Warcraft III: Reforged: The First War/Mission08

Transcription of the WarIII_Warcraft1_Mission08_2019_01_04.docx (Mission 08 – Traitor's End) design doc.

The document is written by game designer David Fried.

Mission Synopsis

Race: Mixed (Garona, Khadgar, Lothar)

Gameplay: Multi-split dungeon and epic boss fight.

Location: Medivh's Tower.

Tileset: Castle.

Terrain: Medivh's tower, forest outside, and disparate dimensional breaking areas representative of the demonic corruption present in Medivh's mind (primarily fx and doodads).

Player Units

• Garona, Lothar, Khadgar, mixed reinforcements (?).

Enemy Units

• Orcs, humans, Baelrog minor and major, Demon Dogs, Demon Soldiers, Medivh.

Mission 08 Pillars

• Worst fears of our main characters come to life.
• Big boss fight with Medivh.
• Gul'dan's fate of being trapped in Medivh's mind.

Overview

Lothar, Khadgar, and Garona go to Karazhan to kill Medivh, despite Llane's disbelief, after it is discovered he has betrayed humanity by opening the gates for the orcs. As they progress into the base of the tower to reach Medivh, a demonic presence is felt. Demons? Medivh initially pretends to be unaware but once he realizes they are not fooled he magics the heroes different areas of his mind as represented by the tower, to crush their will to fight using their worst fears.

Garona, Lothar, and Khadgar must face personal trials in the darkness. Success or failure to overcome their worst fears can impact the final boss fight which occurs after each has faced their greatest fears. Ultimately the heroes overcome Medivh while Gul'dan is trapped within his mind as he probes it for the location of Sargeras' tomb.

Inside Medivh's mind?

Intro Cinematic

Khadgar, Garona and Lothar approach the tower, which looms ominous in the background.

• Khadgar: I sense a Fel presence... Demonic energy unlike anything I've seen before.
• Lothar: The Orcs are already here...
• Garona: They are ruthless marauders and merciless opponents, but not demons.
• Khadgar: Perhaps Medivh can yet be saved...
• Garona: Your King believes him innocent.
• Khadgar: I feel an outside presence... perhaps <interrupted>
• Lothar: Let us speak with Medivh first if your will is wavering. True evil always exposes its intent when pressed.

Camera pans back and up before returning to gameplay camera to show the tower.

Gameplay – The Garden Maze

The player approaches the Tower through a garden maze where they must defeat demon dogs that spawn from demonic portals. The portals can be closed by attacking them. This will play a bit like arcade classic Gauntlet. When the player reaches the tower door, Medivh is waiting.

Quests

Confront Medivh

• Confront Medivh
• Keep Lothar, Garona, and Khadgar alive.

Garden Events

Demon Portals

Throughout the maze, demons spawn and attack the players whenever they approach an area. Portals can be destroyed to stop the demonic spawn.

Comments on Demons - Blams:

• Khadgar: Where are they coming from? This should be impossible.
• Garona: They reek of Fel magic...
• Lothar: What dark magics spawned these beasts?

Cinematic – Medivh's Explanation

Garona, Khadgar and Lothar approach Medivh at the doorway to the tower. He towers above them on the stairs.

• Medivh: You made it, I was so worried for you...
• Khadgar: You were worried... for us?
• Medivh: These demons invaded the tower shortly after you left, I've been able to keep them outside, but my powers are weakening. I need your help.
• Garona: Something... isn't right.
• Lothar: But he deserves the opportunity to explain, we must hear him out.
• Medivh: Come in, come in! There is much to discuss...

Medivh disappears inside the tower and the heroes somewhat reluctantly walk inside. Fade to black.

Gameplay – Garona

The camera fades in on Garona, isolated and alone in the darkest area of the tower. She is placed in a situation where orcs and humans attack her on sight, she has no allies. Murdering orcs and humans is negatively reinforced by taunts of traitor and mockery. Ultimately it should feel wrong. She is then faced by Khadgar who believes she has betrayed him and Lothar. The player can choose not to fight him, and if they don't attack Khadgar for 10 seconds, Medivh comments "Stronger than I thought." However, if she fights and kills Khadgar, demonic Medivh comments "You will always be alone."

Quests

Friends?

• Do you have any?

Garona Events

Killing is Bad

Garona has opportunities to bypass enemy forces without killing them, but if she does kill them, it should feel wrong.

Warnings - Blams:

• Human Death: "A traitor to every cause."
• Orc Death: "You were never one with the Horde."

Khadgar Mini-fight

Garona encounters Khadgar at the end of the dungeon, who exclaims that she has betrayed them and attacks. Defeating him creates a negative outcome in the Medivh fight (see below), but avoiding him does not.

Khadgar Fight - Blams:

• Khadgar: "I knew you would betray us... Did you kill Lothar in cold blood? Am I next?"
• Khadgar: "I will send you to the isolated grave you desire..."

Fight Info – Attacked Khadgar:

• Khadgar: "Traitorous villain!"

