warcraft3 Useful Guideline

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1. Golec says

   So I mark Warcraft III as the point where the franchise stopped being WARcraft, and became MAGEcraft, or Magiccraft, or some stupid snippy pun regarding a favor towards magic rather than war.

   And don’t worry, this negative review isn’t all just about the visceral hatred of high fantasy involving lots of magic. The game itself has plenty of bad flaws.

   I used to love Warcraft. But I hate Warcraft since they made it “Blizzard presents: Magic: The Gathering”.

   My favorite thing about Warcraft was exactly what they took out in III and World of: a sense of grittiness and uniqueness in a world of fantasy. There were no “Thyalawynd” or “Darkheart”s or “Ebonheart”s or “Gyilwind”s magic fantasy crap with gravity-defying robes and swords made of silver and no shields or any semblence of tactics or strategy or even blood.

   There was no “We ah the Knoights of Lothar the Guilywind, son of Gunther the Loinhearted, son of Baxter the Baxton, son of Aragorn of Aragorn, and we foight fo peeeeeace” versus “Graarrgh we are demon spawns from hell who want to crush the world and kill everything that moves”.

   Warcraft wasn’t like that at all—Warcraft had the Orcs coming into Azeroth because their own world was destroyed by civil war, and rather than accomodate, the Humans responded with war. And it blew up in their faces as the Orcs destroyed Stormwind Keep and forced the humans into Lothleroin, with the Orcs following. I don’t remember what happened after that, but I think eventually the Orcs were beaten back by the Alliance of Humans and Elves.

   Then I completely do not remember a single thing about Warcraft III other than Taurens supporting the Orcs for absolutely no reason, and the Undead randomly appearing out of nowhere for no reason, and Night Elves appearing out of nowhere for no reason, and lots of pixie dust sprinkle winds magic and demons and wizards and keys and powerups and upgrades and magical fire pansy moves of doom for make benefit glorious magician of kingdom of Godwynn EverNeverwind P. Dark-Ebonheart.

   Warcraft and Warcraft II were to me, the modern Medieval-fantasy equivalent of Conan the Barbarian, in that yes, magic was there, and magic was used, but only the magicians practiced magic, and the magicians could not stand up to an army of a billion Orc Grunts and Troll Axethrowers. Sure, then there came Ogre-Mages, Death Knights, Paladins, and the like, but even those were but a small asset in an army made to fight with steel and wood and flesh, not just magic.

   Instead in Warcraft III, and extending into World of Warcraft, magic becomes the centerpoint of virtually any army. You can still use the backbone of infantry and cavalry and the like, but their effectiveness against magical heroes and magical elves and pixies is reduced by the sudden jump in population everything costs and the stupid upkeep.

   But while magic would become the more central point beyond Warcraft III, War3’s focus instead came upon HEROES!

   The entire RTS aspect of this game is not fully broken, but rather fractured by not just the inclusion, but the heavy reliance upon individual heroes, who have dozens of hero-only chests to pick up for upgrades and equipment that can make them MORE powerful, and they have the ability to LEVEL UP and research MORE abilities and powers.

   At least half the missions in the campaign I was apart of either involved playing ONLY as heroes, or playing in such a mission that only heroes could determine the outcome of battles.

   Then, UPKEEP.

   The idea of upkeep in this game is in no way relevant to how upkeep really works in games like Total War or in real life. Upkeep is the cost of maintaining an army. Upkeep does not exist in traditional RTS games.

   In this game, upkeep means “you no longer mine as many resources” when you have too many units. And “too many” ranges from 50-75 population points taken up.

   And then comes the fact that full-army battles are rendered impossible when the average Orc Grunt starts costing THREE population points, and the maximum population is no longer the Blizzard standard of 200, but somewhere near 125-175 or so.

   Controlling the first level of upkeep means your peasants now gather 7 of a resource rather than ten. Medium upkeep reduces it to 5. High upkeep reduces it to 3. And an army under high upkeep can consist of a handful of heavy units not fit to take out a militia force twice their size.

