Luc dit le Bien Monté is a member of the French clan
Les Templiers. He's especially known for his wonderful maps, which are skirmishes or scenarios. The Topic including his maps is
here, but I'm going to present quickly his maps. We can divide them in two categories :
SKIRMISHES
La Volute
La Volute is probably one of the best skirmishes realized by Luc. It created this map in order to make a Multiplayer challenge Humans vs IAs. For instance, the two Humans are in the top left corner of the map, fighting against a team composed of 6 Saladins, giving them 40 000 Gold Money, and, of course, no "No Rush". I can assure you you're going to have a very ****** fight, quite harsh... Very few resources, and aggressive IAs, but you also need to cross all the map in order to go on the hill where the IAs are. Quite difficult to cross the way... But, well, you can also fight in Solo. I've made a delicate battle on this map, looking to
that. Otherwise, the Multiplayer challenge can be summarize with this
picture. So, if you don't know what to do on
GameRanger...
Download link : http://perso.orange.fr/gribouil/la_volute_Luc.map
Super-screen : http://nsa14.casimages.com/img/2010/03/06//10030601083858949.jpg
La Croix
La Croix is one of the less-known map realized by Luc. We do not play often on it. I don't know exactly why. He posted this map on 25/08/2008, but I've just made only one game on this map, a very long time ago... As you can see, it's a Multiplayer map, recommended for a FFA. There isn't a lot of trees, but, well, I think Luc don't like trees.
Download link : http://perso.orange.fr/gribouil/la_croix.map
France
A beautiful country, isn't it ? But not very useful... The rivers are quite irritating. There isn't a lot of place, and the IAs cannot develop themselves. So, this map is especially a painting instead of being a good map.
Download link : http://perso.orange.fr/gribouil/France.map
La vallée des deux sabres
One of the most-played maps from Luc.
La vallée des deux sabres looks like
La Volute. Indeed, it's a challegen against IAs, the speciality of Luc. The Players don't have a lot of places and resources, so develop yourselves and creating a defense is quite difficult. Moreover, attacking the enemies is very hard, because you have to cross the marsh and to fight against the enemies assaults,
and also against the castles. There's some remakes of this map. For instance, Luke made a 3vs5, but I don't have the link... On this
picture, you can see a pretty good challenge for this map.
Super-screen : http://nsa14.casimages.com/img/2010/03/06//100306020601639971.jpg
Download link : http://files.filefront.com/la+valle+des+deux+sabresmap/;13935082;/fileinfo.html
Le Lys
Another Multiplayer map made by Luc, but not very played again... Usually, we prefer play on maps like
The Contest,
Survival of the Fittest, maps like that...
Le Lys is an unknown map, so there isn't a lot of people who have it. Moreover, Luc wasn't at this time a very good mappeur in jouability terms : the Players don't have a lot of place to develop their own castles, so the games on his maps aren't very interesting. I think it's the reason why he abandoned skirmishes.
Download link : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=248C552J
Le sanctuaire des lionnes
Le sanctuaire des lionnes is a map which don't have a lot of resources, but enough place to make a large development. Otherwise, attacking the enemies are quite difficult, because the defensor can use the big ears of the lion (if you attack on the North, of course) to protect himself good. But, well, the enemy can also use the ears in order to destroy the city of the enemy. It's a good skirmish, but we don't play a lot on this map.
Download link : http://files.filefront.com/le+sanctuaire+des+lionnesmap/;13935101;/fileinfo.html
La mort en rit encore
Terrifying map, no ? Usually, Players don't really like his maps. We don't have a lot of place, and we don't have a lot of resources nore, so... The map has sink into oblivion... Unfortunately.
Download link : http://files.filefront.com/La+mort+en+rit+encoremap/;13935106;/fileinfo.html
Le sourire du gobelin
A 2vs2vs2vs2 map, made for Multiplayer, but not played a lot. The keeps are surrounded by trees, so developping a town isn't very simple at the very beginning. Not really recommended against IAs.
Download link : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=I7JOXRQM
Les terres de Nizar
Les terres de Nizar is one of the most disappoiting skirmish from Luc. Of course, the design of the map is quite good, inspired by the famous IA Nizar, but the jouability is ugly. The first time I played on it, with some other guys, we have really absolutely no places. So, Luc made an update of his map, but, well, even with this new version, the space development for the Players is quite small. The face of the Nizar takes a large part of the map.
Download link : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=XYDNQ6DX
Les Chimères
Till today, this is the last skirmish Luc has created. It's recommended for a 2vs6, Players against IAs, of course. The IAs have enough place to develop themselves, and the challenge is quite harsh... Not too difficult, not too easy. The difficulty comes from the attack, because you need to cross the dragon if you want to kill the enemies. A pretty good challenge for beginners. There're small resources, but enough to create a strong castle and attack the IAs.
Super-screen : http://nsa14.casimages.com/img/2010/03/06//100306015724931268.jpg
Download link : http://www.megaupload.com/?d=THQHT5SB
LUC'S FANTASTIC CHALLENGES
The other maps are made for a Solo experience. They're not skirmishes, but military scenarios. On all the maps, the principle is the same : you have to create your own castle in order to destroy castle's enemy. Yet, there're two problems : the first one is the assaults. When the enemies come, they come with strong armies, so you need a very good defense if you want to kill them all. The lastr problem is the time limit : you don't have the eternity to make a siege, but about twenty years on each map. Yet, it's not as impossible as Az-Vitrazhas' challenges, for instance. Anyway, the challenges have a scenario, but the scenario isn't really interesting : it speaks about the eternal fight between Good and Evil. Normally, there would be seven challenges, but Luc haven't finished them yet. So, there're just five maps actually.
