Balanced Systems for KOTH games and other

[Baron Grazic]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
A balanced mapping system for KOTH is a must.

Sorry I have to disagree with you here Atrocities.
The option of a balanced mapping system is required for KOTH type games when both players wish for this, but it should not be the default. You still need to ability to play a game where chance and luck is involved.

Mind you I say this with the knowledge that I need every piece of luck to beat some players here. I would use a balanced map in KOTH matches, but not all of them.

[Paul1980au]

You know balanced maps are a idea. Random unbalanced maps are for those who like a challange but for newbies a balanced map is needed to keep them in particpating in games for the medium term. I like systems that act as middle grounds with big green star planets but perhaps have multiple warp entry points to keep the players battling over the good systems. Storm systems around warp entry points also act as a trap.

[geoschmo]

I must agree with those that are of the opinion that a balanced map shouldn't be the default. I was merely suggesting it as an option, much like the tesco maps are.

I too like the random element, and have had some games where I was succesful despite a poor starting position. Although to be honest that hasn't happened recently. The general level of skill among players has gone significantly up since KOTH started. It now takes all my skill AND a little luck to win these games.

And I have seen plenty of games where the difference in starting positions was frankly insurmountable. Maybe I'll come up with something a little softer, mroe random, not quite so uniform, but still with less chance of one player being totally screwed over.

I would likely not want to use these for every game, although I would not object to anyone wanting to use them in any match. Where I would probably request it is in the top of the hill and king matches. It's hard enough to get through all the players it takes to get to the top of the hill. I would hate to spend weeks or months slogging up the hill only to lose the king match on turn 25 because of a poor starting position.

Geoschmo

[Paul1980au]

You know perhaps generous starting systems with 4 or 5 good green planets to give you a good start and then poorer systems and then good systems in inner terriotary.

Once broadband takes off i would like to see the 255 system maps used. that would remove any such weightings and also ensure massive long games.

[Slynky]

Parabolize and I are playing our game (starting tomorrow, I suppose) on it.

Another comment I havent seen: for all the people who think their chance for a win was marred by their position...now is the time to see how you REALLY measure up (i.e., no real excuses now!). I fall into that Category, thinking some positions have been bad for me. I've won some games and maybe thought it was more my skill than realizing how bad the map was for the other guy (sometimes, we humans overlooks stuff like that... ).

So, I'm ready to see what it's like when there isn't a lot of luck to favor one or the other.

[Roanon]

Balanced maps take away some elements of chance from the game. If you think it is good or bad depends on what game types you prefer.
As 1:1 already has very few options when it comes to setup and strategy, balanced maps force players even more to do the standard optimum strategy, and the luck - which is finally the only deciding factor between equal opponents - is reduced to the outcome of one or two battles, i.e. most often how the AI doing the combats decides to follow the set strategies (or not).
I like SE IV for variety, not for the need to follow a clear narrow path of known optimal decisions as precise as possible. For me, KOTH got boring after I roughly have figured out this optimum. And with totally balanced starting conditions, I would find it even more boring. But it really depends - I also dislike chess for similar reasons, and a lot of people do like it

[Slynky]

Wow, Roanon, must be tough being from Germany and not liking chess much ( ). Would only be worse if you were from Russia and didn't like the game .

I played on a German chess team for the town of Gogginggen (ulaut in there somewhere) during my one of my stays in Germany.

Of course, these days, younger people like games with 3D graphics and kewl effects .