   This is only balanced by the fact that it affects all player on a map. But another problem involving this is that because the basic units take up so much population and are so ineffective, the player is basically forced into an arm’s race with their opponents, to build up their base technologies, upgrade all they can, then build the most powerful units available while ignoring the 90% of other units available to train, just to meet an evenly matched opponent who has done the same thing.

   And then again, the RTS idea is fractured and shattered by the powerful emphasis on building superunits and superweapons as quickly as possible, and to hell with all other available units.

   This is not how a good RTS works. Starcraft comes to mind: an army of 30 basic Terran Marines can slaughter an enemy army of Hydralisks or Ultralisks. An army of 30 Battlecruisers seems unstoppable, and yet can easily be torn asunder by a few Corsairs or Valkyries, or a flood of Scourges. Or they can be broken up from all-out attack from an Arbiter’s stasis, or a Ghost’s lockdown. They can suffer huge splash damage from Psionic Storms from High Templar or Infested Kerrigan.

   In short, in Starcraft, every unit is effective if utilized properly. You can win one game by playing a megalomaniac and massing dozens of super units, and win another game in the same amount of time with a ragtag militia and some special tricks of infiltration and the like.

   Warcraft III has none of it. Every unit that is not a superunit or a hero is simply cannon fodder and/or base defense until that superunit or hero is available for building.

   And so what was once “WARcraft” and I so deridingly called “Magecraft” could more accurately be called “Herocraft”, because heroes are so ridiculously overpowered that they become the center point of every game, EVEN the skirmishes, as you cannot start unless you pick a hero for your side. AND you can get MORE THAN ONE hero on a map, one for heavy combat, one for support, and one for magic.

   January 12, 2010, 1:37 am
2. Hinkley says

   I loved this game when it first came out! I lost it though and haven’t been able to find it for years! It was definitely worth buying all over again!

   January 12, 2010, 2:00 pm
3. Kiley says

   i used to have this game when i was in high school and i loved it, so i bought it. shipping was quick, the product was brand new and cheap. would buy from again

   January 13, 2010, 2:06 am
4. Ignacio says

   good game, great for LAN parties, because operating requirements are small and once you install disk and open battle net. you can run without CD. so all my friends at college can play for free. cheap price, cant find at most gaming stores.

   January 13, 2010, 1:37 pm
5. Halberstadt says

   Game arrived the next day and was almost half what I would have paid at the local mall.

   January 14, 2010, 1:21 am
6. Abraham says

   I’ve tried many wireless mice before but always had to go back to using a wired one due to input lag. Well this mouse solves that problem, though at a price premium.

   The Good:
   The Mamba fits comfortably in my hand, the sensitivity is pretty high and accuracy is great both wired and not. Seems to ACTUALLY maintain 1ms response time in wireless mode according to dx_mouse_timer_dialog.exe (Direct Input Mouse Rate). I can charge the mouse when I go to sleep by putting it on the charging dock. My PC has powered USB ports when off (as long as it’s plugged into the wall) so it charges overnight with the PC off.

   The Bad:
   Battery life could be better, but since I charge it every night it’s not really an issue.
   The rubbery things on the side are coming now coming off, not that some glue can’t fix that.

   Overall, if you have the money and want a nice wireless gaming mouse. Get this one!