N°1 - L'Ange de l'Apocalypse
The first map of Luc. There's a big castle in ruins. The idea is to cross the ruins in order to kill the Lord Enemy. For this map, Luc was inspired by a picture to realize the blue angel. The map isn't very difficult, but the assaults are quite strong. Be careful : the destoryed castle isn't totally empty... A word about the story : you're a general, and the forces of the Angel of Apocalypse have destroyed the castle near to the frontier. You must stop them and defeat the forces of the Angel.
Super-screen : http://nsa15.casimages.com/img/2010/03/06//100306020531211227.jpg
Download link : http://files.filefront.com/lange+de+lapocalypsemap/;13935153;/fileinfo.html
N°2 - Le Golem
In the story of Luc, you've defeated in the first mission the forces of the Angel of Apocalypse. Now, it's time to make a counter strike by going in the heart of the forces enemies. Your army is blocked by a citadel close to a Titan, who was sent by Gaïa and emprisoned by Zeus. This map is probably the most difficult of the campaign. The first time I played on it, I failed. The difficulty comes from the lot of rocks surrouding your castle. Realizing a defense is in fact quite tricky.
Downloading link : http://files.filefront.com/le+golemmap/;13935164;/fileinfo.html
N°3 - Le Marécage des Maudits
After having destroyed the citadel and killed the tyrant who governed it, your progress led you to a haunted marecage. An army of robbers and brigands have been cursed after having sacking a temple. Now, this army roams for the eternity in this marecage, searching for souls in order to give them to Hades. When you come in this cursed place, you see two powerful armies which are face to face, but who don't want to cross the marecage. Unfortunately, your army is quite small after your other battles. You don't have a lot of time, and you cannot let the armies of the enemies become more and more faster. You must secure the place in order to have some reinforcements from the Kingdom. You don't have the choice : you need, not only to destroy the two armies, but also to break the curse by killing all the robbers hidden in the marecage. It's a mission quite simple, because the marecage considerably slowed down the enemies, so you can protect yourself. However, killing all the assassins hidden in the marecage is quite irritating. Moreover, make a complete defense, with a wall, is also difficult, because the space development is very small. Don't remember a thing : crossing the marecage is long, and you don't have the eternity, so...
Downloading link : http://files.filefront.com/le+marcage+des+mauditsmap/;13935173;/fileinfo.html
N°4 - Le Sanctuaire des Dieux
There was a time where this sanctuary was a great and beautiful place, a temple erited at the glory of the God of the God, Zeus. With the time, this sanctuary has fallen, and its high walls are now miserable ruins. The robbers who destroy this temple have been cursed, and you can, if you want, find them in the cursed marecage. Actually, the region is in reconstruction, by the Forces of Evil are close. A sorcerer has bewitched the Lord of the region, turning him in a cruel tyrant. Some men, who want to escape from the region, told you that the God of War, Ares, is going to be with you. If you find his statue, maybe you can be helpt by him... About this mission, the real difficulty is the assault. If you don't find (like me...) the secret passage, you will need to pass by the North, but the problem is that the enemies attack by this position... Otherwise, the mission is quite simple, and the map is really very beautiful.
Downloading link : http://files.filefront.com/le+sanctuaire+des+dieuxmap/;13935176;/fileinfo.html
N°5 - La Citadelle Démoniaque
The General is now very far from the Kingdom, and his army is quite tired. So, they found a campement close to a monastery. However, a monk from the monastery comes to you, telling you that the monastery is perpetually attacking by a lot of legions who belong to the Forces of Evil. Moreover, the Forces of Evil have promised 500 000 Gold Money for anyone who can kill you. Even some Christian have decided to find you, and to destroy you. You must go to the monasteyr, but a citadel of robbers is in front of you. The rumors said that the robbers are driven by a demon which comes from the depth of the Hell. This scenario is probably the most easiest scenario from Luc. But, well... Wonderful design, isn't it ?
Downloading link : http://files.filefront.com/la+citadelle+de+langoissemap/;13935191;/fileinfo.html
N°6 - Vengeance
The sixth map of the challenges is very impressive... The difficulty is normal. At the beginning, the Player must destroy the army attacking the monastery of the monks, and he must after that survive against the enemies armies till the year 2010. A very beautiful map. About the scenario, you are now close to Saint Georges' monastery, which is a supplying stationning on the road of silk. During the journey, Brother Antoine explains you that the Angel of Apcalypse, which was in the past a virtuous creature, is now free from Good and Evil. It's an imposter who imitate the God of War Ares. The Angel of Apolcaypse is violatind vines laws, because he appears in front of the human being, and say he's Ares. The Angel knows that you're going to use the monastery in order to create a big army against him. His armies are walking towards you. You must survive till the arrival of the reinforcements...
Super-screen : http://nsa08.casimages.com/img/2009/06/27/090627061209408981.jpg
Downloading link : http://files.filefront.com/Vengeancemap/;13934818;/fileinfo.html
N°7 - Le Dragon des Mers
Here is the final fight. You're in front of the capital of your enemy. It is time to destroy him, to kill all his men and finish this war.
Downloading link : http://www.filefront.com/15821091/le-passage-du-dragon.map/
Actually, Luc is especially doing maps for
Stronghold Crusader Extreme. He loves make MultiPlayer games versus IAs, so he made maps where the Human team have almost no resources, and the IAs a lot of outposts.
I think I've made one of the longest posts on this forum. I apologize for the mistakes of language I've probably made. Don't hesitate to try some maps !
I introduce myself, I'm Luc dit le bien monté, and I'm writting to confirm Barbarius's informations
, I'm the author of the map introduced by him into the forum. I had pleasure to create it, I was inspired by my youth books for a part of them, and my sculptor work for others. Happy to see that you appreciate my work, and hope you like to play on my maps. Maybe see you later for others maps !!! Enjoy.
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