Ever wondered why builders continue to introduce new Minerware maps despite them being completely aesthetic and having no effect on gameplay? I sure have. It just makes no sense; why spend time making an entire map when nobody is going to care about it? Here is what I propose:
Suggestion one - Outer ring waiting lobby
Of all the waiting lobbies, Minerware is the worst because there's no map to explore, you've just on a flat, tiny platform running in circles and losing your mind for ninety seconds. Why not spawn players on the outer ring, making Minerware the only game to have a different waiting lobby for every map? Players will be moved to the centre five seconds before the game begins.
Of all the waiting lobbies, Minerware is the worst because there's no map to explore, you've just on a flat, tiny platform running in circles and losing your mind for ninety seconds. Why not spawn players on the outer ring, making Minerware the only game to have a different waiting lobby for every map? Players will be moved to the centre five seconds before the game begins.
Suggestion two - Varying boss battles
Why not have boss battles vary depending on the map? Below are the four boss battles that I can remember, and an idea for how they could make use of the map:
Deathmatch
During the Deathmatch boss battle, the centre should be doubled in size and spawning should be less predictable (say goodbye to spamming lava all over the spawn, you nasty farm animal!) The extra space should be used to add decorations that compliment the theme of the map. For example, on the City map you may have two buildings adjacent to one another with interior and an upper floor, giving archers somewhat of a chance. Perhaps there's also a ladder leading to the roofs, making victory with a bow a physical possibility. Likewise, lose the silly walls that enclose everybody and replace them with roadblocks, rubble and buildings.
If you'd like another example, the Western map could have a great big train in the middle and a couple of carts lying around. The walls could be replaced with towering cliffs, and the ground with a mixture of gravel, clay and red sand. This map would probably not have any sniping opportunities, adding an element of diversity in the kits you use that depend on the map you're playing. Variety is Minerware's greatest selling point; the boss battles shouldn't be as uninspired as they currently are.
Wing Dash
Flying over a void through rings that may as well be in a straight line? If you've played this game more than twice then you're probably aware that it provides only an illusion of difficulty. You don't need to do any sharp turns or slip through tight spaces, you just fly straight and adjust your verticality according to the height of the upcoming ring. Why not do away with this, and instead have the player fly laps around the map? There would be more creative liberty in ring placement that could further challenge the player. This way, you're not just observing the map; you're embracing every part of it.
Spleef & Lava Floor
Picture this: You've been dragged into a large replica of a child's bedroom, the words 'BOSS ROUND' flashing in the middle of your screen. You're sweating all over your mouse as both you and two other players have nineteen points; this is the tiebreaker. You're handed an assortment of tools, each of which having Efficiency XX. You've got beds made of wool and wood, a floor made of carpet and cobblestone and planks, perhaps even a shelf or two, or a wardrobe. Your job is to destroy the floor and all furniture beneath your opponents' feet and be the last player standing. The timer counts down, 3... 2... 1... You begin to break all that's in sight, skillfully switching between your axe and pickaxe according to the blocks beneath your enemies' feet, but you mistime your tool and are sent below. You're now inside a kitchen, with tiles made of snow and coal. There's a refrigerator made of iron, and a stove of cobblestone. Lastly, a table of the finest oak there is. same scenario; be the last noob standing. Sent below again? You're in a basement, cobblestone all around. This is the final floor; fall again, and it's over. You now realise that the arena is a family's house, and you've bloody trashed the place. I've just described to you what Spleef could look like on the 'City' map, and Lava Floor too if you subtract the arsenal of Efficiency XX tools.
Why not have boss battles vary depending on the map? Below are the four boss battles that I can remember, and an idea for how they could make use of the map:
Deathmatch
During the Deathmatch boss battle, the centre should be doubled in size and spawning should be less predictable (say goodbye to spamming lava all over the spawn, you nasty farm animal!) The extra space should be used to add decorations that compliment the theme of the map. For example, on the City map you may have two buildings adjacent to one another with interior and an upper floor, giving archers somewhat of a chance. Perhaps there's also a ladder leading to the roofs, making victory with a bow a physical possibility. Likewise, lose the silly walls that enclose everybody and replace them with roadblocks, rubble and buildings.
