Boring Introduction

Hello and welcome to yet another Who'sGotLag.IDO battlereport.  It's summer again, which means I just woke up from my br writing hibernation period.  This battlereport will be about a game played on Footmen Frenzy v2.0.  That is to say this report is based on a UMS map for WarCraft III: The Frozen Throne.  You can skip down to the next paragraph since you will not care about what follows this sentence.  This is report number 14 for me (numerically), BUT in terms of completed reports, this is number 10.  You may ask where are the other reports and I would say incomplete or haven't started when I got bored/lazy/busy. (Yes, I keep recycling this.)

BTW. For those of you who have web browsers that can't display pictures with brackets or use Javascript, you're just outta luck.  This battlereport was designed for Internet Explorer 6.0.  Recommended minimum screen size: 800x600 pixels.

Footman Frenzy v2.0, the newbie guide

Ok, now you are sitting here probably going "wtf is Footman Frenzy" or "I know what Footmen Frenzy is".  If you are the former it would be in your best interest to keep read my wonderful Footmen Frenzy introduction if you plan on reading the rest of the report or read the beginner's article from the official site. If you just want to start the report itself, here is a handy hyperlink to speed you on your way to the report.

A note on fake versions

First off I must say though that FF is somewhat popular on WC3, like all UMS games there are many altered versions of it floating around.  I don't know whether these altered versions are actual improvements on the original or modified to favor a starting location or certain hero so I'll just base this report on the official version.  The official version of FF is available from a website hosted by the original author, HatoUP, at www.nohunters.com.  The official version is called "Footmen Frenzy v2.0" while all the other versions are either old or modified versions of the original.  There are a couple of "fake" version of FF v2.0 available, but if one enters the game 2 differences are readily visible. The first is the appearance of the minimap in the waiting for players screen which was changed since version 1.9 as seen below.  The second sign is the load screen which someone left as the old version while simply changing the name.

The easiest way to tell whether the map is probably a fake is to simply look at the minimap in the game room. If there is a square in the middle with an "X", the map is probably real. If there is a circle in the middle its definitely a fake (or old version).

Real Version	Fake Version

Link to download the official version

The Short Version

As was stated in the introduction, Footmen Frenzy is a UMS map for WarCraft III The Frozen Throne.  The one and only goal in this UMS is to destroy your opponent's barracks.  Your barracks spawn troops and you can buy heroes, get better unit spawns, upgrades, and items depending on how much gold you obtain by killing your opponents units.

Enough! Get me to the report fool!

The Long Version

This introduction will go into much, much greater detail, so if you don't really care you should use the hyperlink above.

The Map

Players start the game in one of 4 starting locations in the four corners of the map, anyone else in your team also starts in your team location and is your partner.  Each player starts with a Barracks that the player must defend.  Each player is also given 2 towers which can be upgraded to combat variants. Units are spawned from the barracks at a constant rate, with unit upgrades purchasable from the barracks itself. When a player's barracks is destroyed (or they disconnect), all the player's units and heroes should die as well (Sometimes reincarnation activates and they become free experience to those that kill them).

Each team start (if there are players in that team) has 3 default shops: a Creep Shop, Personal Shop, and Altar of Legends. Inside a friendly base, units get a +3 Devotion aura and heroes can get increased healing near their own barracks. 

The central region of the map is a square with Armor Shops at the top and bottom and Weapons Shops on the left and right. Each shop typically only contains 1 of each item at a time, so if they are out you have to wait for the restock. The ArchVault in the center of the map contains the normal consumable items such as healing and mana potions, same of stones, replacement portals, etc. The ArchVault also acts like a Fountain of Mana replenishing all nearby units mana. Be aware of this because all spellcasting  heroes can be extremely deadly here.

Initial decision

Once the game has started (or actually before) you need to decide what you are going to do in the beginning. There are 3 main choices: (1) Get a regular hero, (2) Get more money so you can get a custom hero, or (3) Tech to a new race, a higher tier of Humans, or buy upgrades like mad. Most players should choose either choice 1 or 2, but when there are 3 players in a team one of the players generally should tech (usually expected to a ranged unit such as Night Elve Archers or Human Riflemen). 

