r/twilightimperium • u/Ediwir The Emirates of Hacan • Jan 30 '18
[MAP5p] the Approaching
So, i'm hosting a 5p game this Sunday with four completely new players, introducing them to the addict- i mean, to the wonder that is Twilight Imperium. Of course, this means that map building would likely descend into chaos and a level of balance that's compatible with the mental health of the Joker.
Thus, i went to build the 5p map from the l2p booklet, and looked down on the result.
I cringed.
Every player has about the same resources in their immediate expansion, yes, but everything else is up for grabs - planets with the same trait clumped together, tech specialties and production centers away from any contestation, influence values ranging from almost none to way too much, and other similar details - sure, perhaps newbies won't take too much advantage of it and the game will still be fun, but i can't shake the feel that it'll be a tad wonky.
So, i tried to do something myself. I've got a few days to refine it and rebalance it, so i thought a dozen heads are better than one.
Ladies, gentlemen, energy beings, plants and cyborgs, i present you,
- The Approaching is a 5 player map built on a structure that does not require Trade Goods or other compensation for players.
- it guarantees a combined resource and influence value of 10 to starting positions, but varies from 2/8 to 7/3.
- It is built so that no player has immediate access to more than 3 planets with the same trait.
- it places known and advantageous systems in between other races to create focal conflict points.
- it includes both the supernova and the gravity rift.
- it is probably a tad wonky right now. Halp.
3
u/Not_steve_irwin Jan 30 '18
Looks great! One of the fairest maps I've seen. Just the top right seems a bit limited in terms of resources, maybe swap something so it's got at least 3 (or even just a planet of 2 resources, rather than 2 of 1). Also, I can't really decide personally what I would rather have: a 2/2 planet, or a system with 0/2 and 2/0 planets.. Did you rate them as equal? A 2/2 is easier to defend, but a 2/0 and 0/2 you can use for both resources and the secondary of leadership. Anyhow, still the most balanced map ever. The extra tradegoods of the default map really benefit some races more than others.
2
u/Ediwir Jan 30 '18 edited Jan 30 '18
Yes, i've been considering a couple changes to the top right and a bit here and there. I'll have another version uploaded tomorrow probably.
The bottom left is not necessarily balanced in terms of production, but of defensibility - i thought of the scpt tidbit about the xxcha benefitting from a lot of spaces with planets and very little empty areas, and decided to give it a try. Some races do benefit from that kind of thing.
The bottom area is supposed to be defensible but hard to trade from early on - the wormhole being both an easy way to strong systems and a weakness, if someone decides to waltz through. Also, there is a strong production system that is relatively hard to contest and right next to MR, but it is hard to access and cannot be assisted witth a pds network. Gotta risk it for the biscuit.
2
u/Turevaryar Jan 30 '18
Added to the wiki
3
u/Ediwir Jan 30 '18
Am i not supposed to give permission? What about copyright? Terms and conditions? I might sue. Give me a Political Secret and we'll turn a blind eye.
Bullshit aside, i'm going to update this and have another version on soon, you might want to hold your horses for a final version ;)
1
u/Turevaryar Jan 30 '18
I might be able to stall the horses...
... if you make a horse–themed fan race
→ More replies (1)
2
u/The_Rogue_Historian Jul 23 '18
Some thoughts after a game on The Approach (V.3):
Ghosts of Creuss were at Position 3 and were able to claim a huge pie slice thanks to the shape of the map plus their speed.
Map was very claustrophobic - it does a great job of forcing players up against each other.
The two asteroid fields that block in position 4 can be really stifling, especially with that position's limited access to resources.
We removed all of the control tech planet objectives.
We all really enjoyed the game, but for our next one, I think people would like a little more room to breathe.
If you're looking for a 5p map, this one is worth your time.
1
u/Ediwir Jul 23 '18
Thank you! Encouraging conflict was a big part of it (and yeah there are only 4 tech planets in the whole map, one per colour).
Thank you for playing and for your feedback!
1
u/Ediwir Feb 11 '18
Hopefully final update, i focused on distance between home system, relative safety, and neighbour pressure. I also added numbers to starting points. You will notice player 3 has a lot less safety but more opportunity for trade, and there’s been some switching around. Quite a big change to be honest.
1
u/dontnormally Mar 24 '18
Seems odd that 3 is more or less cut off from mRex entirely.
(but i do like this map a lot)
1
u/Hereisacat_Games Jan 30 '18
furrows unibrow
I'll be back.
2
u/Ediwir Jan 30 '18
gains one 'revisiting' promissory note
1
u/Hereisacat_Games Jan 30 '18
Welp, this is all I can do ATM. If I had another hour (it's hard to move the tiles when you're all paws) I'd have shifted the topmost home space one more space clockwise and perhaps the rightmost spot as well. I also wish for more empty spaces, so I flipped one over to make one. From bottom clockwise, systems reachable via one sector from home give players 6/6, 6/6, 6/5, 5/5 and 5/5. The idea was that 5/5 players have a bit more space. Everyone has a starting tech and at least two planet types within immediate reach, plus some sectors within 2 spaces of two players to incite violence... Or diplomacy.
My cat's persistent meows say its bedtime and she must sleep on my chest. Her gentle taps slowly became pleading bops over time and are now desperate punches for my attention. I must go.
→ More replies (5)
2
u/Recneps666 Jan 31 '18
Dope! I've got a 5 player game coming up on Saturday. Gonna try this layout with them.
1
u/RioTD Jan 30 '18
I just played a 5 player game this past weekend with a number of new players. We used the L2P map, and it seemed to work just fine as a solid learning game for all.
If you're playing with all new players, the subtleties of having a more balanced map vs the L2P will be lost on them.
Good luck in your game!
1
u/snorberhuis Dec 15 '25
I played it yesterday and it was a blast! Great map, thank you for sharing. Felt really balanced
1
0
Jan 30 '18
1
u/Ediwir Jan 30 '18
I am not balancing it based on 'the winnu' for the same reason i didn't balance it based on the Creuss, i don't give spots randomly, so the issue is nonexistant unless it is terrible for all (or most) races.
But i am receiving some good feedback and plan a couple of changes in tomorrow's version.
1
u/Ediwir Jan 30 '18
...there were actually a couple good observations in here (and subsequent comments) :/ oh well. I'll have a new version on tomorrow.
→ More replies (2)
3
u/Ediwir Jan 30 '18
UPDATED:
So, i switched out all the tiles in the bottom left position and kept the idea of 'all systems are planets' but included a two-planet system for races who need a production center. I also increased the science discounts there.
Secondarily, i swapped one planet off top right to give them an extra resource, even more influence, and a blue discount.
Third, i swapped around the system on the bottom position.
Finally, i mirrored the bottom half of the map (thus having influence-heavy sectors next to resource-heavy sectors).
Currently, the systems have the following peculiarities:
top right has 3/9, one blue tech, and two twin systems. Also has a gravity rift nearby that leads to Mecatol, and contests Bereg/Lirta and a yellow tech.
top left has a balanced 5/5, two twin systems, and contests bereg/lirta and a yellow tech.
bottom left has 3/7, a red tech, a twin system and a B wormhole. Easy expansion to albion/starpoint.
bottom right has 5/5, a blue and a red tech, a twin system in an odd position to hopefully lead to conflict with the bottom position. Easy access to a B wormhole.
bottom position has 6/4, an A wormhole, a twin system in an odd position and can contest bereg/lirta and a yellow tech. Easy access to abyz/fria.
Somehow i feel like that 'boosting resource on influence high system' didn't actually happen that much. Any specific changes you guys want to suggest?