nolefan5311 wrote:The ability to take/hold bonuses is not considered in the playability of map, in the sense you're talking about. The only thing we make sure of is as fair a drop as possible (which this map has because the shields begin neutral), or that certain bonuses don't yield too many reinforcements for the amount of territories and/or access points.
Cyprus, Luxembourg, etc. (most of the smaller maps), also aren't conducive to players holding bonuses in 8 player games. Those aren't flaws in those maps...it's just the way it is.
The ability to take a bonus in those maps is almost a non-issue, since they are such small maps. When the map is fully occupied at 2-3 terits per person, it makes sense that few if any players will take a bonus. However, on a map with 64 terits, it makes game progress really slow, if not totally stalled.
koontz1973 wrote:sirgermaine wrote:This map is specifically geared towards 1v1 games; aren't maps supposed to be reasonably playable at all settings? I am in an eight player game on this, and the extra +5 troops is totally out of reach for anyone, as well as for the most part shield bonuses (nobody has had 4 of a color for even one turn, even in a fog game). How does this map address playability for more players than the specifically designed 1v1 setting, or is there some admin or higher-up that said that it's okay to ignore that?
You are right that this map has an xml designed for 1v1 games in as much as the positions are set at both sides of the board. But I also took into account the larger games. It is superb fun in assassin mode or even terminator large games. The bonuses where added as a way for extra troops, not that you need them. The extra 5 was placed there to end games faster when you are a few turns from finishing.
Large games, you need to build up slowly and not be so aggressive. This is not your typical land grab, bonus holding game but one of slow methodical turns, out thinking your opponents every turn. You need to be able to think a few goes ahead and plan for the long game. Reacting to what your opponents do each and every turn. Key points to think about, centre is the strongest position as your knights can attack 8 ways, but also the weakest as 8 can attack them. Starting at a corner and working out is the best for the large game as you leave no one behind you to attack.
Okay, I'll grant that maybe terminator and assassin would be something cool on this board. It sure would be a pain trying to track down a target in a fog game. However, that doesn't address my actual concern, which is
standard games with more than two players. The best strategy is to
wait and to stock troops, but if everyone does that, then it is a total standoff. I'm sure that the powers that be want a real 1v1 map that is really unique. I get that this map will probably get quenched regardless of what I think. I just don't see how this map really "works" for larger
standard games (and by that I'm not asking for strategy advice-- I figured that out pretty early on in the game I'm running on this map), for a game where all the players follow good strategy.
