Jungle 5.0

(last updated: January 1, 2008)

As Jungle 5 enters beta stage, I thought I might as well post the specs as well. Here are the highlights:

(updated) Easy mode is the good-old-days version 1.0 behaviour. Items listed below only apply to Hard mode.

No Tax... is not true. There's a new "invisible" tax which applies on how many things you build/buy. Also, when you buy something at top-right corner, the price of that item increases, for example, SCV increases $1 each time, up to $55 each (original cost is $25).

Cat will also get more cash if they kill more. So take advantage on killing things.

Cat feedages - same as the old ones, such as nexus feed $12, dark archon feed $17, etc... Here are some new feedages:
- Zergling now feeds about $6
- Stargate now feeds about $6
- Zealot now feeds about $6
- Civilian now feeds about $6

Spells for Cat:
[new] Freeze Mouse - freeze a specific mouse for 1 or 3 seconds with 1 or 2 dts respectively.

[new] Mouse Magnet - moves all mice' units in arena towards the Cat, in particular, move the probe behind the civilian towards the cat. Cost=1dt

(updated) [new] Base Raider - this gosu ling rips all walls in its way, but is vulnerable after 3 seconds (ie: it has only 2hp!), dies in 5 seconds after being vulnerable. Cost=2dts and have a $45 refund upon its death.

[new] Acidic Slaughter - a "kill air" unit. It cannot be killed by Scourge, but definitely killable especially to Storm (*this is a hint there!). Cost=1dt. $50 refunds will be given once the unit dies.

[new] Mind Control GOD - a godly unit with the ability to Mind Control indefinitely. Yes, you can mind control SCVs and probes, but probes die automatically, and SCVs can't mine minerals. Cost=14dts.

Cloaked Ghost - a cloaked unit that has a specific role on locking down probes for an extended period of time. While ghost does 0 (zero) damage, you can use it to block exits so to "trap" the mouse or anything. Also it can be uncloaked just to save energy. Cost=3dts. $100 refunds will be given once the unit dies.

Monkey Vessel - a Science Vessel with Irradiate, EMP, and D-matrix for 2 dts. Classic unit.

Queen - a Queen with Ensnare, Broodling (cost 200+ mana), and best of all -> the ability to infest Command Center (it's not an easy task). Cost=2dts.

Kitty - a kitty with no base attack. But it has 2x attack upgrade rather than 1x for the big Cat. Cost=4dts.

Mice Poison - a poison to apply on a specific mice player. It will random an action every second, ranging from doing nothing, to kill one of your unit (meaning your probe if it's the only thing you have). Cost=2dts.

Infested Terrans x2 - a classic bombing spell with 2 bombing units. In the old days people would put a Zergling near the spawn so the bombers will "self-destroy". Now the Infested Terrans spawn 1 second apart, thus the suicidal Zergling could only get 1 bomber to suicide. Cost=3dts.

Rob Money - rob all mice players' cash by $1000 for each dt.

Get $100 for 1 dt - this is a trading mechanism between dt to $100. There is an option for you to set as automatically getting a dt once you have $100, or to leave the $100 unchanged.

SCV/Money Score Board - displays statistical chart at top-left corner.

Probe Locator - repeatedly pings the designated player's probe in the minimap.

As you could guess, I'm quite focusing on Cat's playing experience on this one. I hope the removal of tax and the inclusion of some lethal spells for Cat would do some justice to this wonderful (or would-be-wonderful) map. Any suggestions would be appreciated unless I heard of it before.

What happened to 4.4 beta?

It seems that 4.4 beta has been tested for so many times and it's pretty much finalized... While that's the case, I do think the map itself has some fundamental problems. Such as:

- Does Tax/Upkeep justify the balance of Cat force (a single player) and Mice force (a team of players)?
- How many times have you seen cats use the following listed spells on Mice:
1. Area No Shield / Mana
2. Meltdown
3. Lock Mice
4. Sunken (Mouse Trap)
- How many games you play in Jungle without seeing a Mice get massive Cannons at late game and wall himself in a base, and continuously restoring the base's minerals?
- How many times have Mice players use massive Zerglings (Stupid Devin) against Cat?
- How many times have Mice use tons and tons of Stargate (Hard Cheese) for defensive and offensive (ie: trap cat)?
- How many times have you seen Infested Terrans blow up upon spawning at middle because a Mice player purposely put a Zergling there in advance?

To address the above questions, I completely give up Tax/Upkeep and plan to "correct" the above-mentioned problem in terms of game play in a new version - Jungle 5.0.