map idea: Moon Race

[DukeHazzard]

Map Name: Moon Race 2050
Link to Thread: no thread yet
Mapmaker(s): DukeHazzard
Map Size: 72
Your aims/design style: Classic Risk map with a space race twist and reversed continents. Ocean cities and antarctica bases are added as well as the moon. The race to the moon gives an advantage to winning.
Uniqueness: There are other space maps (2 that I can find) and one moon map. Mine is different in that it includes earth continents and doesn't really have much of a space feel. The only other map with a similar game play that I'm aware of would be Arms Race. And the similarities there are only that by reaching the moon, you can obtain a 50 bonus.
Relevant Experience: First time mapmaker, but have created many sigs for my clan (go team DBC!)

As I was unsure of the procedure for making a map, I have already made the first draft of the graphics. The basics are there but details like names and font are not rock solid. I'm not even sure if this is where I should start with this process.

edit: This is the latest version of the map. The blue region is changed because it was suggested the I go for more of a "woodborough" feel. So I am waiting for comments on the changes before I move forward.

gameplay: Players start on the earth, as in classic risk. The objective is to get to the moon. The player that holds the Maser Array gets bonuses and can attack all the earth. The space station is the mid point in getting to the moon. It is loaded with large neutrals. This forces some gameplay on the earth to build. Neutrals on the station will not all be the same. They are inversely proportional to the bonus of their home continent. Eg; Austrailia is easier to conquer and hold, so its space station terit has a higher neutral to make it harder to launch. Each continent has its own space rocket to launch from.

2nd and 3rd edit: latest update on graphics

4th edit: updated design brief submission - http://www.conquerclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=583&t=105502&start=90#p2933517

5th edit: graphics change

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6th edit: possible graphics change

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7th edit: Graphics change and resize. Added some legends

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8th edit:

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9th edit:

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10th edit: Changed lines to dots

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[Teflon Kris]

You have started the process correctly by posting a good first draft in the right forum.

Basically, you'll get a bunch of initial comments to consider. When you are ready then post your draft and details as above in the 'design brief' thread (which you have clearly already read). You'll find plenty of people around to help you if you are unsure after reading.

You are right, this map is unique in its joint-setting, a clear nice-looking first draft with some interesting gameplay.

Only problem is with "must own continent + lab to attack the moon". This is conditional assault which doesn't (yet) exist as a gameplay feature. Interesting though. Alternatively you could set the neutral values of the lunar landings high enough to make it very difficult to attack without having amassed troops through bonuses.

[ManBungalow]

Looks fun.

[Industrial Helix]

Interesting. The way you named your territories is a little... strange.

I don't understand the point of the antarctic bases... why not launch from some sort of territory within each continent?

[DukeHazzard]

Interesting. The way you named your territories is a little... strange.

I don't understand the point of the antarctic bases... why not launch from some sort of territory within each continent?

Yes I know the names dont all work. Thats why I posted that they weren't "rock solid". And the point of the Antartic bases is to add more to the map, like in World 2.1. If they make no sense, they can be changed.

[MarshalNey]

I don't think that it's necessary to use the Antarctica theme, it actually confuses a bit since they're all on the same continent but can't attack each other. Better just to have them all be stand-alone graphics of some sort... a lab, a rocket, etc. Actually, individualizing the method of getting to the Moon could make this a very amusing map. I can picture catapults (a common design btw for the X-Prize competition), mammoth rockets and a sleek armada of space-yachts. I could even see a space-suited figure with a rocket pack... or if you're going over the top, in a cannon

The names for the continents are slightly funny. Are you going for a free-wheeling campy theme, or is this meant to be a more serious futuristic map? If you're going for more humorous than serious, then I might suggest some even more outrageous names for the continents. Like "Afri-Cocacola" (or maybe just Afri-Cola) to indicate corporate ownership, or "Americorp" to use a similar theme, or "EuroBoss" because it sounds cooler than a piddly union, etc.

Ahem... yes, well, all of that aside I think that the gameplay, besides the conditional attack which DJ correctly stated can't be done with the current XML, is solid in concept.

Really, I think you should strengthen up the theme a bit while you're here in the Melting Pot. Like the idea, it's got lots of potential.

Marshal Ney

[natty dread]

I actually was at one point considering a sequel for lunar war that would have the same premise, but I figured I would wait until map size limits would allow more space to properly feature both earth and moon.

However if you manage to pull this off, it'll save me the trouble...

Anyway, the idea is solid but the gameplay needs work... I'll give you some of the ideas I had for my map, feel free to use them if you want:

- the earth area has space ports, which can assault a "space" territory (killer neutral).
- the space territory also connects to various landing sites on the moon.
- the moon would have territories (maybe mines or something) that would give a bonus when held together with certain territories on the earth (factories?)

[Donald Fung]

Interesting. The way you named your territories is a little... strange.

I don't understand the point of the antarctic bases... why not launch from some sort of territory within each continent?

try making the fonts red. black is pretty bad in that dark blue ocean background.

also, here's a help on the names.

North America: Nuefy = Quebec, Amplains = Salt Lake, Bama = Bahama
South America: Oceania = Galapagos
Australia: Pacifica = Oceania, Meekathara = Perth
Asia: Viet Koreas = Korea, Indothai = Indochina
Europe: Swedland = Scandinavia

I actually like the continent names

[phantomzero]

Anyway, the idea is solid but the gameplay needs work... I'll give you some of the ideas I had for my map, feel free to use them if you want:

- the earth area has space ports, which can assault a "space" territory (killer neutral).
- the space territory also connects to various landing sites on the moon.
- the moon would have territories (maybe mines or something) that would give a bonus when held together with certain territories on the earth (factories?)

