AOS: Orient Express 1883 [quench'd]

[Hopscotcher]

Thanks for your feedback Hops... I have to be honest with you, this map was never meant to be a good 1v1 map... It was never designed for 1v1 games (although I did add the neutrals to make the drops fair on 1v1:s.) So I would appreciate it if you would try out some multiplayer games on the map, like 4-6 player dubs for example... then if you still feel the same about the map, I'll be glad to take whatever advice you have to improve it.

Wow you give me a lot of power! anyway, I'm playing some dubs on it now.

[natty dread]

Well if your advice totally sucks I might just ignore it

But I'll promise to at least hear you out.

[army of nobunaga]

this is a solid map man.. there are a few adjustments I would do, but i think its fine and your vision with this is solid. Playing it in several games atm. I like it.; I wish the rails played a bigger part than they do but all in all Im not sure how you could do this easily.


After 6000 games man... and having crossmaped all most all of them.. I put it this way

1)Cairns
2) NAtty Dreadlock
3) Industrial /oaktown


I cant decide #3....

anyway...thanx for the map, it is one I would love to have blown up on a posterboard scale and play with my friends in real life.

[natty dread]

I like hearing that

As for the rails, I've been considering making the objective easier: something like "hold both termini + any 5 orient express stations" instead of all of them like now... do you think this would work out?

[army of nobunaga]

yes! ... that would really place more role in the rails...

maybe a multiplier bonus if you own more than one monopoly?


at any rate man, I like this map a lot. I need to get some doubles in it. Right now we are just quading it. and all quad games are similar in CC, and that is "screw the bonus, kill someone on the other team"

[natty dread]

Then, before I post the next version, I need to know, do I need to change the "Age of Steam" name?

I sent pm to mrbenn about this but never got a response.

[army of nobunaga]

I like the age of steam... It might actually be an "age" map that I dont suck at.

[natty dread]

Yes but there might be copyright problems... turns out there's a railroad themed board game named Age of Steam... I didn't know this until this map was already in beta :/

[ender516]

Well, if you have to change it, perhaps Steam Age would work (but you better Google that too).

[army of nobunaga]

swap it and call it "Steam Age" ?

lol ... I dunno. Now that I think of it there is a game called age of steam. but since there was an actual "Age of steam" I do not think anyone can stop you from using it. It would be like making a game called "Industrial Revolution" and then everyone not being able to use that name.

[ender516]

I don't think your argument will hold up, aon. The fact that monopolies exist in the real business world does not give me the right to create a real estate trading game and market it under the name "Monopoly".

[honsberger]

Hey, currently playing this map and enjoying it thoroughly. I like that it does have some defensible points so that multiple players can get territories and duke it out over a longer period with more troops. Also the objective is properly difficult but doable. Well done

[army of nobunaga]

I don't think your argument will hold up, aon. The fact that monopolies exist in the real business world does not give me the right to create a real estate trading game and market it under the name "Monopoly".

A monopoly is a made up term in harvard business school. It is also probably THE most trademarked game in the history of games unless there is some sort of barbie game. Probably a different set of circumstances... But hell im not a lawyer.

gl with it.

edit1
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2363/orient-express
edit2
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/847/feudal
edit 3
http://www.giantbomb.com/dustbowl/95-56/

edit 4
I could show you 15 more examples why your argument that natty should change the name doesnt hold water, at least to me.

[natty dread]

Well, I got word from the admin that no name changes are necessary.

[Victor Sullivan]

admin still needs to add "AoS:" to the beginning of the map's name...

[natty dread]

I don't think it will happen.

[porkenbeans]

I really like the graphics on this map. How is it playing ? I have not not had a chance to play it yet.

[army of nobunaga]

it plays like a champ.. bottom right is pretty easy to chokepoint a bonus so far ... but I do not dislike that . Just adds a dimension.

[natty dread]

Ok, then how's about that reduction of the objective...

I've been thinking either:

- hold both termini + 4 orient express stations

or
- hold both termini + 5 orient express stations

So the total objective would either be 6 or 7 territories. It's currently 8. Which would be the optimal solution?

[Victor Sullivan]

Ok, then how's about that reduction of the objective...

I've been thinking either:

- hold both termini + 4 orient express stations

or
- hold both termini + 5 orient express stations

So the total objective would either be 6 or 7 territories. It's currently 8. Which would be the optimal solution?

Preferably the second option.

[army of nobunaga]

I like your first option. It makes it possible to do other than in a 1vs1 .

I think it would be harder than you may think still but I definitly like the first option.

Playing this map in quads atm, I need to try some 1vs1

[The Bison King]

I prefer the second option (both termini +5 OE stations) or nothing at all and leaving it how it is.

[natty dread]

Ok here's what: let's try the 2nd option first, if the objective is still too hard to hold then we'll go with the 1st one.

[Robis]

Well. I dunno if somebody else has already make this point, i've not read all 40 pages and i won't. I want just to let u know that Calabria is not that part of italy, but only the very bottom of it, that's never displayed at all in the map. Furthermore, Reggio Calabria is the extreme south point of the land, not there where u putted it.
Regards
Rob

[Commander62890]

I don't venture into the Foundry a lot, but I am a very active player. I play mainly team games, so I will give my perspective from that area.

From a team game perspective, this map is... well, less than okay. Well below average.

Neutrals are never hit. The only possible bonus is Ottoman Empire, which makes this map very one-dimensional. In trips and quads, an elimination is the main goal... which is not a huge problem, but I feel like this map could be so much more...

If neutrals are a great asset to singles flat rate/no spoils, fine. It's your map; do with it what you want. Just know that the neutrals absolutely ruin this map for team games. The Rail series is popular in team games because the rails can be used; they offer many dimensions of play. This map offers one - eliminate a player on the other team. Great, thanks. That really boggles my mind.

The map has been out for a while; I know you won't undergo overhaul. A decent response is all I would like.
"This map was intended for great singles flat rate/no spoils play; sorry for screwing it up for team games," would be a perfectly fine response.

Just know that it kind of sucks for team games; it looks like a challenge, but one minute of looking through the legend shows it to be very one-dimensional.

If you were wondering... fine, on trips you can try for Ottoman bonus instead of going for an elim. But 2-dimensional is all you'll get. There is absolutely no bonus outside of that one.

Ottoman bonus or go for elimintion... what is this, amateur hour? This map looks great; I just wish the neutrals were in play!

I know you'll give me a good response, Natty. This map just makes me a little sad; that all. If it was a shitty map to begin with, I wouldn't say anything. But this map has potential...