Defence of the Ancients, commonly known as DotA, is a custom map created for the game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2002, is a real-time strategy computer game and the second sequel to Warcraft. It is the third game set in the Warcraft Universe. Overview In-game screenshot Warcraft III features an innovation over the previous games in the series... Warcraft 3. Originally developed for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, released by Blizzard Entertainment in 2002, is a real-time strategy computer game and the second sequel to Warcraft. It is the third game set in the Warcraft Universe. Overview In-game screenshot Warcraft III features an innovation over the previous games in the series... Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos (RoC) by Eul, the map was later ported into the Warcraft 3 expansion pack, ... The Frozen Throne (TFT). Currently, multiple variants of DotA can be found.

Gameplay

Two computer-controlled bases (Night Elf Sentinel and Undead Scourge) are set at opposite corners of the map from each other, and produce identical waves of soldiers at even intervals. Each side has five players, who may choose exactly one Hero character from a catalogue of options (anywhere from six to sixty, depending on the map). Players control only this hero, as opposed to bases and armies; they can also purchase items to aid them in their quest. The objective is to destroy the opposing side's base.

Victory can depend on both the player's skill and teamwork. A single hotshot player can make short work a single opponent, or sometimes several at once; but likewise, several players, with proper cooperation, can easily return the favor. Dead heroes respawn after a certain amount of time, correlated with hero level, has passed; killing a hero yields appropriate rewards in gold and experience.

DotA is so famous that people have formed clans specifically for this game, such as Clan ToN--Clan Tired of Noobs, whose name actually speaks for itself. DotA, though fun, takes some getting used to (especially as the heroes and their skills may be tweaked, revised or even entirely original), and the player base can be impatient with lack of expertise or stupidity.

DotA Allstars

Currently the most popular custom map for TFT, produced by Guinsoo. The newest official version yet is 6.06 released April 2005.

To give an example of DotA Allstars' popularity, the official clan that produces it (TDA, an acronym for Team Dota Allstars) has over 8000 members registered in its inhouse game system. Many other clans are formed soley for the purpose of playing DotA Allstars with other competent people, and compete in leagues where one may win money. While DotA is not a game in itself, it has practically achieved that status. The World Cyber Games Singapore has at a national level recognised DotA All Stars as one of the games competitors can participate in, among "full fledged" games like Unreal Tournament and somewhat ironically, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne itself.

It should be known that Allstars is unaffiliated in any way with the work of Eul, except by the name and the concept. Most classic DotA players resent Allstars for stealing the name of their game.

• Offical DotA-Allstars website (http://dota-allstars.com)

DotA Classic

This series is the original DotA, which began with Eul, the creator and first editor. This RoC map is considered by most DotA players to be the most balanced map series for DotA. Eul, the original editor and creator of DotA, has since declared his map to be open-source, and currently there is no official editor for the RoC DotA maps. However, there are still unofficial editors whose maps are hosted frequently. The most notable current editors are Fluffy_Bunny (3.7 and the 3.8x series), Ryude (3.7x series), and Danite (Rumble 3.x series, and Multimode 4.0). DotA Classic for RoC is not as popular as Allstars, but there are still clans that continue to play against each other, and the occasional tournament is held.

The most popular version on most servers is 3.7 (created by fluffy_bunny), while 3.6d is still played in Asia. The 3.7x, 3.8x and Rumble series are all played in decent numbers in public games.

It was play by nerd

CHAOS

CHAOS is a Korean port of DotA. Since all the text is in Korean, it is not popular outside of Asia. However this variant enjoys a cultlike status among its players.

• Classic DotA forums (http://www.thewarcenter.com/forums/index.php?showforum=57)
• DotA Classic site (http://www.quantumdx.net/dota)