story of which I found a bit more interesting than the scenario itself.
One of the outdoor encounters gives you a special item that you can offer to one of two people in the valley who want it, both providing different rewards. There is also another special item that opens otherwise inaccessible chests that are found throughout the caves and towns of this place.
All of these custom items, graphics, monsters and special items give this scenario a very unique feel, and are all very well done. To be fair, the story is still better developed than many others out there, and the ending offers a bit more to the player regarding the bad guy’s motivations and plans, but it still ultimately feels flat. There is an interesting choice presented to the player at the very end which offers an alternative ending and a bit of treasure, but it doesn’t add much to the experience.
The scenario comes with a short .txt file, but doesn’t offer any hints. The author suggests a beginning level party is appropriate, but some creatures at the end would be rather difficult (Martyr’s Shield!), so I’d recommend a more advanced party.
The author includes an email address, but unfortunately also a disclaimer that he is moving and will not have access to it for an indefinite amount of time. Because of this, the password to the scenario is also given, which is a nice gesture and with it no one should have problems playing through this scenario.
Overall, I rate this scenario as an 8. The custom graphics and custom items are exceptional, but the story development (or lack thereof) is the one failing of this scenario. I would still recommend it to anyone, though, as a short scenario I enjoyed playing through.
#3 ???
Posted 26 March 2008 - 10:13 AM
(magiociochea)
This scenario could have been better.
There is something in this scenario that really let me down.
When I begin to play it I didn't know what to do, so I begun to look for dungeons, after doing them all, I discovered there was a hut in the middle of nowhere where you were supposed to recieve all the orientation.
Well the scenario isn't a bad one, so
6.0
This scenario could have been better.
There is something in this scenario that really let me down.
When I begin to play it I didn't know what to do, so I begun to look for dungeons, after doing them all, I discovered there was a hut in the middle of nowhere where you were supposed to recieve all the orientation.
Well the scenario isn't a bad one, so
6.0
#4 Terrors Martyr
Posted 26 March 2008 - 10:13 AM
The plot was borderline to crappy. And unlike Drizzt's review, I didn't find the knight's castle to be good, at all. Still, I sorta liked the attempt at having more dynamic NPC helpers. I'd take permanent helpers in predetermined fights; however, the greater versatility of the author's method is a choice that I can't be too critical on. Still, combat is mundane, for the most part. Graphics used range from good to decent, which is nice. Then again, the mechanics of this scenario are *AWFUL*. Do I reccomend it? Yes- but before you start the "aimless wandering", look for an outdoors special, in a swamp. West of some river, if I remember correctly. If you do, then you won't be as frustrated as I was. 6.7
#7 miluk
Posted 26 March 2008 - 10:14 AM
5.3
Too difficult to figure out what to do next. Too much running around, and the plot had inconsistencies in it. But it is uneven and has also its good moments.
Some of the graphics were very good and I liked the dwarf (??) town for a reason that I don't remember.
Too difficult to figure out what to do next. Too much running around, and the plot had inconsistencies in it. But it is uneven and has also its good moments.
Some of the graphics were very good and I liked the dwarf (??) town for a reason that I don't remember.
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