Small maps

[LPhillips]

Like many people, when I get an idea I run with it. I wanted to make a small themed map, putting aesthetics before pure utility. The result is Burning Ice. It was a side project, but it's presented an interesting idea for the mapmaking community to toy with: A small map can play like a bigger map!

After getting the basic landscape, I proceeded to restrict paths to give the players a little more trouble reaching each other. From there, I added balance features like cities, towers, and extra ruins. The unit-balanced version is not out, and one of the current spawns is basically an instant loss, so I don't recommend playing it until the next couple of playtest rounds have finished. But the concept of making smaller maps non-linear is proven here.

Here is the tipping point: 28/29 units, 10/10 cities. We're on turn 16, 2 turns after the battle where I demonstrated the level 1 Assassin's ability to make a well-leveled Barbarian look like a total wuss. Apparently games on this map are likely to be undecided by turn 15 or later with players of roughly even skill.

[LPhillips]

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