Where am I ?
Creator: ruinedshadows || First Published: 08/18/2016 || Players: 2 || Size: 20x20
Categories: C-Rank, Standard
Rating: 0 in 0 ratings
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Comments:
ruinedshadows (08/18/2016 04:25am):
Hey guys, this is my first map so go easy on me :P I read all the wiki pages and tried to
follow them well. I did this freehand so if it totally sucks don't be afraid to tell me.
I'd appreciate any feedback to improve this map and my map making skills. Thanks for
playing :)
Xmo5 (08/18/2016 08:47am):
I'm not sure if you made your way over to the forum yet, but in case you haven't, we have
a nifty design map guide over there that you can check out as well.

http://www.takeyourturn.net/t877-map-making-guide-i-introduction-to-awbw-map-design

Overall this is pretty decent, but I think the fronts are a little straightforward and
bogged down with heavy terrain/chokepoints. I would personally make the path a little
wider and break it up into a couple of paths that give more options, rather than letting
opposing forces approaching a chokepoint directly from both sides without another way
around. Also, I suggest you make those two starting cities for each side neutral, and
perhaps move one or both of them. You could use another city or two near the front, and it
doesn't hurt to throw one slightly behind the HQ if you can't find a nice place for both.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions!
ruinedshadows (08/18/2016 09:08pm):
Thanks for the comment Xmo5! I appreciate your feedback and will be reading through the
guide, I hadn't gone to the new forum yet. The chokepoint thing I am now beginning to
understand as my first couple games on the map progress. I see how it could be a problem.
As far as the cities, you're saying this map needs a bit more income? there are 13 cities
per side. Or are you talking about frontline properties needed to make battles worthwhile?
SirThane (08/18/2016 10:54pm):
I don't have much to add; I'm hardly a design map aficionado. If I were to suggest anything, it would be to either
swap the countries or pick different ones so that the units are facing each other. Nothing function wise, just
cosmetic. Otherwise, looks fun to me.
ruinedshadows (08/18/2016 11:42pm):
I didn't even realize that, SirThane, but you are absolutely right. I'm also thinking
about maybe not having the pre-owned cities? Thoughts?
Xmo5 (08/19/2016 08:57am):
If you're going for balance, it's no question, the pre-owned cities need to be neutral.
FTA counters hinge on the fact that you must know exactly what each player will do on Day
1. With 3k funding and 2 bases, it's pretty much guaranteed to be 2 infantry every time;
anyone who builds a mech instead is setting themselves up for failure. We give 1 infantry
as a counter because it's half of the second player's move, putting them halfway ahead
each turn, and halfway behind each turn. The same is true for their opponent. By giving
starting funding or extra income at the beginning, you give the players more viable
options, and your prediction may no longer be good. The optimal strategy will change,
meaning the FTA counter might not be valid once the opponent has the funding to select a
better option that can counter it effectively. FTA counters only work if they can't be
countered with strategy.

This is also why predeployed armies are nearly impossible to balance for FTA. Shift some
units around and give some a head start, etc., but you'll find that this just changes
optimal positioning and formation instead. There are just too many variables to account
for to know exactly what players will do, measure what constitutes 1/2 of a turn, and
implement an FTA counter that doesn't change the assumptions that you based it on (e.g.,
OS will move their tank towards the tower to ensure it's captured later, therefore set it
back some.. but when you do, it just defends a more attainable target that still results
in FTA, or maybe overcompensates and results in STA because BM can exploit a major
weakness in OS's slow start up time by taking a much more aggressive approach with their
recon that can no longer be countered with OS's tank.)
ruinedshadows (08/22/2016 10:09pm):
Right, it makes sense now, and I didn't give extra cities on my other maps. I didn't
realize I shouldn't give starting cities at first. Thanks.
ruinedshadows (09/15/2016 11:39pm):
Took out the starting cities and made a couple improvements to the front while still
keeping the general feel (a lake in the middle). I know it's not the greatest but it
should make it a bit more fun and a playable map.
ruinedshadows (09/15/2016 11:43pm):
Also, added comm towers, moved a few more things around to make it not so one front around
the chokepoint. And swapped the countries so that the units face each other



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