Once the players have decided what they will do, they should move out to kill the enemy units, heroes, and eventually buildings to win the game.

Whatever happens remember this rule: The only way to win is to destroy the enemies barracks.

With a regular hero, a player can immediately begin killing enemy units and getting gold immediately. The units and heroes are not strong enough to win efficiently in another player's start so its best to fight in the middle. The added benefit of a regular hero is that your hero immediately starts earning experience from combat and will probably be better off than the custom heroes coming later on.

(2) Custom Heroes

Custom heroes are generally better I think than regular heroes, but they have a higher cost and take longer to become available. The random option however comes much earlier than the selected custom heroes though, so if you are planning on taking a random custom hero, be aware. Custom heroes are only available for a limited time near the beginning of the game, if you miss your chance then too bad for you.

There are several ways of getting the money needed for selected custom heroes, the easiest and most pathetic of which is to beg your partners for money. If you have some semblance of self-respect however, you will charge out with your tiny squad of Footmen and try to kill 1 enemy unit to get enough cash. Be aware though that if your enemies already have a hero at this point, they could kill much more of your troops and gain valuable cash and experience off your paltry squad.

(3) Tech

Teching when alone can be a foolish thing to do, but with a partner or two its definitely not a bad idea. There are 4 races available, the same as in normal War3, each with their own distinctive pros and cons. Every race can upgrade their attack damage and armor, with the upgrades traveling with any changes in race. However each race has their own distinctive upgrade which does not apply to any other race (If you upgrade the special race upgrade and then change to a new race, the upgrades no longer apply).

Please note that Footmen are considered a default race and do not have the human special ability.

From "Tier 0" a tech to any race is possible, but from then on techs can only go horizontally or down (no moving back to a lower Tier). Listed below is the tech tree and costs (Mouseover for comments on some):

Let's talk about heroes

Heroes are likely going to be the most important unit in your army with their spells and attacks contributing the most to the game. Picking the right hero for your choice can help, but teamwork with your partners (and other factions attacking each other) are usually more important.

When you do get a hero, there is the choice of picking the one you want or taking a random hero. Taking the random option gives you a random hero (with a chance of a secret hero) that also comes with 2 free items. One item is Jaood's Amulet of Power which increases the hitpoints and mana capacity of your hero and so is very valuable. The other item is Boots of Speed which can be useful for escaping dangerous situations. You may also sell these items if you wish for 225 gold I think if you need item space or gold.

When you do get your hero though, here are some general guidelines on what they can best be used for. Heroes can be separated into 3 general types though there are mixes of each depending on abilities: (1) Hero Killers, (2) Unit Killers, and (3) Support Heroes.

(1) Hero Killers

Hero Killers are the biggest, baddest units in the game. These units have the strongest attack damage, attack rate, and defensive abilities that turn other heroes into splattered piles on the floor. Some hero killers are not pure brute force but clever, with stunning abilities (such as Stormbolt), damaging abilities (like Death Coil) that make killing easier, or quick escape techniques (Wind Walk).  Hero Killers are not efficient at killing common enemy units, but their buffed up stats make it extremely easy except when facing large numbers of them.

Killing enemy heroes gives you a gold reward and experience which are very valuable. Removing enemy heroes also protects your own army from the damage the enemy would do AND MOST IMPORTANTLY prevents enemy heroes from getting experience and leveling. Once your Hero Killer is done with the enemy hero, it should be easy to get free gold and experience from the remaining units.

(2) Unit Killers

If Hero Killers are the bad boys of the game, Unit Killers are the cash machines.  Killing heroes does give you a cash bonus, but nothing is as profitable as killing a lot of your opponent's regular troops. Killing many enemy units also gives the heroes valuable experience which gains them levels and more powerful spells/abilities.

