FTA Part 1: What is it?
Creator: Ninja_Weasel || First Published: 11/04/2013 || Players: 2 || Size: 5x5
Categories: None
Rating: 10.00 in 3 ratings
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Comments:
Ninja_Weasel (10/31/2013 11:58am | Edited: 09/02/2014 09:24am):
This is the first in a series of maps for an illustrative guide to FTA for new Players.

This guide was originally designed as a partial replacement to some great tutorials on the
forums which were temporarily inaccessible. Now that the forums are up again, I highly
recommend the guide by SmackCakes as well as any of the other links you can find on the
Wiki's Design Map page:

Smacky's Guide- http://amarriner.com/awbw_forum/viewtopic.php?t=8518
Secondary Location: http://isndev.omgforum.net/t680-fta-extended-by-smackcakes

Wiki Page Links- http://awbw.wikia.com/wiki/Design_Maps


Explanation of FTA Part 1:

FTA, or First Turn Advantage, is something that exists because of the turn-based nature of
the Advance Wars games. Orange Star is always given the first move, just like the white
pieces in Chess. This particular map is designed to demonstrate, at the most basic level,
why this can cause an issue. No matter how good the player who chose Blue Moon is and no
matter what the weather, Orange Star can always move first to the high defense terrain
(either the neutral city or the HQ) and attack first. By doing so, Orange will have better
terrain defense and have the advantage of hitting first. Before Blue even gets a turn, the
infantry will be at about 5 HP and will have no chance against an Orange infantry with
much more defense and health.

There are two easy ways to avoid FTA: by map design or by an FTA counter. I will discuss
these further in my other maps, but it is important to understand that not all maps can be
balanced by simply adding, removing, or moving units. This map, for example, will be
effectively impossible to balance because each player has only 1 unit. If I move them
apart, they still have to meet and someone will hit first. If I add a unit to compensate
for Blue moving second, Orange is now at a disadvantage. Keep this in mind when designing
maps.

DISCLAIMER- I do not have any magical in-depth knowledge of FTA and how to counter it
properly. I merely understand where it comes from, how it manifests in many cases, and
common ways to counter it in some situations. These guides are designed to help new map
makers understand the basics of balance, specifically in terms of FTA- do not assume my
solutions are the best ones out there.
Mori2 (11/04/2013 06:11pm):
This stuff is super important, and I don't really have the time to make them, but apparently you did
and that's awesome. I'll be sure to post them all to the temporary AWBW forum, this is genuinely
good stuff for new players. Thank you.
Nyvelion (11/04/2013 09:19pm):
Temporary AWBW forum?
Mori2 (11/04/2013 09:36pm | Edited: 11/04/2013 09:37pm):
I made an extra forum for people in case the forums don't...you know, get fixed. I haven't had
the time to make a post on Ninja_Weasel's maps yet, but:
http://isndev.omgforum.net/c5-advance-wars-by-web

I need to get some food and then I'll get on that.
Xmo5 (11/04/2013 10:11pm | Edited: 11/04/2013 10:12pm):
Oh awesome! I was hoping there was somewhere we could post these for people to
access them. I was a big fan of the guides on the forum, but I figured I would go ahead and
make something I could use as a reference while the forum was down. I'm glad they seem to
be useful :)

PS, It might be worth going through and double checking my work too, note my disclaimer
haha

EDIT: I guess its kind of obvious now, but Ninja_Weasel is my alt account
Bamboozle (11/05/2013 12:03am):
This is awesome. Really helpful to new mapmakers and old alike.
Ninja_Weasel (11/07/2013 01:17pm):
I've edited all my comments to include a reference to the forum guides, now that they're
back up. I'll leave these maps up in case something happens again. Plus it can't hurt to
have helpful guides at every turn- The more available resources are, the better chance
someone finds them, right?
blanci1 (05/26/2014 12:05pm):
Ninja weasel ---quote-----
This map, for example, will be
effectively impossible to balance because each player has only 1 unit. If I move them
apart, they still have to meet and someone will hit first. If I add a unit to compensate ..
----------
Actualy its the first unit to the centre will capture or eventually win exchange of fire.. However this will not
matter as it will be anyway a draw as the other will be just waiting on his HQ and will be unbeatable from
there due to high defense of HQ. Since without factories the income is pointless.

However the idea of gaining an advantage still exists, and in other situations the concept is important.
In similar situations having deployed units can be balanced reasonably by considering the first turn... And
trying to give half of that to the second player, which for predeployed units would be to move them forward by
half a move. This is mentioned in the new and old wiki beginner guide.

Here it doesnt quite work except in a statistical sense, as it simply depends who arrives first. But with a small
change, eg. putting a forest next to the central contested city, then in this case , even arriving first may not not
win as the enemy can successsfully attack from forest and the resulting exchange will be quite close and end
with both infantry near 1 hp and luck can decide the winnerwho will be almost spent too.

Anyhow this stuff is important and fun to explore. Any such ideas should be shared by posting a link in design
map forum either in new or old one.
Balancing maps can also in rare cases like here, be done by giving second player a better CO . He he. Give
me kenbei and i dont mind being second player.

Xmo5 (06/02/2014 10:54am):
I agree, there are a lot of other factors that go into this and I'll be the first to
admit that the old forum guides were way better than what I have set up here. I basically
just wanted something to be available as a visual resource for new players to explain what
FTA is, why it is a real issue, and how certain things can be done to avoid and counter it.

Also, no OS player in their right mind would pass up being a more powerful CO here
(Kanbei, Sami, Sensei) if BM could be Kanbei unless they were trying to prove a point.
But yes, Kanbei's high defense would definitely change things a bit, to say the least.
Tmi489 (11/02/2021 09:37pm):
The Ninja Weasel eats the croaking cake
Xmo5 (09/07/2022 02:05pm):
Does he? I don't remember that part



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