   January 14, 2010, 1:47 pm
7. Callahan says

   I REALLY wanted to like this product. Like the previous reviewers have said, the packaging is almost a work of art in itself. It was really impressive. I was tempted to keep it, but I threw it away (the packaging that is). I bought this mouse to replace a Logitech G5, which is sort of worn out. I play a lot of Call of Duty, so I need a good mouse for that. Anyway, the Mamba was pretty easy to set up and use. It was very responsive, for the most part. One of the programmable buttons sometimes didn’t always respond though. But I let that slide and kept using it. The battery life did seem kind of spotty and it would surprise me at times by dying unexpectedly. I would switch to my G5 in such cases instead of switching to the power cord. However, one time I did switch to the usb cord for power when the battery died right in the middle of a map. The directional part of the mouse worked (meaning I could move the cursor), but none of the buttons would respond. Now the entire mouse won’t work and I get a “device not recognized” message from Windows. I’ve tried to reinstall it several times and I think it is officially DOA. I’ll be switching back to my old G5 mouse and will probably just get another G5 mouse after getting over the dismay of throwing away $100+ on this one, since I’m not returning it to amazon. Apparently, reading these reviews, most of the mouses (mice) work. But be ware you might get a lemon like I did and like another reviewer did. This could have been a great product I think.

   January 15, 2010, 1:22 am
8. Ahn says

   The stats on the Mamba make it look great. As a game and Razer fan I thought this was the mouse of al mice to be had… I wish.

   I am a input device junky having many Logitech and Razer mice in my arsenal. I liked Razer mice so much I purchase two of each that I deemed the best like the Boomslang, Diamondback and Copperhead mice. The Mamba is not worthy of that classification. And since the price tag is about double that of the copperhead I figured I needed to let the rest gaming community know.

   Unlike the copperhead this laser is glitchy on all sufaces that I use (Thunder 8 pad, S&S Steel and my Razer Exactmat). You can stabilize it by reducing the DPI but you end up having to go below 1800 DPI so what is the point.

   My advise is to steer away from this mouse go with the Copperhead. You will save money and have a better mouse.

   January 15, 2010, 1:23 pm
9. Valentino says

   If you have the money, this mouse is a great — if not, indeed, the greatest — choice. If you’re an average Joe, you’ll notice it’s a little smoother than the everyday mouse, out there; if you’re a heavy gamer and have reflexes that need supplementing by some sexy, top-of-the-line hardware, you’ll see – feel – and quickly love something that’ll up your Starcraft stats tenfold! There’s mice with more buttons than the Mamba’s 4, but I found I never needed much more than that. At first, it’ll take a little getting use to, but once you find your comfort zone (especially after tweaking the settings), you’ll never want to go back to anything else. The drivers and firmware are easy to update, not that I had any problems before doing so. Turning off the mouse before racking it on the charge port seems like a chore, but it’s just the flip of a switch on the bottom.

   I’ve only noted one problem, and only the first few weeks of using it; every once in a while, the cursor would only move vertically or horizontally, and the mouse generally wouldn’t respond in the other direction. I’ve stopped seeing that, though, and it might’ve been the fact that I didn’t fully charge it back then (2/3 bars seemed enough for me). Other than that, this baby’s preformed excellently for me. On top of that, it looks amazing and, if you dig quality, I wager you’ll be happy with it, too — providing you can stop drooling over the packaging. XD

   January 16, 2010, 1:24 am
10. Milton says

    Before I rant, I want to inform everyone that this is a very nice mouse, BUT has some serious flaws.

    Pros:
    Incredibly comfortable. if your scores in games increase, this is probably why. the mouse feels really natural in my hand at least. has a high arch in the middle, so if someone likes flat mice like the boomslang ce then this isn’t for them.

    Most of the buttons are easy to reach.

    Very accurate (with some exceptions). reach out and touch someone as this thing usually can.

    Is very pretty mouse. With nice rubberish coating and glossy shine.

    Its well obviously wireless (most of the time).

    Cons:
    Loses tracking when picked up and put down. If when playing i have to pick up the mouse, put it back, the mouse sometimes takes a few seconds to recognize its on the move. i thought maybe it was dirt, or mouse pad incompatibility(i have the razer exact mat). Maybe it is one of those, but I never lost traction while it stays on the mat with no liftoffs. That is when using the control side of the exact mat (my preferred), try using the speed side, and lose almost all tracking. This is one of my 2 MAJOR dislikes about this mouse. also should note that this does have this problem wired or wireless. (-EDIT- I had some cheap foam mats, the kind use for arts and crafts, cut out a square of that and works perfectly. still all my othe razer mice like the exactpad(copperhead,diamondback ce,boomslang ce) didn’t need special treatment, but o well.)

