Maps

posted on September 4th, 2010, 7:25 am

My idea is simple, basically Im suggesting that maps be able to change for every game.

Sure you would start out with the same moon pair in the same location (or random)

but everything else on the map would be random, (to an extent so that randomly all moons arnt right at one persons base) this would give the game the element of who can better adapt, and scout, then the other player.

posted on September 4th, 2010, 10:03 am

Didn't A2 have a random map feature similar, or was it a random selection of a compilation of maps?

posted on September 4th, 2010, 10:08 am

Didn't A2 have a random map feature similar, or was it a random selection of a compilation of maps?

LOL, i never actually set that option.  I suspect it randomly selected from the available maps with enough starting points on it to accommodate the number of players.

A true random map generator could be fun.  Used to play Random maps all the time in Age of Empires for example.  However, unless they were symmetrical then they would be unbalanced.

posted on September 4th, 2010, 10:40 am

Balanced can be achieved with asymmetry; it's just a lot harder

posted on September 5th, 2010, 12:18 am

I like the idea but it sounds like alot of work to code to make it balanced.

posted on September 6th, 2010, 7:29 pm

I second this!

LOL, i never actually set that option.  I suspect it randomly selected from the available maps with enough starting points on it to accommodate the number of players.

No, just like with other games the game actually creates the map from scratch itself.

posted on September 7th, 2010, 1:28 am

I think if its possible to be done, it would certainly add a very unique element.

I mean honestly right now you play on a map, for instance duel 2 you know where the moon pairs are, you know where the nebula is, you know where the asteroids are, you know your basic stratagy for expansion, but if the map is more randomly generated, or perhaps just a few different varients that are randomly selected, then you have to adapt, better to the changes

posted on September 7th, 2010, 10:52 am

i dont like this idea much. it adds a random element to the game.

for balancing requirements each starting position would need moon pairs at equal distances, with no obstacles like nebulae etc.

what if player A happened to be lucky and find their exp first, while player B had to search a circle circumference around their starting position to find their exp and was delayed, it adds an element of luck to the game, and i would hate to win by being lucky, i hate to lose by being lucky too. 

posted on September 7th, 2010, 11:02 pm

Well then maybe it could be worked so that the moons were the same, the rest of the map could be random?

I guess i just feel like taking advantage of circumstances and adapting, is an important part of the game which could be emphazied more to add an extra little piece to it.

posted on September 7th, 2010, 11:20 pm

The A2 random maps were always very balanced.

They were also boring as hell.