Heroes of the Storm can be enlivened by adding some new areas and map specific game modes, that rotate. Each one having a weekly event, so that queues wont be long or empty, and game interest would be piqued during targeted times. By incorporating quest lines and game features from previous titles, a lot of flavor could be added to the ambiance of several maps. With so much history to pull from, I will outline a few easy examples of the weekly game modes I am suggesting.
Having a classic capture the flag style map, in one of the most beloved battlegrounds in the Warcraft franchise would bring some fast paced objective based fun. For the flag to be turned in, your own must be secure in its base. Having tanks would help to transport the flag. Heroes with nukes, slows, disables, and debuffs will prove key to wresting the flag from the cold dead hands of the flag holder. Perhaps even instituting a debuff while carrying the flag would help to make sure no tank can ninja the flag and shuffle off with it, void of teamwork. In classic Warsong Gulch, Huts contained valuable buffs that would heal, or increase damage done and received, or boost your speed for a short time.
Every Diablo fanboy's favorite (barely populated) town. Several ideas come to mind here. Breaking barrels to find shards of Wirt's peg leg would be worth a laugh. Though perhaps hearkening back to classic quests would be more fitting. Cleansing the well, or obtaining the magic banner could scratch the itch for Diablo themed gameplay. In a Diablo I themed quest, poisoned creeps would degenerate over time until the Tristram well was cleansed. This is to be done by defeating all corrupted bosses within a sublevel of the map (like haunted mines). The iconic 'Secret Cow Level' has endless possibilities of course.
This idea would feature a set level of 'reinforcements' as did the original AV. This number is reduced by burning bunkers, killing enemy players, captains and destroying towers. Mines are in place as the only way to regain lost reinforcements. Capture a mine to start collecting additional numbers of reinforcements over time. Side quests were a big feature in Alterac Valley, and provide plenty of material for unique gameplay. For instance, collect 50 armor scraps to buff allied creeps for a few moments. The ultimate goal being to reduce enemy reinforcements to 0.
This 'rite of passage' Diablo II quest has always been well liked. Partly from the big boost in experience gained when defeating the 3 barbarians. Consider this trio to be the objective that brings the all mid fight into relevance. 3 bosses defeated by the same team would mean Talic, Korlic, and Madawc fight for your side. One in each lane, using their iconic abilities to push towers and keeps with you. If the enemy manages to pick off one of the ancients, then the mini quest is failed. Perhaps even the addition of Shenk and catapults could be the objective in another part of the map allowing an alternative siege camp, as well as rescuing imprisoned barbarians as was done in Diablo 2. Free them and get barbarian bruisers to push your lane.
Resurrecting quests that have proven their value to fans for years is something Blizzard is great at. Making game modes and maps that revolve around these legacy storylines would go a long way to engage fans. Part of the strength of Heroes of the Storm is its ability to draw from Blizzard's past successes. I hope to see similar ideas instituted to keep the hearts and minds of players engaged. Lets make fanboys everywhere go nuts Blizzard!
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