Lords of Light and Dark [3.0] is submitted for review.

[smursh]

New map: Lords of Light and Dark [3.0] by smursh.
Map editor link: Lords of Light and Dark [3.0]

[smursh]

Increased units in corner starts. Added a few cities to even out the sides. Removed roads leading to corner starts coming from center to allow all players a good chance to build. Fixed all the missing bridges.
Should be more even now.

[Negern]

Looks like a fun map, and it's really good looking too. Just one question about the starting cities. Why so unbalanced? Grandfather (8+ at all times) vs patriarch (6+ attack) - I know where I would like to spawn. Not yellow at least (one valk, six one turners and wartraveler boots vs whites 4 palas, eight one turners and grandfather sword). Or are there other things that balances it out? What does the event-things in the capitols do?

[smursh]

The map has three sides. The two center players are one side, each of the three players on the left are the second side, and the three players on the right are the third side.

All the corner starts have three heroes, the others have 4 each. In order to balance the three starts vs. the two starts the corner cities are a little weaker. As for the starting artifacts, I also tried to balance this. Although the corner players start a little weaker, the sides overall should have equil chances.

[Negern]

Sounds great, and I'm not surprised there was some reason behind it all! You up for a game on it?

About balancing artifacts, you can mix weaker artifacts together to give the same bonus's as a strong artifact.
Balins protector (6 defend) + patriarch (6 attack) + 2+ ring = 8+ in all battles. Same as Grandfather, only that it takes more slots. Also, Narya + wartravelers + caleidoscope is pretty much the same as wizards charge, I believe.

[kenc80]

Ok I played as the center and was dominating with griffins and 12 cities by turn 4-5. utter domination.

i played as orcs and by turn 4 or 5 i was still scrounging up money to buy orcs and bats. I think its really unbalanced. the corners need help.

[kenc80]

Ok I played as the center and was dominating with griffins and 12 cities by turn 4-5. utter domination.

i played as orcs and by turn 4 or 5 i was still scrounging up money to buy orcs and bats. I think its really unbalanced. the corners need help.

[KGB]

I've noticed the same playing as White vs playing as a corner spot. The 4 corner spots need more starting units than what they have. Even if it's just 2-3 more scouts simply as cannon fodder for taking cities.

I see there are several more iterations of the map including more cities for the corner side plus a ruin for gold (hopefully) so I hope that helps.

It's going to be hard to balance things for the 2 middle team mates since the best way to deal with their initial rush of heroes/cities/armies is for the left and right side teams to agree to crush them via a NAP and then fight it out for the winner.

KGB

[smursh]

In the latest version I reduced the starting gold for the two center players, added units including a hero for each of the corner players, as well as the extra city and ruin. I removed the roads that allowed the center players to quickly raid the corner capitols. The three side should be more evenly balanced now.

[SnotlinG]

FYI, in scenariomode you can actually give the players more than 1 city from the start... if you want