Killer neutrals for space ports connecting earth to space would be like our solid fuel rockets needing to be re set up each time.

I like this idea!

[natty dread]

Interesting. The way you named your territories is a little... strange.

I don't understand the point of the antarctic bases... why not launch from some sort of territory within each continent?

try making the fonts red. black is pretty bad in that dark blue ocean background.

Oh, so you think red on blue would work better?

How about white.

[Donald Fung]

Interesting. The way you named your territories is a little... strange.

I don't understand the point of the antarctic bases... why not launch from some sort of territory within each continent?

try making the fonts red. black is pretty bad in that dark blue ocean background.

Oh, so you think red on blue would work better?

How about white.

well he has white on the north and south poles so unless he keeps that as black and change the other text to white, it wouldn't really work that well

[DukeHazzard]

Interesting. The way you named your territories is a little... strange.

I don't understand the point of the antarctic bases... why not launch from some sort of territory within each continent?

try making the fonts red. black is pretty bad in that dark blue ocean background.

Oh, so you think red on blue would work better?

How about white.

well he has white on the north and south poles so unless he keeps that as black and change the other text to white, it wouldn't really work that well

Prehaps a combination of black and white. world 2.1 even changes from black to white in the same word to make it easier to read.

[DukeHazzard]

I actually was at one point considering a sequel for lunar war that would have the same premise, but I figured I would wait until map size limits would allow more space to properly feature both earth and moon.

However if you manage to pull this off, it'll save me the trouble...

Anyway, the idea is solid but the gameplay needs work... I'll give you some of the ideas I had for my map, feel free to use them if you want:

- the earth area has space ports, which can assault a "space" territory (killer neutral).
- the space territory also connects to various landing sites on the moon.
- the moon would have territories (maybe mines or something) that would give a bonus when held together with certain territories on the earth (factories?)

Thanks.

I like the idea of space ports and space territory that connects to the moon. The mines/factories bonus idea is cool, but I'm unsure if it would work with my theme. My idea was to have the "race" to the moon being the goal as with the 50 bonus gives a moon first supremacy. Like arms race, when you get to the top of the nuke, you get a 50 bonus to nuke the other side (and usually win). But maybe they would work together, I'll think on it.

[DukeHazzard]

Updated the map. incorporated some of the suggested ideas.

[Teflon Kris]

Looking good.



Gameplay-wise it would be cool to have some killer neutrals on the moon landings maybe? Or maybe, decay all over the moon (& space station)?

The Mine & factory combination is great.

Graphics-wise, some of the rockets make the map a bit too fantasy for even my sci-fi brain to cope with. It would be cool to have other types of 'standard' rocket rather than the Millenium Falcon and Flying Saucer.

Setting-wise (and from a tournament perspective in particular), it would be cool if the map wasn't dated, or was dated later, or dated vaguely (e.g. 21st Century or 22nd Century) so that it doesn't clash with the era of the Lunar War map (and can therefore work in conjunction with it).

[DukeHazzard]

Gameplay-wise it would be cool to have some killer neutrals on the moon landings maybe? Or maybe, decay all over the moon (& space station)?

It might be a cool idea. I'd like to see how the game play advances first.

Graphics-wise, some of the rockets make the map a bit too fantasy for even my sci-fi brain to cope with. It would be cool to have other types of 'standard' rocket rather than the Millenium Falcon and Flying Saucer.

I never could get the milleniun falcon right and was thinking of changing it... but I kinda liked the saucer. It would be more period specific to have same "tech" type rockets.

Setting-wise (and from a tournament perspective in particular), it would be cool if the map wasn't dated, or was dated later, or dated vaguely (e.g. 21st Century or 22nd Century) so that it doesn't clash with the era of the Lunar War map (and can therefore work in conjunction with it).

Let's see what others think on this. I only dated it because I thought Moon Race wasn't quite enough. Maybe no "date" is needed??

[Teflon Kris]

Let's see what others think on this. I only dated it because I thought Moon Race wasn't quite enough. Maybe no "date" is needed??

I agree - the setting is clear enough without needing to be fixed in time.

[DukeHazzard]

some touch ups...

[24Keyser]

Nice Map

[DukeHazzard]

This is the final draft, unless anyone has any more concerns or comments.

[squamps]

Like it a LOT

[Industrial Helix]

Major apologies... I missed the design brief on this one. Don't hesitate to PM me if it seems like I'm missing something.

It looks good to move on... is this one still in progress?

[DukeHazzard]

Major apologies... I missed the design brief on this one. Don't hesitate to PM me if it seems like I'm missing something.

It looks good to move on... is this one still in progress?

yes. I was just waiting for the go ahead before I started on the code. Still making some minor touch ups on the map. Will post it soon.

[AndyDufresne]

I think this map would benefit from less-than-realistic depictions---what I means is, less Arms Race more Woodboro.


--Andy

[Industrial Helix]

yes. I was just waiting for the go ahead before I started on the code. Still making some minor touch ups on the map. Will post it soon.

Don't start on the code just yet... gameplay needs to be balanced and the graphics need examination.