What sorts of maps do we need?

[Gandalf Parker]

The generator does OK.
I will be providing some maximum sized generated maps which most people cant create.

I think that balanced MP maps are needed. Approaching almost a chessboard balance so that no one can claim a "bad position" affected the outcome.

I also think scenario would be good. Have you looked at the MODs that Amos is doing?
Angelic Crusade
Stigian Corruption
Trade Confederation
Blood Elves
The concensus is that they are abit too powerful for competitive play but would make excellent scenario for a challenging opponent and a good storyline.

[Lion69]

How about a port of the Faerun map to Dom 3
that map is simply awesome

[BigJMoney]

I definitely want to see Faerun in Doms 3 ASAP, but to answer the original question, I think a scenario-like map with all custom content would be cool.

Custom indies.
Custom magic sites.
Custom indie thugs/SCs (is this possible?)
Custom populations and income/resources levels.

All of the above strategically located and coordinated with terrain types. Not all terrain types need to be used in one map, every time.

=$= Big J Money =%=

[Nerfix]

I'd like to see maps with thematic "kingdoms" of indies that could be taken to the point where they are rudimentary custom nations (ie modded) nations. An indie kingdom would have five provinces, one central province with a castle and all that and four surrounding provinces. They would be very tough to tackle on indie scale but the reward would be a castle and their "starting site". If taken to the point where they are custom nations they could even fight back...

...a less extreme one would simply be a map with a lot of custom content. I think there was one a Dom 2 map that took one of the preset maps and made it so that players started with a small "kingdom" that had stuff like pre-found magic sites thematic to the nation and some extra commanders and such....pity I forgot the name of it. It was great fun.

[Gandalf Parker]

I think I mentioned that on my Dom2 site.

An excellent example of a well thought out and designed game is the work of Peter Ebbesen called "Orania the Nasty Edition". Each race has specific starting locations with multiple starting provinces. There are additional castles, commanders assigned, equipment given, troops, and magic sites. All making logical sense within the theme of that nation. If you want to try that game it can be gotten from HERE. The Pros and Cons is while it is a great game to play, it might have a limited replayability factor.

http://pi2r.homepage.dk/dominions2/s...aniane_1_0.zip

It was part of the concept for my Semi-Random project where I would try to achieve the same thing but done by a program generating randoms within reasonable limits so that it had more replayability.

Its also what I had in mind when I said that someone should create a map scenario around Amos mods. Do what was sone on Nasty Orania but even farther (build the god, pad the opponent, make it really hard to beat)

[PashaDawg]

I would love to see a 2-4 player map for duels and quick games!

Love your maps! Thanks for making them!

Pasha

[Jason_Lutes]

Gandalf Parker said:
It was part of the concept for my Semi-Random project where I would try to achieve the same thing but done by a program generating randoms within reasonable limits so that it had more replayability.

What's the status of this project, Gandalf? It sounds like a great idea, but it seems like a tall order too.

[Gandalf Parker]

Here is the writeup on it.
http://www.dom2minions.com/SemiRandom.shtml

It wouldnt be too tall an order. I pictured it as a way to get people slightly into mapping and modding by getting them to provide single provinces which were theme-designed. If everyone turned in their designs then some would be simple, some involved, some bad, some great. As long as we ended up with enough of them then the randoms would balance things out (well enough for non-competitive play anyway). Nothing ever happened with it.

To me, a starting point was to go thru all of the monsters and make some judgement calls as to commander, unit, pretender, (allowing for multiples of those), and terrain type, now maybe era also. And things like avian, lizard, flying, cat, bear, wolf. Then I could create something like an avian forest populated with flocks of bird types. Or a special wasteland where a special wolf led a pack of regular wolves.