Highland Vale [3.0] is submitted for review.

[Jingleyman]

New map: Highland Vale [3.0] by Jingleyman.
Map editor link: Highland Vale [3.0]

[ezras]

Are you limiting production of dragons, archons and demons in most cities intentionally to stop those tactics? Can you explain the rationale for that choice? I think its fine but figure with such low income site and ruins a player would be starved to try and build dragons early. But the number of production in the cities along the valley virtually guarantee enough pillage income from them to build those units....

[hatchfactory]

I will let Jingleyman reply his own thoughts, but as he asked for my input on several points of the map hence my 2 cents. The new options in 0.8, in my opinion, enable a mapmaker to tailor gameplay more to what they envisioned during map design.
For this map, I believe, such restrictions as they are placed will enhance gameplay and encourage users to make more strategic use of the provided terrain, towers, and swamp paths. As you have seen fliers are not 100% restricted, just cut from early expansion, forcing such production to mid to late game. 5 turn fliers if you note are still available in time to meet at the front lines when heavy battle commences.

but figure with such low income site and ruins

From what I saw in Jingleymans test run; money, items, and experience were not in short supply - at 50% cities his heroes were fully equipped and his income surplus was well above 1000 with plenty of armies (dragons included).

the number of production in the cities along the valley virtually guarantee enough pillage income from them to build those units....

I think thats the point , In map building the way I see it, you have 2 methods (other than random) in placing and planning production

1) Providing the player with his optimal needs/wants when he needs it
2) Providing means whereby the player has to make choices and decisions.

I believe Jingleyman did a little of both, gave the player just enough help that a newbie would still have fun, yet saving what decisions would be optimal up to the player (even providing the means to do so) and their skill level.

From the little I've seen of this map there is not a shortage of fun effective strategies one could take, and restricting flier production from the most easy to obtain cities I personally don't see so much as a restriction but believe it will provide more other opportunities for strategy (remember players could still plunder and save for ally offers, or plan a strategy to rush to the nearest flier capable city) I can't wait to test it out and I'm sure many updates will also be in it's future where such restrictions will be weighed for merit.

I personally have given this a bit of thought as I see it's value in game design planning, and considering such restrictions in "The Waste".

[ezras]

I'd like to play but couldn't find it in the map list when I tried to start one. I'll look again tonight.

[Jingleyman]

Actually all fliers are restricted close to the capitals. That will not stop someone from accepting a hero offer with flying allies. The design of the map was for players to utilize ground units and their corresponding terrain bonuses. Making fliers makes that pointless. I would still like to add morale with a Pegasus, and that can be done, but not until one captures a city lower in the valley, by that time the expansion stage is well under way.

@Ezras- Thanks for your input. I am anxious to test the map against real people. The map will not be available however until version 0.8 comes out. When I started making the map it was a beta 5 map, but during creation they came out with the 0.8 map editor, and the next save I did was a 0.8 version. There is not a finalized beta 5 copy. Snotling was kind enough to start a 0.8 game for me so I could test it vs AI.

[SnotlinG]

ezras / Jingleyman I can start a 1vs1 v0.8 game for you if you want for v 0.8 testing purposes?
Let me know, but be ready for bugs/game downtime etc

[Jingleyman]

I'm definitely up for it, if Ezras is

[Lars1977]

[Jingleyman]

I have tried to make this map as balanced as possible. I thought it would make for a good ladder map for those who are looking for a 1 on 1 game that isn't on a tiny 50 x 50 map; or a huge map either for that matter. The map brings something different to the community. It gives varied game play with different terrains and several different strategic options. Could this be considered as a ladder map? Or what changes might be needed to make it so?