If you'd like another example, the Western map could have a great big train in the middle and a couple of carts lying around. The walls could be replaced with towering cliffs, and the ground with a mixture of gravel, clay and red sand. This map would probably not have any sniping opportunities, adding an element of diversity in the kits you use that depend on the map you're playing. Variety is Minerware's greatest selling point; the boss battles shouldn't be as uninspired as they currently are.
Wing Dash
Flying over a void through rings that may as well be in a straight line? If you've played this game more than twice then you're probably aware that it provides only an illusion of difficulty. You don't need to do any sharp turns or slip through tight spaces, you just fly straight and adjust your verticality according to the height of the upcoming ring. Why not do away with this, and instead have the player fly laps around the map? There would be more creative liberty in ring placement that could further challenge the player. This way, you're not just observing the map; you're embracing every part of it.
Spleef & Lava Floor
Picture this: You've been dragged into a large replica of a child's bedroom, the words 'BOSS ROUND' flashing in the middle of your screen. You're sweating all over your mouse as both you and two other players have nineteen points; this is the tiebreaker. You're handed an assortment of tools, each of which having Efficiency XX. You've got beds made of wool and wood, a floor made of carpet and cobblestone and planks, perhaps even a shelf or two, or a wardrobe. Your job is to destroy the floor and all furniture beneath your opponents' feet and be the last player standing. The timer counts down, 3... 2... 1... You begin to break all that's in sight, skillfully switching between your axe and pickaxe according to the blocks beneath your enemies' feet, but you mistime your tool and are sent below. You're now inside a kitchen, with tiles made of snow and coal. There's a refrigerator made of iron, and a stove of cobblestone. Lastly, a table of the finest oak there is. same scenario; be the last noob standing. Sent below again? You're in a basement, cobblestone all around. This is the final floor; fall again, and it's over. You now realise that the arena is a family's house, and you've bloody trashed the place. I've just described to you what Spleef could look like on the 'City' map, and Lava Floor too if you subtract the arsenal of Efficiency XX tools.
Suggestion three - Map-based microgames
We've not seen any new microgames in a while, so why not add a few that make use of the outer layer? Here are a few ideas of mine:
Relic Hunter
Coming soon to Minerware: The Relic Hunter lobby game. You and your fellow noobs all spawn in the centre, and must locate a relic that's randomly spawned on the outer layer. Find it within the allotted time to win.
Combat is disabled.
Parkour to freedom
You know the Parkour and Eat Cake microgame? Yeah, it's pretty stupid how once you've eaten the cake, you can get in people's way and sabotage the competition just by standing still. Well in this microgame, the middle is themed like a prison, and a single path to freedom is created in the form of a few blocks, which fill the gap between the centre and outer ring. Traverse this dangerous path in the allotted time to win. Once you reach the other side, you're teleported to the glass cage above the centre until the next microgame begins.
Combat is disabled.
Dodgeball
A team-based game, with Red Team occupying the centre and Blue Team occupying a very exposed region of the outer ring. Equipped with infinite snowballs, Red Team must gun down Blue Team in the allotted time to win.
Combat is enabled.
Tank Test
"But Soapy, Mineplex already has this ga-"
*Gunshot*
Players are to be placed in an enclosed section of the outer ring, whereupon a wither will spawn and begin to bomb the floor (walls will be made of bedrock, dw about escapees!) Death will occur either from explosive damage, or from the void as the wither rapidly eats through the floor. Last noobs standing wins. An example of the map could be the Spleef & Lava Floor section of Suggestion 2.
Combat is disabled.
Into the Light
Four beacons have fallen to earth, their light curing any and all illness with a prolonged touch. Inflicted with Nausea I, players must reach these beacons and step into their light to cure themselves. However, a single touch simply won't suffice; you must stand in the light for two seconds to be cured. Cure yourself within the allotted time to win.
Combat is enabled.
Boss Battle - Leviathan
"But Soapy, Mineplex already has this ga-"
*Gunshot*
A glorified Tank Test, where players are given the entire outer ring to survive on. Instead of a Wither coming to nomnomnom you, it's two Enderdragons. Death will occur either from a direct hit from the dragon, or from the void as the dragon devours everything in its path. As always, last noobs standing wins.
