Hexagon [3.0] is submitted for review.

[garvisus]

New map: Hexagon [3.0] by garvisus.
Map editor link: Hexagon [3.0]

[garvisus]

Thanks for the comments on version 1.0, it gave me the idea to place three more item cities, so now each starting position must squabble for the item cities on both fronts.

[KGB]

Can't seem to find this in order to start a game on it.

KGB

[KGB]

Garvisus,

I just noticed the first problem.

You've set the capitols so they can only produce 1 unit. The problem is the 1 unit is not equal (Orc, Elf, Lt Calv, Dwarf). I just started a game on this map with a low gold start (750) and I am unable to purchase anything in my capitol. Even worse is that there are 2 nearby cities everyone gets to take on turn 1. But one of those has no production in it either forcing you to spend gold there too. So on low gold games you can be screwed for quite a few turns (it will be at least 3 turns till I can buy a unit in my capitol).

Can you at least allow all capitols to make Scout/Lt Inf units.

KGB

[Moonknight]

Ha, I was very surprised to see no production in a city i captured and only lt cav to be produced. At least i started with a good amount of money, but definitely would have chosen a different starting hero!

[KGB]

Barbarian should be huge on this map knowing the neutrals are stronger and it will be a while before you engage in real combat with another player. So he can help speed up initial conquest of neutrals by quite a bit.

KGB

[Moonknight]

That was my initial thought, but then i saw the huge forest and was thinking of my favorite production, wolfriders...so i went with an assassin, only to find out that i cannot produce any wolfriders

[smursh]

This map is a look before you leap map. With the distance from the home area to nearest city clusters you need to organise your forces well in advance. Open the map to see which cities produce what because if you want a particular unit type such as a moral boost, you need to find where it can be produced. Very complex in that respect, makes it challenging.

[KGB]

Something else that I am not sure if it was deliberate or not.

I started a game in the Cyan position. From there you can bypass all the central mountains/terrain/units etc and attack Red from behind by using the river in the north under the N. With upgraded boats (Junks) you can travel from Lon Shore to Suttons Vale in 1 turn where going through the center would take 5-6 or more turns. This allowed me to devastate a nearby player from behind on turn 8.

None of the other starting spots can be attacked so quickly from behind like Cyan/Red and in some cases they can't be attacked from behind at all.

KGB

[garvisus]

KGB, smursh, Moonknight,

Would you suggest eliminating the river between cyan and red in order to prevent this type of attack? I didn't see this when designing the map. I also never really came around to liking the big body of water between cyan and black thinking it gave black too much of a defensive advantage, but kept it anyway for aesthetics.

I also tried to make the starting units terrain specific ( elves have advantage in forest, orcs in swamp, etc.), is it better to start every position with the same unit for balance and then make the surrounding city units terrain specific?

Finally, I wanted players to prioritize their income, ( purchasing a new hero vs. strong unit, one 3-turn unit vs two 2-turn units), would increasing income levels at the capitals be better for the first few turns or as KGB suggested adding a few more units to purchase or both.

Thanks again for the suggestions

Garvisus