DotAs

DotAs, also known as Defense of the Ancients, is a custom map for the real-time strategy game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, The Frozen Throne. It was developed by a community of mapmakers and released in 2003. The game mode pits two teams of five players against each other, with each player controlling a unique "hero" unit with distinct abilities and attributes. The primary objective is to destroy the enemy team's "Ancient," a large, fortified structure located at the base of each team.

Players earn gold and experience by defeating enemy creeps (neutral monsters) and opposing heroes. This allows them to purchase items and level up their heroes, increasing their power and unlocking new abilities. DotAs gameplay is characterized by strategic team fights, careful resource management, and the coordination of hero abilities. Its popularity grew rapidly, leading to the development of competitive leagues and tournaments.

The success of DotAs paved the way for the genre of Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBAs). Many of its core concepts and mechanics were later adopted and expanded upon by standalone games. The original DotAs map has seen numerous iterations and updates over the years, with different developers contributing to its evolution. Despite the emergence of newer MOBAs, DotAs remains a significant title in gaming history, influencing a generation of players and game designers.