Stratego [11.0] is submitted for review.

[ChickenChaser]

New map: Stratego [11.0] by ChickenChaser.
Map editor link: Stratego [11.0]

[Igor]

I don't see this map between ladder maps, oops... Will it be a ladder map?

[LPhillips]

Hi CC,

Wanted to let you know I'm enjoying the map. The various alterations (temple/cities in mid, tower placement, etc.) have really proved stable improvements over time. I had not played it in 8.0 previously because the limited options for stack composition and counters in the last beta made for a boring and linear game. Now the new hero mechanics, combined with numerous hero balancing efforts, have really changed that up. Thanks to game mechanic changes, it is really a thinking man's map. It's true that the first person to get a strong stack within reach of the enemy's main cities can be an automatic victor. However, accomplishing that is by no means a linear feat in this version of the game. Thanks for the map, and looking forward to updates!

Come to think of it, a watch tower or two giving some vision of the mid might be a valuable resource to quibble over. I'd be more interested in that than the movement temple most of the time.

LP

[burnout478]

[Igor]

Can this good old map be again a ladder map?

[tabanli]

I think it could be a great ladder map if we can somehow stop Barbarian rush. Barbarian may level up too fast in this map and we may not see a great variety or strategy in games. It may come down to Barbarian Showndown at the center and the winner takes it all. My suggestion is to put ambush defenders at each city.

First city: Light Infantary - Orc
4 cities surrounding the fist: Heavy Infantary - Wolf Rider
Other Three Cities:Pikeman-Ghost;Dwarf-Ghost;Light Cavalary-Ghost or
Other Three Cities:Crusader-Ghost;Heavy Cavalary-Ghost;Giant-Ghost
Central Cities: Crusader-Medusa or some other kind of a tough defenders. Maybe Archon-Unicorn-Spider

When occupied, the production at cities should be modest to moderate and not any ambush unit. Otherwise this time we may favor Assassin and we will see Assassin showdown at the center every single game.

Also let's put some rough territory at between the mainland and the central cities. Forest, Hills, Sand in circular form may give more time for each player to develop.

[tabanli]

I experimented a little bit with the map and realized that rough territory may favor flight units and move bonus heroes like Ranger-Horse Lord. It is a tough call.

[Igor]

When I played this map, barbarian already existed, all mostly used valkyria and horse lord as heroes, and elephant and unicorn as main heavy units. Barbarian was beaten that time. How it could be now I don't know, but would like to try