Quote:
Originally Posted by Lavaere
Here is a wild suggestion for the last game...
we don't go with preset but instead just place 18 starts. and have it random who gets what
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Just to clarify, I was planning on placing 18 starts anyway so it is just a matter of where. I'll have to check the map/mod manual but I believe specstart will overide the no-start terrain masks that Cleveland has set up for most of the provinces, or I can just uncheck em in the editor. If TheDemon's turn out to be the ones already pre-set, hey that is fine too and makes it even more unbiased and less likely that an error in judgement will be made.
As in TheDemon's screenshots, both teams will know all the start locations (something which is easy enough to guess or locate via scouting). But, and here is the beauty, each team will have discretion as to which of their nations goes where. The start locations being public knowledge, removes any possiblity of partiality and thus the need for a third pary. And with the ability to decide which of the alloted starting locations your team's nations will reside in each team will have a measure of control. Everyone is happy!
True, following Hoplo's idea (see thumbnail below) we could eliminate water provinces entirely and create a random rectangular map, and place noobs in parallel lines opposing a center line of vets. This would give us more space between the opposing lines and thus much more time before hostilities break out. However, the distribution of provinces just looks uneven and unqual to me. Can starts be placed evenly and equally distant throughout such a map as easily as with Cleveland's? Could we then get a third party to place starts that would satify both teams? How much time do you guys want to spend with this? Don't we want some water for strategic options, certain nations? And it just looks terrible. I suppose a perfect grid if possible would be what I'd want, but that would look even worse.
I think we should stick with Planet Rorschach, check TheDemon's placement bias (there won't be any except Cleveland's if some or all of them are the preset ones), and if desired enact an NAP. But I will go the way of the majority if I deem it will move us along faster and solve most of the problems.