With the cash from killing plentiful enemy units, a Unit Killer could upgrade its army's attack damage and armor levels, increase race specific upgrades, tech to higher tiers, and/or buy powerful mercenaries and items to help it destroy the enemy.

(3) Support Heroes

While Hero and Unit Killers take the battle to the enemy and deal the damage themselves, Support Heroes rely on their regular army and partner's heroes and units to do the damage. A support hero greatly enhances other units allowing them to achieve what the hero alone has no chance of doing.

A Support Hero such as a tank like an Avalanche can wander through enemy bases absorbing heavy damage while its own slow attack rate would be ineffective at efficiently killing them.  Support Heroes can have powerful auras that enhance friendly units damage output or survivability, heal friendly units, or just generally be a nuisance to the enemy by neutralizing important units for short periods.

Click here for a hero summary spreadsheet

Let's go Shopping!

I won't go to far into the variety of items and mercenaries available for purchase but suffice to say they are plentiful available. Besides the expected potions and stones there are also weapons and armor items available.  Wands of Shockwave can give a powerful surprise attacks to units without Area of Effect spells. Items to increase the various attributes, orbs, and produce auras.

Whether you upgrade your army or buy items is your decision. Purchases should be made based on what is needed or most useful.

I love items and want to hear more about them

Finally some quick hints

1. Many battles involve more than 2 factions. Don't be the one caught in the middle.

2. Remember that the player who actually makes the kill gets the gold and experience. Doesn't matter if someone else did most of the damage.

3. Use the map terrain to your advantage. Remember that fighting in your own start gives your army a +3 in armor, your heroes get healed next to your Barracks, and that the ArchVault in the center of the map acts like a Fountain of Mana.

4. Teamwork is good, sharing money to buy 1 good item/upgrade is usually better than several crappy ones. A Paladin/Ravage/Undead counterparts can also keep friendly heroes alive in heavy combat.

5. I find that melee heroes with Agility as they're primary attribute are generally better than their Strength and Intelligence counterparts. Getting "Boots of Quel'thalas" not only gives +10 to attack damage, but it also increases the attack rate and armor of the hero. All valuable things in a melee hero.

6. Once enemy Unit Killer heroes reach around level 10 or so, ordinary Tier 0 and 1 units are liabilities rather than beneficial. High level Area of Effect spells can kill low-hitpoint units with one attack, giving your enemies easy gold and experience.  Basically to be worthwhile any unit should have more than 500 hitpoints to survive a single high level Area of Effect spell.

Situational stuff

7. A fast attacking Hero Killer with Ultimate Claws of Devestation and a Mask of Death is nearly impossible to kill without stunning it or using many, many high-damage units. If this is an Agility hero, it can give your enemies nightmares.

8. Towers may be "cheap" but they are so dang effective in large numbers with a meat shield in front.

9. Using invulnerable units such as Paladins/Spirit of Vengeance/Summoned Druids/etc. to kill an expensive Tower line is oh so fun.

10. If you have units that are barely alive in your base and will likely die soon, kill them yourself so your enemies don't benefit.

11. Killing the last player in a start location also destroys the player shops at that location too. Keeping them alive may be beneficial if you use them. 

12. Have fun

Pre-game

Pre-game setup in this paragraph, move on down if you don't care.  This game was played on June 11, 2004.  This BR will be written in the first person format with situational updates...  I myself am the most wonderful and brave MehPracticeSmrf and you will soon see why the color yellow is most apt for my army.

Footman Frenzy Baby!

This game started at full capacity with 12 players in the 4 teams. You should be able to group the players by start location as seen in the picture above.  At the very start of the game however, nydominic succumbed to the vagaries of the internet and disc-ed immediately leaving his team short a player.

At this point everyone started making their hero/tech choices and armies began moving into the center of the map.

Team Dash

Team Dash opted for 2 players to tech to Orc and upgrade their special race abilities while the third partner got a hero. With only 1 hero collecting experience it was going to level very quickly. 

Team NoSpaces