Fight Info – Does not attack Khadgar for 10 seconds:

• Medivh: "Stronger than I thought."
• Fade to black.

Fight Info – Kills Khadgar:

• Medivh: "You will always be alone."
• Fade to black.
• Set boss fight condition Garona – Negative outcome.

Gameplay – Lothar

Lothar is sent to a section of the dungeon where humans are being slaughtered by the orcs. The humans constantly cry out "You can't save us, you can't save anyone." Lothar can attempt to save the humans and gain temporary forces, but they are weak and die quickly. Ultimately this leads to a final fight where a demon one-shots human civilians one by one. The player can choose to do nothing and watch the humans be slaughtered or pull a lever and redirect the Demon to King Llane. He will be "killed" in one shot. If the player sacrifices Llane, Medivh says "One death, carefully chosen, can save millions of souls." If the player watches the Demon slaughter everyone, demonic Medivh says: "Your cowardice will be the end of humanity."

Quests

Choices?

• Are you making the right ones?

Lothar Events

Everyone Dies

Lothar can rescue humans by bashing open their cells. They can be used to fight the orcs but are very weak and will die. Otherwise he fights them alone.

Death Cries:

• Soldier Death: "We cannot win."
• Soldier Death: "Why must I be sacrificed?"

The King or The People

Lothar comes upon a disturbing scene, a Baelrog is eviscerating dozens of human civilians and reveling in the destruction. There's no path for Lothar to go to the demon, there is only a switch which gets lit up in front of him. The switch has a sign that says "Drawbridge" and out on the field on the other side of the bridge is King Llane on his throne. The Baelrog taunts Lothar as he massacres the people.

Baelrog Taunts:

• "Pathetic humans, you have no power..."
• "Would that your King were not a coward..."
• "Not even your heroes can save you..."

Death Cries:

• Civilian Male: "No, my wife, my children!"
• Civilian Female: "Not my baby, not my baby!"
• Civilian Child: "Momma, poppa, nooo!"

Waits For All Civilian Deaths:

• Civilian Male: "No, my wife, my children!"
• Civilian Female: "Not my baby, not my baby!"
• Civilian Child: "Momma, poppa, nooo!"

All Civilians Die (approximately 60 seconds):

• Llane: "My people... all gone..."
• Medivh: "Your cowardice will be the end of humanity."
• Set negative outcome for Lothar in boss fight.

Switch is Pulled in Time:

• Llane: "Guuuuaaaarrrrds!"
• Llane: "Arrrrgh!" <as he's murdered>
• Baelrog: "Hahahahaa!"
• While this occurs the civilians who remain flee off the "stage" to the right.
• Medivh: "One death, carefully chosen, can save millions of souls..."

Gameplay – Khadgar

Khadgar is trapped in a dungeon with various logic and observance puzzles blocking his way. First a series of doors are locked and can only be opened by stepping on tiles to solve Sudokus (1, then 2x2, then 4x4). Then he's met by two men that he can talk to. He must choose which is the evil man by pulling one of two switches that kills one and opens a door. There we find Garona on a platform over lava with the platform being lowered. Around her are 5 torches creating a pentagram. Khadgar can snuff out a torch by flipping a switch next to it, but it then snuffs out or lights the two torches across from it depending upon their current state. Khadgar must snuff out all the torches to stop the platform. Garona taunts him as he tries to solve the puzzle: "I thought you were smart..." If he solves them in time Medivh says "Perhaps your senses are more keen than you believed." If he fails, demonic Medivh says "You didn't notice the demon within your own master, your greatest strength is your incompetence."

Quests

Observe?

• How did you not notice?

Sudoku 1

Initially a single blank tile is on the first room and a single rune adorns the far wall beside the door. Stepping on the ground tile lights it up with a rune. Stepping on it again lights it up with a different rune (the one on the door), and the door opens. (teaching how the basics work).

• Khadgar steps on the rune: "What magic is this?"
• Khadgar steps on it a second time: "This means something..."

Sudoku 2

This room has a 2 by 2 grid but 2 of the grids have red runes pre-placed that cannot be changed, 4 runes adorn the wall next to the door. The player must put the remaining runes in the puzzle to open the door.

• Khadgar steps on the tile: "Hmm, curious..."
• Khadgar places a rune that already exists next to itself: "The runes don't seem to like each other..."

Sudoku 3

A 4 by 4 grid in this room with , but only 4 runes adorn the door. This time there are 8 pre-placed runes.

• Khadgar steps on the rune 5th time: "They must be... separated?"
• Khadgar steps on it a 10th time: "What are the rules of your little game, Medivh???"
• Once Khadgar completes the puzzle, the door opens.

Garona's Torches

A pentagram of lit torches around Garona seem to be empowering the movement of the platform she's on, drawing it down. Khadgar must extinguish all 5 torches before Garona is burned to ash. Switches next to the torches allow him to toggle its current state, however, this will also toggle the state of the two torches connected in the pentagram.