Boss Battle - Survival Games
A short-lived, fast-paced game of Survival Games, localised entirely within the Minerware map (+1 meme point). You and your fellow players spawn above the void between the centre and outer ring, which has been replaced with an environment that matches the rest of the map. The centre has been given a cornucopia, meaning you can choose to either run towards it and gather up some loot, or retreat to the outer ring and hope to find something of use there instead. There's only one difference: PvP is enabled from the get-go. You have one life only, so try not to lose it right away.
Combat is enabled.
Boss Battle - Skywars
This is a good old map-exclusive boss battle, limited only to the 'Arcade' map. The arcade machines serve as your island, two chests being given on each and a handful of natural resources that you can harvest. Bows will be provided in chests but arrows won't be, meaning if you want to camp you've got to craft those arrows yourself. Last noob standingloses wins.
Combat is enabled.
Boss Battle - Relic Hunter
The Relic Hunter microgame, but expanded. This time you're looking for three relics, and the relic tracker is much less responsive. Find all three, and you go home victorious. But wait, these are heavy relics; you'll never be able to carry more than one at a time. Once you've found a relic, you must return it to the centre to reactivate your relic tracker.
Combat is disabled.
We've not seen any new microgames in a while, so why not add a few that make use of the outer layer? Here are a few ideas of mine:
Relic Hunter
Coming soon to Minerware: The Relic Hunter lobby game. You and your fellow noobs all spawn in the centre, and must locate a relic that's randomly spawned on the outer layer. Find it within the allotted time to win.
Combat is disabled.
Parkour to freedom
You know the Parkour and Eat Cake microgame? Yeah, it's pretty stupid how once you've eaten the cake, you can get in people's way and sabotage the competition just by standing still. Well in this microgame, the middle is themed like a prison, and a single path to freedom is created in the form of a few blocks, which fill the gap between the centre and outer ring. Traverse this dangerous path in the allotted time to win. Once you reach the other side, you're teleported to the glass cage above the centre until the next microgame begins.
Combat is disabled.
Dodgeball
A team-based game, with Red Team occupying the centre and Blue Team occupying a very exposed region of the outer ring. Equipped with infinite snowballs, Red Team must gun down Blue Team in the allotted time to win.
Combat is enabled.
Tank Test
"But Soapy, Mineplex already has this ga-"
*Gunshot*
Players are to be placed in an enclosed section of the outer ring, whereupon a wither will spawn and begin to bomb the floor (walls will be made of bedrock, dw about escapees!) Death will occur either from explosive damage, or from the void as the wither rapidly eats through the floor. Last noobs standing wins. An example of the map could be the Spleef & Lava Floor section of Suggestion 2.
Combat is disabled.
Into the Light
Four beacons have fallen to earth, their light curing any and all illness with a prolonged touch. Inflicted with Nausea I, players must reach these beacons and step into their light to cure themselves. However, a single touch simply won't suffice; you must stand in the light for two seconds to be cured. Cure yourself within the allotted time to win.
Combat is enabled.
Boss Battle - Leviathan
"But Soapy, Mineplex already has this ga-"
*Gunshot*
A glorified Tank Test, where players are given the entire outer ring to survive on. Instead of a Wither coming to nomnomnom you, it's two Enderdragons. Death will occur either from a direct hit from the dragon, or from the void as the dragon devours everything in its path. As always, last noobs standing wins.
Boss Battle - Survival Games
A short-lived, fast-paced game of Survival Games, localised entirely within the Minerware map (+1 meme point). You and your fellow players spawn above the void between the centre and outer ring, which has been replaced with an environment that matches the rest of the map. The centre has been given a cornucopia, meaning you can choose to either run towards it and gather up some loot, or retreat to the outer ring and hope to find something of use there instead. There's only one difference: PvP is enabled from the get-go. You have one life only, so try not to lose it right away.
Combat is enabled.
Boss Battle - Skywars
This is a good old map-exclusive boss battle, limited only to the 'Arcade' map. The arcade machines serve as your island, two chests being given on each and a handful of natural resources that you can harvest. Bows will be provided in chests but arrows won't be, meaning if you want to camp you've got to craft those arrows yourself. Last noob standing
Combat is enabled.
Boss Battle - Relic Hunter
The Relic Hunter microgame, but expanded. This time you're looking for three relics, and the relic tracker is much less responsive. Find all three, and you go home victorious. But wait, these are heavy relics; you'll never be able to carry more than one at a time. Once you've found a relic, you must return it to the centre to reactivate your relic tracker.
Combat is disabled.
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