    Battery is alright, lasts like 12hrs in one sitting. My philosophy is that if a person is using the mouse to the point that it loses a bar or too, then they need to rest as much as let the mouse charge. Also dont expect to know the mouse is fully charge if charging the mouse in the on mode. I have firmware 1.08 or something, and still does it. If turned off the battery meter looks fine. Probably understandable as it is always draining while charging.

    Charging is a pain at first, but becomes second nature later. When i first received the mouse i had to wait 4-6 hours until I was recommended by the manual to use it (i.e. full charge). If i lose a bar, to charge it usually takes 1hr or so, maybe less. but this also means that I keep a wingman mouse near by for when the mamba needs a nap. basically only taking out the mamba when something needs dying.

    While charging the mouse is either useless, or a pain to use. The cord is similar to that which is found on old electrical appliances where it has some type of cloth-like material around it. It has more recoil than any other mouse I own.

    Disconnecting and reconnecting the cord is a complete nuisance. ANYONE expecting to switch quickly between wireless and wired with this mouse is deluded. there is a safety catch that requires accidental mashing of the top buttons to release. The mouse then takes time to be recognized while whichever OS you are using re-recognizes it. Having the mouse set to on before unplugging it helps a little, but not enough to save you in a firefight. from wireless to wired is where the true slowness is. Plus with the clicking and hooking involved, time taken will always be unruly.

    Activating the mouse after removing it from docking station is timely. Sometimes it comes alive right away, other times the mouse buttons are the only things to work. Sometimes the lights are on but nothing works. Have to turn off the mouse for a second, then back. wait for it to start tracking and then can play. that to me is unacceptable. also should note that even while the mouse is off and docked, its live. by that i mean if tap or move the mouse, the cursor will move too. at least mine does.

    Pairing. Yes this mouse has to be paired with the docking station. Some might say “duh”, but my feeling is this should have already been done. minor inconvenience (unless missed this step in manual and then weep mamba is not working), especially since pairing can fail.

    my mouse came with the teflon o-ring near its eye. yay me. bad thing is though, the mouse collects dust faster than a cpu fan.

    Over all i love the mouse, but at same time it annoys me immensely. I do think its over priced with its flaws. A few tips for it are:

    keep mouse pad and mouse clean.

    keep mouse on pad (no lift, drop, move), which is great for people who’s wrist can turn an entire 360 degrees.

    if one surface doesnt work try another.

    stay wireless.

    keep a decent mouse on side in case of emergencies.

    turn off the fancy lights to conserve battery life. i’ve managed to get close to 30-1hr more play time by not having it shine like the north star.

    I really wish this mouse was better made. because when it does work, it is godly. when it doesn’t, your digi-self dies.

    January 16, 2010, 2:00 pm
11. Arden says

    I enjoy the depth that this game offers. It is fairly simple but not too easy. I enjoy the different unit types available and the heroes throw in a great aspect of game play not found in most real-time strategy games.

    January 17, 2010, 1:39 am
12. Rockenbach says

    For those who have Warcraft 3 Reign of Chaos, Frozen Throne is a must have. It has new heroes, including mercenary heroes, new neutral buildings, new map tilesets, a vastly improved World Editor, many many new units and upgrades, and an upgraded [...]. If you have Warcraft 3 Reign of Chaos, you’ll love Frozen Throne.

    January 17, 2010, 1:57 pm
13. Ice says

    Nothing beats War3FT. Best game out there for customizing games. You’re buying Warcraft, but you have the potential to turn it into any game you want. Great buy.

    January 18, 2010, 1:56 am