Since the release of Warcraft III on July 2, 2002 there have been many custom maps created that have come and gone. Some are still popular today such as Footman Wars, Hero Wars, and Zoator TD. However, there is one map that has pretty much outdone them all. The map I am speaking of would have to be DotA or otherwise known as Defender of the Ancients. Throughout time there have been many versions of this map, but the one that has stuck out the most is DotA: All Stars created by Ice Frog. This map takes strategy to another level by having over 70 heroes, tons of abilities, and tons of items to choose from. Using the right combination of items with a certain hero can lead you to dominate the other team like a knife through butter. With every great game there is always a few downfalls though. Fortunately, the downfalls really have nothing to do with the gameplay itself, but deals with the player instead. The most common problem is leavers. People who are poor sports tend to leave the game early when they are losing. This leaves their team in a tight bind, although sometimes it can be very beneficial to them as well. Either way it changes up the game and adds unfair "balance" to one of the two teams. A single leaver can change the outcome of the game. The second issue with the play is growingly popular maphacking. Maphacks are used to reveal the entire map so they are no longer wondering what lies in the depths of "Fog of War". This also reveals invisible units/abilities basically rendering them useless. Aside from these issues, the possibilities of DotA are nearly endless. The map is tons of fun when played with the right people. If you own Warcraft III and have not yet experienced the fun of DotA All Stars, then I really suggest you give it a try. Don't expect to be an instant Pro though...you will need to hone your skills before you step in with the big boys!

If you would like to download the map you can visit the official site: www.getdota.com.