Garona Back & Forth:

• Garona: "What's taking so long? I thought you were smart..."
• Khadgar: "I'm under some immense pressure here, please give me a moment to collect my thoughts."
• Garona: "I'd rather you not ponder over my burnt ashes...

Khadgar Fails to Solve the Puzzle in Time:

• Garona: "You incompetent ignorant ARRRRGHHH!!"
• Medivh: "You didn't notice the demonic influence within your own master, your greatest strength is your incompetence."

Khadgar Solves the Puzzle in Time:

• Garona: "Haha... You only LOOK like an idiot... Phew..."
• Medivh: "Perhaps your senses are keener than you believed."

Cinematic – Reunion

The three heroes are re-united in a main chamber harrowed by their experiences.

• IF Garona died in Khadgar's section.
• Khadgar: Garona! You're alive!

• IF Garona killed Khadgar.
• Garona: I thought I killed you...

• Lothar: Medivh was in our heads... but to what end?
• Khadgar: They were warnings perhaps, of what's to come...
• Garona: Of what we need to overcome.
• Medivh: Your trials have not yet ended! Come forth prepared for death... Heroes...

The massive doors of the tower slam open, they had not yet entered. Khadgar and Lothar enter first, but Garona notices a fel mist appear, which substantiates into Guldan.

• Guldan: This battle will distract Medivh and I will finally be able to take whatever I need from his mind.
• Garona: His mind seems not fully his own, there is a battle within him.
• Guldan: Then he'll be duly distracted. The location of the Tomb of Sargeras will be mine... Keep him distracted as long as you can. Let the others die if need be.

Guldan fades into the fel mist again and Garona hesitantly enters the tower.

Gameplay – Medivh Boss Fight

The three heroes are united in a large chamber of the tower in Medivh's final hall of horrors. Demonic entities are coming out of small demon portals.

Quests

Defeat Medivh

• His demonic influence must end.

Big Boss Fight

Medivh has demonic versions of mage spells (rain of fire, summon Balrog, aura of death) and will teleport to different areas behind destructible defenses when his health gets to certain thresholds and summon more demons. Demonic Medivh is granted additional powers based on how poorly the player did in the individual challenges. Garona's failure grants Medivh the ability to vanish and do a stealth attack. Lothar's failure allows him to summon small groups of humanoid demons. Khadgar's failure allows him to put the highest health hero into stasis periodically.

Alt idea – Medivh gets additional demonic colored hero version of each hero that failed with complete kit.

Medivh Arena Components

• Destructible crates: There are several crates that the player can crack open or that will break open during combat due to aoe which contain healing runes or potions.

Medivh Stage 1

• Medivh: "Doom is at the door and you call upon its messenger, fools!"
• Summon army: Several portals open and demon dogs attack the heroes.
• Flames: Medivh opens with casting Rain of Fire.
• Kiting: Medivh will kite the heroes to draw them into demons.
• When Medivh is taken to 60% health he teleports to a corner behind cover and starts Stage 2.
• IF Garona failed, Medivh will cast Stasis on one of the heroes every 40 seconds, it lasts 6 seconds.
• Medivh when he casts Stasis: "Forever alone..." 😉

Medivh Stage 2

• Medivh: "I pity your pathetic resistance, you still hold hope when there is none."
• Summon army: Several portals open and demon dogs and minor baelrogs attack.
• Medivh is behind destructible statues of human heroes that must be destroyed to engage him in melee. Destroying one destroys the set of them allowing Medivh to resume his regular pattern.
• IF Lothar failed, Medivh summons a group of humanoid demons.
• Demon Soldiers: "Death to the betrayer! Death to Lothar!"
• When Medivh is taken to 30% health he teleports to another corner and starts Stage 3.

Medivh Stage 3

• Medivh: "I sense your failing strength, you are weak... all weak..."
• Summon army: Several portals open and a mix of demonic troops including a greater Baelrog attack.
• Medivh is again behind a destructible statue wall of human heroes that must be destroyed to attack with melee.
• IF Khadgar failed squares of the floor light with fire, and walking upon them deals damage to the heroes.
• Medivh: "Feel the flames of your ignorance, Khadgar!"
• Medivh can be defeated at this stage, ending the combat.

Outro Cinematic

Medivh falls to the ground, utterly defeated, the heroes gather around to hear his dying words.

• Medivh: So, I am defeated... at last.
• Khadgar: You wanted this? Why did you not fight it off?
• Medivh: You have much to learn, apprentice, of destiny, fate, and the inevitable.
• Guldan's Voice: And now your knowledge will be mine.

The fel mist envelopes Medivh and the shadow of Guldan appears on top of Medivh.

• Lothar: What sorcery is this?
• Medivh: <urgent> Garona, end me...
• Garona stabs Medivh, killing him instantly.
• Guldan: NOOOOOO! BETRAYER!!!

A fel mist permeates Medivh's body and then vanishes.

• Khadgar: What was that?
• Guldan:^[sic] My former master... Thanks to Medivh, I am now truly free.

Fade to black as the three heroes look upon Medivh's body.